Barrow v County
Plus: An interview with Bob Steed, president of the Barrow AFC National Supporters Club
Saturday 25 February 2023
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore. A safe journey to any Hatters currently on the road between Cheshire and Cumbria, and enjoy your lie-in those of you thinking, “Sod it, I can’t be arsed getting out of bed yet.”
Dave Challinor’s lazy sods hadn’t even got out of bed by 3.45pm back on 30 July, as we found ourselves 3-0 down to Barrow at half-time after conceding three goals just half an hour into our Football League return. We showed a glimmer of what we were capable of doing in League Two after the break, however, and this team has continued to grow and develop as the season’s progressed. Incredibly, we could go second today, although Stevenage and Carlisle take on teams in the bottom half, not to mention the fact that our own game is a tricky one. Barrow hadn’t won in six games, but last week’s victory at Bradford will give them a boost. They didn’t play on Tuesday night either. I’d take a point.
We’ve got a pre-match natter with Ian Brown and Jonathan Baker for your reading pleasure today, and we’re also joined by Bob Steed for the Barrow view.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Brik Vintage. A big thank you to John and all the team. If you’ve not yet been in, pop in and have a look. They’ve got some cracking items.
Enjoy today’s issue.
Des Junior
Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.
Fortunately, he has a number of County content providers to call upon. Ian Brown and Jonathan Baker share their thoughts ahead of County’s first Football League game at Barrow since 1972.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
Barrow 0 County 2
I still think it was because the occasion got to us, but County looked like a bunch of headless chickens in the first half against Barrow back on the opening day. How do we avoid the same today, keeping Whitfield quiet in the process?
Whitfield is arguably the one “most likely to” for Barrow and I see Challinor opting to put someone on him, probably Camps. With discipline in mind, I’m not wholly sure how great a move that would be, however, with Holker Street’s notorious ultras on Camps’ case, putting pressure on the referee.
The referee’s resolve under pressure could be crucial in determining the outcome of the game, along with how County’s discipline holds and how they are able to produce their number one game without lowering their guard, as they did on Tuesday at times. As usual I see that last element as the most important, and I see them doing what is required, winning the match 2-0.
Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show
Barrow 2 County 2
I feel a bit mean doing this to you, because I can’t even think of one band from up there, but what’s your top five for a Cumbrian playlist?
You've set me a proper tester there, Des! The far-flung corner of England to which County venture today may once have brought us Coleridge and Wordsworth, but it’s not exactly proved a conveyor belt of popular musical poetry since the days of the gramophone. That's not to say a little digging around can't find us a few toe-tapping-treasures among all those daffodils, however, so I will propose you this quintet:
1) ‘Apache’ - The Shadows
We're starting more or less back in those gramophone days here, with a band which remains among the top-selling UK recording artists of all time. The Cumbrian connection? Son of Workington, Alan Tarney, later exiled to Australia where as an established musician he joined the Cliff Richards-led line-up, providing regular bass-based duties during their still-chart-topping 70s. Remember the name; he's coming along again in a bit, is our Alan.
2) ‘The Trail of the Lonesome Pine’ - Laurel and Hardy
Continuing our Exile-to-the-New-World theme here, with perhaps the most celebrated Cumbria-born human being of all time: Ulverston's Stan Laurel, who set off seeking fame and fortune on the other side of the pond, there to meet a certain Oliver Hardy. The two duly formed a partnership as deadly on its day as Francis and Armstrong, and as a small boy I would occasionally be allowed by my dad to stay up after Match of the Day to watch their movies, which featured on late-night BBC2 and never failed to reduce the two of us to helpless mirth. This number - featured in their masterpiece Way Out West - takes me right back to those days.
3) ‘5.45’ - Gang of Four
Lauded by contemporary critics as a generation ahead of their time, this quartet formed in Leeds during the 70s heyday of that city's football club have been credited as an influence by REM, Franz Ferdinand, Nirvana, and indeed every modern-day purveyor of angular angst-tinged indie-rock you've ever clapped your ears on. This being the case I should probably have developed more than a fleeting acquaintance with their oeuvre before yesterday, when a Google search for 'people from Kendal' led me to their original bass player, one David Geoffrey Allen. This track is not among their absolutely most famous - but I'm quite taken by the quirky cut of its timelessly topical jib. There should really be more pop songs about watching the news, I think.
