The title chase has come down to the final game of the season with both AFC Fylde and Barrow still in the running. However, Barrow are in the driving seat with a two point lead and will be looking to secure the league title on Saturday. While Lowestoft Town have secured their status in Conference football for next season but will be far from a push over and will be looking to continue an unbeaten run that started back in February and sees them head into the game twelve games unbeaten.

Here's some information on the match, along with some history about Barrow:-

Admission Prices:-
Adult - £12
Concession - £9
Under 16 - £3

Programme Cost:-
£2

Sponsors:-
Our Main Sponsors – Smith Bros Timber
http://www.smiths-timber.co.uk/
Platinum Match Sponsors – SNS Construction
Gold Match Sponsors – Loughborough Foxes
Ball-boys (sponsored by Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Ltd) – Bradwell U12's
Mascot – Ethan Maloney

Ground:-
Name - Crown Meadow
Postcode - NR32 2PA
Capacity - 3000
Seating for - 466
Car Parking: Limited on-street parking but agreement with local college 250 yards away for cars to park there.
Food & Drink: There is a fully licensed bar within the clubhouse. While in the ground there is Muriel’s Tea/Coffee Bar, Barbara’s Tea/Coffee bar at which a selection of pastries is also on offer, our burger van and our excellent chilli van that has had rave reviews from travelling and home supporters for its curry, chilli, nachos, jacket potatoes, etc, etc.

BT Sports (LIVE - 12:45pm) – Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur:-
Prior to the game the big screen TV's in our Social Club will be showing the Live Premier League match from St Mary’s Stadium between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.
The turnstiles will be open from 12:30pm and as usual our fully licensed bar will be open to serve hot/cold drinks and bar snacks. So why not come along early to enjoy a live premiership game and a couple of beers before Lowestoft Town take on Barrow.

Farewell to Micky ‘Mr Lowestoft’ Chapman:-
After 32 years, 480 first team appearances, 193 goals, 147,600 plus minutes and 1640 games in total (player and manager); Lowestoft Town will being saying farewell this Saturday to a club legend, Micky ‘Mr Lowestoft’ Chapman as he takes charge of his last ever game.
Micky Chapman will be welcomed onto the pitch prior to kick-off and via a guard of honour. On top of this there will be a brief opportunity for supporters to say their farewells to him after the game and as a final and hopefully fitting send off, the club are organizing a "Night with Micky Chapman" that will be held at the football club on Saturday 4th July 2015. It will be an all ticket event and tickets will be by application only. More details of this exciting event will be released over the next few days.

Form:-
Lowestoft Town (15th) – Last five league results; DDWDW
Leading Scorer (League) – Jack Ainsley (11)
Barrow (1st) – Last five league results; WDLWW
Leading Scorer (League) – Andy Cook (23)
Lowestoft Town are one of the form sides in the Conference North in recent months with a ten game unbeaten run (twelve in all competitions). This run of form has not only seen them consolidate their place at Conference level but has also made them a tough nut to crack. The blues are even winning league games on the road now, having endured a winless streak on their travels that wasn’t broken until the end of January and has now seen them register four away wins since. The Crown Meadow has also become a ground that has proved difficult for away sides to win at this season, with only Brackley Town, Gloucester City and North Ferriby United having achieved victory over the blues.
On top of this the blues have an impressive and unbeaten home record against the current top ten sides in the league, with wins over Fylde, Solihull, Oxford, Tamworth and Chorley and draws against Boston, Guiseley, Hednesford and Worcester.
Barrow currently sit at the top of the table with a two point advantage going into this match but with an inferior goal difference to second place AFC Fylde, they will be focusing on all three points to make certain of the league title. It’s a long journey for the away side, as Lowestoft know only to well but with them travelling down overnight the effects of the journey will be diluted somewhat.
In their last away game The Bluebirds lost 1-0 at Brackley Town but with twenty-five wins and just seven loses under their belts they rightfully sit in pole position coming into the last game.
They will face a difficult task against a side that are tough to beat at home and come into the game with away figures of having played twenty, won nine, drawn 6 and lost five. However, when away from home against the current bottom ten sides, they have lost three, drawn two and won just four.

