F A n F I L E

WILL METCALFE @ thewillmetcalfe

The big talking point among the fans is our return to the Football League! We were voted out of it for Hereford in 1972 and it’s been a long old slog to get back there. This season will be different to last

because there’s a new face in the dugout. David Dunn is a name the fans know, so it will be interesting.

I won’t be happy unless we stay up. It will be extremely tough, no doubt about it, but if we can pull it off then it will mean everything. Our most underrated player is no one, because the whole squad has overachieved. Ian Evatt, our former manager, pulled off miracles. The player I’d happily drive to

another club is no one – although in the past I’d have been happy to commandeer the team bus and drop them all off one by one. The opposition player I secretly

admire is Eoin Doyle, who proved formidable at Swindon. I’m hoping his form doesn’t continue at Bolton.

The pantomime villain will be

Evatt, who has taken over at Bolton. He did great things for this club, but there is perhaps a feeling that he bailed for a job which will soon turn out to be dreadful.

Save the date for Barrow vs Carlisle – a Cumbrian derby!

The best Barrow social media

account is @ Barrowafc, the official club account. It genuinely gives you a feel of how grassroots we are.

Did you know that a Merseyside gangster called Curtis Warren once claimed to have acquired our Holker Street ground from a former owner. Soon after, the club disintegrated. It’s been a long road back.

Our key player will be not just one individual – the whole squad is going to be vital this season. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that we’re very excited. Everyone is looking forward to seeing what Dunn [ below] brings. But we’re frustrated that Evatt left – especially for Bolton. If he left, he should be replaced by someone with proven experience at building a squad who can achieve consistent results.

We’ll finish 16th.