Dream come true for AFC chairman
Last updated 13:40, Monday, 01 December 2008
FA CUP giant-killers Barrow AFC have been handed a dream tie at Premiership Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup.
It is game that could net the club a £200,000 plus cash bonanza.
The non-league Bluebirds beat Brentford 2-1 at a packed Holker Street on Friday night to reach the third round for the first time in 17 years.
Their reward was revealed yesterday when they were drawn against Middlesbrough in what will be a true David vs Goliath encounter, scheduled for the weekend of January 3/4.
Fans were this morning waiting to hear whether the game would be chosen as a live television match.
Should it be selected Barrow could pocket another six-figure fee.
Middlesbrough, nicknamed The Boro, play at the 35,000-capacity Riverside Stadium.
Their team is packed with star-studded internationals like Brazilian striker Afonso Alves, signed last January for a club record £12m fee, and England winger Stuart Downing.
The Boro are managed by former England defender Gareth Southgate.
Delighted Barrow AFC director Tony Keen said: “It’s a dream, it’s incredible, Middlesbrough are a top, top Premiership club.
“It’s going to turn this club around for the next five to six years. It will allow us to do things we’ve got in our plans – but now bring them forward.
“Nuneaton (a fellow non-league club) went to Middlesbrough in 2006 and I think they made about £300,000 from the game. If we make something between £150,000 and £200,000, even more, we won’t be complaining!
“The fans deserve this. I think we could take at least 5,000 supporters up there. It could be like 1990 when we all went to Wembley.
“I can’t see Middlesbrough wanting to restrict us on the number of people we take because I don’t think they’ll get a huge turnout.”
Asked if he had a message for the Middlesbrough millionaires, Barrow chairman Brian Keen, who just nine years ago led a consortium that saved the club from liquidation, said: “Watch out, here we come.
“We’re going to give it our best shot, and you’re in for a shock.”
On the number of fans AFC might take to the North East, Brian Keen added: “We’ll have to have every bus in the North West, all the trains and the horses!”
The last time Barrow played a top-flight club was 42 years ago when they met Southampton in the FA Cup. The Bluebirds and Middlesbrough have never met previously, though the club’s respective reserve teams did play each other in the late 1950s.
Boro, who last week hinted they may cut ticket prices at the Riverside in a bid to boost attendances, reached the FA Cup final in 1997 before losing to Chelsea.
Up to 200 Barrow fans watched yesterday’s draw in the Cross Bar at Holker Street. A reporter and cameramen from Sky Sports News were also there.
John Little, a Barrow fan of more than 25 years, is considering “bombing off” a pre-booked holiday to Thailand so he can go to the game.
“I didn’t think we would get this far in the competition,” he said. “It’s an absolutely amazing draw, I’m lost for words. It will be the biggest game this club has had for ages.”
Fellow supporter James Reid said: “It’s a brilliant draw. My head says we’ll get beat, but my heart says we’ll get them back to Holker Street for a replay.”
Fan Mike Hilton added: “The last time we were in the third round we went to Bolton. I was about eight years old and can’t really remember it.
“We’ll sing our hearts out up at Middlesbrough and it should be a memorable day for the whole club.”
Barrow Raiders chairman Des Johnston passed on his congratulations to the Bluebirds on beating Brentford and landing the plum tie with Middlesbrough.
The big football fan said: “It’s a great achievement for them. We congratulate Barrow and wish them all the best for their big game.”
l OUR VIEW – P8
I'm over the moon with this draw - I was born in Barrow and spent 18 years there till I moved to Middlesbrough so it will be watching old home town versus new home town.
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Have your say
I,ve just read the article about Craig Rutherford.
I don,t believe he doesn,t know who to support. He,s obviously a Barrow fan , I,m not questioning that but he was born in Middlesbrough.
For me it,s simple ... he,ll be red, come 3rd January.
I,ve had season tickets at Ajax for 25 years but I wasn,t in Tesco when the draw was made. I wasn,t in the Amsterdam Arena either, watching Ajax at home to Utrecht.
I had lent my tickets to a friend because I had my priorities and loyalties at heart and stayed at home to watch ITV, a nervous wreck and praying for a premier league team.
I,m home at christmas and will be there for the Wrexham game.
The next day I fly back to Amsterdam and then travel to Austria for new year.
Guess what...... this Barrow AFC nut has booked flights , interupted his holiday and will be there at the riverside to see the bluebirds give it their best shot.The next day I,ll resume my hol.
Boro might have it easy in December, playing against Arsenal,Everton and Man Utd..... but come January they are in for a shock.
Lets hope the legion of Barrow fans make it a day to remember.
Good luck and enjoy yourself Craig.
G.M.
Posted by Gordon on 4 December 2008 kl. 17:58