Post
by Barrow Lad New » Sun Jan 08, 2023 9:04 pm
Following my earlier posts, we learn from the “Barrow News” of 3rd December 1892 that the original Association team Barrow FC played in amber and black striped jerseys, with black pants.
We also learn that matches at the Parade Ground could be watched from the Keith-street windows. Also, Barrow FC’s home start to the season was excellent with five wins – but the five rainy days led to poor gates and financial losses while “footballers, like pigs, seemed to glory in paddling about in the mud”. Interesting to read the lady-reporter’s take on the Accrington game too!
There is a photo of the Parade Ground taken a few years earlier in 1883/84 with members of Barrow Amateur Cycling Club. This appears in the book “Barrow and District” by borough librarian Fred Barnes (Second Edition 1968).
Here is the article for your enjoyment:-
Our Tam o'Shanter writes:-
To-day the Association Club has a big order on hand. They have to play a couple of first team matches. The best eleven is going to Bury to tackle the Lancashire Cup holders, whilst another eleven, comprised principally of reserves, will meet the Workington Black Diamonds, semi-finalists Cumberland Cup, at the Parade Ground. This will be rather too much for them, I think, and if they don't lose both matches they will do well.
The same old rain! The same old ground! Up to Friday we had favourable weather, and on the Friday evening everything seemed to indicate that we should at last have a good ground to play on, and footballers retired to bed well pleased with the weather, and visions of a good game and big gate on the following day. But in the morning- "Oh! what a difference in the morning!" as the song says- for in the morning the nice dry weather had disappeared, and the ground resembled a duck-pond, with the effects of the thaw and the rain. Therefore once more, gentlemen, were the fates against us, and the "gate" at the match failed to cover the guarantee of the visiting team; and there we were again, facing an adverse balance. We won, of course, if that is any consolation, as we have on the last five occasions at home, and a pretty table I could make out, viz:
Matches Played 5, Won 5, Lost 0, Goals for 15, Goals against 5
Plenty of five's, you will see. Here is another:-
Matches Played 5, Won 5, Wet Days 5, Dry Days 0, Gates Spoilt 5
The last one takes the cake, boys! Well, as regards Saturday's game the Athletic were not in the same street as our men at football, and the score, as usual, should have been greatly increased. The Barrow forwards were in fine form, McDonald especially. Peacock was trickier than ever, and I feel sure "Andy" could have scored on several occasions had he exerted himself. Marshall played a good game, and centred earlier and oftener than is his wont, and seemed to delight in the mud. The left wingers were all there- and I was glad to see Linton shoot at goal more, as he scored with a rattling shot. The halves were strengthened by the inclusion of Slinger, who, although on the light side, nevertheless played a good game- and a half-back game also. The backs seemed hardly as good as usual, and the shot that scored was not entirely Kennedy's fault- although some people, as usual, think the goalkeeper should have cleared, and not have waited as he did. The Preston team have improved since they were here last, and have some good men now, but can't they find a bigger goalkeeper, I wonder! The gentleman between the sticks on Saturday stood little over 5 ft., so it's no wonder the high shots scored.
The Preston men played in white shirts, but not for long, as it was impossible to tell what colour they were intended to represent. I wonder if McDonald accidentally or intentionally fell into that pool of water, when the Preston full back, with a clean white shirt, came tumbling over his back. McDonald did not look so bad when he got on his legs, but the Prestonian- Oh, where was that white shirt?
There were one or two very amusing "spills" on Saturday. On one occasion Linton somewhat unceremoniously fetched down a Prestonian in a pool of water, who on recovering his feet shouted "foul" as loudly as possible. "Ah, dry up", says Linton; "wanting fouls on a day like this".
Another time a Barrovian handed the ball as he was being tackled by an opponent, whilst between them lay quite a pool of water. "Hands", claimed the Preston lad. "Yes", said the Barrovian, "Hands across the sea!".
Grewar on one occasion got "riled" at the way a Prestonian was dancing about him, the ball at the time being away from them. So the brawny Scotchman picked his opponent clean off his feet and threw him down in the mud some yards away.
We all like the ladies, and footballers especially like to see them at their matches. Unfortunately the weather has been against their attendance lately, but there were some who dared to turn out at the Barrow v Accrington match, while others watched the boys from Keith-street windows. The ladies like reading football, too, I know, but we men seem only to study the sterner sex in this respect, as our reports and notes are undoubtedly chock full of technicalities, which possibly our lady friends can scarcely understand, so the little dears will like to see what one of their own sex has to say about the Accrington game:-
On Saturday, November 26th, Association was played in the Parade Ground between Barrow and Accrington. The Barrow footballers were gorgeously decked out in amber and black striped jerseys, with black pants. Accrington athletes had red jerseys. They all looked quite smart as they strode majestically into the field, but at the kick-off they were treated to a heavy shower of rain, which gave some of them a decidedly washy appearance, and took the curl out of their hair. Both sides played hard, Barrow securing one goal before half-time. Two jugs of, shall we say coffee? played a very prominent part during the interval, after which Barrow's opponents became desperate, and fought like lions, but it was of no use; they had to fight against the invincible, well-drilled footballers of Barrow, and were defeated. By this time their brilliant attire was well patched with mud. Some of the footballers, like pigs, seemed to glory in paddling about in the mud, for in running after the ball they danced about in the puddles in high glee. It was fun to watch them, especially when some fellow was made to turn a double somersault in his attempt to get the ball. Among the red-jackets was a tall, well-built player, upon whom the Barrovians kept their weather eye, for he kept them going. One of the Barrovians took things very coolly, for at intervals he paused to hitch up his pants, or moon about with his hands behind his head. But after imbibing the contents of the jug he returned to his post with renewed vigour and rolled about in the mud a few times. When the whistle blew for the game to end the retiring athletes were again deluged with rain. After scrambling into their coats, both parties wended their way to the Adelphi Hotel, where, let us hope, they had a good wash, before filling their stomachs, which is the usual ending to a football match. - Yours, &c., A LADY LOOKER ON.
The above was handed me by one of our forwards. Unfortunately, I do not claim acquaintance with this lady-reporter, but I hope she will favour me again with her ideas of the game, as, I am sure, it will be interesting, and if the boys think they are being watched with a pair of lady-reporter's eyes, they will, no doubt, look more to their laurels and their curls. Bootle used to be possessed of lady-reporters, so why shouldn't Barrow ? Write again, please.
