Reclaim The Holker Street

7th E-Dition
- And they      said it wouldn't last!

Where Are They Now?

This week we thought we'd turn this one on its head and instead of hunting down the whereabouts of an ex-Barrow player, we thought we'd look at a current one, and see where they're gonna be.   Why?   Well, mainly cos we like to be different.   And also because we were bored one afternoon and by chance we came across some unusual sites as we were searching the WorldWideWeb, and we do mean world wide as we hunt down .........Jason Ainsley.

Jason Ainsley came to Barrow back in October of last year, making his debut as a sub in the 4-1 win at Hucknall Town (oh happy days).   In December, after an injury to Graham Anthony and in preference to Peely, Jason became a first team regular in December.   He has made half a dozen appearences since, but as yet has failed to score, although we've gotta say that he was desperately unlucky at Bowel Ford last week.   Despite establishing himself as a regular in the first team, Jason's days appear numbered at Holker Street.

Before signing for Barrow, Jason had been plying his trade as a professional player in Singapore.   He has previously played for Jurong and most recently Balestier Tigers.   When he returned to England at the end of the season in Singapore, there was a bit of a scuffle for his signing between Barrow and Gateshead, with some Heed fans claiming that he had promised to sign for them, and getting quite peeved when he started to turn out for Barrow.  

Jason came with a bit of a reputation.   Kenny Lowe, who knew him from his Gateshead days, was keen to sign him, and the mystique of him being a professional playing in the exotic far east added to this reputation.   Barrow were only signing him until March - the beginning of the season in Singapore - and we thought we'd look at where Jason was going once he leaves Barrow in March.   Jason's form

And we've got to say that our sources rate him quite highly.   The following is taken from a match report that appears on a Singaporean website, with Jason playing for the Jurong Cobras against the Balestier Tigers - sounds a bit like a saturday night out in ambleside if you ask us - in the first leg of the semi-final of the Singapore Cup.

Balestier Central 2 Jurong FC 3
Scorers :
Jurong:-       V. Sundramoorthy, Dalis Supait, Jason Ainsely
Balestier:     Taufik Jailani, E. Manimohan (o.g.)
Jurong threw a life line for Balestier Central as a last minute own goal gave the Tigers a chance of a fight when the 2 teams meet at the Toa Payoh Stadium for the semi final second leg.
In a match which saw Jurong dominating procedings, it looked as though the entire semi final would be settled in the first leg. Suprisingly, Jurong blew the chance of taking a comfortable lead to the Tigers den. The Cobras had the better chances in the first half but only one was converted, by player-coach Sundram after receiving a through pass from Jason Ainsely.
The second half started with a bang when Jurong went 2 up. Sloppy marking from the Tigers gave Dalis Supait the opportunity to make the score 2-0, slotting the ball cooling pass a stranded Rajkumar. Another defensive lapse, this time by the Jurong defenders, gave a gift of a goal to Taufik Jailani, who struck the ball pass an onrushing Bashir Khan. However, just as Balestier looked like coming back into the game, slack defence again allowed Jason Ainsley to head the ball home.
Till the dying minutes of the game, Jurong held the Tigers by the neck, looking to have a good 2 goal cushion to take to Toa Payoh. But a last minute effort by the Tigers, which saw Hasnim Haron chipping into the box, saw E. Manimohan putting the ball into his own net. Balestier will be very grateful for this if they were to qualify for the final.

Although he hasn't got on the scoresheet for Barrow yet, he is well thought of in that department away from these shores.   As one fan puts it:-   "I rate Jason as a good player.   He can score goals when you least expect it, even though he is playing in midfield.   Most of the players in the Singapore league are professional nowadays.  The crowds at Balestier are alright..at the most a few thousand.
Good luck to Barrow also."

Well, a special thanks for that last bit, Joshua, and if you're ever across in Blighty, then get yourself along to Holker Street.

And don't say we never do our research, another fan has the following to say:-   I am a Jurong FC supporter.   Ainsley had a great year with Jurong in 1999 when he emerged as the league's 3rd highest scorer, despite playing as a midfielder.   However, in the following year, he did not perform well when he joined Balestier.   Many put his plain performance down to the inexperience of his Tigers team-mates.   Balestier have not renewed his contract, by the way, is he coming to Singapore this season?    We are not sure whether Jason will return to Balestier. They have already got two foreign players on their books now (Darren Stewart and Fabio Da Silva) and are currently negotiating with Thai Striker Woorawoot Srimaka. If the deal goes through, they can only recruit one more U-23 player. Jason doesn't seem to fit into that category so it is anybody's guess where he will go.

