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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
To Gill a Shocking Bluebird
I'm sat at the dinner table, St James's, late 1980s. My little group of friends is talking football, or rather, we're trying to outdo each other in one-downmanship, which we're finding absolutely hilarious in that way you only can when you've yet to reach double digits. I support Coventry, says Peter. I support Luton, says Kurt. I support Gillingham, say I. The laughter subsides. The conversation turns, probably, to Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles or Dogtanian.
4 days ago
It'll All Come Out in the Pugwash
I believe this report truly started on Thursday for me, during a relatively new exercise at work where my fellow colleagues and I are asked about our well-being. "Yeah, I'm alright," I replied as we went round the room. "You sure? You looked miserable when you walked in this morning," a colleague replied. This was two days on from Harrogate, another occasion on which that horrible, smarmy pillock Weaver and his merry band of shithouses had got one over on us…AGAIN. Realistica
Feb 22
Love Will Tear Us Apart — Again
First, I was going to write this in the form of complaint to the Local Trading Standards Office, citing that we had as a football club support have been mis-sold faulty goods who were unable to perform the basic functions of football and were therefore in breach of the Sale of Goods Act.
Feb 18
Dino, oh Dino. Vibes are back
Three boxes of Give 'em Beans have arrived. I've had the notification. I return from work Friday evening and there they are in the hallway. It's always an exciting moment, sliding a knife through the brown tape, ripping off the plastic wrap and seeing people's hard work and dedication in physical form. They've arrived early this time, so Saturday's plans change. And already a lot has changed since the thing went to the printers. Such is life producing a Barrow AFC-focused fan
Feb 15
Schooled in Shrewsbury
Hope, like the burgeoning waters of the Severn, rises and flows through football supporters with each turn of the fixture calendar. Despite all evidence laid in front of us, this could be the one. THIS could be it. Our ramshackle collection of knock-kneed pea hearts may be galvanised into a 90 minute performance that hints in the direction of competency. You never know. So after trips to Swindon and Notts County, once again I was heading south to raise a cheer for those Blueb
Feb 11
Turmoil on the Trent
Standards are slippery bastards. A simple-looking word on the face of it, often reached for and beloved of leaders. The right way of building or making; quality specifications, so we work safely, competently and efficiently to a chosen goal.
Feb 8
Wiltshire Woe
I wasn’t going to bother with Swindon, truth be told. I’d bought a ticket a few weeks ago but the Crawley defeat coupled with the 7 hour round trip made the trip less appealing. However, as the week wore on the old instincts kicked in. The instincts that told me I needed to be there to either witness the proper start of the Gallagher era or to earn another stripe on the arm dedicated to dismal failure.
Feb 1
A Nobber's View: Gallagher and Welsh at Barrow
Beans has reached out to our friend at esteemed Preston North End fanzine and former star of Fanzine of the Week, The Nose Bag, as he gives us his thoughts on Paul Gallagher and John Welsh. Take it away TNB..
Jan 17
New Year, Same Old Barra
There was a time when Salford carried with them a sheen of showbiz glamour - they were the ‘fancy dan’ club that attracted the extra attention of being the media darlings and whilst that’s no longer the case, what they’ve evolved into is a solid, upward looking League 2 outfit. The Class of 92 star quality has been diluted by the involvement of American megacorps like AIG and in the moneypit that is English football, hard cash is needed more than the part-time patronage of so
Jan 2
A Very Fine Spectacle: Barra Virile on the Wirral
It was destination Prenton Park during what has been a pessimistic perennial period for the final dance of 2025 for Barrow Soccer as we end the year with form that can only be likened to a pathetic and half-hearted jig. However, sometimes, you simply don't know; this is a side that is definitely better away than at home, although chucking away
Dec 30, 2025
Wham! McCann, We're in a Jam
Here, in Haste
A winter's day
In a deep and dark December
In Accrington.
Gazing from my bus window to the streets below,
I've not a clue where this season will go.
I am a rock, I am an island.
Dec 27, 2025
Seasons Beatings
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the alternative Christmas calendar: Mad Friday, where alcohol-fuelled violence and vicious physical assaults are euphemised and football isn’t traditionally played. But here I am, sober as a nerd, trudging down to Holker Street for our Christmas Eve fixture versus Cheltenham. There’s optimism in the air after last week’s comeback at Gillingham, and the home crowd are in fine voice from kick-off. Just over 2,000 souls have forgone th
Dec 21, 2025
Old McDonald Works his Charm
There is a famous saying that "there are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen" that may or may not have been coined by Vladimir Lenin or George Galloway, depending. It has most certainly been a case of the latter at Barrow AFC where the small matter of disposing of the services of Head Coach Andy Whing took place out of the second of a trio of crucial fixtures that he wasn't afforded the time to see out, having been relieved of his duties on
Dec 14, 2025
Pantomime Hearse
Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls – roll up, roll up! It’s the festive season, as we look towards the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate together. Gather the family, reject the Champions League’s bright lights and come along to Holker Street. Got your raffle ticket? Then I’ll begin.
Dec 10, 2025
Heartbreak in Soul Country
It was giving Barnsley 2022 vibes even before the game: the feeling that, after a promising start, this was a season that was at risk of coming off its hinges; an upper-mid-sized Cup following enjoying a change of winter scenery; a team that could underperform one week, but match the best sides in League 2 the next; a boisterous, festive end; and a significant elevation behind the goal giving a cinematic visual effect to proceedings.
Dec 8, 2025
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.
Nov 26, 2025
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, 2025
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, 2025
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, 2025
Give 'Em Beans - Soccerline
Give 'Em Beans Soccerline - Now live, share your views
Nov 7, 2025
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