Barrow are currently a small club compared to say Wigan, but are just as big as Leigh and bigger than Whitehaven by a street. Had SL come about 10 years earlier we would have been certs and would probably be in a similar position to the likes of Wakefield, Cas and Hudds to name but 3.

I think you have to take history into account here. Up until the early 90's the club had long spells in the top division. We have a long history that encompasses many decades and includes many great players, great teams and trophies (including the 1983 Lancashire Cup - defeating 'cup kings' Widnes when we were a 2nd Division Club). We have always been solvent, own our stadium and have been an integral part of the North Lancs/South Cumbria community since the club was formed in 1875.

It looks like we might be heading back where we belong - the top, but no-one at the club is taking anything for granted and there is a long hard road ahead. That said, there is a real buzz at the club and in the Furness area at the moment and I seriously think anything is possible. If we can get a good SL bid together I think the RFL would like nothing better than a SL team in Cumbria.

seconded

Didn''t look too much of a buzz about the area on 'the secret millionaire' programme last week, looked an absolute dump!!!

On the playing side of things though you are definitely a club on the up and a good rugby team would help generate a positive outlook on your town.

Have the Rugby team and the Football team in Barrow ever considered ground sharing? The grounds can't be much more than a mile apart and the rugby ground is certainly a bit run down. Any money saved by ground sharing could be used to improve facilities at whichever ground they played at and would probably allow both teams to strengthen on the pitch. I appreciate this maybe a total non starter, but not knowing I though i'd ask.

Ignore the Programme mate - have a look on the North West Evening Mail website to see the uproar Channel 4 have caused by the way they 'edited' the programme. Admittedly that part of Barrow isnt the most pleasant place on Earth but it doesn't give the overall impression of the Town. The Towns folk are up in arms over it.


Don't mention ground sharing ha ha

Sorry just a bit of banter - no real offence intended mate

Every town has it's run-down areas and the programme highlighted those in Barrow. Unless Halifax doesn't of course.

The reality is that the Lake District is only 25 minutes away, there is very little crime in the area, a fantastic coastline, an ancient Abbey and a proud industrial tradition. Barrow Raiders doesn't just represent Barrow, but the whole of South Lakes and some of Morecambe Bay as well.

I'd prefer to live in the sewers with rats than in Barrow.

Vile place

Halifax certainly does have run down, depressing areas, and I bet Halifax has more crime than Barrow too.

There are 2 distinct part to the lake district, the wealthy all around windemere etc and the poor areas such as whitehaven, barrow and workington.

You say Barrow raiders represent the south lakes and morecambe bay, how many people do you think travel from these areas to watch you play? Genuine question, although I doubt it's very many.

Barrow is certainly no poorer than large swathes of Yorkshire, Calder included.



I'm not sure if any surveys have been done, but my point really was regarding catchment and how the RFL would see it.

I know we have plenty of fans in Dalton, Ulverston, Askam and Millom. Some also travel fron Kendal and believe it or not a few still travel from Carlisle (we 'merged' with them in the late 90's if you remember).

I've got no figures to back this up but I would suspect Barrow was poorer than Halifax, I suspect house prices in Barrow would be less than Halifax, although the nearer the lakes you get obviously they increase.

The thing is with Halifax we can be in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and other major cities and towns within the hour, giving the people of Halifax more job oppurtunities, the same can't be said of Barrow.

Although HBOS probably is the major employer in Halifax at the moment this could all change within the next year or 2. If HBOS was to shut in Halifax then the workforce could potentially travel to other nearby towns/cities to work. I don't know who the major employer in Barrow is but if they were to close then people would struggle to find work moreso than in Halifax IMO.

I agree about your catchment area though, whilst Haven and Workington are both also in Cumbria there is still a relatively large distance between Barrow and the 2. We however have Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield and plenty more clubs all close by.

BAE Systems is the biggest employer (the shipyard) where most of the country's Submarines are built as well as surface ships and tanks/guns etc. There are around 5,500 employed ranging from Welders to Design Engineers. However, the numbers are increasing yearly although they will probably never get back to the 13,000+ employed in the late 80's/early 90's.

Of course it would be difficult to find jobs for 5,500 people, but most of the 8,000 laid off in the late 80's/early 90's have found employment of some description.

Catchment for Barrow RL is probably at least 100,000. If we get our ground sorted, or even plans to get it sorted, we could be in with a shout of a franchise. You have to remember that there is no way the likes of Wakefield, Salford, Celtics and Cas are going to have a stadium built in time for 2011, so a plan with some financial assurances willprobably be enough.