Not sure how many Pools fans will agree with me but here goes...

I saw Barrow draw 1-1 at Aldershot in the 1972 season when they lost their league status - yes an incredible 48 years ago. I remember that January day as if it were yesterday as I was serving in the army and watched some Aldershot home games. Barrow finished 3rd bottom and were booted out and Pools survived (again). At the time it was touted that Hereford United who replaced Barrow were after Pools place in the league although HUFC (the other HUFC) denied this. Anyway I am pleased that Barrow with their geography against them have made it back and of course I hope Pools join them as soon as possible. I would also like to see the day when Southport, Stockport County and Workington get back as well. Bradford Park Avenue and York City and Darlo as well but they are longer shots. Although I live in the far South West I hate these southern clubs with their money and clout that have changed the lower leagues. Maybe Barrow have given me and maybe others a glimmer of hope that one day Pools will compete back in the football league and not have to travel 16 million miles to play opposition.

Completely agree. We saw with R&D what happens when the sugar daddy of a plastic club gets bored. The league currently has More than its fair share of these type of clubs.

I’m pleased to see Barrow back, it was a bit of a travesty them going out in the first place. Hereford got in on the back of their cup win over Newcastle and by any fair measure it should have been Pools rather than Barrow who went out.

Yeah I think it is a fair decision to promote Barrow, no idea how the playoffs are going to work. It’ll come down to has the best squad still in place, most clubs have released players, published their retained list & let loans go back. Personally I’d like to see Harrogate get promoted, purely for selfish reasons that I could take in a few games here & there when Pools & Spennymoor aren’t playing.
Barrows challenge is going to be keeping their manager Ian Evatt, he has done wonders there with a team nobody fancied.

I don't begrudge Barrow going up -they've waited long enough. But they weren't by any stretch of the imagination nailed on to hold onto the automatic promotion place.
Swings and roundabouts, they've had a bit of good fortune and can finally stop complaining about being cheated by the re-election system. Farmers are rarely daft where money's concerned, and Vince Barker certainly wasn't!

Agreeing as well. Always had a soft spot for Barrow , so much so that I once made the effort to go to Wembley and watch them beat Leek Town in the FA Trophy final of 1990. The two towns and clubs are very similar in many ways , so pleased they have finally regained their FL status. At the time in 1972 it was widely accepted that Pools would make way for an up and coming club like Hereford. Had we finished in the bottom 4 it would've been our 3rd application for re-election on the bounce, and there is only so long you can spin a yarn. That is why the great escape of 71/72 has legendary status. Obviously geography would've played a part in Barrow getting voted out, but another issue was the state of their pitch, that had a speedway track around it , that by all accounts overlapped the corner flag area , and wasn't well received by opposition clubs. Like Gateshead and Bradford PA before them , they were harshly voted out of the league , I doubt anyone at the time could've put up a case for Pools staying in the league.

welcome back barrow. footballs biggest injustice has took nearly 50 years to right itself. the first poster has got everything spot on for me. if pools ever get back into the league its games against crawley, forest green vegans and scatter cash salford that are the downside.

Its just a shame they couldn't have done it in the proper fashion , though they were wobbling when the season was stopped. If they are similar to Pools as I suggest they may well have blown it.

[quote="horden"]. Obviously geography would've played a part in Barrow getting voted out, but another issue was the state of their pitch, that had a speedway track around it , that by all accounts overlapped the corner flag area , and wasn't well received by opposition clubs.
always thought that geography should have been a favour for them especially in those days where fans mattered more. there was no real alternative league club for barrow fans to watch. halifax who had a similar ground with the speedway and corner problems were equally as lucky as they seemed to get theit act together in the 60,s. at least fans of them and pools, especially halifax had a closer alternative club to watch their league football at, even if they did not support that team.

Not sure fans mattered more in those days Accrington , as for the geography it was a long trek , that I reckon would've been costlier in those days than now , would've been a 5 hour round trip from Hartlepool back then , if not longer. Barrow is out on a limb and Preston would've been the easiest league club to get to , but probably nothing in common. Fair play to Barrow though , they have maintained a decent core of support since they went out of the league and that's always given them a chance of getting back into the league. Not as heroic a story as that of Accrington Stanley but a great story nonetheless.

Aye, congratulations to Barrow.

Yes Mr 2-0 completely agree.

Thanks folks and while on the subject were York City not top of the North Section when things ground to a halt? Superb away day against old rivals City. King's Lynn promoted.

They had a two point lead , but Kings Lynn had two games in hand.

https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/match-info/tables?table_id=d-51775