BARROW 125 - Barrow AFC's 125th Birthday

[Jonty]

67/68 Legends No. 23 JACK BAGGETT (Physio)

[Jonty]

67/68 Legends No. 24 BILL GORDON (Trainer)

[Jonty]

And there you have it. A record breaking season in our 125 year history. 46 league games, League Cup defeat of Crystal Palace and a brave effort in the 3rd Round of the Cup v Leicester. Finishing 8th in Divison 3, all with a 21 man squad. The iron ore and shipbuilders tea was stronger in those days

[Storf]

Excellent thread...many thanks for the Memories

[FanzoneFan]

Brilliant read. Thanks for posting. I think Billy Gordon, although not an electrician may have worked alongside them on the Vickers Engineering side in the 1980s. He came across as a genuine lovely bloke who always had a smile on his face. I knew he’d played for Barrow, I just wished I’d asked him more about his career but sadly when you’re young you don’t seem to do that sort of thing.

[Jonty]

The unluckiest story of the season was for Don McCalman, who suffered an injury to his knee in pre-season and although he featured in the line up was forced to hang up his boots at the end of the season. And this is an eye opener- “The medical report said there was arthritis in his knee joint which meant he could not collect from the Football League players insurance scheme with arthritis considered an “occupational hazard” and is an injury they do not cover.
To help with Don’s plight, Barrow have arranged a testimonial for him and will take on a select XI at Bradford Park Avenue. A collection will be held and lets hope Don’s knee trouble won’t hinder him as he tries to settle into life outside football”

[Barrow afc 2018]

Jonty
Absolute gold dust wonderful wonderful memories brought back instantly.
My schoolboy hero’s every single one of them. I was speaking with Peter Bebbington a couple of months ago, a lovely fella he spoke about Fred Else and Peter Shilton.
Thank you so much for posting you’ve made my day.

[Jonty]

Superb, I had to share these. Before my time (born in 68) but getting hold of these programmes and reading through them Ive really found out so much about the club from that golden era. The way the articles are written, the approach to each game, there was no fear of any team. 11 properties in town, brand new team bus, hoping for more. I cannot help but think if one decision here, or a decision there had been a bit different, our history may have gone down a different path. All supposition I know, and we didn’t see what fate held just a few seasons later. But, I have been intrigued and hope it sparks some good memories for fans who were there.

[pjdaly]

Brilliant stuff, thank you, Jonty.

A few observations from those profiles:

Yes, as Barrow AFC 2018 suggests above, Peter Bebbington still lives here in Barrow. I think he's the only one from that golden period who does still live here in Barrow.

Reading the profile, it's not hard to understand why Malcolm Edwards earned the nickname "Chas" . . . which only those of a certain age here in Barrow will understand!

Billy Gordon, father of Kenny, will, I think, forever be Barrow's leading goalscorer in the Football League. From the top of my head I think he was some way clear of our second highest goalscorer in the Football League. Given that players don't stick around for long at any club it's hard to see that anybody will ever get anywhere near to Billy's record.

Colin Appleton is probably the very best footballer I have ever seen play for Barrow. Even though he didn't play that much because his main focus was being manager he was a complete maestro, strong and hard in the tackle but also able to play superb defence-splitting passes.

Sad to read the Roy McCarthy one, where it says he'll be playing for many years and will then go into coaching; Roy returned to play for us in our very first season in non-league in the NPL and he was a shadow of what he had been. Yet he was still only 27 or 28 at that time. I think he drifted away from football completely after 1973. What went wrong??? How can someone who was such a fantastic star for us in the mid-to-late 60's have gone downhill in such a short time??? It will always remain a mystery to me. Did he just lose all love for the game???

It amuses me that "Pirate" Ron McGarry says a lot of footballers were in it just for the money! Really? Back then? It's probably the case now for some players but back then??? I think, at 87, Ron McGarry is the oldest surviving player from that period.

Jim Mulvaney - - - tragic. We are hearing about so many MND cases these days but I remember going to a benefit match against Sunderland at Holker Street. I think it was 1981. Jimmy was there in a wheelchair and sadly didn't live that much longer. I think he was only 40 or 41 when he passed on.

Nice words from Jack Baggett about the club and the town. Don McEvoy remarked that Jack Baggett was the nicest person he ever came across in his football days. Jack's headstone is up there in Barrow Cemetery so in a way he remains forever Barrow.

I still have Peter Shilton's autograph from when he played here for Leicester in January 1968. Although he was only very young he was seen as a major future star and was one reason why Leicester allowed Gordon Banks to move to Stoke. Shilts is still England's most capped player (but Harry Kane will be overtaking him soon . . . )

Thanks again, Jonty, all this is terrific.

[andyg]

Wonderful Jonty it was a great season

[GiveEmBeans_Est1989]

True Story. Your story. Our History.

#BAFC125

https://youtu.be/6AkjPQx5Qrw

[BillyBlue]

Brilliant read. Thanks for posting. I think Billy Gordon, although not an electrician may have worked alongside them on the Vickers Engineering side in the 1980s. He came across as a genuine lovely bloke who always had a smile on his face. I knew he’d played for Barrow, I just wished I’d asked him more about his career but sadly when you’re young you don’t seem to do that sort of thing.

Billy was our timekeeper when I worked in the Engineering side Plant Electrical workshop, I used to have a chat with him about the soccer. The thing that used to annoy him the most was that Kenny couldn’t get in the first team when he was in his early twenties and had played lots of games for the reserves. Eventually made his debut against Burscough in the Lancashire Trophy scored a goal and the rest is history

[bluessupporter]

I think Kenny must have inherited the traits of his dad, as he too is an extremely lovely bloke, always ready for a craic with anyone.

As many will know he left Barrow to go abroad after the 1990 FA Trophy final, and boy-o-boy what a way to go!

Like his dad he certainly made his mark on the club.

[Cromwell58]

Peter Shilton has said the worse injury he ever had in football was when he played in the cup game against Barrow, not sure but think he said 12 stiches in his leg after a barrow player 'caught' him.

[barrowaberdeen]

Hope to see some of you on Saturday between 10am and 3pm up the X Bar. Have e mailed those who have been in touch before.

As well as artefacts from as far back as the 1920s to look at we really are looking forward to having a look at and listening to supporters.

There will be Barrow AFC Classics on a screen and footage to look at. There's an interview 'studio' and local videographers. Weve also got Football Heritage professionals who will be filming around the club.

On display will also be where we are considering putting the heritage trail and chance for you to feed back snd make suggestions.