Adam Bate visits Barrow's Manchester training ground to talk to manager Andy Wing about how he has dealt with adversity throughout his football career; the League Two club pride themselves on sticking to their principles – even chief executive Ian Wood drives a lawnmower!
Pictured: Andy Wing is the man aiming to achieve success with Barrow in League Two.
After losing to Chesterfield in their opening game of the League Two season, Barrow host MK Dons this weekend. It has been a tough start between two title favourites, but there is a sense at Barrow that they are enjoying the atmosphere.
“We'll go out there and prove them wrong,” manager Andy Wing told Sky Sports. “That's our approach at Barrow.” It's that approach that explains why the club chose Wing, as chief executive Ian Wood pointed out.
“Andy is exactly what Barrow needs,” Wood told Sky Sports. “Barrow is a working town and they want to see hard work. He is talented but also practical and has time for everyone. He is a perfect fit for Barrow and he has already been warmly received.”
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It’s been five years since the club returned to the Football League for the first time in 48 years, but the ‘against all odds’ mentality remains prevalent. “We were completely unprepared. We were literally starting from scratch. We had four training pitches in one season.”
Wood's wife worked as a chef for a time. “The players would just come in, practice and leave, so I would bring my wife in to cook for them to save money. Now we have a real chef. I'm not in the doghouse anymore.”
But problems remain. Barrow’s training ground is leased from Manchester United FC and is two hours’ drive from the city. “There are some advantages but it’s difficult to manage,” says Wood. “My caretaker works in Barrow so we have to pay for two people.”
Sometimes that means working on the lawn. “You’ll see Woodsy on the lawnmower sometimes,” laughs Wing. “He’ll water us. We don’t complain and say, ‘Salford have this and that’. We don’t need excuses. We want to do everything ourselves.”
Wood is right about his manager. He relishes the underdog spirit, the man with something to prove. Their small house at the training ground is decorated with familiar motivational quotes. Ten key qualities that require no talent. No ego.
Image: Motivational messages on the wall at Barrow's training ground in Manchester
It may have started with his own playing career. Wing was cut by Coventry City as a child. “It was a huge shock.” It was made worse when a trial at Notts County ended with Wing’s mother being told he should focus on his studies.
“They said football wasn't for me.” They were wrong. Coventry gave Wing a second chance and he took it, making more than 100 appearances for the club. “It toughened me up,
Sourse: skysports.com
