STRIKERS will have to be at their lethal best in the Barrow and District Junior Football League this season as goalkeepers have been given an extra boost.

Experienced number one Ross Liddicott has spent the summer and early autumn working with children on their skills between the sticks to prepare them for the new campaign.

He has been operating drop-in sessions for junior keepers on Friday evenings in Barrow, helped by young Barrow AFC stopper Dan Eccles.

Close to 20 children have been turning up to improve their glove work and help their teams become watertight at the back.

“Some of the clubs have been supportive of it,” said Liddicott. “Ulverston have sent one goalkeeper from every age group and they are paying for it and they could potentially keep coming themselves – they all seem to be enjoying it.

“You notice the improvements. Even over a few weeks you can see a huge difference.

“With having never been coached before, there is an opportunity to really make a difference when they come in so young.

“When they are really young, it’s just about developing the basic skills in a fun environment. As they start to get beyond 11 or 12, they start to realise goalkeeper might be their position and you can get a little bit more technical with the coaching. You still keep it fun, but you can focus on the technical side.”

With large numbers attending each week, groups have been split into two age categories – under-sevens to under-10s and under-11s to under-16s – with each coach taking one group and working with them.

Eccles’ presence has provided a boost to the coaching and to the children, who see what he has been able to do.

“It was all for the start of the season, we wanted to see if we could get as many people involved and coached as we could,” said Liddicott, who also works with the youngsters involved with the Barrow AFC Performance Centre.

“They’re all starting their seasons and it’s a good time to work with them.

“It has helped having Dan there. Straight away, they recognise him as a Barrow player.

“It inspires them. They are getting good coaching, but they’re also getting someone with that first-hand experience of being a full-time professional footballer. They buy into that.

“Dan started out in the performance centre and he is a success story now, along with Brad Carroll. It’s good to see there is a real pathway there.”

The drop-in sessions will continue until October half-term on the 3G pitch at Furness College, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

After the October half-term, Liddicott will revert to a more regular six-week block programme.

Anyone wanting to sign up, or seeking more information, can contact Ross Liddicott on 07800 846577, or email rossliddicottgoalkeepingacademy@outlook.com