Ross Barrows: There's no better place to play football

By signing a new deal that sees hometown boy Barrows extend his stay until the end of the 2024-25 season, the versatile defender is looking to help take his side one step further this time around and gain promotion to the National League.

When speaking to us in regard to how good it felt to finally putting pen to paper, Barrows replied: “I’m absolutely over the moon, there’s no better place to play football and I’m absolutely buzzing to finally get it over the line.

“When I spoke to the gaffer about his plans for next season, it was an no-brainer straight away, and I just couldn’t wait to get it all sorted.”

Following the off season break in between the clubs last game of the 2023-24 season, Barrows spoke about how he’s found it personally since the Iron’s unfortunate defeat on penalties against Boston United: “It’s been tough, and it definitely didn’t go as we hoped, especially for me as I’ve sure had some sleepless nights since then.

“But I’ve had a good people and a good support network around me who have brought me back up, and haven’t let one kick of a football define me as a player.”

With changes happening on and off the pitch since that Boston encounter, Barrows provided his opinion on the recent appointment of Andy Butler as the club’s new first team manager: “I think it’s a great appointment, and a great bit of continuity for the club. When he spoke to me and told me he wanted me to stay, I was over the moon.

“As a group last year, we were absolutely gutted that we didn’t manage to get it over the line, so it’s a sense of unfinished business for all of us who are staying, and it played a big part in my reasoning for staying too.”

Since coming through the United ranks in his youth career days, he reflected on his career so far by saying: “There’s no better place to play at this level, and I said to the gaffer that this club has given me so much so far, and I really want to give something back by achieving our goal next season.”

Butler has spoken previously on his gruelling plans for pre-season as he prepares to build his troops up for battle next year. Barrows provided his thoughts on the gaffer’s thoughts and said: “We as players have our time for rest, but when speaking to the gaffer it seems like it’s going to be tough and an old school pre-season, but I’m looking forward to probably being the fittest I’ve ever been as it’s going to help us prepare for the upcoming season. 

“I’m really excited for the season ahead and I’m looking forward to showing the fans what I can do and really nailing down that shirt and my position.”