And that last snippet is interesting isn't it?   The club that Jason played for last season seem to have filled their quota of foreign players.   Has Jason set himself up with another contract or is he gonna be staying at Barrow and helping us with our promotion push next season.

Watch this space!

for Barrow has been steady rather than spectacular, so we thought we'd have a look at what the fans thought of him out in Singapore.

Droylsden Away - 1-2

Referees - The Second 45

Following our piece last week on referees, we received quite a response, and we thought we'd print a couple.   This first one from a unibond player echoes our views, though of course, we would never resort to such language ourselves.   But it's all about trying to win and then having a couple of jars or whatever afterwards.   That's the beauty of the non-league game - being able to let off steam whilst also mingling with the opposition fans.   And we thought we'd print it in its entirety because of the nice things he says about us at the beginning and end as well.

"I have just read your e-zine and I have to say you are working wonders.   The stories are well written.    As a player myself, I would just like to say on the subject of Referees, Liners etc., that I got a lift home from a game on Tuesday night with the two linesman which saved me an extra hour on Public Transport. One of them had booked me only the weekend before for asking him to "blow your f******g whistle man"!!! He had no problem with me, accepted that it was part of the game and that we had the right to criticise him, BUT he also had the right to his opinions on the players. It wasn't personal and if we don't have officials, we won't have any games. I will continue to have
a go at referees in the heat of the game - I want to win and if things don't go my way I let people know about it.   But many of those who slag them off left, right and centre - players, officials and fans - would not be willing to do their job, and that sums it up for me.
Keep up the good work."

And also echoing that last point, we came across this quote from a premiership referee.

"It doesn't seem to matter how hard we try we still get a public slagging for trying to do the job as honestly as we can. It would be very interesting one week if we decided not to turn up until 3.30pm. That may sound militant. But it gets you down. I don't know how much harder we can try to be good referees."

And our final word on this subject, for now........comes from our postbag, from a referee at a much lower level.

"I am a self confessed 'part time' Leek Town supporter, Stoke City
supporter and.. this is my first year as a referee at local level.   I was fascinated by your recent article on the Barrow website about the
bemoans of referees at Unibond level.  
Up until I qualified as a referee, I honestly admit to being one of the more vocal supporters in slagging decision after decision week after week... now you will find me down at Harrison Park, quiet as a mouse, even to a certain extent defending the referee.

Why ??, not because I am 'protecting' a fellow associate, but simply
because I understand, not in all, but in the majority of cases, how
decisions have been reached.   Sure, from time to time we get it wrong as you rightly point out, who doesn't, but you know, if players, managers, supporters and Parents (oh yes, particularly parents at local junior level) actually understood the rules and interpretation aspect of the rules, (offside interference is a good example), then referees would clearly have an easier job to do, the game would flow and there would be a great deal more mutual respect across the whole game

We are, sadly, a scape goat, but for me, I am determined to continue
for as long as possible, the drop out rate vs recruitment rate is as I
understand it, far higher and without sounding arrogant, without a referee.. there is no game

So that's it for now on the subject of men in the middle unless you know different and if you do, then get in touch with us by clicking

Neighbours

Barmaid:
Mental:


Barmaid:
Mental:
Barmaid:

Mental:
Barmaid:
Mental:
Barmaid:
Mental:
Barmaid:



Mental:


Barmaid:
Mental:
Barmaid's partner:
Barmaid:
Mental:
Barmaid:

Mental:

Barmaid:


Mental:

Barmaid:
Mental:

Barmaid:
Mental:

You look a bit down in the mooth, Mental Mickey.   Summat up?
Yeah, well, I'm chairman of Most Northerly United and we're bottom of the league.   The fans are screaming for my blood.   It's all going wrong for me.   Put another double whiskey in there for me, will you?
What you need is a distraction.
No, no, a double whiskey will do.
Naw, that's nae wha' I mean.   Something to get attention away from you.   Something that will take the fans' eyes oaf the ball for a wee while.
Yeah, that sounds good.   But what?
Well, worra bout a close encounter.
What you mean a meeting with little green men in the dead of the night.
Yeah, that sounds awreet
Nah, tried it.
Well, wha' aboot what that guy did at Scumchester United.   Him who wen' oan the pitch and jiggled that footba' aboot a few years ago, and made a reet git of hisself when it tourned out that he didnae have the cash to buy the club.   That caught the fans' attention.
What?   You mean find someone who hasn't got any money and get him to turn up at the big cup game with all the trappings, talking big and giving press conferences and all that
Aye
But where are we going to find a fool willing to do that.
Hi, honey, you ain't gonna believe it, but I've just lost my chuffin job.
Sorted.
Well, that doesn't alter the fact that we're bottom of the league

