As Newport County prepare to take on Barrow AFC, we take a closer look at today’s opposition.
What’s their story?
Barrow AFC, known affectionately as the Bluebirds, first entered the English Football League in 1921 and spent much of their early history competing in the Fourth Division. Their big moment arrived in 1967 when they secured promotion to the Third Division, and they followed it up with an impressive eighth place finish the next season—the highest league positions the club has ever achieved.
That momentum didn’t last, though. By the end of the 1971–72 campaign, Barrow’s form had dipped, and they were voted out of the Football League during the old re-election process. What followed was a long 48-year spell in non-league football, punctuated by brighter moments such as their FA Trophy triumphs in 1990 and 2010. Their perseverance finally paid off in 2019–20, when they won the National League and earned their way back into the EFL. Now firmly re-established as a League Two side, Barrow finished sixteenth las season and will look to continue to work towards achieving their goal of promotion to League One.
Who’s the boss?
Andy Whing is currently in charge at Barrow AFC, having taken over from Stephen Clemence in January of 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.
After guiding the Bluebirds to a respectable 16th place finish, Whing will be looking to build on a strong start to life at Barrow.
Who’s the captain?
Niall Canavan is a calm, authoritative presence at the heart of Barrow’s defence, and his years of experience across League One and League Two show every time he steps onto the pitch. He came through the academy at Scunthorpe United and broke into the first team in 2009, making his debut as a substitute in a tough 4–0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday. Over the years that followed, he developed into a mainstay of the side, playing a major role in Scunthorpe’s promotion push in 2013–14, when he racked up 48 appearances. By the time he left the club, he had made 170 appearances and chipped in with 16 goals—an impressive return for a centre-half.
During his time at Scunthorpe, he also spent spells on loan at Shrewsbury Town and Rochdale, eventually making a permanent switch to Rochdale in 2016. There, he added another 44 games to his name before moving on to Plymouth Argyle, where he featured 78 times, and later Bradford City, making 33 appearances. Canavan joined Barrow in 2022, and now in his fifth season with the Bluebirds, he has become a cornerstone of the team. His leadership, consistency, and defensive know-how have made him a vital figure in Barrow’s recent progress.
Key Player
Charlie Raglan has carved out a steady, resilient career across the lower tiers of English football. After coming through the youth ranks at Port Vale — having spent parts of his childhood playing football in Tenerife — he began his senior journey with non-league sides such as Hinckley United, Nantwich Town and FC United of Manchester. His performances earned him a move back into the Football League when he signed for Chesterfield FC in 2014; from there he went on to play also for Oxford United (including a loan spell), before finding more regular first-team football at Cheltenham Town.
At Cheltenham he played a central role in their 2020–21 title-winning campaign as they clinched the EFL League Two trophy and earned promotion. After several seasons and over a hundred appearances for the Robins, Raglan moved on — joining Oldham Athletic in 2023, helping them win promotion from the National League via the play-offs in 2025. In mid-2025 he signed for Barrow AFC, bringing his wealth of experience to their defence. As of the 2025–26 season, Raglan continues to be a reliable presence at centre-back, combining aerial ability with experience to anchor Barrow’s backline.