“We’ve scored some good goals,” Ian Evatt says. “One of them was after 24 passes. And we had another where every player touched the ball before it went in the net. Our fans started nicknaming us ‘Barrowcelona.’”



Evatt, who made more than 500 appearances for Derby County, QPR, Blackpool and Chesterfield before taking over as Barrow AFC’s manager, has a little chuckle as he looks around his office at his staff. “Barrowcelona,” he says again, almost under his breath.



Barrow is a long way from Barcelona. In fact, this Cumbrian industrial town is a long way from anywhere. Located at the end of a peninsula that overlooks the Irish Sea, Barrow-in-Furness is isolated and open to the elements. It is the sort of place where trees bend over to greet you.



“Gusts of up to 45mph tomorrow,” Evatt says, looking at the weather forecast on his phone and grimacing at the thought of how hard it will be for...