Salford RLFC’s trip to Barrow on Sunday marks the first away Championship game of the season.
However, for many, it may rekindle memories of a time when supporters of the former Salford Reds descended on Craven Park in the Cumbrian Town 23 years ago.
Robert Parkinson, one of the hosts of the Devil in the Detail Salford RLFC podcast, reminisced on the side’s 22-6 away win and a day well spent following the team on the road.
He recalled stand-off Radney Bowker scoring for Salford as they battled past Barrow Raiders in front of 1,392 people in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.
But for Robert, living through the “glory days” of watching Salford Reds away, he said most of the fun was had off the pitch.
“20 years ago, we had the same kind of haircut, and I didn’t buy a drink all night.”
“On the same day it was the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford so me and my group decided to go early to Barrow to watch the derby and then watch Salford play after.”
He explained that he and his mates were “running late” trying to find a pub in the town to watch the derby and when they found one they were met with a hilarious but perculiar sight:
“We were driving around Barrow looking for a pub that was going to show the match, but we couldn’t find one with a sign advertising it,” he recalled.
“We came across an old Victorian terrace pub. We all padded off the bus and ran into the vault of the pub and were greeted by, let’s say twenty locals all sat at the bar and on the table, watching a big screen with the pub’s CCTV on it.”
Instead of tuning into the big match, punters inside the Barrow boozer had decided to entertain themselves in a different way.
“They were watching themselves on the CCTV,” Robert laughed.
Turning his attention from past escapades to Salford RLFC’s new era and the upcoming visit to Barrow, he said “It’s looking better and the support for the club is always strong.”
“We took a couple hundred away fans to Hammersmith, which is a good amount and I expect we will have a decent following, like always.”
The podcast host explained that he feels Mike Grady’s men can threaten a Barrow side with plenty of veteran players.
“It’s going to be tough against Barrow, but they’re a bit of an ageing team. So if we can get them moving around, maybe we can test them.
Robert is delighted that many of the club’s newer fans will get the chance to visit some old-school grounds as they follow Salford across the country this season.
“There are a lot of people who have never been to Barrow. So, hopefully, a lot of people will go.
“Follow, follow, follow, because Salford are going to Barrow,” Robert sung.
With a brand-new beginning for Salford RLFC, perhaps a phoenix club is poetic, and a symbol to the next generation of fans to find a group of 20 people in a pub drinking and watching themselves on the CCTV.
