The Bluebirds Trust are urging the large number of Barrow AFC supporters planning to make the journey to Chorley in next Saturday’s FA Cup tie to make travel arrangements through them by the weekend.

With the tie at the National League North leaders easily one of the most manageable away trips of AFC’s season, more fans have been encouraged to head down for the fourth qualifying round tie at Victory Park.

However, travel options have become limited due to a planned train strike affecting Northern Rail that weekend.

This has led to the Trust being inundated with calls from Barrow fans looking to head to Lancashire via coach and there is set to be a large travelling contingent backing Ian Evatt’s side in Chorley.

The club has a history of taking big away followings in the FA Cup, with 7,000 travelling to both Middlesbrough and Sunderland for third round ties within the last decade.

The Trust’s travel director Chris Altree said: “Demand has been unprecedented, with nearly 100 booked on coaches in the last 24 hours.”

“We took a lot to Bristol Rovers with us, even for last year’s disaster at Shaw Lane we travelled in numbers.

“We are excited about this one- it’s a tough draw but it’s the FA Cup. We are travelling in numbers as usual and hopefully we will make the first round.”

Barrow are looking to avoid a repeat of the 2-1 defeat at Shaw Lane at the same stage of the competition last season, which cost manager at the time Micky Moore his job.

They face a tricky task, however, as Chorley are seven points clear at the top of their division, having dropped only four points from 11 games so far.

The Trust, who last week raised over £800 in subsidising travel for Saturday’s Non-League Day fixture at Bromley, are offering coach seats for £15 per member.

Non-members will have to pay £20, while under-16s who are accompanied by an adult can go free.