Barwell

Address

Address:
Kirkby Road Sports Ground Kirkby Road Barwell LE9 8QF
Directions:
Seated:
Standing:
Telephone:
07961 905141
Website:

Contacts

Manager:
Jimmy Ginnelly
Chairman:
David Laing
Secretary:
Shirley Brown
Match Secretary:
As Secretary

History

The Club played for the first time in the Midland Combination under the name of Barwell FC in the 1992/3 season when Barwell Athletic from the Leicestershire Senior League joined forces with Hinckley FC. Barwell became one of the founder members of the Midland Football Alliance League on its formation in 1994/95. The Sports complex with its bowling, cricket, football facilities and sports club is situated just out of the centre of the village making it an ideal venue for local residents.

The facilities of the complex include a cricket pitch - which was used for two Leicestershire first eleven county championship matches just after the Second World War, is a current venue for some Leicestershire second eleven and youth team matches. There is an outdoor bowling green and a magnificent indoor bowls centre complete with bar and restaurant serving a wide range of drinks and meals at prices to suit all pockets.

Floodlights were installed prior to the 1992/93 season and have been updated to comply with current FA lighting regulations. A covered stand was built prior to 1996/7 season and during the 1997/8 close season the ground was enclosed, an important step in our quest for higher status. Towards the end of 2000/01 season a new 250 seat cantilever stand was erected at Kirkby Road, and officially opened by goalkeeper Chris Kirkland on 31st July 2001 - a Barwell lad.

Barwell reached the last sixteen of the FA Vase in 1995/6 their highest finish in the completion losing 3-1 away at Flixton. Other honors include the Leicestershire Senior Cup in 1996/7, the Presidents Trophy in August 1997. They have also reached the final of the Westerby Cup (played at Filbert Street and latterly the Walkers Stadium) on 3 occasions 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2004/5 unfortunately losing all three finals to Leicester City, Hinckley Utd and Oadby Town respectively. Barwell also reached the League Cup Final losing after extra time to Rushall Olympic.

A new Manager, Bob Steel, took over the reins at Barwell in February 2004 and brought in Steve Greenhill and Ian Blyth as Assistant Managers ( with Ian also being coach). He steadied the side and instilled his way of playing into the players and is gradually getting the squad he wants.

2005/6 finally put some silverware on the shelf when Barwell won the Polymac services league cup final at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium, beating Leamington 3-1.

2006/7 saw Barwell finish in a disappointing 6th position and come runners up in both the Westerby Cup and the Rolleston Charity Cup. It was also the first season for Barwell’s Youth team who played in the Leicestershire Midweek Floodlit Youth League finishing a creditable 6th in the League and to round things off the reserves also finished 6th with a great run of results to finish the season.

2007/08 was a somewhat mixed season for the Club. The first team saw two change of Manager, Bob Steel stood down in November to take on the running of the Sports Bar on the complex and his Assistant Ian Blyth took over as manager, after a run of indifferent results and the team slipping toward the bottom three the Club decided to appoint a new Manager in Marcus Law. Marcus took over the reigns in February and with a run of good result lifted the Club to a respectable mid-table finish. The Reserves had a great season, despite losing a lot of players to the first team, finishing 3rd with the Youth team finishing runners up.

2008/09 was Marcus’s first full season at the Club and he has brought in Paul O’Brien as his Assistant with Coach Lee Knibbs and Gk Coach Pat Pattinson and Physio Alan Cooke. This was The Clubs best season to date, they finished runners up in the League on 91 points and also won the Westerby Cup beating Quorn 2-0 at the Walkers Stadium. Barwell have started the new season on a high by lifting the Joe McGorrian trophy at Market Drayton by beating the home team 4-0.

2009/10 proved to be our most successful season to date. The season started well with the lads winning the Joe McGorian Cup at 2008/09 league winners Market Drayton. After 16 season in the MFA we finally won the league and promotion to The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. The League was won in style with the team playing 42 games winning 36 and drawing 6 with no losses and amassing a League record 114 points. They also scored 125 goals and conceded only 18. The season was also a successful one in the FA Vase where we reached the semi final losing in the last minute of the second leg to the eventual Vase winners Whitley Bay.

2010/11..again proved to be a very successful season. The season started where the last one had finished on a winning streak. In September the Manager Marcus Law left, with our best wishes, for a full time post at Kettering Town. Assistant Manager Paul O’Brien took over with Jimmy Ginnelly taking the post of Assistant Manager, unfortunately Paul had to step down due to work commitments and so he and Jimmy swapped places for our 3rd change in two months. As always with a new Manager there are comings and goings but Jimmy managed to retain most of the Squad and won the Evo Stik Division 1 South at the first attempt.

2011/12..During the closed season Barwell were put into the Evo Stik League Southern Premier Division and so for the first time were competing at level 3 .
Paul O’Brien left the Club during the close season to take up a coaching position with Ex. Manager Marcus Law now at Tamworth, Martin Hier stepped up to Assistant Manager and Craig Woodley joined the Club as Coach, Rob Lawrance also came on board as GK Coach. Craig Woodley left for a job in America and Steve Anastasi came on board as coach. The team finished a creditable 9th in their first season and now look forward to improving on this in the forthcoming season.

2012/13..The Club sat in the top 5 of the League for the major part of the season but form dipped in the last couple of months and they lost out on a play off place with a draw on the last day of the season leaving Barwell in 8th position.Two or three experienced players joined at the start of the season and with a mixture of youth and experience improved on last season.

Barwell Reserves play in the Midland Combination Reserve Division and include many good young players who will in the future, if not all ready, be pushing for a first team place, they also have a number of more experienced players helping the younger ones find their feet. They have a new Manager for the 2013/14 season in Dave Kane ably assisted by Phil Coleman

Latest Results

h
Sat 26 Apr
a
Mon 21 Apr
0 – 1 W
h
Sat 19 Apr
0 – 2 L

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