Last updated 12:22, Saturday, 15 November 2008

I SAID last week that the most important thing about the Eastbourne game was that we had to make sure that we were in the draw come Sunday, writes Tony Keen.

We did that with a 0-0 draw in a game that could have gone either way, early chances in the first half for them and some great chances in the second half for us.

We are in the draw but what we have to do as a club is not look at the potential of a home game against Brentford in the second round.

If we do that then we will take our eye off the Eastbourne game and not get through.

It’s now confirmed that the replay is definitely on the Tuesday night, we did try to get the game moved to the Wednesday due to Alan Martin being called up into the Scotland under-21s team for Tuesday, more about that in a bit, but the rules will not allow game to be changed for loan players.

So, it’s now down to who performs on the night. It’s a massive game in the context of the club both financially and history wise, as it’s a long time since we’ve made the second round and the FA Cup will bring a packed house if we manage to get through.

We need everyone to think about the Tuesday game, and not think if they get through we’ll go to the next game because if that happens we may not get there. A big crowd will be a massive help to the lads on the night.

Before Tuesday night, there’s a small matter of a league game away to Ebbsfleet today, a game where we will have to be at our best. They beat us at Holker Street a couple of months ago so we need to go down there and put that out of our minds and see if we can grind out a result.

It’s a funny game for my dad (chairman Brian Keen) as this is his actual home team – Gravesend — and the surrounding area is where my parents were born and grew up.

So he’s been down there visiting family and friends all week and they will be at the game with him on Saturday, so no doubt there will be some banter flying around. We’ve stabilised now in mid-table and it’s now down to us to keep pushing to maintain this level by continuing to win our home games and picking the odd point up on our travels.

We announced that the AGM this year is on Thursday, November 27, earlier than previous years and the reason for this is that it makes the accounts more meaningful when we go through them.

This year we hope to present to you just how far the club has come and our plans for the club over the next couple of years, so it is important that you turn up and listen to what we have to say.

This is your club and you need to ask the questions and you need to give us your views on how you see things going.

In the past, if the perception is that everything is fine, then the AGMs are quiet, but we want as many people there.

With Christmas not far away, the club will start to advertise next week its Christmas offers. In the shop we are for the first time this year offering Barrow AFC Christmas gift boxes.

These boxes will be made up as a pick‘n’ mix of gifts from the shop such as shirts, ball, hats, scarves half-price season tickets, a ticket for the Boxing Day Wrexham game, a Barrow Teddy, signed photos of your favourite player or sign team photos and many more. We will then gift wrap the box and deliver it free in the Furness area in time for Christmas Day.

We also this year have an exclusive personalised Barrow AFC Christmas card which you can get signed by either your favourite player or the whole team for yourself, a family member or a friend.

Then in the hospitality for match days we will be running, once we’ve clarified all the December home fixtures, Christmas dinners for anyone who fancies having their friends, family or works Christmas dinner with us at a game.

This will be with all the usual match-day hospitality which includes all your drinks, tickets for the stand, half-time and full time snacks linked with a pre-match Turkey dinner with crackers and all the festive trimmings which is great value for £40 per head.

To pre-book for all the above please call the club 01229 823061 for more information.

TONY KEEN,

DIRECTOR, BARROW AFC