Imagine Barrow AFC’s FA Trophy-winning heroes of 2010 coming back to Holker Street next summer to play their present-day counterparts.

You’d see the likes of Jason Walker, Paul Jones, Andy Bond and Paul Rutherford (the last two still going strong with AFC Fylde and Wrexham, respectively, of course) stepping out in Bluebirds shirts once again. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Well, that’s the kind of thing that happened on July 15 2000, when the trailblazing Wembley legends of 1990 marked the tenth anniversary of their triumph over Leek Town in what was a pre-season friendly with a difference.

At the time, Barrow were plying their trade in the Northern Premier League, a division they’d managed to finish mid-table in the previous season.

This was despite them having to start it a month after everyone else, due to the lingering ramifications of the financial turmoil stemming from Steven Vaughan’s reign, which led to their expulsion from the Conference in 1999.

Things had stabilised under the management of one of those heroes from 1990, Kenny Lowe, now the assistant manager of the Australia national team, who bizarrely spent the afternoon competing against his charges.

Lowe had hung up his boots the previous season. In fact, the only member of the 1990 side still playing regularly was Neil Doherty, who had returned to Holker Street the previous year.

It could be said that Doherty, 31 at the time, provided some stamina for the ‘old stagers,’ with Mail reporter Leo Clarke writing at the time: “The legs were probably a little stiffer than normal, and some may have been nursing hangovers after the celebratory dinner.”

The players dusting off the boots included two-goal hero against Leek Kenny Gordon, who had travelled 12,000 miles from Australia for the game, Kevin Proctor and skipper on that famous day Glenn Skivington.

Their other Trophy final goalscorer, Colin Cowperthwaite, unfortunately missed the game due to a friend’s wedding.

There were 924 fans in attendance and they witnessed an open, entertaining game in which the present day Bluebirds ran out 6-2 winners.

Goalkeeper Peter McDonnell had already produced a good save from Lee Ellison for the 1990 side by the time Nathan Peel opened the scoring in the eighth minute.

The old boys levelled, however, as Lowe produced some brilliant close control on the edge of the area before laying the ball off for Doherty, who had the simple task of finishing from eight yards.

There was then a flurry of goals before half-time as Peel restored the Bluebirds’ lead, only for Doherty to hit back again with a stunning strike from 25 yards.

Trialist Andy Douglas then made it 3-2 at the break when he ghosted in at the back post to head in Wayne Bullimore’s cross.

Things were more straightforward for the young bucks in the second half, as they extended their lead through Ellison after 52 minutes.

Mark Hume then added a fifth before Steve Housham, who had just signed for Barrow before the kick-off, rounded off the scoring.

There was also a chance to see Skivington with the FA Trophy itself one more time.

Barrow 1990: Peter McDonnell, Steve Higgins, Terry Chilton, Peter Farrell, Kenny Gordon, Glenn Sivington, Neil Doherty, Billy Gilmour, Paul Ferris, Kenny Lowe, Kevin Proctor.

Subs: Micky Carroll, Gary Messenger, Jimmy Capstick, Dave Conlon.

Barrow 2000: Lee Copeland, Lee Warren, Scott Maxfield, Mark Hulme, Chris Whittle, Mark Cleeland, Graham Anthony, Wayne Bullimore, Lee Ellison, Andy Douglas, Nathan Peel.

Subs: Steve Housham, Lee Rogers, Mike McKenzie.