4) ‘This Girl’s in Love’ - Rumer (feat. Burt Bacharach)
Pakistan-born, this contemporary singer-songwriter (real name Sarah Joyce) moved back to her mother's native England as a child, where while attending secondary school in Carlisle she developed fascinations with The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, and Jodi Mitchell. All these legends of our art remain traceable as influences on Rumer's critically-acclaimed work, in which self-penned originals stand comparison with adroit covers of universal songbook classics - this Bacharach number, duetted with the man himself, being no exception. I played the Terry Hall version of this in the show last time out, and this will more than do as an encore.
5) ‘Take On Me’ - A-ha
No, I'm not attempting to claim Southern Norway for The Far North of England here, despite the marked tendency in both geographies for the menfolk to process gamely along the freezing midwinter streets in skimpy T-shirts while under the influence of strong lager. I don't know for sure whether Alan Tarney (remember him from song number one?) goes in for that sort of caper, and if he does then he almost certainly would be advised by his GP not to, as he's now 77 years of age. His connection with the A-ha classic? Well, back in 1984 (and clearly not content with just the 4,000 or so Top 10 hits just amassed during that Shadows stint I was telling you about) he only produced the bloody thing, that's all. I'm thinking that's not bad for a lad from the shadow of the shipyards, so am affording him the privilege of climaxing our Cumbrian Collection for a County Away Day. All aboard for Barrow-in-Furness, now - see you there!
As for a prediction… we’re on one hell of a run results-wise of course, but in saying that our hosts on Saturday afternoon are no mugs, and in a certain Ben Whitfield they've got a number 10 who can again cause our backline some significant turbulence. I foresee goals at each end, and the honours ending even: 2-2.
Pop into Brik Vintage for some new clobber
Brik Vintage is brought to you by the team behind 20th Century Stores. They have a hand selected collection of the best recycled, retro and sustainably sourced vintage clothing from around the world. If you’ve not yet been, pop in for a look and get yourself kitted out in some decent new clobber.
Click here for contact details.
An interview with Bob Steed, president of the Barrow AFC National Supporters Club
“Beat these dicks just for the opening day defeat and the way their dickhead manager celebrated like he had a score to settle (which he said). The grey-haired grown-up looking baby. We need to piss these shite-punching non-league gobby wankers.” A comment on the County message board this week. Thoughts?
I’m sorry that some supporters do not respect other football clubs but it’s a way of getting rid of their frustrations. I was at the first match of the season and thought both teams played well with Barrow in control in the first half and County doing well in the second with some good defending from the Bluebirds. Whatever happens today I will continue to respect Stockport County. I hope it’s a good game.
Best and worst memories following Barrow?
My best memory of supporting Barrow is when we won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1990. We played Leek Town and won 3-0. We are one of a few clubs to have also won at the new Wembley as well, after beating Stevenage in 2010 to win the Trophy for a second time.
Another great memory is winning promotion from Division Four in 1966-67. County were the champions and we played them in the first game of the season at Holker Street, a 1-1 draw. There were a number of good players who turned out for both teams such as Derek Kevan for County and Billy McAdams for Barrow, who had scored a hat-trick in a World Cup match against Germany for Northern Ireland.
The worst memory is being voted out of the Football League in 1972. It took 48 years to get back to the fourth tier of the pyramid.
There’s a few ex-Hatters up at Barrow: Jason Taylor, Ben Whitfield, Elliot Newby, Richie Bennett. How are they getting on?
Taylor took up a role as coach this season and is well respected by the players. He did play in a recent Lancashire Senior Cup match against Everton.
Barrow-born Newby has returned to Barrow this season and has shown good skill on the wing with some good pace.
Whitfield has played well and is top of the assists in League Two.
Bennett got injured in a pre-season match and was out for quite some time. He’s recently been a substitute for most games and is beginning to be more influential as he builds up his fitness.
What’s your prediction for today?
I’m not too good at making predictions. Obviously, I want Barrow to do well and kick on from the recent win at Bradford but both sides are very organised so it should be very competitive.
Today in SK
🎶 There’s live music at the Dog & Partridge (Buxton Road, Great Moor) with No Quarter on from 8pm.
🕺 Once you’ve finished watching No Quarter, head up the A6 to Bask to continue your Saturday night merriment. DJ Simon is on till 2am.
Never mind Google or Yell.com, we’ve got you covered
STOP! That got your attention, didn’t it? Just a quick one… I’d hazard a guess that at some point in February, all of our readers will use Google or Yell.com at some point looking for a particular product or service. But before you do, please have a quick look at our own directory to see if we have what you’re looking for. A number of great businesses support The Scarf My Father Wore, allowing us to publish fresh content every day, so let’s send a few enquiries their way in return.
Click here to have a look at all the businesses in our directory.