Football Season Guide

David Dunn has been handed the privilege of leading the Bluebirds back into the Football League for the first time since 1972. They lost out to Hereford United when the election system was still in place and they have endured many ups and down in the non-league football since. They have been on an up since the appointment of Ian Evatt as manager in the summer of 2018 and it culminated in promotion back to the Football League two years later. Like every club in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit hard, and the National League was paused with the Bluebirds sitting top of the table. With no more games played, the Points-Per-Game (PPG) method was used to decide the final standings and no-one can begrudge the Bluebirds the title. Alas they have suffered the disappointment of seeing Evatt enticed away by fallen giants Bolton Wanderers so the club have turned to David Dunn to guide them through their first season back in League 2. Dunn had an illustrious playing career but is a rookie boss having left his assistant-coach role at Blackpool. He has lost a number of influential loanees from the title-winning side, although he has brought back Matthew Platt on a permanent deal from Blackburn Rovers, having impressed in the centre of defence last season. Barrow will be something of an unknown quantity as they tread their first footsteps in what will be something of an unusual 2020-21 season. Dunn’s first aim will be ensuring all of Evatt’s hard work isn’t undone.