The Stan visit the town of Barnoldswick, in Lancashire, next weekend in the 2nd qualifying round of the FA Vase. It is a highly anticipated road trip for the Stan Army and our first outside of the region since we visited Nelson in 2016. In this feature, we take a look at the town and the club we face – Barnoldswick Town FC.

About The Town

Affectionately known locally as Barlick, and distinctly different to “clone town” Britain, the town has a great market and the second highest concentration of independent shops in the UK. That’s higher than Arundel or Hebden Bridge! The town is tucked away on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and is situated in a beautiful part of the world with lots of great walks and cycle rides.

Barlick is proud of it’s manufacturing traditions. Bancroft Mill, which is on the Stream and Steam Trail, is one of the finest mill museums around and the town boasts some huge names such as Rolls Royce and Hope Technology. They produce bike components and ship throughout the globe. They have plans for a £2millon velodrome. Not bad for a small market town!

About The Club

The original Barnoldswick Town joined the Lancashire Combination in 1924. After finishing bottom of the league in 1932–33 and 1933–34, they left the league. They joined the Yorkshire League in 1935, but left after a single season, and subsequently folded.

The modern club was established in 1972 as Barnoldswick United (1972) and joined the Craven & District League, where they played until joining the East Lancashire League in the beginning of the 1990s. In 1997, they switched to Division Two of the West Lancashire League. After finishing as runners up in their first season, they were promoted to Division One.

The following season saw them win Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division. In 2003, the club absorbed Barnoldswick Park Rovers and Salterforth Juniors, and was renamed Barnoldswick Town. A sixth place finish in the 2008–09 season was enough to see them promoted to Division One of the North West Counties League. They earned back-to-back promotions after finishing as runners up in Division One in the 2009–10 season, and were promoted to the Premier Division.

About Their Vase Record

They are no strangers to facing Northern League clubs …

2010-11   2Q    MAINE ROAD                          A    0-1
2011-12   1Q    IRLAM                               H    3-1
          2Q    ABBEY HEY                           H    5-1
          1     RUNCORN LINNETS                     A    3-2
          2     SPENNYMOOR TOWN                     H    0-5
2012-13   1     MAINE ROAD                          H    4-2
          2     ARMTHORPE WELFARE                   H    5-2
          3     A F C EMLEY                         H    1-3
2013-14   2Q    NEWCASTLE BENFIELD                  A    1-3
2014-15   1Q    TOW LAW TOWN                        H    5-1
          2Q    RYHOPE COLLIERY WELFARE             A    2-5
2015-16   2Q    NEWTON AYCLIFFE                     A    0-3
2016-17   1Q    DARLINGTON RAILWAY ATHLETIC         A    4-0
          2Q    STOKESLEY S C                       H    7-1
          1     CHARNOCK RICHARD                    A    1-3
2017-18   1Q    DUNSTON U T S                       H    0-1
2018-19   1Q    GOOLE                               A    2-1
          2Q    GUISBOROUGH TOWN                    A    2-4
2019-20   1Q    WHITLEY BAY                         A    2-1
          2Q    NORTHALLERTON TOWN                  A    3-2
          1     ABBEY HEY                           A    5-0
          2     STOCKTON TOWN                       A    0-2
2020-21   1Q    NEWTON AYCLIFFE                     A    0-4
2021-22   1Q    A F C BLACKPOOL                     H    3-3    Barnoldswick Town won 9-8 on penalties

Join Us

It isn’t too late to join the travelling Stan Army. Secure your seat on the bus for just £20 today by ordering here:

https://heatonstan.co.uk/product/barnoldswick-town-25-september-2021/