BLUEBIRDS boss Ian Evatt and attacking midfielder John Rooney both won honours at The Non-League Paper's National Game Awards.

Evatt was crowned Manager of the Year while Rooney took the Mark Harrod Player of the Year award in the non-league football publication's annual gongs.

This was due reward for a tremendous season for both men which saw Barrow rightfully promoted to League Two as champions.

Evatt was honoured to follow in the footsteps of previous winners of the award like Danny Cowley, John Askey and the late Justin Edinburgh.

"To be in that type of company is great," Evatt told The Non-League Paper.

"I'm new to all this. I'm not naive enough to think I've cracked it.

"I've still got a lot to learn.

"I'm still a rookie but it's been a great start.

"My assistant Peter Atherton and the rest of the backroom staff have really supported me and helped me to provide the platform for the team to go out there and express themselves."

Rooney told the Non-League Paper: "The manager brought his style of play in.

"Every day in training we trained how we were going to play, watched our opposition so we knew everything.

"He recruited perfectly last summer and everything has been spot on."