Worra about throwing your hand in with us sweats across the border and joining our league.
No that's no good.   The crowds at this level in Sweatsland are worse than ours.   We'd go bust within a season
Aye, it's a pity there isn't a premier club ye could merge with, an' then you'd be able to play the Old Company teams three or four times a season and that would bring in a wagon load of dosh.

Yes, but the rules don't allow one league team from one country to merge with another league team from another country.
Aye , but worra boot if you werenae a league team?
What you mean if the team were starved of cash, didn't have a goalie, and got relegated?
Aye.
Mmmmm......now that is something to think about.

Gretna At Home - Frozen Pitch

If you're looking for a match report of today's or any other game, then why not subscribe to the Holker Street Newsletter.   The Holker Street Newsletter is e-mailed to you on a daily basis, and it carries all manner of stuff about our beloved Barrow AFC - match reports, comings and goings on the playing front, and all manner of breaking news from Holker Street as well as loads of other stuff from around the non-league world.   To get your copy - free of charge e-mail Ralph Shepherd at

Ralph lives in New Zealand, yet somehow manages to put out this

comprehensive publication on a daily basis.   Currently with a circulation of some 700+ it's rumoured that work stops at VSEL for half an hour or so when it arrives.   It reaches such far flung corners of the world as Belize, Australia, The United States and Outer Millom.   So check it out, get registered and get informed.
Keep up the good work, Ralph.

Blyth Smarting

Some people are a bit confused about the scoring system for our sore losers league.   So we thought we'd have a crack at explaining it.    Sooooooo here goes, although of course we reserve the right to adjust this points system at any time we choose, without letting you know the appeal date, and by issuing contradictory statements to the media (sound familiar to anyone).

Blaming a referee's dodgy decision for not winning.

Being beaten by a team higher in the league, and then claiming they are crap.

The grass was too long

They tried too hard.

Catching Barrow on an off day, and claiming that you would have stuffed Orient

3 points

2 points


3 points

1 point

2 points

And bonus points are awarded to ungracious winners.   And this week Blyth played their joker following their 4-0 defeat of Leek Town, whose keeper, Statham, was taken off, badly injured in the first half when the score was 0-0.   This message was seen on the Unibond Message Board.

"Why should I feel guilty about Statham - I don't and I hope I never will - I hope he recovers but it does not really concern me.
The real reason most Leek fans are pi$$ed off with me is cos their team got thrashed"

Latest Sore Losers League Table

Position

1)
2)
3)

Team

Blyth Spartans
Alty
Hyde

Pts

23
19
18

Wanted!

Barrow's last chance of winning some silverware this season may have been hit by the big freeze, but our sponsorship scheme "Give it a Lash for the Cash" is really on fire.   Last week we were reporting on a new recruit, and before Droylsden's Paul Phillips was picking the ball out of the net from Pevs' deft flick, we had another recruit.   This time it's Richard Ingham who's joined our merry band.   Not only sponsoring barrow for a quid a goal, but backdating it to the New Year - Whahey!   Well done, Richard.   Soooooo, now it's three quid for every goal that Barrow score between now and the end of the season, payable to the club at the end of each month, and if that doesn't get us a top six place, then I don't know what will.
And if you wanna join in the fun, then e-mail us by clicking on the ball.  

Remember it doesn't have to be a quid a goal.   It can be goal difference, yellow cards, dodgy offsides, how many times the Droylsden keeper falls over when taking a goal kick.   And you might be a fan of one of our rivals and might have a desire to see us slide down the table, so how about sponsoring each goal that Bish lets in, or how many points we drop at home between now and May.   Sooooo just give the ball a click and Give it a Lash for the Cash

They're At It Again

Premiership chairmen, that's who.   If you read our

- and don't worry, you're in good company

if you did - then you will have seen our article entitled "Pearls From Dein", where the Arsenal chairmen lectured us on what a disaster it would be for us small clubs if the transfer system was scrapped.   We argued that the current transfer system only makes the fat cats like Mr. Dein et al fatter whilst the rest of us scrat around for the crumbs that they dei(g)n to throw us now and again.   Barrow have probably spent more on transfers than they've received over the last ten years, so we don't think the fat cats' argument holds all that much water.   What they're really bothered about is that their ability to buy up the best talent around will suffer and they might have to compete on equaller terms with semi-rich premiership clubs who currently have no chance of winning any silverware.
And today it's Peter Risdale's turn, telling us how bad the scrapping of the current system will be for the smaller clubs.   Bo££ock$.   Take Leeds' last two transfers.   How did them paying 10 million out to Inter Milan help the smaller clubs.   How did forking out 18 million quid to 'Arry's 'Ammers help us out.   That's right.   It didn't.

