From financial peril to hosting an international fixture – Northwood FC

With Northwood Football Club set to host its first-ever international fixture, chairman Ian Barry gave a greater insight into the club’s past and what the future holds.

Kernow and Cascadia will meet at the Fenton Engineering Stadium on Saturday 22nd May with tickets currently on sale. The exhibition fixture will also be the first game Northwood have hosted since December, with COVID-19 restrictions forcing divisions below the National League to be cancelled.

Ian Barry has held the position of chairman at the club since 2007, and in that time has seen various ups and downs, with Northwood facing financial ruin seven years ago. Though the future is now looking bright with a modernised clubhouse facility.

But Barry admitted that the financial boost provided by the facility was desperately needed. “We needed more income, to put it bluntly. We were very close to completely closing our doors around 2014, the income just wasn’t meeting the outgoings.”

Though his determination to leave a legacy at the club saw work for a rejuvenated social facility commence. Barry explained “our clubhouse -like many at non-league level- was tired. I had this pipe dream to make the clubhouse look like what you see today.”

“But I knew that it would take a lot of organisation, a lot of money, a lot of desire, and a lot of belief from people to see what I was trying to do for this club.”

“I won’t lie, I massively underestimated the amount of work involved. But I was lucky enough to have a great team of people who believed in what we had planned.”

Barry claimed that the completion of the project convinced fans of his ambition for the club and created a new “wave” of supporters coming through the gates.

While Northwood’s initial goal was to ensure that their existence was not threatened in the short term, Barry is now looking to the next “hundred years” with Northwood “the envy” of fellow clubs.

“The Woods” are also making admirable strides off the field too. Next season’s first-team kit will be made out of recycled material with the club taking great responsibility in its environmental surroundings.

The “impeccably kept” Northwood cemetery surrounds the Fenton Engineering Stadium, with the “unique” setting screened by remarkable conifer trees to form a special non-league ground.

Despite being somewhat unfamiliar with the area of Cascadia, Barry acknowledged Northwood share various similarities and look forward to welcoming the team.

Appreciation of trees -Cascadia is symbolised by the Douglas Fir Tree- and environment awareness are values prioritised by both parties.

To conclude, Barry pointed out that Northwood’s fanbase is “largely formed by an older demographic”, but he hopes the club can “capitalise on attendance figures rising by 100% prior to the stoppage of games” in what will be the first fixture played by a Cornish team at Northwood Football Club.

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