THE Barrow AFC Performance Centre are targeting a prosperous season after making a few bold changes.

Lancashire FA football development officer Tony Callister is the club’s new head of youth, replacing first-team coach Alex Meechan in the role. 

Callister will be assisted by Liam Reid and Margaret Straker – the wife of Barrow director Austin Straker – who will help to co-ordinate activities.

Reid, the assistant head of the performance centre, said: “It’s looking like it’s going to be a busy yet exciting year for the centre.

“We’re all excited to work with Tony, somebody who is passionate about local football and who has been an avid supporter of the centre since day one.

“Margaret is full of ideas and looks at things from all angles. She’s also passionate about the club and wants the best for everyone involved.”

This year the centre boasts more than 160 players and in excess of 25 members of staff. 

Young Barrovian first-team keeper Danny Eccles, plus twin brothers Alex and Elliot Newby and fellow Bluebird Brad Carroll will be involved with coaching players from under-11s up to under-16s.

The player ranks will be boosted by the creation of new under-12s and under-14s girls squads, which will sit alongside the seven boys squads – from under-11s up to under-18s.

More than 50 girls yesterday took part in trials at Crooklands Casuals FC, while there are also plans to create a under-16s and under-18s girls teams, plus a women's team, in the future.

Reid added: “Girls football in the area has been fantastic this year.

“Over 100 girls have taken part in two primary school tournaments at Pulse earlier this year and the talent on show was brilliant.

“Even more pleasing was how each child enjoyed playing football. Hopefully we can help the Barrow and District Girls teams and primary and secondary schools continue to raise the profile of the girl's game in the area.”

Under-11s to under-players 16s players train once a week and will play games against professional academies and development centres from across the North West. 

The fixture schedule includes opponents Manchester City, Morecambe and Carlisle United.

Reid said: “I remember sitting down and discussing the creation of the Furness Football Performance Centre, which we began with one team of 18 players and three coaches.

“To see how things have turned out six years later and to be involved with Barrow AFC’s new chapter is amazing.

“It’s is credit to all the staff and supporters.

“Each season we get one or two new clubs who get in touch and want games. Our profile is slowly and consistently building and we work hard behind the scenes to ensure that we get a healthy fixture schedule.”

AFC’s under-18s side have entered the Floodlit League for a third season, but they will this year take a break from competing in the North West Alliance League.

Reid added: “We needed a moment of reflection.

“New management at the centre, and at the club for that matter, provides us with this opportunity which we will use to assess where we are and where we want to go next, and this includes the under-18s structure and beyond.”

The squad were put through a tough pre-season schedule, starting with a work-out led by first-team strength and conditioning coach Paddy Maher.

Games against Dalton United, Furness Rovers and Bradford City offered them worthwhile challenges, with matches reviewed during weekly performance analysis sessions held by performance analyst Eilis Littlehales and Olly Carswell.

The under-18s opened their league campaign with a 3-0 home defeat by Stockport County on Tuesday night, they will also host Bury, Bamber Bridge and Manchester Gregorians and test their skills against Kendal Town and Lancaster City.

There will be away games against full-time college outfits at Myerscough College and Accrington and Rossendale College, Padiham, Burscough, Manchester Central and Chorley.

Phil Collier Associates will serve as the under-18s’ sponsor this season and, as part of that agreement, the youth team has entered the Lancashire Cup, a competition also sponsored by Collier.

AFC have received a first-round bye, with the likes of Fleetwood Town, Southport, Chorley and AFC Fylde in the mix.

Reid said: “The league is looking healthy this season, with a lot of new teams.

“People will often look at college teams and wonder why we are playing against those types of teams.

“People forget that these lads train every day as part of their college programme and play one or two times per week. They are tough games.

“We work with our lads twice-a-week, a total of three hours.”

The under-18s have a new management team, led by ex-AFC duo Craig Rutherford and Steven Gill.

Reid added: “I am excited by this combination. They are honest people who have built up a lot of experience in a short space of time and both played for the club early in their football careers.

“Both have a wealth of experience coaching in this area and abroad, and the lads couldn’t have a better team of coaches to oversee their development in partnership with the local clubs that they play for.”