Barrow AFC.net

Well it’s not really, but as the forum seems to be going through a down time phase I thought I’d start a topic for debate. I’m expecting Desmond 2-2 to say “ what a stupid question” but here goes.

In the last ten years we’ve made giant strides both on and off the pitch is it possible in the next 10 if all the stars aligned, could we be pushing for a Championship place ? Burton and Yeovil have both managed it, so why not us. And another question in the last ten years have we always been a full time professional outfit ? I seem to recall we went full time after the FA Trophy win in 2010 but did we then resort back to part time for a while.

Let the debate begin.

Can’t see us ever getting to that level but depends on the amount of investment.. to attract players to get us to that level we are going to be making a massive, massive loss . I think even as a championship team we would only get 7k - 8k attendances (obviously if we either move ground or expand) and would dwindle once the novelty wore off… I can see us getting to league 1 however. Hopefully with L1 we can push for 5k regular attendances.

The difference between us and those two clubs is that both Burton and Yeovil were “football league ready” off the pitch when they were promoted into the league thus meaning they had less to do off the pitch.

It’s been noted and spoken about a lot that we have been playing catch up every year since being promoted and.have been having to pump money into on pitch more than off it.

I think a more realistic goal would be to be an established league one side by the end of 10 years

We would need to grow massively off the pitch to be in a position to be challenging for promotion to the championship.

And in answer to your question regards full time - under Bayliss and Sheridan we were hybrid, not quite full time but more than part time where we trained something like 3 days a week.

We went proper full time in 2015 after we won the conference north

The only way it would be possible would be millions of pounds of investment both on and off the pitch which would more than likely mean new owners of the club. Even becoming established league one would IMO require massive investment.
The gap between league one and two is way bigger than the gap between league 2 and the National league both in terms of finance, players wages and ability over a season.

Honestly believe we would have to find funding to move to a new stadium if we were to ever take league 1 seriously, even now despite all the hard work that’s gone into the club since promotion we’re still years behind most with where things need to be off the pitch, the main thing is how do we attract that investment?

Anything’s possible with funding

BarrowLad71 wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 3:33 pm Anything’s possible with funding

Aye even relegation to the National League just ask Carlisle supporters.

It would be highly unlikely without a multi millionaire take over and a new ground or a massively redeveloped HS (which i don't think is possible with location and proximity to housing developments). I don't think there is any real appetite to move ground under the current ownership and that really does dictate realistic expectations. Yet here we are with the once in a lifetime opportunity for Barrow from an investment plan (Brilliant Barrow) that frustratingly has not placed any focus on the sporting side and how much sport (both us and the Rugby) brings to the community. A new ground or investment doesn’t guarantee success but it gives a platform to succeed.
The big question really should be - can we survive as a league club for the next 10 years with the current set up and rate of development. That all probably sounds negative, but I’m trying to be realistic. Under the current set up, I would be very happy if we are still an EFL Club with a decent ground, our own training facility and Barrow teams represented across all levels in the next 10 years (ie Academy, mens,/women's team at all age groups) , and of course Im still around to see it.

Jonty wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 7:12 pm It would be highly unlikely without a multi millionaire take over and a new ground or a massively redeveloped HS (which i don't think is possible with location and proximity to housing developments). I don't think there is any real appetite to move ground under the current ownership and that really does dictate realistic expectations. Yet here we are with the once in a lifetime opportunity for Barrow from an investment plan (Brilliant Barrow) that frustratingly has not placed any focus on the sporting side and how much sport (both us and the Rugby) brings to the community. A new ground or investment doesn’t guarantee success but it gives a platform to succeed.

There is a vote this week by the cabinet committee of the lib dem led Westmorland and Furness council that contains not one councillor from Barrow on wether to pause the “ Brilliabt Barrow” work in favour of a proposal by “ Team Barrow” led by former cabinet secretary Simon Case that would apparently open doors to more funding for the town. As to wether the towns two professional clubs could enquire if these new ideas could include them who knows

Has it all gone quiet on the US-based celebrity front?

