Barrow AFC Celebrates 125 Years With Special Dock Museum Exhibition
A special exhibition celebrating 125 years of Barrow AFC is now open at the Dock Museum.
The Barrow 125 exhibition takes visitors through the history of the Bluebirds, from the club’s creation in 1901 to its modern-day successes.
It uses historic objects, photographs, supporter memories, displays and mixed media to show how the club has developed alongside the town.
Barrow AFC 125 Exhibition at a Glance
- Location: The Dock Museum, North Road, Barrow
- Dates: Open until Sunday 20 September 2026
- Times: 11am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday
- Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
- Entry: Free
- Accessibility: The museum is accessible to all visitors
The exhibition has been organised with help from Barrow AFC, the Bluebirds Trust and supporters who have shared their memories and memorabilia.
A Club Built Alongside Barrow
Barrow AFC was founded on 16 July 1901 following a meeting organised by shipyard foreman, engineer and inventor J.H. Hind.
The meeting was held at the Old Drill Hall on The Strand during a major period in Barrow’s industrial history. The same year saw the launch of Holland 1, the Royal Navy’s first submarine, from the Barrow shipyard.
The club began playing at a ground known as The Strawberry before moving to Ainslie Street and then Little Park in Roose.
Barrow eventually moved to Holker Street in 1909. The first game at the ground ended in a 5-2 win over Eccles Borough.
Organisers behind the anniversary exhibition have said the history of Barrow AFC is closely connected to the history of Barrow itself. Generations of shipyard workers, families and local businesses have supported the club through its successes and more difficult periods.
More Than Football Results
The exhibition does not only focus on league tables and trophies. It also explores what supporting Barrow AFC has meant to people across the town.
Supporter stories and personal memories help show the experience of attending games at Holker Street, travelling to away matches and following the Bluebirds through different divisions.
The organisers have worked to collect photographs, physical objects, player histories and stories from fans of different ages.
Barrow’s Football League History
Barrow joined the Football League’s Third Division North in 1921 after winning Division A of the Lancashire Combination.
The club remained in the Football League for 51 years. One of its strongest periods came during the late 1960s.
Barrow earned promotion from the Fourth Division in 1967 under manager Don McEvoy. The team included goalkeeper Fred Else, defender and appearance record-holder Brian Arrowsmith and striker Jim Mulholland.
The Bluebirds went on to finish eighth in the Third Division during the following season. It remains one of the highest league finishes in the club’s history.
However, fortunes later changed. Barrow lost its Football League place in 1972 after being voted out in favour of Hereford United.
It began a long period outside the league, with the club facing financial problems, relegations and changes of ownership.
Wembley Successes
Despite the challenges, Barrow continued to enjoy memorable cup and league successes.
In 1990, the Bluebirds lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley after beating Leek Town 3-0. Kenny Gordon scored twice, while club record-holder Colin Cowperthwaite added the third goal.
Barrow returned to Wembley 20 years later in 2010. This time, the club defeated Stevenage Borough 2-1 after extra time, with goals from Lee McEvilly and Jason Walker.
The wins made Barrow the first club to lift the FA Trophy at both the original and rebuilt Wembley stadiums.
The club also enjoyed several memorable FA Cup runs, including matches against top-flight teams such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
Returning to the Football League
One of the most emotional moments in the club’s recent history came in 2020.
Barrow were leading the National League when the season was suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The club was later declared champion using a points-per-game calculation.
It meant Barrow returned to the Football League after an absence of just over 48 years.
The club remained in League Two for six seasons and achieved two top-half finishes. Its strongest recent campaign came under Pete Wild during the 2023/24 season, when the Bluebirds narrowly missed out on the play-offs.
Following relegation at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, the club is now beginning another chapter in the National League as it works towards a future return to the EFL.
A more detailed timeline is available through Barrow AFC’s official club history.
How to Visit the Exhibition
The Barrow 125 exhibition will remain at the Dock Museum until Sunday 20 September.
The museum is open from 11am until 4pm between Wednesday and Sunday. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Entry is free and the museum is accessible to visitors with different mobility needs. A bus stop is located outside, while drivers can follow the brown tourist signs from the A590.
Full visitor details are available through the official Barrow AFC 125 exhibition listing.
The exhibition forms part of a wider year-long programme marking the anniversary. For supporters who have followed the club for decades, as well as younger fans learning about its past, it offers a chance to see how Barrow AFC became such an important part of the town.
