BARROW AFC forward Scott Quigley has paid tribute to Lewis Hardcastle after the club secured its Football League status on Tuesday.

The number nine scored The Bluebirds' first as they beat Forest Green Rovers 2-0.

After his teammate Hardcastle retired last month due to a heart condition, Quigley hopes the club's survival will make the 22-year-old proud.

Quigley said: "I am just ecstatic that we managed to keep the club up. Credit to the lads, everyone stuck together.

"Rob was so blatant about what we needed to do, it was all about us.

"I am just over the moon that the fans can see the club in the Football League and Holker Street is going to be rocking next year.

"It was a massive thing for us. There were some nervy times. Some of the big characters like Jason Taylor, Sam Hird who have come back into the fold and Connor Brown, the lad got furloughed, he hasn’t played for months and look at him now. He has come back and put in a man-of-the-match performance tonight. That’s the character of him.

"One lad I am really pleased for is Lewis Hardcastle. Staying up was for him. He's not going to be able to play football again – that’s the bigger picture I suppose.

"I am absolutely buzzing to stay up, buzzing for the fans and can't wait for a packed Holker Street next season."