- – Founded: 1901
- – Nicknames: The Bluebirds
- – Honours: National League (2019/20), National League North (2014/15), FA Trophy (1989/90, 2009/10)
Barrow was home to a number of junior football clubs at the start of the twentieth century before a public meeting was called to form a senior side in the town. Almost 800 people turned up to establish Barrow AFC. A team was put together of seasoned professionals and were elected to the Lancashire League for the 1901/02 season.
On the Cumbrian coast lies Barrow-in-Furness and is home to the world-famous ship and submarine construction port. Ottoman Sub the ‘Abdul Hamid’ was built in the town in 1886 and was the first submarine to fire a live torpedo underwater. Most of the Royal Navy’s ships since the Second World War have been built in Barrow. The Devonshire Dock Hall (the construction facility) is the tallest building in Cumbria.
In 1921, Barrow AFC were briefly elected as original members of the Third Division North though it would not be until 1958 until the Bluebird’s return to League football and Division 4. In 1967 Barrow were promoted into the Third Tier until relegation beckoned in 1970. Two years later the Cumbrian’s dropped out of the Football League.
The trophy cabinet was still being filled despite their stint in Non-league though. Twice Barrow won the FA Trophy, in 1990 and most recently in 2010 when they came from behind to beat Stevenage 2-1 at the new Wembley.
In 2020, Barrow returned to the fourth tier as National League Champions in Ian Evatt’s second season in charge and finished comfortably above the drop zone in their return season.
Paul Lewis scored the only goal of the game as League Two promotion hopefuls Northampton returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Salford.
Lewis’ close-range finish came on just 12 minutes and was one of few chances in a low-key contest as Northampton kept pace in the battle for automatic promotion.
Salford’s Matt Smith headed straight at keeper Liam Roberts early on but the visitors found themselves behind when Lewis smashed in after Jon Guthrie’s initial effort from a Sam Hoskins corner was cleared off the line.
Mitch Pinnock was a threat for Northampton and his long-range effort had to be well-saved by Tom King before the same man curled a free-kick narrowly wide.
Debutant Idris Kanu went close early in the second half before Smith had Salford’s best chance of the game from a free-kick, but again he was thwarted by Roberts.
Northampton were comfortable in seeing out victory and could even have won by a bigger margin with Ali Koiki forcing King into a good save in stoppage time.
Dom Telford equalled a 38-year-old Newport record held by former Liverpool striker John Aldridge as the promotion hopefuls beat lowly Barrow.
Telford claimed his 20th goal of the season, a feat last achieved by a Newport player in English football’s top four leagues by then rising Exiles star Aldridge in 1983-84.
The current Newport hero’s goals came in the second and 12th minutes.
Mickey Demetriou’s second-half own goal gave Barrow hope, but Newport held on.
James Rowberry’s side remain third in the League Two title hunt and are now a point behind Tranmere Rovers, who were hammered 4-0 at home by leaders Forest Green Rovers.
Barrow stay 21st, seven points off the relegation zone.
Telford made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a calf injury to again steal the headlines.
Northampton Town were in Division Four alongside Barrow during there final season in the Football League back in 1971/72.
On that occasion, The Cobblers completed a league double over Barrow by winning 1-0 in Cumbria during the first month of the campaign before enjoying a 2-0 triumph on home soil in October 1971.
In total, the two clubs have clashed 14 times in competitive action and Town have won 10 of the previous contests.
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | F | A |
| 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
PLAYED FOR BOTH Barrow
We look at a selection of players that played for the Cobblers and Barrow.
Lee Swabey will take charge of the Cobblers match v Barrow this Tuesday night.
The Devon-based official will travel to Sixfields Stadium for his 18th game of the campaign and his fifth game in League Two. The current season is his seventh in the EFL. Last season there were 29 games he took charge of, giving 67 yellows and 0 reds.
Christopher Husband and Stephen Finch
Fourth Official : Andrew Hendley
| Date | Match | Yellow | Red |
| 28th Aug 2021 | Crawley 0 The Cobblers 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 19th Oct 2019 | The Cobblers 2 Salford 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 23rd Feb 2019 | Stevenage 1 The Cobblers 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 12th Jan 2019 | The Cobblers 3 Carlile 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 4th Aug 2018 | The Cobblers 0 Lincoln 1 | 2 | 0 |
John Brady
“It will be a tough challenge against Barrow but we are strong at home and we are really looking forward to it,” he said.
“I felt on Saturday we were back to our best, the tempo and energy was there and that’s two clean sheets in a row.blob:https://cobblerspast.com/5858200f-a87e-4469-93a0-04719a6f0f20
“We’re in a strong moment, adding to the group in January has added a real energy in training and it’s important for us to try and get back-to-back wins.
“I played for Mark Cooper when we won the Conference North at Kettering, I know him very well, he is well respected in the game and it will be good to see him.
“Barrow play a very expansive style, they had a fantastic cup run and it will be a tough game. They have made some good acquisitions in January that will really improve them.”
| 1 | Northampton have won six of their last seven Football League games against Barrow (L1), with this their first such meeting since October 1971. |
| 2 | Barrow have lost all seven of their Football League away games against Northampton by an aggregate score of 21-0. |
| 3 | Northampton have won each of their last five home league games on a Tuesday; they’ve never won six consecutive such matches in the Football League before. |
| 4 | Barrow have won three of their previous four Football League away games on a Tuesday (L1), although that defeat did come in their only such games this season against Forest Green (0-2). |
