SPOTLIGHT ON : BARROW AFC SUPPORTER CATHERINE BLANSHARD
- Her Game Too OAFC null
- 19 hours ago
- 4 min read
Each home game, we shine a spotlight on a female fan from the visiting team, giving them a chance to share their story and love for the game.
This week, we spoke to Catherine BLANSHARD – a proud Barrow AFC supporter – ahead of their visit to Boundary Park. Here's what she had to say about football, fandom, and favourite memories.
🔵 Name:
Catherine Blanshard
🟠 Club:
Barrow AFC
📍 Hometown:
Barrow in Furness
🗣️ Q&A
1. Tell us an interesting or unusual fact about your hometown or city.
Barrow is classed as the longest cul-de-sac in the UK! We are a very long 40 minutes off the motorway. One way in and one way out.
Our claim to fame is being the hometown of Lioness Georgia Stanway. In fact her brother is our number 1.
2. What got you into football – and do you remember your first match, the year?
Dad was always watching football as a kid. Being up North you would think he would have followed the big 3 (Man Utd, Liverpool or Man City) but Ipswich Town is the team he chose. I went totally against his wishes and started supporting Utd!
3. Why did you choose to support your club?
Barrow is our home town club and my dad started taking me as a teenager.
4. Who was your footballing hero growing up?
David Beckham - not sure if it was his looks or his football skills that won it for me 🤣
5. What's your favourite football memory as a fan?
As a Barrow fan, my favourite memory has to be from 2010, when Barrow won the FA Trophy Final at Wembley. Jason Walker with the winner in extra time. The atmosphere was amazing!
6. What’s been your favourite away ground to visit?
Not exactly because of the ground but the atmosphere and the match at Barnsley in the FA Cup has to be up there. We went down to 10 men and were 2 nil down by half time. The second half was immense and although we came away on the losing side, it ended 5-4!! Josh Kay took it to extra time.
7. What’s the best chant or song your fans sing?
Being from Barrow -We all live in a yellow submarine is up there. As a teenager it was always ‘Shoes off if you love Barrow’ and shoes would be flying around the Holker Street end!
8. Have you noticed attitudes toward female fans or the women’s game changing?
Too right - I am immensely proud of our England Ladies. They have brought women's football to the forefront of everyone's mind and I enjoy watching them ahead of the England men's team.
9. Matchday traditions – did you have any lucky charms or rituals?
No - although I watch Barrow with my dad and son Noah and we always have the same seat each time we watch!
10. If your club were a film or song, what would it be and why?
Stand by Me- we have lots of ups and downs as a team and 90 minutes at Holker Street can often feel like being on a rollercoaster, but I look forward to those 90 minutes each week.
11. Hopes for Barrow this season?
I hope that we can stay in the league this season. We were flying under Pete Wild and were hopeful of a play-off place. We have lost a lot of good players and have a fairly new side. I am hoping they gel and surprise me.
12. Player for us to watch out for?
Hard to pick but our returnees Josh Gordan and Ben Whitfield never let us down. They are Barrow through and through!
13. How has Raglan settled in the squad?
Raglan has been a strong part of Barrow since he came in the summer. He has been defensively solid and stepped up after our captain Niall Canavan went off injured.
14. What do you think of Raglan’s performance so far?
He has been strong at the back.
15. Do you think he will score against Oldham?
I just hope anyone scores at Oldham! Our scoring form isn't brilliant at the moment and our top goal scorer (Lewis Shipley) is a defender!
16. Score predictions?
2-1 Barrow 🙏🤞
⚡ Quick Fire Round
🏟️ Favourite stadium (besides your own):
Theatre of Dreams - Old Trafford.
Have visited Preston and been impressed too.
🥧 Top matchday snack?
Cornish pasty and a hot chocolate.
🚌 Home or away days?
Love away days but you can't beat a home crowd and a great atmosphere.
📺 VAR – yes or no?
Yes - but only when it's going our way!!
👕 Dream player to sign for your club?
Being a Manchester Utd fan I will get some stick for this but if Haaland came knocking I wouldn't say no to some goals!!
Huge thanks to Catherine for taking the time to chat with us and share her Barrow AFC story! It’s always great hearing from passionate fans who live and breathe their local club. Best of luck to Barrow for the rest of the season!
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