Mac Barlow Becomes Manager of Blackpool FC Ladies

Mac Barlow was born on 31 May 1967 in Blackpool and is an English football manager and former football player. She became the manager of Blackpool FC Ladies in May 2009 and is well known amongst women’s football fans, having had a long playing career. For more on women’s football, have a look at our post featuring a 1937 match between France and England in Blackpool.

Barlow played for Preston Rangers WFC and was part of the team reached the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup in 1982–83 and 1989–90, where she played left back. In 1997, they became Preston North End WFC and finished 1997–98 as champions, winning promotion to the Northern Combination Women’s Football League. In 1999 the club was officially affiliated with Preston North End FC The club won the Northern Combination Women’s Football League in 2005–06 and were promoted to the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division for the first time.

Barlow also had a spell at Blackpool Wren Rovers before joining Blackpool FC Ladies. She was part of the County Division Two side that won promotion in 2008–2009, took over from Mike O’Neil as Player Manager and brought in Dave Kelly, Marco Vidoretti and former Greenock Morton winger Mick Perrett to form the management team for that season. In the 2009–10 season, they again won promotion as champions and for the second season running, were runners-up in the Lancashire FA County Cup after a 3–1 extra time defeat to Rochdale Blues at the LFA County Ground. In the 2009–2010 season Barlow scored 19 goals in 20 appearances from left wing and secured the Blackpool F.C. Ladies to their second promotion is as many years.

In June 2010, Barlow ended her long association with Preston North End Women FC to concentrate fully on Blackpool, inviting former Preston North End Women FC Manager Chris Stammers to join the coaching staff at Blackpool. In April 2011, Barlow and Blackpool FC Ladies made history by playing a competitive fixture on Bloomfield Road. Barlow shone in that game scoring two and being named Player of the Match. The Ladies were boosted in particular by a 6–0 victory at home to Carlisle. This was a significant fixture as it was the first time that Blackpool FC had hosted their own Ladies’s team at Bloomfield Road in a competitive league fixture.

Barlow also coaches the Blackpool FC Ladies Under 11’s team and is also Club secretary. She retired from playing football in June 2017. She is married to Ray and they have two children Kelly, (who also plays for Blackpool FC Ladies at left back) and Andy.