By Kate Jackson
September 29 2011

Barrow's Holker Street was certainly a bit of a culture shock for Imps fans and one of those grounds that makes you realise you're non-league. It's a long journey from Lincoln to Holker Street and certainly wasn't a ground that you like to visit if you're in the middle of a bad run.

Lincoln to Barrow on a Tuesday night, what mentalist thought that would be a good idea? Over 200 miles away, Barrow on a Tuesday night was one for the hardcore/crazy fans. It's a relatively easy journey despite the distance, being either dual carriageway or motorway up until Cumbria, at which point you then hit what could best be described as the county that time forgot. We went through a town called Ulverston which was one of the most surreal towns ever. They were letting out a church to live in, they had a cinema with only a single film showing once a day and a sign proudly advertising that a pub (that was still seemingly open) would be showing the 2010 World Cup.

The town of Barrow wasn't much better and it says a lot about a town when it makes Grimsby look classy. A dank, miserable little town judging by our journey in and the surroundings of the ground, it certainly wasn't a place that will appear on a list of beautiful places to live.

The ground appears near enough of out nowhere and looks tiny from the outside. There is precisely nothing to do around the ground and the away end entrance is right next to the road...that's right next to a blind corner on a t-junction, that could easily cause an accident one day.

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Holker Street End - Away End to the Left

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Once inside the ground you see just why this is viewed as one of the sterotypical non-league grounds. The away end is split into 2/3 for the home side and 1/3 for the away fans, with hireable scaffolding separating the two. Alternatively away fans do have an option to sit in the seated stand, although there is a bit of an obstacle course to get into it.....weaving between traffic cones, squeezing inbetween a fence and a wall and up and down stairs like a yo-yo.

The view from the seated stand is restricted by several poles, and there are virtually no seats other than the very first row where you would get a completely unrestricted view. Much like other grounds in the Conference, there is no segregation between fans in this stand, meaning that if Barrow ever get a local derby against someone like Carlisle, it could lead to some issues.

The leg space isn't great in this stand, but thankfully it wasn't even close to full so no issues with people sitting in front of you, leaning back, hitting your knees and looking at you like it's your fault. 

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Ray Wilkie Popular Side

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The stand on the opposite side was a pitch length terrace that was partially covered by a roof. It reminded me of one of the stands at Gainsborough Trinity and most of the Barrow fans seemed to prefer this stand.

The final stand behind the far goal is an odd stand. There appears to only be a few steps of terracing before there is a building where the changing rooms are and what I can only guess are the executive lounges.

Overall, the ground quality isn't the best, infact I'd say it's probably one of the least visually pleasing grounds I have ever been to.

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Crossbar End

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The atmosphere at Barrow is non-existent. The fans may go on a mass migration around the pitch when they are attacking the different ends, but they never seemed to get behind their team and often they were heavily criticising their own players. Fickle is the word I am looking for.

Even when they scored they didn't create much noise and rarely creating chanting. The way the ground is structured would make it difficult for away fans to create an atmosphere, but with a roof the Barrow fans would have more than adequate opportunities to create a decent atmosphere if they weren't too busy getting on their players' back.

The programme has a LOT of adverts in it and very few articles actually worth reading. It's certainly pushing it to sell it for £2.50.

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MAIN STAND

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Overall I am not a fan of this ground at all. It's far away, there's sod all to do around the ground, the view from both versions of the away end is crap, the fans are very fickle towards their own side and there is very little appeal in this ground. I certainly won't visit it again if City aren't playing there.

Barrow's Holker Street

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 29/09/2011 21:57

theimps.ka
29/09/2011 21:57

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