Barrow AFC.net

Reginald wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:02 pm Colin Methven was our biggest signing @ 6' 5".

pjdaly wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:31 am

saltcellar wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:02 pm Radio Cumbria (James Phillips) was asking tonight "Is Jamie Devitt the biggest signing Barrow have ever had".
He is highly rated by them on his performances for Carlisle.

Barrow's biggest ever signing? You could approach this from different angles; some have been huge national names who were a little past their best when arriving at Holker Street, players such as Bill McAdams, Brian Pilkington, Colin Appleton and - - - yes - - - Fred Else. All had played in the top flight and were in their 30's and on the way down, but of course it goes without saying that someone like Fred was still outstanding for us even if his Tom Finney and "Proud Preston" days at the lofty end of the top flight were long behind him. Agreed that it's hard to think of a more accomplished outfield performer than Appleton. In his "View From The Dugout" book, Eric Harrison eulogised about the way Appleton was so good he could have worn carpet slippers and still swept the ball out to the flanks more accurately than most players.

George Smith and Tony Field were just kids when they started with us so in that sense they were certainly not "big signings". Retrospectively of course both went on to have successful careers in the top flight and we could look back on them later as huge players for us. Certainly George Smith remains a strong contender for my favourite ever Barrow player.

Then there are big names who arrive and leave little impact. I think we have had three players feature for us who have scored goals in European Champions League Finals - - - Peter Withe, Alan Kennedy and Brian Kidd. We all know we mustn't mention Brian Kidd so I haven't. Withe was only with us for one game and, in his case, it was before his glory days. Alan Kennedy was still a good, committed pro but clearly long past his best when he turned out for us in the 1990's. Unless I'm mistaken, Alan Kennedy, of all the millions and millions of kids who yearn to become pro footballers, is the only British player in history to score winning goals in TWO European Champions League Finals (one in a penalty shoot-out). That's quite something to put on the headstone.

Then there are "Huge Fanfare" signings. The one I recall best was in our fateful 1971-72 season when, according to press reports, we somehow managed to secure the signature of Scottish legend Derek McKay, who had scored a cup-final winning goal for Aberdeen. The buzz around the time was that somehow little old Barrow had managed to pull off the impossible by getting him to come to our club. The press made it seem like a minor miracle that we had landed him. I'm not saying it was Derek's fault (probably the club was in such a mess at that time that JC would have struggled to turn the footballing water into wine) but the Scot played about 22 games for us and didn't find the net once. And a few months later in the Spring of 1972 . . . . . well, the rest is history.

John_Bucks wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:43 am Wasn’t Nick Chadwick touted as one of our biggest ever signings in more recent times?

chipmunx wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:14 pm

Reginald wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:02 pm Colin Methven was our biggest signing @ 6' 5".

Moussa Diarra was 6'6"

jaycarter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:54 pm

John_Bucks wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:43 am Wasn’t Nick Chadwick touted as one of our biggest ever signings in more recent times?

He was touted as this because of his time at Everton he was also the first Barrow player to be paid £1000.00. per week he spent most of his time on the injured list, he went on to play for Forest Green Rovers and in an interview after a televised match he was not very nice about Barrow claiming he had a rough time at Barrow.

saltcellar wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:02 pm Radio Cumbria (James Phillips) was asking tonight "Is Jamie Devitt the biggest signing Barrow have ever had".
He is highly rated by them on his performances for Carlisle.

Adam29 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:18 pm

jaycarter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:54 pm
He was touted as this because of his time at Everton he was also the first Barrow player to be paid £1000.00. per week he spent most of his time on the injured list, he went on to play for Forest Green Rovers and in an interview after a televised match he was not very nice about Barrow claiming he had a rough time at Barrow.

Nick Chadwick never played for Forest Green

It was when he moved from Stockport to Plymouth that he commented about his time at Barrow

Doubt he was the first barrow player to be on £1k a week either

bluessupporter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:25 pm I think the question says more about James Philips' lack of knowledge about Barrow players from the past!

bluessupporter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:25 pm

saltcellar wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:02 pm Radio Cumbria (James Phillips) was asking tonight "Is Jamie Devitt the biggest signing Barrow have ever had".
He is highly rated by them on his performances for Carlisle.

I think the question says more about James Philips' lack of knowledge about Barrow players from the past!
.

Adam29 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:18 pm Nick Chadwick never played for Forest Green

It was when he moved from Stockport to Plymouth that he commented about his time at Barrow

Doubt he was the first barrow player to be on £1k a week either