Barrow
Holker Street
Capacity 4,256
Address Holker Street, Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5UW
Ticket Prices £11.00 entrance fee. Pre match drink in the “Far Post Social Club”.
www.barrowafc.com
Barrow’s promotion from the Blue Square North division meant that Stevenage would have to make the long trip up to Cumbria in the 2008/2009 season. Barrow itself is tucked away in the far North West of the country, miles away from anywhere really. The drive up the M6 is a long one and it doesn’t get any easier when once you exit the motorway, you see signs that there is another 33 miles to go.
The ground is a typical old fashion non league ground.It has a capacity of just over 4,200, with 1,000 seats situated in the Main Stand. Opposite this was the Ray Wilkie Popular Side which is where most of the Barrow fans decided to stand and cheer on their team. The small number of Boro fans that made the long journey were located at the Crossbar end, which was uncovered. Some supporters who wanted to pay a couple of quid extra could sit in the main stand as well.
For a small ground, it actually had quite a good atmosphere. Barrow got behind their team and were loud all game, even though they ended up losing the game 3-1. I think the fact that the ground and town is miles from anywhere makes it feel a bit intimidating. You feel like you are a long way from home when you visit Holker Street.
As for the game, Boro ended up coming away with 3 very valuable points. Goals from Calum Willock, Scott Laird and Lawrie Wilson were enough to give Graham Westley his first win as Boro manager in his second spell.
Getting to Barrow
By car
Sat Nav Reference: LA14 5UW
A trip to Barrow will probably be one of the longer journey’s you have to take as a Boro supporter. From Stevenage, find your way to the M1 and leave at junction 19 for the M6. Follow this until junction 36 and take the A590 towards Barrow. Follow this road into Barrow itself and turn left into Wilkie Road and then right into Holker Street. The ground is on this road.
By train
As you would expect, Barrow is not the easiest of train journeys from Stevenage. The best way is to get into London Euston and then get a train to Lancaster. You can connect to Barrow from here. Once you get into Barrow station, Holker Street is quite easy to find. Turn right out of the station and follow the road to the top. You will then see the ground.