And it's not only Mr. Risdale banging on in the morning on Radio 5.   This evening, Mr. Peter Kenyon, chief exec of Manchester United Plc. is quoted on teletext as saying:-

"Smaller clubs rely on transfer fees for up to 80% of their revenue.   It's really a serious issue."

Really?   Is that right?   We think that what Mr. Kenyon should have said is that a very small minority of clubs rely on transfer fees, and this reliance on transfer fees makes it very difficult for them to draw up long term budget forecasts.   It's really a serious issue because it means that scrapping the system may mean that we won't run away with the Premiership Plc Trophy year after year.

He goes on to say:-

"A fan won't know from one week to the next if a player will be there or not."

Seems to us that ain't much different to how it is now.   Especially if you're a Chelsea fan.   Or a Man City fan who shelled out 40 odd quid for a replica shirt with "WEAH" emblazoned on the back in August, only to find him gone in early December.   Or a Bradford fan who bought a Collymore, Carbone, or Petrescu shirt, only to see them shipped out within three or four months.   Or dare we say it, a Man Utd fan who pays 30 odd quid to watch a game, - and due to the squad rotation system, - doesn't even know if the first team is gonna be on show.

As regular readers will know, we don't knock something without proposing an alternative.   Soooooooo, how about this.   Instead of a transfer system, have a wage capping system put in place, similar to rugby league, where clubs are set a maximum amount to spend on wages.   Obviously, this figure would be graded and variable, dependent upon which division or league you are playing in.   And then, - and this is the one Mr. Dein, Mr. Risdale and Mr. Kenyon won't like - levy a small percentage on top of this this wage cap - we reckon about one per cent should do it, and then distribute this amongst the smaller clubs in a fair manner.
Sound fairer to you?   It does to us.   But we don't hear any of the three wise monkeys coming up with a fair way of distributing some of the wealth that Premiership Football Plc. is awash with.   No, they're happier to send squillions out of the country, make a big fat profit themselves, and then bleat on about how the EC is ruining the game.
That's only our view of course.   If you've got another one, then get in touch with us by clicking

and we'll print it in our next issue

Evening Standards?

We've got to say congratulations to Kingstonian for reaching the fourth round of the Cup.   Good luck to the Daggers for their replay against Charlton, and well done to Morecambe, Yeovil and Chester for getting as far as the 3rd round.
And we've got to say well done to Cheltenham & Kidderminster for making the transition from non-league to the third division without too many hiccups.
It is these examples that are often used to push the argument that there should be more than one promotion place for the Conference.
Welllllll, what about the feeders?
Last weekend in the Trophy, feeder clubs results against Conference clubs came out as Played 14 Won 5 Drawn 3 Lost 6.   Quite favourable really, especially when you consider that not all of the feeder clubs were from the top divisions.   Leigh, Boston and the Daggers - all promoted from feeders last season - are all in the top of the Conference this time around in 11th, 8th and 10th respectively.
So can we have another promotion place, please?
Apparently not.   In the national press this weekend it was reported that the Conference are so pi$$ed off with the League dragging their heals over the increase in promotion places, that they are considering the sanction of only having one team relegated, thus decreasing promotion places from the feeders.
Huh?   Now we don't believe in Divide and Rule.   Yeah, we know it exists.   It's just that we don't believe in it as a principle.   Usually it is a device used by the oppressor, or at least by those who hold the power, the ones holding the aces.
So we don't really understand the reasoning behind this one by the Conference, not when they aren't yet on an equal footing with the League from a negotitaing standpoint.   We realise that it is all just part of the negotiating game, bluff and double bluff, but it certainly ain't gonna make them too many friends. There's gotta be a better way forward than this one, and we hope they find it, because we wanna see at least one extra promotion place for the Conference, but don't screw the rest of us trying to get it.

If you've got an alternative idea or just wanna contribute to Reclaim The Holker Street then get in touch.   Our address is