WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
We catch up with Wigan’s Freight Rover Trophy winners
GRAHAM Barrow has a scar on his foot, courtesy of Chris Kamara, to remind him of the day Wigan won the Freight Rover Trophy.
Barrow was lucky to escape serious injury after a fullblooded lunge from Kamara not only took the ball but also a piece of his foot.
He played a big part in Wigan’s success at Wembley, setting up the second with a lay-off for Tony Kelly and then heading back across goal for David Lowe to acrobatically finish for the clinching third.
Mike Newell had controversially put Wigan ahead, handling before firing past Gary Phillips, while Robbie Cooke briefly gave the Latics a scare by scoring for Brentford to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Barrow says: “I had two stitches in my foot after a tackle from Chris Kamara and missed the photograph at the end. Then Neil Bailey said to be ‘You had better get up or you’ll miss the lap of honour’.
“So I did and I had to do the lap of honour with blood pouring from my foot. I have still got a scar on my foot to remind me.
“It was the first year that the final was played at Wembley. You started off thinking it was another cup tournament.
“The closer you got, you slowly began to think that you had a chance of first, getting to Wembley, and then the fantastic opportunity of winning something.
“On the day I think we did play well and we fully deserved to win”
Wigan began the competition with a 2-2 draw at Wrexham in front of only 736 paying spectators before putting out Bury, Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln City.
Sunshine
Then three days after their final game of the season they booked the Wembley date after seeing off Mansfield Town 3-1 on penalties when George Foster scored at both ends.
Barrow said that the Bees had flown off for a sunshine break and which played into Wigan’s hands when they came back.
“The final was on June 1. Because of other finals and stuff it had to be put back so we had a long spell to prepare.
“We heard that Brentford had been away to Cyprus for five days and came back with that big time attitude around them.
“The first goal was handball – it’s there for all to see – then I set up the second for Tony Kelly who was so easy to play with. We had a great un- derstanding. We were leading 2-0 and than got a bit of a scare when they scored with a little bit of time to play.
“But then we went straight up the other end and made the game safe which is to the credit of the players.
“The most important thing for me, along with the result, was the performance As you would expect, to a man everybody gave 100 per cent.
“Everybody played to their potential on the day and I think with the exception of the first goal which was controversial we were worthy winners in my book.” 1. Paul Cook: Midfielder won promotion from Division Two. He is currently in charge of the Latics after spells with Southport, Accrington Stanley, Chesterfield and Portsmouth.
2. Billy Stewart: England semi-professional goalkeeper, a Division Three play-off winner who coaches at Everton, for the FA, and runs his own football academy. 3. Steve Walsh: Defender twice a play-off winner with Leicester City runs an educational football academy with Muzzy Izzet. He also ran an events company.
4. Roy Tunks: Goalkeeper became goalkeeper coach at Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, he also worked for the the FA and Man City’s academy before retiring.
5. Paul Beesley: England C international centre back went into youth coaching at Notts County and Leeds United and then became Ipswich Town’s kit man. 6. Kenny Banks: Wing half for Wigan in the 1950’s became first team coach and then trainer for over 20 years. He died in Abergele near Colwyn Bay in August 1994 aged 70.
7. Mike Newell: Striker who won the Premier League with Blackburn has managed Hartlepool, Luton and Grimsby. Is now head of football at Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
8. Graham Barrow: Midfielder who managed the Latics, Chester City, Rochdale and Bury but then returned to Wigan as first team coach. Is now Wrexham’s assistant manager.
9. Kevin Langley: Midfielder holds the club appearance record, is a former painter and decorator, has coached at the Centre Of Excellence and does match day hospitality.
10. Alex Cribley: A central defender who served Wigan for 35 years as player, caretaker manager, coach, scout, and as first team and academy physio before retiring in 2015.
11. Barry Knowles: Left back. The Latics player of the year in 1987 went into coaching and is a consultant on the Premier League’s Events Programme.
12. David Compton: After serving Wigan’s youth develop-
ment for more than 22 years, he went onto the Bolton Wanderers coaching staff.
13. Paul Jewell: Striker who managed Bradford, Sheff Wed, Wigan, who he took to two promotions, Derby and Ipswich. He was also been Oldham Athletic’s assistant manger.
14. David Lowe: England U21 winger, worked for the PFA, coached at Wigan and Derby and for Manchester United Soccer Schools. He is now Blackburn’s assistant manager.
15. Tony Kelly: Midfielder won promotion with Bolton from Division Two. He became their fans Liaison Officer and coached in the academy. He is now a community ambassador.
16. Bryan Hamilton: Had two spells managing Wigan, also took charge of Northern Ireland and Norwich. Has worked in the media for Eurosport and the BBC.
17. Colin Methven: Defender helped Wigan win promotion from Division Four, settled in Blackpool where he ran a promenade stall before training as an electrician. 18. Warren Aspinall: Forward who won promotion with Aston Villa is a forklift truck driver at the Sainsbury’s distribution centre in Basingstoke 19. Neil Bailey: Midfielder won a promotion with Newport County. Went in to coaching with Manchester United, Sunderland and the PFA. Is a regional coach educator.