MANAGING TO SUCCEED

Football historian LEIGH EDWARDS profiles seven leading Barrow managers...

Colin Appleton

Player-manager Colin Appleton guided Barrow to their highest-ever League finish in 1967-68. Initially with hometown Scarborough, the wing-half moved to Leicester City in March 1954 and appeared in two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals, captaining their 1964 success. He moved via Charlton to Barrow as player-boss from August 1967 until January 1969, scoring once in 43 League outings. Later Scarborough’s player-boss, he became Hull City’s manager, leading them to promotion in 1982-83 and the Associate Members Cup final in 1984, then had spells in charge of Swansea City, Exeter City and Hull City again. He died in May 2021.

Vic Halom

Vic Halom managed Barrow to the Northern Premier League title in 1983-84. Initially a striker with Charlton Athletic, he moved via Orient to Fulham in November 1968 and featured in their 1970-71 promotion success. He joined Luton in September 1971, reuniting with Bob Stokoe at Sunderland in February 1973. Starring as they won the FA Cup in 1973 and Second Division title in 1975-76, he joined Oldham Athletic in July 1976 and was top scorer in 1976-77. He played for Rotherham and coached in Norway, then managed Barrow from July 1983 until May 1984. After spells in charge of Rochdale and Burton Albion, he scouted for Newcastle United.

Ray Wilkie

Popular manager Ray Wilkie plotted Barrow’s 1990 FA Trophy final triumph. A Geordie bookmaker, he was a successful amateur player in his native North-East, featuring in Crook Town’s 1959 Amateur Cup final triumph. He had spells in charge of Durham City, North Shields and Gateshead before becoming Barrow’s manager in March 1986, guiding them to the FA Trophy semi-finals in 198687, Northern Premier League Cup final in 1987-88 and Northern Premier League title in 1988-89. Ill health forced him to quit in November 1991 and he sadly died a year later. His ashes were scattered on the pitch and a stand at Holker Street named in his memory.

Owen Brown

Ex-England Schoolboy striker Owen Brown managed Barrow’s 199798 Northern Premier League title triumph. Initially with hometown Liverpool, he joined Carlisle United in June 1980 and moved to Tranmere Rovers in August 1981. He had a brief spell at Crewe Alexandra before rejoining Tranmere in October 1982 and was top scorer in 1982-83. Later playing for Chester, Hyde, Oswestry, Bootle and Prescot Cables, he managed Barrow from October 1996 until January 1999. He coached Liverpool’s U-19 team and Altrincham, then managed Droylsden, Chester and Vauxhall Motors, also holding various positions at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez.

Dave Bayliss

Joint-managers Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan plotted Barrow’s 2010 FA Trophy final success. Defender Bayliss played for Rochdale, Luton, Wrexham and Lancaster before joining Barrow in November 2006. He became joint-boss with former Barnsley midfielder Sheridan in December 2007, also managing the Bluebirds to promotion from the Conference North in 2007-08 and FA Cup third round on two occasions. After Sheridan’s departure in February 2012, Bayliss remained as sole manager until November 2013. He has since been a scout for Millwall and coached at Manchester City’s Academy, also working for the NHS rehabilitating ex-offenders.

Darren Edmondson

Darren Edmondson managed Barrow’s 2014-15 Conference North title triumph. Initially with Carlisle United, the right-back starred as they won the Third Division title and were Auto Windscreens Shield finalists in 1994-95. He also featured in their 1996-97 promotion campaign before moving to Huddersfield Town for

£200,000 in March 1997. Following spells at York City and Chester City, he joined Barrow in July 2005 and had a spell as caretaker-boss prior to joining Workington in January 2006. He became their manager, then managed Barrow from December 2013 until November 2015 and has since been Academy manager at Carlisle and Rochdale.

Ian Evatt

Ian Evatt managed Barrow to the Conference National title in 2019-20. The defender turned professional with Derby County in December 1998 and joined Chesterfield in August 2003. Voted ‘Player of the Year’ in 2003-04, he moved to QPR in June 2005. He joined Blackpool in August 2006, helping win promotion in 2006-07 and regain top-flight status in 2009-10. Ever-present in 2010-11, he rejoined Chesterfield in July 2013 and captained their 2013-14 League Two title triumph. He managed Barrow from June 2018 until June 2020, guiding them back to the Football League after 48 years’ absence, then managed Bolton Wanderers to promotion in 2020-21.

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