Take A Bow, Volunteers

[pjdaly]

Take A Bow, Volunteers, (even though you're too humble to want to . . .)

Recently I was able to witness some of the fantastic work done by volunteers underneath the Brian Arrowsmith stand, amongst other places. Their achievements are phenomenal and no praise can be too high. What's that old saying . . . "restores your faith in human nature" . . .

It is obvious that the world is a very different place to what it was 120 years ago but it struck me that some things never change and it seems one of those things is the willingness of ordinary people to help their local football club. Not long ago I found the following in Ramsden Square Library, taken from the local newspaper of 27th August 1904. It reports what was going on at Barrow AFC in the summer of 1904 when they were preparing the ground and the pitch for what would be their one and only season playing at the Ainslie Street ground in 1904-05. That's five years before Holker Street was ever part of our footballing consciousness.You can't help but see how things went on all those years ago that are still going on now (but not by the same personnel I hasten to add!). And just as they sought no thanks or rewards back then for all their great work it is exactly the same now in 2024. Here's the quote from the local paper of 120 years ago:

"One really commendable feature in the club this year is the 'esprit de corps' amongst its members. A clear instance of this was shown a few weeks back when the club officials were wondering how they could best prepare the new ground with as little expense to the club as possible. Immediately a number of committee-men and supporters volunteered to give their services after their ordinary day's work was over, and night after night a visit to the ground would have shown over a score of the members hard at work in preparing the fencing. Some members were so enthusiastic as to devote part of their week's holiday to working for the club, whilst, when a suggestion was thrown out that these men should receive free season tickets, without exception they scorned the idea,one prominent worker remarking that if they had sufficient interest in the club to render what services they could, they could also pay for their season tickets. The ground is now beginning to look more finished but there is still a lot to be done to the ground itself."

It's a poignant thought to consider that for all that work done by those heroes of 1904 nobody seems to know precisely where the Ainslie Street ground was located.

We all like to see great players and great football but it reminds me that these sorts of people, both then and now, are the real people of football.

[Barrow afc 2018]

Volunteers are like comic book superheroes, season after season they turn up hail, rain or shine. They have undoubtedly saved the club hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years. They are the unsung heroes and take absolutely nothing from the club. They are the kind of folk that would baulk at the idea of receiving something for their endeavours and they share one thing in common they love our football club. For me it’s them that should have their names in the hall of fame or the legends room but they wouldn’t want that they are too proud. That’s why it’s encapsulated so well by PJD. Volunteers I salute each and every one of you past and present. If you’ve got a mo get yourself down.

[bluessupporter]

I always remember stalwart volunteer from many years ago Vic Brownbill (RIP) saying to me that one Saturday morning the pitch was unplayable for the afternoon‘s game as it was waterlogged. He said that on the Saturday morning a load of volunteers swept all the rain off the pitch even though it was still raining. In the end, they produced a pitch that was playable.

They went home had a meal, came back and paid to get in!

[MisterPleasant]

I couldn't agree more. (and a great discovery, pjdaly)

[BillyBlue]

Reading PJDalys post makes us realise that well over 90% of the work we do is never seen by most supporters.
If anyone wants to see what we’ve been doing for the last few years then pop down on a Sunday morning and one of us will gladly show you round.
The new players family room and passageway under the stand, changing room refurbishment, physio room, corporate rooms etc might be worth a visit?

[Slenderhead]

Hear hear

[Alley_Cat]

I’m so humbled by their actions