Always an issue that has bewildered myself tbh. Have only drove past the footy ground but it looked the same as the Rugby Leagues.

The one major thing 'Cumbria' is missing is a top class sporting facility! If two semi pro clubs could put some money forward get the council involved a community stadium could be built in Barrow that could serve Cumbria in so many different way's it's untrue.

Even just at the Stobbart there is a Gym, table tennis centre, snooker hall and 3 dart boards... Imagine what Barrow could do? I'd even stick a running track on it for a Cumbrian athletics centre? Or look at a sports village like Leigh have.

Sport in Cumbria IMO is so waisted it's untrue and this is a prime example, two semi pro sides with decent enough fan bases playing in identical old stadiums in a good sized area... sounds simple to fix doesn't it?

Obviously there are many issues to sort but just think how big it could be!

The issues seem petty though, maybe it's easy for us to say from the outside. What kind of fanbase does the football team have?
A stadium like the Stobart (which I have worked in so I know how smart the facilities are) or like you said a full blown sports facility would be great for RL in Cumbria.

There are plans (at the minute stalled - due to the banking fiasco) for a Marina Village at Barrow. The original plans had a shared stadium included and there were initial talks between both clubs and the council. However, the proposed stadium was only 4,000 capacity and both clubs had to sell their grounds and give 100% of the money to the council.

Barrow boards down the years have fought tooth and nail to keep Craven Park (through some very hard times) as it is a massive asset for the club. Unfortunately in recent years it has become more trouble than asset and is actually a glass ceiling to the clubs' ambitions.

I hear what you are saying that it's a 'no-brainer' and 95% of Barrow's sports fans would agree. How we get it to happen is another matter .......

You're probably right. 4000 capacity seems way too small if you have ambition. 10k has got to be the minimum for progressing and attracting representative games.
Hope your council get their thumbs from up their a**es and get it sorted.

Good thead, both clubs should sell each old home and build a new one to be shared 50/50.