As Newport County prepare to take on Barrow AFC, we take a closer look at Saturday’s opposition.
What’s their story?
Barrow AFC, nicknamed "The Bluebirds," first joined the English Football League in 1921, competing consistently in the Fourth Division. Their breakthrough came in 1967 when they earned promotion to the Third Division, and the following season saw them achieve their highest-ever league finish—an impressive eighth place.
Unfortunately, Barrow's success was short-lived. By the end of the 1971-72 season, their fortunes declined, and they were voted out of the Football League through the re-election process. This led to a 48-year exile, during which Barrow played in non-league football, though they celebrated two FA Trophy victories, in 1990 and 2010.
Barrow's long wait ended in the 2019-20 season when they won the National League title, marking their return to the Football League. Now a strong League Two side, Barrow finished eighth last season and are emerging as serious promotion contenders this year.
Who’s the boss?
Andy Whing is currently in charge at Barrow AFC, having taken over from Stephen Clemence earlier this year.
Whing, a former midfielder, enjoyed a playing career in the lower leagues with Brighton & Hove Albion, Oxford United, and Coventry City before turning to management.
His managerial career began at Banbury United in the Southern League, the seventh tier of English football, where he also worked part-time in other roles, such as delivering sofas and coaching at Birmingham City University. After guiding Banbury to promotion to the National League North, Whing moved to Solihull Moors. There, he led the club to Wembley twice last season, though heartbreakingly, they lost both the promotion play-off final and the FA Trophy final on penalties.
Now in charge of Barrow, Whing is looking to bring success to the Bluebirds as they continue their rise in the EFL.
Who’s the captain?
Niall Canavan, a seasoned and commanding defender with extensive experience in both League One and League Two, currently captains Barrow. Canavan began his career in the youth ranks of Scunthorpe United, making his first-team debut in 2009, coming on as a substitute for Robert Jones in a 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. He became a key figure during Scunthorpe’s 2013-14 promotion campaign to League One, making 48 appearances that season. Over the course of his time with Scunthorpe, Canavan amassed 170 appearances and netted 16 goals.
Canavan also had loan spells at Shrewsbury Town in 2011 and Rochdale in 2016, with his move to the latter becoming permanent. At Rochdale, he made 44 appearances, further establishing himself as a reliable presence in defence. He later moved on to play for Plymouth Argyle, where he made 78 appearances, and then Bradford City, where he featured 33 times.
In 2022, Canavan signed for Barrow, and he now finds himself in his fourth season with the club, where his leadership and defensive experience have been invaluable to the team.
Key Players
Emile Acquah has emerged as one of Barrow’s key attacking players.
After progressing through Southend United's academy, Acquah made an impact at various clubs on loan, including Harlow Town, where he scored eight goals in 28 games. His senior debut for Southend came in 2019, where he netted his first goal in a League One match against Ipswich Town.
Following his release from Southend, Acquah moved to Maidenhead United, where he found his feet, scoring 13 goals in the National League during the 2021-22 season. His impressive performances earned him a call-up to England C in March 2023, and he was named Maidenhead’s player of the year.
This season, Acquah has been in strong form for Barrow, netting six goals in 25 appearances, including a goal against promotion contenders Doncaster Rovers in midweek.
