WHERE: Craven Park.

WHEN: July 1990.

TWENTY-FIVE years ago this month, Barrow RL had a new coach in the shape of Steve Norton.

The boss soon set about asserting his views on how thinks should be done at Craven Park, with the Evening Mail reporting on his first training session the next day as follows:

Steve Norton took charge of his first Barrow RL training session last night and then delivered his verdict: “Must try harder, a lot herder.”

Over 30 players turned up at Craven Park and, after a 20-minute pep talk from their new coach, drove up to Thorncliffe School playing fields for two hours of touch rugby.

“I told them before the start what I wanted,” said Norton. “This is a simple game for simple people, but they must be prepared to commit themselves totally. I was pleased with the turnout but most of the players were very unfit.

“I’m 39 years old and month ago I was very unfit but I put some work in round Pontefract race course.

“It’s a two-mile course and it took me 20 minutes, which I know is very slow but at least I was making the effort to get fit. Some of these young lads were blowing after an hour last night.

“A lot of it was very sloppy, too. Balls going down on the ground and no-one was dropping on it. All they were doing was moaning. There’s tons of talent here, but they have got to get their fingers out.

“I’ve told them that they must be proud of themselves and make the fans and the town proud of them. They have to run out on that field and feel they are playing for their town.

“It’s the fans that pay the money and they won’t be satisfied with what we call in Castleford ‘a half-a-day man.’

“If that’s what the supporters get, they are always going to go home exasperated because, let’s face it, they are the best judges in the world. These players must try for Barrow and give the victory to Barrow.”

Norton plans regular playing sessions at Thorncliffe initially before the hard work starts. ‘I’ve seen the sand dunes and the hills around here and if we want to give them some hills there are plenty to go at.

“But at the moment these lads need nourishment, not punishment,” he added.

Assisted by Phil Hogan and Dennis Jackson, the lads were soon sweating it out as former international Norton cast an eye over his raw material for the coming season.

Following warm-up work the group split into teams for touch rugby with ‘Knocker’ himself joining in, calling the moves and seeming to enjoy himself with his new players.

The old heads combined well with the recent signings, through the two-hour session.

New boy Darren Archer, a fresh signing from Marsh Hornets got the chance to show his pace, while old hand Derek Hadley proved he has lost none of his expertise.

There were committed displays, too, from scrum half rivals Dean Marwood and Wayne Jackson.