Colin Cowperthwaite wasn't the first person we interviewed in Give 'Em Beans!, but he is possibly the most highly regarded player to have turned out for the club in the last two decades. Anyway, here is our interview from our fifth birthday edition with the man we idolised from the terraces until his retirement in 1992. Get that mouse scrolling as we have a few words with the Lord...
COLIN COWPERTHWAITE 'God'
How do you feel about the nickname 'God'? I have been called a variety of names, some unmentionable by the Holker St. faithful, so I'd settle for God; I'm very flattered. I have just read the first edition of Give 'Em Beans! which has the question 'Is Cowps God or What?' by a certain Phil Mc and it brings back a lot of happy memories. Thanks Phil, it certainly beats 'The Big Farmer'! After playing for Barrow for so long, how do you enjoy playing at Cartmel? It seems they always win, so doesn't it seem a bit easy sometimes? When I retired from semi-pro football the phone never stopped with lots of offers, but my intention was only to play for Cartmel who were my first club. After playing for Barrow it's obviously more relaxed but the will to win is very similar. There are some very good players at Cartmel who could have played at a higher level. But I wouldn't say it was easy though we win more than we lose! Many supporters would like to see you still playing at Barrow. Do you ever wish you'd stayed at Holker St.? I wish I was still playing at Barrow, but the legs say no. When something has been part of your life as Barrow has been, you would like it to last forever, but all good things come to an end. Who was the biggest influence on your career in football? My Mum and Dad always gave me a lot of support. My Dad has watched me play many games and has been my keenest critic. My wife Karen has always taken a keen interest and given her support. Ray Wilkie was a big influence with all his knowledge and experience. I learnt so much from him. Do you still follow the team and come to those matches you can? If so, what do you think of the current team? I am sorry to say that I haven't been to a game this season, but it's the first result I ask for on a Saturday. I follow everything in the Evening Mail. After a poor start the team has picked up and are doing well, although the FA Cup was a setback. Tony Hesketh is doing a good job and after the turmoil of the past two and a half seasons he needs time to get things right. How great is the influence of the crowd at Holker St.? For example, how much of a positive effect does it have, and how much of a negative effect can barracking a player have? The atmosphere at Holker St., the ground, the pitch and the crowd are the best in non-League. When you have 1,000+ crowds and the majority are behind you it gives you a great lift. Everybody has their critics but you have to have faith in your ability to pull through. Kenny Lowe was a prime example, but Kenny had faith in his own ability. What are the biggest differences in the structure of the non-League game between when you first began to play in the late seventies and today? The automatic promotion from the Conference to the League gives every club with ambition the chance to get as high as they possibly can. When I first started playing they had the old voting system and there were only a handful of teams capable of getting into the League. How would you rate the standard of football in the Northern Premier League compared to the Conference? I do believe the gap is getting bigger. With all the clubs pushing for that automatic place, the Conference is nearly at League standard. It's where the money is, so the better players want to play at the highest level. Because the clubs in the Northern Premier League have to get their grounds up to Conference level all their money goes on the ground and the playing side suffers. What do you think of the standard of non-League referees, especially those at the Conference and NPL level? Everybody has their opinions of referees; a thankless task! When Barrow first played Conference football, all the top referees had the games so there was never a problem; maybe an odd one or two. The refs in the NPL are all learning their trade and gaining experience so they are bound to make the odd mistake, but overall I think the standard is very good. When you were at Barrow, it was reported that several big clubs, including Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion had made offers for you. Why were you never tempted by the prospect of full-time football in the League? In my time at Barrow there were a number of clubs who were interested in me. They all wanted to take me on trials or for trial games which never really appealed to me as I was happy playing for Barrow. The closest I came to leaving was to Scarborough and Morecambe when the club was going through a few bad patches. I was talked out of both moves by Bill McCullough, which I am now very thankful for. Bill priced me out of the market! What are your fondest memories of your times at Barrow? I have many happy memories, both on and off the field. I made many friends, too many to mention, and played with some great players. Winning the FA Trophy and playing and scoring at Wembley are the obvious. I look back now and realise what an achievement it was after being beaten in a semi-final two years previously. Playing under Ray Wilkie was a pleasure and the success we had with him; we all owe Ray so much. I am proud to have played so many games for a great club. What were the high and low points of your career? The Trophy run, playing at Wembley and winning the NPL twice are the ones that stand out, but there were several more along the way. The low points were being relegated from the Conference and the FA Trophy defeat by Enfield. At the time it felt like the end of the world. The time Brian Kidd spent at Barrow has to be mentioned and possibly the biggest mistake the club made was when they relieved Neil McDonald and Alan Cook of their duties following Ray's illness. I thought that was a bit hasty. One thing that's given us plenty to write about here at Beans! is your goal in 3.55 seconds at Kettering in 1979. What do you recall about it? It was just one of those things that happens from time to time. Mickey Taylor had just taken over as caretaker manager and before the game he was talking about the young 'keeper they had in and to test him early. So I did. He was way off his line so Mark Hubbold touched it forward and I struck it pretty well and it sailed in. It was one of those days as I scored four goals and won at cards on the way home. Supporters will each have their own particular favourite, but can you describe your favourite goal of all those you scored for Barrow? There are three that stick in my memory. It is everybody's dream to play at Wembley, but to score was a great feeling. The second was the goal at Kettering. The third was a goal I scored at Morecambe in the early rounds of the Trophy against Peter McDonnell from thirty five yards. I don't think I struck one better. Who were your most difficult opponents, both clubs and individuals? Altrincham have to be the club. They had good players who were always wound up and never gave you anything. In the early days Ben Seddon of Stafford, Runcorn and Southport was probably the hardest man I ever played against; he was good in the air, strong in the tackle and he knew how to use his elbows. What made it worse, he never liked me! Latterly Glyn Creaser of Barnet and Wycombe always had a word for you after he had kicked lumps out of you. Which was the best and worst Barrow team you played in? The Trophy winning team was the best. At the time Ray had a squad of seventeen players who backed the team when injuries or suspensions occurred. The worst is difficult to say as I might upset someone! Who are the best and worst managers you have played under? Ray Wilkie was the best. He gave the club some great years, never to be forgotten. He always treated you as an adult and everything he said you listened to. It was a pleasure to play under his management and a greater pleasure to have known him. Brian Kidd's time at the club was a disaster, so he has to be the worst. Do you keep in contact with any other members of the team that won the FA Trophy in 1990. If so, what are they doing now? My family and I visited Kenny Gordon and his family in Australia eighteen months ago and we are regularly in touch with them. I've been in conversation with the rest of the lads at some time and they are all involved with football in one way or another. What do you do to relax outside of football? I spend a lot of time on the golf course in the summer and have the odd game of cricket. I'm always doing something, but I don't know whether you would call it relaxing. Finally, do you have any message for the fans at Barrow AFC? I would like to thank all the fans for their support over the years; without them there would be no club. The club at present are going through a difficult time, but I'm sure the good times will come back and repay the supporters for all their loyalty. Many thanks to Colin (if I may be so familiar) for taking the time to complete this interview for us. At the time of the interview we wrote that the one question we should have asked was if he were asked, would he play for Barrow again. A little late for that now possibly, but you never know...! Issue 021 - January 1995