Back to the 21st of August 1971 and our last visit to Holker Street, Barrow for a fourth division fixture.
In front of 2387 spectators the Alex lined up-
Adams,Lowry,Leigh,Gater, Higgins,Summerhill, Bradshaw, Wallace, East, Morrissey and Bowles.
In what was to be one of his last appearances in a Crewe shirt the mercurial
Stan Bowles gave the Alex a half-time lead only for Barrow to stage a second half comeback to record a 2-1 victory.
In one of our worst seasons in history we were to finish bottom of the football league,8 points behind Barrow and both teams were to apply for re-election.
The annual vote was seen as an old pals act where teams canvassed support to preserve their league status. Barrow tied in the vote with FA Cup giant killers Hereford United who had finished second in the Southern League so a second ballot ensued.
Hereford United were elected to the football league pyramid and Barrow were to spend the next 48 years in the non league wilderness.
The question always remained were they voted out of the league because of the virtue of their geographical location,one hour drive from junction 36 of the M6?
