The splendid sunny weather - leading up to Christmas - was great for walking the dog, a daily chore I perform. But during those outings I had become increasingly concerned, about the possibility of the Boxing Day fixture going ahead, the ground being invariably of concrete consistency. So with the dawning of each bright frosty (freezing) morning the big match was ever likely to become a casualty of the winters tale.

Therefore when the telephone rang at approx. 11.00 am. on match day it wasn't too difficult to surmise what the caller was going to say. You know it's at times like those that the great 'Summer rugby' issue once more springs to mind - doesn't it? No match action=dull life for us eager Townies.

We are due at Barrow on New Years Eve. This match must also be in doubt,(I'm writing this on 28/12) especially with the recent snowfall making travelling hazardous - although the A595 route to Furness is an unpleasant trek at any time of year. However it obviously is the second easiest away match venue to reach for the Townies - and a place well frequented, with varying memories, by myself.

I recall vividly one occasion that the Town academy were due to play at Barrow - one glorious Summers day in fact. I live in Egremont, so I persuaded the teams transport proprietor - he was also our driver - to take the dreaded A595 route for once and pick me up, and others, in the 'mont. He begrudgingly agreed to this. Once we had cleared the Millom turn off I looked back from my front seat vantage point, and could see several very pale looking academy players. Even worse for me was that the going got tough for our favourite (??) Coach driver and he induced the Summer air to be 'bluer' than ever.

The result of the horrendously 'atmospheric' journey meant he (our daring driver?) then flatly refused to take the same route back to Workington. Needless to say I, and others, were consequently stranded at Derwent Park on arrival back there. I have held an even stronger distaste for journeying to Barrow since that day.

The moral of the story is however in the form of a warning.....Don't ever engage 'Tom Jones' to perform a similar journey again..... (The academy team/staff/followers may well need to explain that yarn to the masses!).

On a brighter note one of my most gratifying trips to Barrow was while as a schoolboy. Several of us decided to take the 'cup tie special' train (steam powered) to support Town at Craven Park. What a great day out. No problems with the transport system - leaves, lines, or lateness - it all worked wonderfully. A crowd of over 10,000 attended this match, with Town providing a huge following. Towns' 16-7 triumph had us schoolboys almost wetting our short trousers with excitement. That day stands out as one of my favourite 'Barrow moments', including it being a rare occasion when I had visited the area without feeling travel sick...good old B.R. eh?..such happy days.
K.S.

History......
A HAPPY NEW YEAR versus BARROW, 2nd January 1994.
Town 50 Barrow 6 Attendance 3237
Towns scorers:-
Tries: S.Cocker 5, D.Drummond 1, W.Kitchin 1, G.Schubert 1, B.Hepi 1
Goals: D.Marwood 7