AWAY THE GAS
BY DARREN STOBBS
It was ‘Take Two’ for the attempt of getting to Barrow as we had to turn back only 40 miles from the ground in early January, with news of the match postponed.
With the rescheduled match set for a midweek fixture, it was going to be a long day and night! Having been to Carlisle and Hartlepool on evening matches in past seasons, I knew full well what was ahead!
I work with my Dad in the building industry, and I pre-warned him that we weren’t starting until 9.00am the next day and local to me for that matter! I could fully understand why many would have booked two days off work for this game!
We left The Mem at 11:50am and had a decent journey to Cumbria, stopping at Charnock services for 45 minutes. We decided to play Part One of the ‘Magic Moments At The Mem’ DVD, rolling back the years of when we moved back to Bristol in 1996 (yes nearly 30 years ago!).
It was a great throwback to the superb players we had back in the 1990’s. Although the turn of the millennium brought less fortunes and at one point it showed our league position nearly identical to what it has been in recent weeks. With a few shouts of ‘not much has changed!.’
Having a fair distance to travel after leaving the M6, we eventually arrived at Holker Street for 5:20pm. The coach, as in previous visits, parked outside the away turnstiles. The social club just across the car park was a visit for me in previous seasons and so we headed there pre-match.
A welcoming venue was to be had, with the Gasheads mixing with Barrow fans in two large rooms. Live football was shown on a number of TV’s and a good selection of drinks were on offer.
Alpacalypse was the named beer available, made by Yorkshire’s Salt Beer Factory. A burger van was conveniently positioned outside but I had made the decision to try a pie inside the ground. As we made our way back to the ground, the weather forecast was correct, as the rain was setting in.
Various pies were on offer priced at £4.50p. The meat and potato option turned out to be an excellent choice. Piping hot and a decent filling. Alcohol was also on offer inside the ground at £5.50p a pint.
On to the match and the Rovers fans were positioned on the side, in what I found out to be one of our previously owned ‘tents’ at The Mem. The stand had been re-positioned at Barrow with plenty of pillars in it, and looking around the rest of the ground, it was a stadium full of supporting pillars.
An amusing song was heard of ‘We want our tents back’ from the Gasheads.
No matter where you sat, it seemed to make no difference for an obscured view. In fact with a floodlight pylon also there to cap it off. I was sat just about far enough to the side of this, to see both goal frames reasonably well. As the rain fell heavier, some situated lower down moved next to me and I said ‘You might be a bit drier, but you won’t know what’s going on from there!’
It must be said that the travelling 293 Rovers fans were getting pretty wet with the rain driving into the stand. Many including myself commented that we had never been in a so called covered stand and got so wet. I was glad I brought my big coat!
It was a professional and battling performance against a poor Barrow side. The whole team worked hard throughout and although there were no standout performers, everyone was doing a commendable job.
Tommy Leigh got the first goal when a cross and then a shot was saved by the Barrow keeper and the rebound fell to Leigh to put in for 1-0.
In the second half we controlled the game in very poor weather conditions. Joel Senior drove forward on the right and set up Fabrizio Cavegn inside the box for him to slide in for 2-0.
There weren’t too many chances throughout for both sides but we battled so well to take all three points. Sparkes was my man of the match, with both wing backs (Senior as well) having decent games.
ATTENDANCE: 2,300.
We left Barrow at 9:55pm, stopping for 15 minutes on the way back and arrived back at The Mem for 2:45am.
It was much appreciated to see that Richie Bates and Ricky Martin come on to the coach at the end of the match to thank everyone for making the long trip up.
Someone asked in humour if Steve Evans was staying for next season, but they both made a beeline for the exit door with no answer given!
At the time of writing this article, I have also read that Barrow sacked their manager the day after the match.
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