Reverse Fixtures:-
(Barrow 2 Lowestoft Town 0 – Saturday 4th October 2014)
After a lengthy trip and an overnight stay back in October last year; Lowestoft Town frustrated a good Barrow side for long periods of the game. However, with twenty minutes remaining the blues succumbed to a free-kick that was stabbed home by Walker, following a shove on Ainsley. Then with just two minutes of the match remaining, Owens doubled the lead to take all three points for Barrow. On the day, Lowestoft struggled as an attacking force but put in a very resilient performance that was deserving of a point but unfortunately saw them leave empty handed.
A full match report of the game can be seen by Clicking Here

Club History:-
BARROW AFC were formed in 1901. In 1903 Barrow were elected to Division Two of the Lancashire Combination and in 1908 the club won promotion to the First Division. In 1909 Barrow moved to Holker Street, the stadium that they still occupy today. The club remained in the Lancashire Combination up to and after World War I, winning the league in the 1920–21 season. This victory preceded the formation of the Football League Third Division North in the 1921–22 season with Barrow became one of the league's founder members.

The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, achieving promotion to Division Three by finishing 3rd in the Football League Fourth Division in the 1966–67 season. The highest league period in the club's history was to be short-lived and a return to Division Four came after relegation in the 1969–70 season. Fortunes never improved and at the end of the 1971–72 season, after an unsuccessful bid for re-election, Barrow were voted out of the Football League to be replaced by Hereford United of the Southern League. Barrow have since spent their time in the top two levels of non-league football and have twice won non-league football's most prestigious cup competition, the FA Trophy – in 1990 and 2010, becoming the only club to have won the Trophy at both the old and new Wembley Stadium.

The club suffered turmoil during the 1990's before returning to the Conference National for the 2008-09 season. After an initial strong start in the Conference National, which saw Barrow top the table during the first few weeks, the club began to struggle and found themselves just above the relegation zone by January 2009. Barrow had more success in the FA Cup, beating Brentford 2–1 in Round Two and then facing an away tie against Middlesbrough in the Round Three. They lost 2-1 to the Premier League outfit but the cup run earned the club around £250,000, allowing investment in playing resources to be made. Barrow also managed to retain their place in the Conference, finishing twentieth that season.

Having made several alterations to the squad during the summer, the club started its 2nd season in the Conference National in August 2009. After a tough start, the club put together a good run, losing only once in 16 games and reaching the FA Cup 3rd round, where they were beaten 3–0 by Premier League side Sunderland at the Stadium of Light watched by 7500 travelling supporters. Having secured their position in the Conference National in the last home match of that season, Barrow went on to win the 2010 FA Trophy Final against Stevenage Borough 2–1 at Wembley Stadium. This made Barrow the first and only club to win the FA Trophy at both the old and new Wembley stadiums.

The 2010–11 season was less successful for the club, although they finished in 18th place and retained their Conference National place with a 2–0 victory over Hayes and Yeading on the last day of the season. The 2011-12 season Barrow enjoyed more success in the league, eventually finishing in 13th position. However in February 2012, Darren Sheridan left the club by mutual consent with Dave Bayliss remained at the club as manager.

The following season, 2012–13, Barrow were relegated from the Conference National after losing 2–1 at Cambridge United. In November 2013, Dave Bayliss parted company with Barrow via mutual consent and after a long wait without a manager, Barrow appointed former caretaker manager Darren Edmondson in December 2013.

Their 2013-14 season finished with a mid-table position of eleventh place and with a new owner taking over midway through this season, Barrow have propelled themselves to the top of the league in great style.

Lowestoft Town v Barrow
Vanarama Conference North
(Crown Meadow)
Saturday 25th April 2015
3pm kick-off

Come on you Trawlerboys!!

Terry Bullen