THE FA CUP dream may be over for Barrow AFC, the fans and the town for another year - but the Bluebirds faithful seized their chance to shine in the national spotlight.

The bumper Holker Street crowd of 4,414 created an "electric atmosphere" for the FA Cup third round clash against League One Rochdale.

The Bluebirds community also had a fantastic time showing off their club on BBC1's popular Football Focus show in the pre-match build up.

The non-league club, its team and fans have gone on to receive wide praise for the great enthusiasm they showed towards the world's most famous domestic cup competition.

With the biggest crowd in some 27 years, Bluebirds fans cheered on their FA Cup heroes throughout the sold-out clash. Despite the 2-0 defeat AFC supporters congratulated their players, saying they had "done the town proud" and recalled how much they had enjoyed the journey on this FA Cup run.

The Football Focus team were blown away by the welcome they received. Presenter Dan Walker, and footballing favourites Mark Lawrenson and Kevin Kilbane, filmed the show live from The Cross Bar and around the Holker Street ground. They even dubbed it "HMS Focus" in the opening credits in a nod to Barrow's submarine building heritage.

The AFC fans were in great spirits in front of the cameras and enjoyed the chance to have their photo taken with the FA Cup. Eight-year-old Barrow AFC fan Joe McMenemy predicted a 2-1 win for the homeside heroes and got to touch the FA Cup, Dallas-based owner and chairman Paul Casson gave the cameras a look at his blue cowboy boots and Barrow legend Brian Arrowsmith was interviewed about Barrow's Football League heyday in the 1960s. Before the game, the main stand was named after the club's Football League appearance record-holder.

When the cameras had finished rolling, Mark Lawrenson, said the Barrow fans were great. The ex-Liverpool FC and Preston North End defender said: "They are great. This is a massive game and day for them and if you can't come to today's game and not enjoy it, what is the point of watching football?

"The great thing for Barrow is that, with this chairman, they are on their way up.

"In the Vanarama in the national league there are seven teams who have all been in the football league, in the top 10, so it just shows you how difficult it is to get promoted."

Dan Walker described the Bluebirds supporters as "magnificent". He said: "I always really look forward to the FA Cup, the early rounds because when you come to clubs like Barrow and Eastleigh, they are always happy to see you and also have a real appreciation for what the FA Cup is all about.

"From the minute we walked in there has been a lovely welcome; people packed in the Cross Bar and there is a real expectation of what the team can do on the pitch.

"It's been lovely, it's been one of the warmest welcomes we have had in the many non-league clubs we have covered, it's great, I love it.

"It's important to the club and the fans, it really does matter.

"I still get a shiver down the spine when the FA Cup comes out."

Mr Casson said Barrow had shown heart, but congratulated in-form Rochdale and both clubs and sets of fans.

He said: "Rochdale showed why they are close to the top of League One, they did a very professional job on us. I was very impressed with them and I think they will do very well this year, they are on a run.

"We had a couple of chances that maybe could have changed the game, we didn't take them and you pay the price. There was a lot of heart out there.

"I'm proud of the fans and the way they handled themselves, both the Barrow and Rochdale fans demonstrated exactly how you should enjoy the occasion. It was really great day out and the directors were very complimentary of everyone they met, everyone was very hospitable."

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