Early years[edit]
Barrow were founded on 16 July 1901 at the old Drill Hall (later the Palais) in The Strand and played at initially at The Strawberry Ground, before moving to Ainslie Street[2] and then on to Little Park, Roose.[3] In 1903 Barrow was elected to Division Two of the Lancashire Combination[4] and in 1908 the club won promotion to the first division.[3] In 1909, Barrow moved once more to Holker Street, the stadium that they still occupy today. The club remained in the Lancashire Combination for up to and after World War I, winning the league in the 1920–21 season. This victory preceded the formation of the Football League Third Division North in the 1921–22 season, and Barrow became one of the league's founder members.[2]

Football League years[edit]
In their early years as a league club, Barrow were as notable for their absence of success as any achievements.[2][5] Their highest finish before World War II was 5th in the 1931–32 season.In 1933–34 season Barrow finished in 8th position. Barrow remained in the lowest tier of the Football League when football resumed after the war, and were founder members of Football League Division Four in 1958–59.[6] The 1950s saw greater success in the FA Cup, however. The club's record crowd of 16,874 watched Barrow draw 2–2 with Swansea Town in the 1953–54 FA Cup.[4] A few years later this was followed by a Third Round tie in the 1958–59 competition against the then Football League champions Wolverhampton Wanderers at Holker Street. Wolves, captained by Billy Wright, won 4–2.

The late 1960s finally saw Barrow win promotion, after a third placed finish under the management of Don McEvoy in the 1966–67 Fourth Division.[7] McEvoy's successor, Colin Appleton, lead Barrow to their highest ever final league position of eighth in the Football League Third Division the following season. The club topped the Third Division league table for one day during the season, the highest position that they have ever held. During this period defender Brian Arrowsmith became the player to make the most Football League appearances for Barrow.[7] Barrow remained in the third flight of English football for another two seasons before returning to the basement in 1970. Financial difficulties combined with poor performances saw Barrow twice up for re-election in 1971 and 1972. On the second occasion, at the end of the 1971–72 season, they were voted out of the Football League to be replaced by Hereford United.[7] Though the reasons for losing the re-election were many, three features – Barrow's geographic isolation, Hereford United's FA Cup victory against Newcastle United and the decision of the Barrow board to introduce a speedway track around pitch at Holker Street, as a means of off-setting financial difficulties – have all been highlighted as contributing to Barrow's relegation.[8] Barrow joined the Northern Premier League for the start of the 1972–73 season.[9] Barrow spent a total of 51 seasons in the Football League.[7]
To gain access to the Northern Premier League, the club had to promise to remove the infamous speedway track from Holker Street,[10] though it remained until 1974. Barrow subsequently struggled in the Northern Premier with low financial resources.[11] However, in 1979 Barrow were invited to join the new Alliance Premier League, the first national division in non-league football. In 1981 the club won the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, its first success as a non-league club since winning the Lancashire Combination in 1921, but relegation followed in 1983.[12] Under manager Vic Halom Barrow won the Northern Premier League title the following season, but were relegated again by 1986. Just before relegation, the club hired Ray Wilkie as manager, who went on to lead Barrow to their then most successful period in non-league football.[13]

After a number of close misses, Barrow won promotion back to the renamed Vauxhall Conference in 1988–89, finishing champions of the Northern Premier League.[13] Driven by the goals of Colin Cowperthwaite, the club's record appearance holder and record goalscorer,[14] Barrow achieved two respectable finishes in the Conference – 10th in 1989–90 and 14th the season after. As well as league success, Wilkie had a number of successful cup runs. In 1988, Barrow reached the FA Trophy semi-final, losing to Enfield after a replay. The first leg at Holker Street attracted 6,002 supporters – still a non-league record for the club. The season after, Barrow reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, losing out 3–1 against Rotherham United.

In 1990, Barrow won their first major trophy as a non-league club, the FA Trophy. In the final they beat Leek Town at Wembley. Scoring the first and third goals was Kenny Gordon, a player who was not normally found on the score sheet, and who was playing his final game for his hometown club before emigrating to Australia.[15] Other notable members of the squad included Kenny Lowe, who was sold to Barnet for £40,000 after the final, then a club record fee.[16] The following season, benefiting from direct entry to the first round, Barrow made the third round of the FA Cup for the first time as a non-league club, losing 1–0 away to Third Division high fliers Bolton Wanderers.

Unfortunately Wilkie was forced to step down during the 1991–92 due to health problems. That season Barrow would be relegated back to the Northern Premier League, and also coincided with Cowperthwaite's retirement, after a fifteen-year career with Barrow, finishing with 704 appearances and 282 goals.[14] Wilkie died in December 1992, aged 56,[17] and the road outside Barrow's Holker Street ground was later named 'Wilkie Road' in his honour.

Turmoil of the 1990s[edit]
Following Wilkie's departure and Barrow's subsequent relegation, the club had three mediocre seasons in the Northern Premier League. In February 1995, Barrow were purchased by Stephen Vaughan, a Scouse-boxing promoter and businessman.[18] Vaughan poured money into the club, building an all-seater stand and allowing the club to sign players of Conference-standard.[19] The Bluebirds achieved promotion to the Conference in 1997–98, under manager Owen Brown.[18][19]