Barrow's first black player

[Gasser]

The player I am trying to remember and he was not the 1st but possibly the best,played about 1985 ish he was released by a league club then went back to a league club and broke all records for the number of league games played, anybody any idea who he was. he was by the way in his mature years, when at Barrow.

Tony Ford??
Though he was a bit later than 85

[Bigfathoss]

A bit OLDER than 85 too!

[Paulmichael]

Tony Ford more mid late 90s I think

[Lancaster Branch]

Ford signed in the summer of 1996.

[Gasser]

Aye but I can't think of anyone else who fits optomisticsupporters criteria.
Came to us from Scunthorpe before moving on to Mansfield
Played over 900 games in the football league

[Gasser]

Walter Nisbett? Nesbitt?


PJ Daly will know.

I hate to betray your faith in me, Lancaster Branch, but no, I'm far from sure . . . Nigel Bamford says there was one in the 1930's but I have no idea who that might have been. Even I was just about not quite born then by some little while. I think the first black player I remember playing for Barrow was Dave Busby who featured for us 40 years ago alongside a young Colin Cowperthwaite in the early days of the National League (Alliance Premier).

Black players were very few and far between until we went well into the 1970's. I think the first black player I can remember playing at Holker Street – but not for Barrow – was Charlie Williams for Doncaster Rovers. He was a comedian.

Come to think of it, I am now going off at a tangent and I find myself wondering who the first comedian was that I saw play at Holker Street. We are going back to the mid-60's for this one. There was the aforementioned Charlie Williams who was black as well as being a comedian. But I am not sure if I saw him play first or whether it was our former centre-half, John "Spike" Rawlingson. He was a comedian too (but white). There may well have been other comedians, black or white, that graced the Holker Street turf but the names escape me . . .

Sure i read/heard somewhere scouse "wit" John Bishop played at Holker Street when he was a semi pro with either Southport or Marine.

[optomisticsupporter]

The player I am trying to remember and he was not the 1st but possibly the best,played about 1985 ish he was released by a league club then went back to a league club and broke all records for the number of league games played, anybody any idea who he was. he was by the way in his mature years, when at Barrow.

Tony Ford??
Though he was a bit later than 85

Spot on yes Tony Ford is correct and yes as soon as I sent it I thought I had got the date wrong mid 90s thanks for that but he was some player when at Barrow.

[dg1937]

Thanks for the contributions. I love the way these forums always spiral off in different directions!

Charlie Williams was the first black player at Doncaster. His League career with Doncaster went from 1949/50 to 1958/59. They were in Division 2 at the time and as far as I can see he never played a first team game for Doncaster at Barrow. Reserves maybe??

Dave Busby is an interesting suggestion. He was the first black player at Brighton 1973/74 to 1974/75 (Brian Clough was the manager 1973/74). The friend I'm doing this with has met Dave and talked about his time at Brighton. We can ask him about Barrow.

The player 'optimisticsupporter' is trying to remember is almost certainly Tony Ford who played over 1000 games (second only to Peter Shilton from memory), mostly for Grimsby where he was their first black player. He was with Barrow in 1996.

Later: drat, I think I forgot to 'submit' this comment. Anyway, I've asked my friend about Dave Busby and I believe the story is that after leaving Brighton he got a trial with Blackpool. After three months he then moved to Barrow (and played in a pre-season friendly against Blackpool). He was probably with you for a while in 1975/76. Does anyone know how many appearances he made, date of debut, or indeed anything about his time with you?

Thanks for your help.

[Esso Blue]

I remember seeing Dave Busby play for us a few times. I don’t have the stats. I recall that he displayed a chronic lack of understanding of the offside rule; and it was a lot simpler in those days

[SKIPPER]

Viv Busby? Brian Edwards.

Brian Edwards was if I remember one of numerous disastrous Brian Kidd signings. Built like the proverbial s*house he made Steve McNulty look like Peter Crouch. He was later suspended sine die from football after chasing an opponent across a car park wielding a railway sleeper in the Mid Cheshire Sunday League.

[Hadrian]

Anyway, I've asked my friend about Dave Busby and I believe the story is that after leaving Brighton he got a trial with Blackpool. After three months he then moved to Barrow (and played in a pre-season friendly against Blackpool). He was probably with you for a while in 1975/76. Does anyone know how many appearances he made, date of debut, or indeed anything about his time with you?

Thanks for your help.

According to The Definitive Barrow AFC by Michael Gardner, published by Soccer Data in 2000, Dave Busby made thirteen appearances for us - ten in the Alliance Premier League, one in the FA cup (we were knocked out at Emley) and two in the APL League Cup - between August and October in 1979. He wore the 9 shirt three times and the 10 shirt nine times, scoring twice - away at Gravesend & Northfleet (lost 1-5) and away at Bangor City (drew 1-1), both in the league.

[swbluebird]

When was ollie parillon? at barrow?

[Kieran]

When was ollie parillon? at barrow?

Mid-90s, same season as Andy Whittaker I think. Then he went to Accrington the following season as part of the deal that saw us sign Ashley Hoskin if I am remembering it correctly.

[BillyBlue]

I remember seeing Dave Busby play for us a few times. I don’t have the stats. I recall that he displayed a chronic lack of understanding of the offside rule; and it was a lot simpler in those days

Remember him playing for the reserves against Bacup? in the Lancashire Combination.
He managed to get the goalie and his stand in carried off before getting sent off, some going that

[dg1937]

Thanks for all the contributions. Hadrian, yours was exactly what I was after - I don't suppose you can give me the exact date of his debut (although I might be able to work it out).

We'll have to ask Dave if he remembers the game against Bacup, it sounds as though he should!

There's a story that the Gravesend & Northfleet fans were so impressed by him when they played for you against them that they whipped together £1,000 so that the club could sign him.

Just to be clear, I take it that Brian Edwards was black but came along after Dave Busby?