A LOYAL BARROVIAN
By DOUG THOMSON
TOMMY DAWES October 11, 1938 - August 2025
TOMMY DAWES assured himself of a place in Barrow Rugby League folklore in 1983-84.
For as coach of his hometown club, for whom he had made more than 300 appearances, mainly as a goal-kicking fullback, between February 1958 and September 1970, he led the way to Lancashire Cup glory, then promotion to the topflight as champions of the Second Division.
It was the second time in as many seasons that Dawes had taken a team to the First Division, for his Whitehaven side had claimed the fourth available promotion spot, behind Fulham, Wakefield Trinity and Salford, in 1982-83.