Barrow AFC.net

Just dug this up

What a team! My boyhood heroes!
I have that photo on my notice board lol

Mallon, Hartland, Else, Harrison, Edwards, Bebbington
McCarthy, Arrowsmith, Mulholland, Field, Storf

Barrow AFC's best ever side. FACT.

Some very good players in that team, that's for certain.

Almost the best team but add George Smith to it and then your talking.
Ron McGarry also in the picture also, far right back row (he wasn't bad either).

This was the team when I first started to go as a 9 year old. A fantastic team that got me hooked on Barrow for life

I have a copy of this, an old Evening Mail cutting.

The only one who hasn't been named is the trainer, [SwearFilter] Robinson, in the tracksuit next to Jim Mallon.

xerxes wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2017 1:17 pm I have a copy of this, an old Evening Mail cutting.

The only one who hasn't been named is the trainer, [SwearFilter] Robinson, in the tracksuit next to Jim Mallon.

Mods, can't we have a more intelligent swear filter? Of course it's D1ckie Robinson, not [SwearFilter] Robinson.

atrueblue wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:24 pm This was the team when I first started to go as a 9 year old. A fantastic team that got me hooked on Barrow for life

+1

memories of 67 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:00 pm Almost the best team but add George Smith to it and then your talking.
Ron McGarry also in the picture also, far right back row (he wasn't bad either).

I was too young to see George Smith play but heard a lot about him. I didn't recognise Ron McGarry from the pic but may have seen him play. The first game I attended was in January 1968.

Been supporting the team for 15 yrs when this was taken so knocking on a bit , so forgive me if I am rambling , but certain COLIN APPLETON, was a very important integral part of this side. They certainly produced the finest football I can recall of any side I have watched! Why no mention of him in this Pic?

As an afterthought the PIC was possibly taken after his sad resignation due to his ill health but his superb skills was the catalyst for this side!

Colin Appleton was Player/Manager. You've made a good point. I remember reading that he became ill - the reason for him leaving the club. Maybe he was ill when the photo was taken?

I totally agree with you - that team played the finest football of any Barrow team, ever! I find it difficult, sometimes, watching the footy at Holker Street. Especially over the last few seasons with all this 'hoof-ball'. I can still recall the footballing prowness of that great team!

There did'nt seem to be any problem taking team photo"s 50 years ago did there !!

Holkerendboy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:28 pm Been supporting the team for 15 yrs when this was taken so knocking on a bit , so forgive me if I am rambling , but certain COLIN APPLETON, was a very important integral part of this side. They certainly produced the finest football I can recall of any side I have watched! Why no mention of him in this Pic?

As an afterthought the PIC was possibly taken after his sad resignation due to his ill health but his superb skills was the catalyst for this side!

You are absolutely right, Holkerendboy, to flag up Colin Appleton. He is a contender for the title of best footballer ever to play for Barrow. He came along as player-manager, sat in the middle of the park, and sprayed the ball around with sublime skill. The sadly now ailing Eric Harrison, in his autobiography "The View From The Dugout", said this about Appleton: "Not only was he a fine manager but he could kick a football further in a carpet slipper with his left foot than many players could with boots on. I have the greatest respect for Colin. I am amazed that his managerial ability was never recognized at the top level". Too right! He was a tremendous footballer, very highly skilled.

I think we can say that Colin was still our manager when this team photo was taken, so who knows why he was missing that day? But the clue is that Tony Field is in the photo, and sadly he wasn't with us for too long after our promotion (another bad mistake that he slipped away) and Field would have been gone before Colin Appleton resigned.

You are absolutely bang on about TONY, silly of me to not see that, and of course NO Jimmy Mulvaney, who virtually replaced Field was a signing made by COLIN

Best Barrow team. I was mortified when Tony Field went to Southport. Easily one of our best players albeit for such a short time. Look at that forward line of Mulholland, Field and Storf. I agree if only Smith hadn't gone to Pompey. Happy happy days - I also liked the all blue kit.