AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT
Barrow A.F.C. and its supporters are set to appear in a feature-length documentary inspired by the Bluebirds’ long-awaited return to the Football League.
A Bluebird from the Ashes, written and directed by Barrovian Scott Mason, puts Barrow at the heart of a discussion about the relationship between football and community in an isolated corner of northern England.
It will feature players, staff and fans sharing half a century’s worth of Bluebirds experiences, from Holker Street’s last taste of League football in 1972 to its emotional return after a fateful vote concluded a season halted by the devastating coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
With artwork by nationally acclaimed and Barrow-born artist John Duffin, whose father played for Barrow in the 1960s, the film will pay homage to the town’s resilience and refusal to be written off as a working class, shipbuilding outpost on the weather-beaten Cumbrian coast. It is actively seeking participation from fans who wish to contribute to the Barrow A.F.C. story – contact details can be found below.
Mason, who is working with Brawl – a Leeds-based studio, production and communications agency – commented: “A Bluebird from the Ashes is a cinematic documentary about one of those character-defining stories that football has a knack for delivering every now and again. “It’s a look at half a century of hurt for a town that’s all too readily written off and an analysis of why we, as football fans, keep on going back for more. “When it came to capturing the zeitgeist in the film’s artwork, there was no-one else for it but John, whose iconic paintings already adorn the walls of Holker Street. It’s a real pleasure and an honour to have him onboard. “The film is a love letter to football and the Bluebirds more than anything, so I hope it can at least do some good for the club and the supporters’ trust. If we can look back on this in 48 years with ‘Barrow rule the Prem’ painted down that wall, I think we’ll have done alright.”
Spokesman for Barrow A.F.C, Ryan Sutherland, said: “We can’t wait to be involved, as the film not only charts our wonderful season, but also tells the story of the club through the eyes of our most dedicated fans. It really symbolises what football is all about and what sort of club we are here.”
The documentary will be filmed in the coming weeks in Barrow and is earmarked to be completed in 2020. The club’s supporters’ trust is involved in reaching out to fans to encourage participation. Dozens have already signed up and Bluebirds Trust Chairman, Steve Herbert, said: “It’s been a fantastic honour to be able to talk to so many of our diehard fans and gather their stories for filming.
“It’s not only about the injustice of 1972 and ultimate redemption, but also a testament to Barrow’s community spirit as a whole.”
Part of the proceeds from the documentary will contribute towards the day-to-day running of Barrow A.F.C. as it prepares for a new chapter of its story as a Football League club.
Supporters who wish to volunteer to take part and contribute stories, footage and photographs can contact The Bluebirds Trust on info@bluebirdstrust.co.uk. The official website for the film can be found at www.bluebirdsfilm.com.