Would Barrow be upto complying a successful application to gain entry into Super League if they got a new stadium or will Cumbria never have a Super league team

Barrow's biggest problem and biggest asset, is Craven Park. The club owns the stadium (worth £5M +), but at the moment lacks the 'cash' to redevelop. I believe there is a 3-4 year plan due to be announced soon to totally redevelop Craven Park without having to sell 'the family silver'.

The attendances vs Wigan (6,275) and Whitehaven (3,202) prove that the fans are there and Barrow would certaily get larger crowds than some present SL clubs. The area is also a hotbed of the game.

A combined Cumbria team is a bit of a non-starter as the West Cumbrian clubs are 1.5 to 2 hours away.

If we keep making the progress on and off the field that we have in the lasr 2-3 years then I'm sure a SL application will be on the cards , if not in the next allocation, then certainly the one after that.

The only problem is that by that time, the RFL will have fast-tracked a Scottish and/or an Irish team into the Championship and will do everything they can to push them into SL (as they did with Celtics).

I would hope you can get the money to redevelop Craven Park but not sure how you could expand its capacity where it is just now you need a 12,000 capacity ground and with just over 6,000 on when i came up for the Wigan game it looked quite full how you would get twice as many into it i dont know. Maybe the other option is to build a new ground with some government grants and sports council grants and the sale of Craven Park (which would be a shame as its a fantastic little ground) Be great to see you in SL as you get more supporters through your gates than some SL clubs do by the way i was that impressed with your team and supporters i am coming up for the Featherstone game would come up to the Gateshead game but it clashes with our game against Wakefield see you all soon

Talking about Craven park, I've never been to Barrow but hope to get to our game there in August. Where do away fans go? Is it all standing?

Personally, I'm pleased to see Barrow are progressing well.

with it being cumbria they could stand a better chance than fax for a licence.
but still think the places go to another french team and widnes.

Widnes will lose a few more games/fans this season.

We will win plenty more games/fans this season



id rather be on the way up than down

and if we win the grand final 2 out of the 3 years and have a stadium for purpose and the crowds keep improving week on week which they are, are they still going to reject us then.

if we get into 6-6 finals crowd improving ground improving, ?
where does that leave us

then i suppose its up to the RFL who they put in. what are your crowds currently like.

Currently averaging 2,150-ish after 4 games, 2 of which against Donny and Batley.

we are averaging in the early 2,000 we also had simalar crowds as that against batley and doncaster they are closer to us but they didnt bring that many.

plus 2 3,000 gates against widnes.

Now possibly one game away from Super League. I'm sure most rugby league fans would love to see a Cumbrian side in Super League and being able to apply for a franchise would put lots of pressure on the RFL to admit you into Super League. Good luck in the final

Are you being serious? There is a hell of a lot more to consider than just getting to a final, or even crowd size or how plush your stadium is..

Last time I was up there you could watch the match while you had a ' slash '

No Stadium

Less than 2000 average

and thats just the first two criterias not passed

but like other clubs you wont stand a chance as the RFL will decide who even if the club is better than some SL clubs - the league will be full of French - Welsh and Scottish teams before another English team is picked - and you can guarantee the criteia will be changed prior to next round of selections - so those teams who are in Sl who have not met the criteria will not be expelled

I think everyone believes and knows that Widnes are certs to be in Super League after the next round of licences

We play at Craven Park. A stadium we OWN unlikemost RL clubs. Plans to redevelop to comply with Sl standards are well on. However, the RFL will lower the required standards for stadia, or else 4 or 5 current SL clubs will be turfed out.


League average of 2,100. Season average of 2,400.


Really ???


So we might was well give up then and not have any ambitions to play in the top flight again.

Thankfully, our players, fans and Board of Directors don't throw the towel in that easily.

I have a feeling that if we qualify to apply (if we win the NR Cup or reach the GF), then Barrow RL club will throw its' hat into the ring. It's pointless announcing anything until you are actually qualified to apply.

just on location alone you are in the box seat you could play on mount everest as long as your in a different country or different part of the country to the main body of super league clubs then you will be fine.

Barrow are doing really well.crowds ok but the next time licenses come round there no way you can apply.god the super l already has to many ancient stadiums.unless you got about 25 million to start buliding now.i think widnes have to much fire power now but u never know.

Why don't Barrow Raiders and Barrow FC both sell there grounds and build one massive all purpose ground as that way you will get European and local govorment support in the form of a massive cheque to help you build the new staduim.

But this would depend on whether everyone involved with the two clubs would be up to merging there facilities.

It's Barrow AFC please!

Barrow Football Club [iis[/i the Raiders, in the same way that Hull City is not Hull FC. icon_razz.gif