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 8:03 pm

Jonty wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 7:12 pm It would be highly unlikely without a multi millionaire take over and a new ground or a massively redeveloped HS (which i don't think is possible with location and proximity to housing developments). I don't think there is any real appetite to move ground under the current ownership and that really does dictate realistic expectations. Yet here we are with the once in a lifetime opportunity for Barrow from an investment plan (Brilliant Barrow) that frustratingly has not placed any focus on the sporting side and how much sport (both us and the Rugby) brings to the community. A new ground or investment doesn’t guarantee success but it gives a platform to succeed.

There is a vote this week by the cabinet committee of the lib dem led Westmorland and Furness council that contains not one councillor from Barrow on wether to pause the “ Brilliabt Barrow” work in favour of a proposal by “ Team Barrow” led by former cabinet secretary Simon Case that would apparently open doors to more funding for the town. As to wether the towns two professional clubs could enquire if these new ideas could include them who knows

I don’t want to get into politics but I am astounded at the total lack of inclusion of any sporting vision for this town in any of these successive “regeneration plans”. Even a public debate with all parties and fans involved to gauge any appetite for it. We are absolutely miles behind when it comes to facilities. Workington have new community stadium plans included in their towns regeneration plans yet here we are valiantly trying to maintain two patched up stadiums. Everything takes forever to get going with so many false dawns. “Marina Village”, (when there wont be a boat in sight, apart from those you might see down the docks) has been on the go since 2007.

Jonty wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 8:37 pm

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 8:03 pm


There is a vote this week by the cabinet committee of the lib dem led Westmorland and Furness council that contains not one councillor from Barrow on wether to pause the “ Brilliabt Barrow” work in favour of a proposal by “ Team Barrow” led by former cabinet secretary Simon Case that would apparently open doors to more funding for the town. As to wether the towns two professional clubs could enquire if these new ideas could include them who knows

I don’t want to get into politics but I am astounded at the total lack of inclusion of any sporting vision for this town in any of these successive “regeneration plans”. Even a public debate with all parties and fans involved to gauge any appetite for it. We are absolutely miles behind when it comes to facilities. Workington have new community stadium plans included in their towns regeneration plans yet here we are valiantly trying to maintain two patched up stadiums. Everything takes forever to get going with so many false dawns. “Marina Village”, (when there wont be a boat in sight, apart from those you might see down the docks) has been on the go since 2007.

Building starts on "Marina Village" by late 2026 with 80 houses year being built completion date of 800 houses scheduled for 2036

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 8:03 pm

Jonty wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 7:12 pm It would be highly unlikely without a multi millionaire take over and a new ground or a massively redeveloped HS (which i don't think is possible with location and proximity to housing developments). I don't think there is any real appetite to move ground under the current ownership and that really does dictate realistic expectations. Yet here we are with the once in a lifetime opportunity for Barrow from an investment plan (Brilliant Barrow) that frustratingly has not placed any focus on the sporting side and how much sport (both us and the Rugby) brings to the community. A new ground or investment doesn’t guarantee success but it gives a platform to succeed.

There is a vote this week by the cabinet committee of the lib dem led Westmorland and Furness council that contains not one councillor from Barrow on wether to pause the “ Brilliabt Barrow” work in favour of a proposal by “ Team Barrow” led by former cabinet secretary Simon Case that would apparently open doors to more funding for the town. As to wether the towns two professional clubs could enquire if these new ideas could include them who knows

I don’t know why they’d pause it , they were granted 25 MILLION & not one thing has been changed, doing a fantastic job.

BarrowLad71 wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 10:54 pm

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 8:03 pm


There is a vote this week by the cabinet committee of the lib dem led Westmorland and Furness council that contains not one councillor from Barrow on wether to pause the “ Brilliabt Barrow” work in favour of a proposal by “ Team Barrow” led by former cabinet secretary Simon Case that would apparently open doors to more funding for the town. As to wether the towns two professional clubs could enquire if these new ideas could include them who knows

I don’t know why they’d pause it , they were granted 25 MILLION & not one thing has been changed, doing a fantastic job.

Yep it's embarrassing. Forum shut for 2 years. Not a worker or van in site. 20M for the market. Is this happening? Weeds all over town up to your waste. Grass verges not cut. House of Lords building a complete eyesore. No effort by the council to change or improve anything. Rant over and definately OFF topic