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welcome to the give 'em beans Blog
Saucy, tasty and your mother loves them on toast, but that's enough about the writers. Beans is back to tickle your Barrow (Barra) bones for the first time since the early naughties. An all new team of bright young upstarts is joined by a few dusty relics of Give ' Em Beans past to bring you a brand new but old fanzine, by the fans for the fans. So join us on journey though Barradise with whatever we can cobble together to brighten an otherwise dull hour of non Barrow related existence.
latest posts
THE ROAD TO WIGAN!
It's always been my belief that nothing in life can match the feeling of a crowd feeding off the same vibe, everyone in unison, the collective senses feeding off the same sights, sounds, smells. Very few places can give you that feeling.
5 days ago
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Cambridge Calamity
After last week’s fruitless sojourn south the prospect of a trip to Holker Street warmed my cockles. Although I’d deemed it the start of ‘big coat’ season, the sunshine that greeted me when parking up at Asda persuaded me to leave my hat and gloves behind. Save them for December or you won’t feel the benefit. Into the fanzone and talk centred on that morning’s Ashes capitulation, mixed with the reaction to the team sheet coming in. Talk of false dawns, quality levels, was it
Nov 23
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Discussion? Percussion? Concussion?
I can’t say I subscribed to it, as I boarded the train at Roose in the pitch black of pre-dawn Barra. In fact, I was full of bonhomie and optimism. Second best unbeaten run in England, some great resilience, evidence of Barrow mentality, Walsall a fantastic example. Glass firmly half full.
Nov 16
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Smoked Fish Fingers and a Shot of Pyms
After last game's debacle with the shorts, I've sought Mrs P's advice early. 'Big jacket' is the guidance. Sage advice, although it is an unusually warm November afternoon at Holker Street. The twin forces of the low sun and the scoreboard aurora are providing enough lux to knock the SAD clean out of Morrissey, so sunnies are donned in an attempt to get some focus on the action.
Nov 9
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Give 'Em Beans - Soccerline
Give 'Em Beans Soccerline - Now live, share your views
Nov 7
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First Train to Cockfield
Spennymoor (A) - FA Cup Round 1 - 1st November 2025 Phallic stops a plenty We have entered the first round proper of the FA Cup now during the previous five editions of the competition, given that our glorious return to the Football League precludes us from having to participate in the many qualifying rounds that precede it. As the nation’s eyes, well, those whose eyeballs have access to TNT Sports, were glued to the Worthing FC clubhouse on a Monday evening, we pondered what
Nov 2
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El Clásic-Lowe - Battle of the Bees
The pre-match promotion from the club had the game billed as the Battle of the Bees, but I prefer esteemed Beans correspondent Andy’s title: the El Clásic-Lowe.
Oct 26
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Set the Controls for the Heart of the Brum
I’ve always found the Midlands confusing. Decent people, decent food but a curiously listless sense of ‘between’. Whether it’s between London and Manchester or the Danelaw and Wessex, ‘the Midlands’ has always felt off kilter.
Oct 19
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Barrow Oldham, and it's live!!!
I'm watching today's game on Sky Sports, trying to get that new fan experience. And it's full-fat, 12-sugars, bend-over-and-give-me-your-Direct-Debit Sky Sports at that. Not a dodgy stick from dodgy Tarquin down the Tally, one-frame-per-second buffervision. I get all the ads, BetPaul trying to lift you up by the ankles and shake the copper from your pockets, order a pizza for half-time (a pizza for half-time, you fat pigs? I've just had me tea), Aston Villa are on Super Sunda
Oct 12
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Amy's windhouse
The afternoon started with a family Coast Road picnic which somehow turned into a conversation assessing how gulls would survive should the human race die out. It was with the same spirit of impending apocalypse that I approached the afternoon's grim commitment.
Oct 5
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Barrow 125
Barrow 125, Building a Legacy Together
Next year is Barrow AFC's 125th birthday. Bluebirds' supporters groups and the local community are being asked to band together to create a lasting celebration our club and town's identity and heritage.
Oct 3
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Cure For Crawley
Saturday waits...in this case at Roose Station for a train to, of all places, Chorley. An hour and a bit later, via a packed Carnforth platform of Railway Children fans waiting for, I guess, the Special Train for the Swallows and Amazons special
Sep 28
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Exit-Factor
Swindon Town (H) - EFL League 2 - 6th September 2025 Two Big Names. Photo Brain Moxham Reader, a confession: I did one. I took an early...
Sep 7
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Colchester Conquered
Five games in and thanks to a holiday and my boycott of Harrogate Town Saturday’s trip to Essex was my first chance to feast my eyes on Whing’s Bluebirds 2.0. I’m not a dodgy stick owner or a Sky subscriber – I don’t even like listening on the wireless, to be honest – so I’ll I’d seen was the comments and reaction on social media which is, of course, the natural home for fair, measured and balanced content.
Aug 25
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Gothic horror
Cursed Harrogate. I've seen you before many times. The overcast sky seemed to offer dark portents and I felt the likely disaster that a trip would normally bring close around me. Utterly at odds with Saturday's optimism but you know, Harrogate.
Aug 20
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SHIPLEY'S FLEETING MOMENT
Notts County (H) - EFL League 2 - 16th August 2025 Farmers Gone Wild For the second game in a row, it's hotter than an air-fried Findus...
Aug 17
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carabao'ing Out
It’s a balmy night at Holker St, global warming rewarding our errant ways with sweaty brows, shorts and a stunning sunset over the slag bank.
Aug 14
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BAILS, WAILS AND BELLYACHES
It's Friday, mid-August and cold drink in hand, I'm surveying the cricket field. In the balmy evening, a promising tyro of a bowler bears down on the gnarled grafter trying to navigate a faltering innings.
A swing in the air and a click of bails. Shouts of triumph as the youngster wheels away to be hoisted aloft by the older members of his team. Delighted applause bursts from the Furness CC patio.
Aug 10
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Bad Markanday at the office
The first game of the season, the opening weekend, matchday one, we're doing this again; there are closed railway lines and package holidays aplenty, that still doesn't stop us as 400+ Barrovians made their way to Chesterfield, arguably the last true northern town before England starts to become a bit too southern for our liking. In stark contrast to last November's washout, there was no Bailey's Hot Chocolate on offer in the stadium kiosk but instead a need for Ambre Solaire
Aug 3
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