During Barrow’s 1912/13 season, the club were drawn away to Trowbridge Town in the FA Cup, then commonly referred to as the English Cup. The match was scheduled for 14 December 1912 at Trowbridge’s Flower Show Field.
Before the tie, Barrow attempted to persuade their opponents to move the match to Holker Street. The Lancashire Evening Post reported that a committee from Barrow AFC offered Trowbridge £100 to switch the venue. Trowbridge declined.
The decision was understandable. The Wiltshire club anticipated a record attendance and had little desire to surrender home advantage. Travel was also a significant obstacle. The journey from Barrow-in-Furness to Wiltshire covered around 270 miles and, in an era when football teams travelled almost exclusively by train, required careful planning.
Trowbridge prepared extensively for the occasion. Seats in the covered stand could be reserved for 1s 6d, while additional temporary stands were erected to accommodate the expected crowd.
A match preview in the Wiltshire Times offered an intriguing glimpse into Barrow’s status at the time:
“The Barrow team, by their record victory of last week, have returned to the head of the Lancashire Combination table. The Barrow players are all professionals, and the team is one of the highest paid in the Combination.”
Wiltshire Times, 14 December 1912
The same newspaper drew particular attention to Barrow captain Patrick Gallacher:
“He is the heaviest man in the team, ripest in experience. A stalwart defender in every respect, and clean and accurate in his methods.”
Wiltshire Times, 14 December 1912
The journey south began on Friday morning. Alongside several directors, the players left Barrow Central Station at 8.45am and arrived in Bath at 5.17pm. Fred Newman, Barrow AFC’s president and proprietor of the Palace Theatre in Barrow, arranged entertainment for the travelling party that evening.
As the Wiltshire Times reported:
“The President of the Club, Mr. F. Newman, who is a music hall proprietor in Barrow, is arranging for free seats for the party at the Palace Music Hall, Bath. The visitors will remain at the Francis Hotel, Bath, on Friday night and proceed to Trowbridge about 12.7 on Saturday forenoon, arriving at 12.42. After the match the Barrovians leave Trowbridge at 6.34 p.m. and arrive back in Barrow at 5.35 on Sunday morning.”
Wiltshire Times, 14 December 1912
Barrow’s correspondent “Observer” later provided a more colourful account of the evening:
“On Friday evening, the ‘boys’ were entertained at the Palace Music Hall, this by the kindness of Mr Fairfax, the genial manager, who reserved the front row in the stalls for the visitors.
By the way, there was a charming comedienne in the programme, namely, Miss Elfie Fay, who with a lady friend motored from Bath to Trowbridge to witness the match.”
Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser, 19 December 1912
A crowd of 3,000, a record for Trowbridge Town, turned out to watch the tie.
David Kenny gave Barrow the lead after 17 minutes, but Jack Smart equalised shortly before half-time. According to the Lancashire Evening Post, Trowbridge were ultimately “outclassed” in the second half. Kenny completed a hat-trick and Johnny Woods added a fourth as Barrow secured a convincing victory.
The newspaper was particularly complimentary about Gallacher’s contribution:
“The Barrow side was finely led by Gallacher, and the defence was sound. The forwards were clever, and towards the finish they overwhelmed the Trowbridge defence.”
Lancashire Evening Post, 16 December 1912
Remarkably, after a 3pm kick-off, the visitors still found time for tea and what was described as a “trot around Trowbridge” before catching their train home at 6.34pm. The return journey involved several changes and a lengthy stop at Crewe before the weary travellers eventually reached Barrow early on Sunday morning.
“Observer” had the last word:
“At last we reached Barrow at 5.45 a.m. on Sunday, and our reception consisted of a handshake from one of the directors who had ventured out of bed on this bitter cold morning to greet us on our return. And now for the next round.”
Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser, 19 December 1912
That next round would bring an even greater challenge: Bradford Park Avenue. But that is another story.
