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The weather hit us again last Saturday, when frost meant that we had to postpone the Gateshead FA Trophy game until Tuesday night. This saw the first game at Holker Street for over 6 weeks, and as everyone knows, that has big implications to any club. We've been ok because of our FA Cup exploits but we know others will have found it really hard. This was a massive game for the club a chance to get into the quarter finals of the FA Trophy and play York at home. The game seemed quite flat from the start it was almost like the break from football had affected everyone. We did well enough in the first half and we unlucky not to go in at half time one up, but as it was it all square going into the second half. We continued to push and were rewarded with a penalty, with in form Andy Bond slotting home. At that point we didn't seem to be in any trouble and it was all going to plan, but we then seem to switch off for ten minutes and they came back into the game, won two or three corners, and we paid the price when the equalised. Not the best outcome with the backlog of games already a headache, but we are still in the FA Trophy and we'll have to go and do a job up at Gateshead this Tuesday night.

Today sees what is potentially the biggest league game of the season, Luton Town at home. It was funny talking up at Sunderland where they said to us they were playing them in the league only 3 years ago now we are playing them. Ok, they've had a fall from grace, but we've also do very well to be where we are. Hopefully we will put a good performance in. Luton are a very good side and it will need us to be at our best, but its games like this we've driven so hard for and dreamt about playing. For years, and it wasn't long ago, and with no disrespect to these clubs, but Frickley and Vauxhall were the teams we were lining up against. We've got to keep that in perspective and we want to make this the norm for every season. At this point you'd expect me to go on the big gate drum but, sorry not today, I think we've got the message out there. We have the 2010 challenge and that's what we will be gauging the rest of the season on, you've seen Dave Bayliss's comment in the press this week so you don't need anymore from me. It's down to the individual if you want to come down. As a club all we are doing is making sure the message is out there and if we weren't doing that then we wouldn't be doing our jobs.

Being a Director is the strangest position I could have ever imagined being in. You work for a living, as any other person does, but then your Dad calls you, as he does everyday to see how things are going, but this call he tells you he's going to step into help the football club out as he can't see it disappearing. I didn't think much of it at the time but the impact of that phone call 10 years on is unbelievable. I came onto the board 6 years ago and you start to see how being involved in a football club is not the norm. It is different to anything anyone could ever explain to you, if you ever get chance ask any of the directors and they will tell you the same thing. All of a sudden you're in some kind of different world where people expect or treat you differently because you're the man from the football. You have to change the way you are, you've got to become more controlled in you views and feelings, because all of a sudden you say something and it's taken one way or the other, you do something and it's analysed by individuals, website, papers and it's something that especially in Barrow is magnified to a different level.

It is really something that you can not explain until you actually experience it but as a club and as a board we continue to drive this club forward. Every decision we make is in the best interests of the club and what we do get used to is the reaction to all this. Some very positive and some very negative comments, which is absolutely fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion and that's what's great about the set up of the club. You don't have to agree and if you really don't then you voice can be heard. The one thing I've learned is you can not please everyone! So we concentrate on what we believe is right and keep our focus on it. The only thing that's important is that whatever your views are, that we all want the same thing the best for Barrow AFC.

160 in hospitality today, and hopefully over 2000 at the game it's a big, big day so it's Liverpool v Everton before the game in the Crossbar and the England Rugby match afterwards, so let make a really special day of it.

See you there.

Other Football News Articles

Turnstile Arrangements For Next Two Home Games - posted 8th September 2010

Cooky back for more - posted 7th September 2010

Barrow Look For Nicholas Loan Deal - posted 7th September 2010

Turnstile Staff Wanted - posted 3rd September 2010

Manager/Player of the Month awards for August - posted 2nd September 2010

Peo Brothers Make History - posted 2nd September 2010

Bath City bar open to visiting supporters - posted 1st September 2010

Eastbourne Hospitality Packages - September 11th - posted 1st September 2010

FA Trophy 2010 DVD - posted 1st September 2010

Milne to go out on loan - posted 26th August 2010

Segregation for Darlington game - posted 26th August 2010

Wrexham FC hospitality package available to Barrow fans this Saturday - posted 23rd August 2010

Bank Holiday Monday £30 Corporate Hospitality Package - posted 23rd August 2010

Conference sign TV deal with Premier Sports TV - posted 20th August 2010

Edwards rejoins AFC - posted 20th August 2010

Visiting Fans Information for trip to York City - 24/8/10 - posted 17th August 2010

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