Brief History of Barton Rovers Junior Football Club

I am told that even in the 1970’s and early 1980’s Barton supported kid’s football. Having spoken to many Bartonians over the years Thursday nights used to be kid’s football night and that lot’s of children came down to Holland Park to be coached on their football skills for the princely sum of 10-20p a session. In those days there was no real structure to Barton Rovers Junior Football Club.it was within the early 90’s that committees and structures were formed. Around 1993 saw the start of Barton Rovers Junior Football Club as we know it. the committee consisted of a group of dedicated and willing dad’s who believe their son’s were the next Kevin Keegan.

Training continued on a Thursday. at times there were well over 100 children in the care of 3 or 4 parents. When these children reached the age of 6, more structured training and applying for acceptance to a league began. From memory, it wasn’t until the kid’s were 7’ that we could join the then Burton and District Junior Football Club League. In those days Barton Rovers were known as Barton Celtic. In fact we had two different strips, the green and white hooped as we play in today ,and also a juventus style strip consisting of dark blue and red vertical strips. One of the first committee meetings when the children were around 6 , decided that we should all play in green and white hoops, I am glad to see that tradition continues.

The early teams were managed by one or two parents who after 3 or 4 years passed over the reigns to others. The committee consisted of three or four volunteers, who as they do now mark the lines, set out the goals and worry about team selection and upsetting parents !! etc. at that time we were also a venue for the under 9’s Burton Junior Football League. On these Saturday mornings, once again the same few ,had to mark five pitches and put up five sets of goals as well as roping off the pitches to stop parents approaching onto the pitch.!!!it was as normal cold and wet Saturday mornings . Car parking was one of our biggest headaches at that time as I recall and this was before the time where the extra land was used for additional car parking. However, as with all things we muddled through. We also used to hold summer five a side tournaments at Holland Park for children from under 6 through to under 11. They were great times, but as it is now ,it took a lot of organizing,.so lets all be grateful to the people who continue to run the club.

Barton Rovers Junior Football Club continues to go from strength to strength with teams now stretching from under 6 right the way through to under 17 youth soccer. I also believe there are more than one team in each age group.with girls football as an excellent addition to Barton Rovers.

brian mole