Barrow AFC's supporters are set to star in a feature-length documentary that was inspired by their club's dramatic return to the English Football League.
The Bluebirds will be in League Two next season after 48 years outside of the fully professional ranks came to an end with them being crowned champions of the National League on a points per game basis last month.
That achievement has led to 'A Bluebird from the Ashes,' which is being written and directed by Barrovian Scott Mason and will shine a spotlight on the football club and its relationship with the community it serves.
Players, staff and fans will look back on almost half a century's worth of experiences, from AFC's last days of being in the Football League in 1972 to this year's promotion, with all the tough times that fell in between.
Artwork for the film is being provided by Barrow-born artist John Duffin, whose father played for Barrow in the 1960s and whose paintings decorate the Cross Bar at Holker Street.
Mason said: "A Bluebird from the Ashes is a cinematic documentary about one of those character-defining stories that football has a knack for delivering every now and again.
"It’s a look at half a century of hurt for a town that’s all too readily written off and an analysis of why we, as football fans, keep on going back for more.
"When it came to capturing a sense of the club in the film’s artwork, there was no-one else for it but John, whose iconic paintings already adorn the walls of Holker Street. It's a real pleasure and an honour to have him onboard.
"The film is a love letter to football and the Bluebirds more than anything, so I hope it can at least do some good for the club and the supporters' trust."
The documentary, which will be filmed in the coming weeks and is due to be completed later in the year, is actively seeking participation from supporters who want to share their experiences.
Bluebirds Trust chairman Steve Herbert said: “It’s been a fantastic honour to be able to talk to so many of our diehard fans and gather their stories for filming.
“It’s not only about the injustice of 1972 and ultimate redemption, but also a testament to Barrow’s community spirit as a whole.”
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