Barrow AFC.net

Wintergreen wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 9:33 am While we wait for the big March Q&A with the owners for any possible news vis-à-vis the multi-use shared facility and Barrow Rising rumours, I seem to remember that Paul Casson handed over the club free of charge to Hornby & Co back in the day. So it might just prove a case of swings and roundabouts for them financially if such a move was ever to be on the cards. And despite what looks like a failed investment drive, let’s hope the March Q&A brings good news of some kind or other, even if it is just to keep calm and carry on.

Looking back, PC’s legacy is a good one I think; albeit rather haphazard in approach, he set the ball rolling for an unlikely promotion and his heart (and wallet) were certainly in the right place. Unfortunately he himself wasn’t in the right place often enough and perhaps he lacked a competent locally-based right-hand man/woman to make some of his objectives more structured, properly-funded and achievable. However, his final act of handing over the keys F.O.C. was an amazing and unprecedented act of generosity from any one supporter I would imagine.

McMark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 10:04 am
I ultimately think it was the sharks within the game (agents, players and associates) that feasted on our football naivety costing the club so many

Wintergreen wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:16 pm Westmorland and Furness council recently announced Muse Places Ltd as its strategic development partner for the eternal Marina Village project. To be honest I thought this project was a lot further on than this having been ongoing for so long. However, it can also be seen as the big time developers & partners moving into the town, and as we have seen within the BAE site, once they start a lot can happen in a short space of time. If any multi-use facility were to gain traction with the movers and shakers of Westmorland and Furness & Team Barrow, it would be a great pity if AFC couldn’t find a way to get on board with it to become key stakeholders.

A ‘no’ from the club would totally scupper any such proposal I think, which would be a big loss not only for the football club, but also the Barrow Rising project, future supporters and the community itself. Reading up on modern development processes it would seem that the ‘sports village’ type developments are key to attract significant investment, generate year-round income and provide modern community stadia and community leisure facilities.

‘No deal’ would also probably mean being lumbered with Holker Street for another 100 years and Cowps knows how many more make do and mend fixes and bolt-on carbuncles will occur before the whole thing becomes a total embarrassment to the town. Meanwhile, even the more well established and well appointed EFL2 clubs now see the need for a different model to strive for sustainability via multi-use. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... e-61792280

Bombadel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 5:21 pm We can’t sell out holker street, why do we want a new ground? This topic has been covered on here to death, and pointed out many times that we’d be financially worse off (for example BAE hire the cross bar on a regular basis, would we have to split that with the egg chasers?

Bombadel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 5:21 pm We can’t sell out holker street, why do we want a new ground? This topic has been covered on here to death, and pointed out many times that we’d be financially worse off (for example BAE hire the cross bar on a regular basis, would we have to split that with the egg chasers?

Jonty wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:20 pm

Yes, there will always be naysayers and there will always be drawbacks and trade-offs, but with fan engagement and alleviating concerns these could be overcome.

We keep mentioning the York Stadium as a success story. They have doubled their crowds, the rugby is lining up to play Super League. 10 years ago they were playing in front of 300. Why not here? With all that is planned for the town and the growth forecast.

AFC Blue wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 6:36 am Take a look at the raiders pitch after the first game of the season last weekend.
We will always be split on a joint stadium but still carries a massive NO from me.
York stadium 45 million. Keep dreaming chaps, zero chance of it happening here.
We can't even get a full sized artificial pitch in the town

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 7:05 am

AFC Blue wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 6:36 am Take a look at the raiders pitch after the first game of the season last weekend.
We will always be split on a joint stadium but still carries a massive NO from me.
York stadium 45 million. Keep dreaming chaps, zero chance of it happening here.
We can't even get a full sized artificial pitch in the town

The pitch argument just does not stand up these days. Craven park has practically no money spent on it hence the poor condition of is in. Modern day technology in pitches has come on leaps and bounds and many rugby and football clubs including York share pitches with no issues arising.
Yes Yorks was £40 million but that was made up from both publi. and private investment.
The government are throwing over £200 million into Barrow which is basically seed money to attract the private in investment into the town needed to fullfill the future plans for Barrow. An all purpose multi use community stadium would attract that private investment