Match Preview: Barrow (H)

AFC Fylde visit Sky Bet League Two side Barrow for a pre-season friendly on Tuesday night at Holker Street, kick-off 7pm.

Chris Beech’s Coasters travel north to Cumbria to take on the Bluebirds, in their penultimate friendly of the 2024/25 pre-season schedule.

Fylde return to action after Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Tranmere Rovers in front of their own supporters at Mill Farm after goals from Jon Ustabasi, Nick Haughton and Joe Riley saw the Coasters put three past EFL opposition for the second time this pre-season.

Last term, Barrow finished eighth in the fourth-tier, missing out on the play-offs by a point before seeing a managerial change over the summer after Pete Wild left the club and was replaced by former Gilligham boss Stephen Clemence.

The Manager: Stephen Clemence

Liverpool-born Clemence, now in his second first-team managerial role, began his playing career with Tottenham Hotspur, turning professional in 1997 and went onto make over 100 appearances in six-years at White Hart Lane – and was part of the team who won the 1998/99 League Cup.

In January 2003, Clemence joined Birmingham City for £1.5m, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract at St Andrew’s.

Clemence became a key member of the Blues side, featuring 135 times for the club in the Premier League and Championship – helping the Second City outfit to promotion back to the top-flight in 2006/07.

The final three-years of his career were spent at Leicester City, before he retired in 2010, moving into coaching with Sunderland, where he reunited with his former Birmingham manager Steve Bruce.

He would go onto work with Bruce as a coach at Hull City, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion, enjoying promotion-winning successes.

Clemence was named Gillingham boss in November 2023, remaining with the Gills until April 2024 as they finished mid-table in Sky Bet League Two.

The 46-year-old is now at Barrow as they prepare for the new campaign.

One to watch: Kian Spence

Midfielder Kian Spence scored nine goals in 45 league appearances for Barrow last season.

Spence has been at the Bluebirds since the summer of 2023 having signed from FC Halifax Town.

Born in Harrogate, Spence started his career in Middlesbrough careers prior to moving onto Scarborough Athletic and Halifax, where he played 64 games for the Shaymen.

In his first campaign at Barrow, Spence was the club’s second top scorer.

Tickets:

Tickets for the Coasters’ trip to Barrow are priced at:

Adults: £10

Ages 7-21: £5

Over 65s: £5

U6s: FREE

Purchase your tickets online or at the ground by CLICKING HERE

Match coverage

If you are not attending the game on Tuesday night, then Coasters Live has you covered!

Coasters Live will be on air from 6:45pm for the 7pm kick-off. It is the only place where you can listen to full-match commentary of every AFC Fylde fixture. 

Brian Porter will guide you through the 90 minutes, so you won’t miss a kick of the action!

To listen to Coasters Live commentaries on Mixlr, please CLICK HERE

Colours

Your Coasters will be in the new black and yellow away strip for the trip to Holker Street this evening.

You can follow the Barrow game through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

X: @AFCFylde

Facebook: @AFCFyldeOfficial

Instagram: @afc_fylde

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