Last updated at 13:45, Friday, 29 June 2012

A BUNCH of leading amateur footballers will be out to impress when they take on Barrow AFC.

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Furness Select joint-managers Craig Rutherford and Tony Callister have announced their squad to face the Bluebirds at Furness Building Society Stadium a week tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

The match serves the dual purpose of being AFC’s first pre-season game ahead of the 2012/13 Blue Square Bet Premier campaign, as well as giving some of the area’s top amateurs the chance to test their skills against a professional outfit.

Mixing youth with experience, the 16-man party sees the likes of experienced heads such as Crooklands Casuals match-winner Dave Mansergh, Vickerstown playmaker Danny Cummings and Holker marksman Dave Swarbrick team up with younger players like GSK Ulverston Rangers under-18s ace Jack Gardner and Holker’s highly-rated Brad Hubbold.

“Myself and Tony Callister have sat down and discussed the best way to select the squad and believe we have a good mix of potential and experience,” said co-boss Rutherford.

“We both believe there is a lot of talent in this area and hopefully some of the lads may catch the eye. We tried to look at a young team with a view to impressing, but also with a little bit of experience thrown in to guide the younger players through the game, and to help with communication.

“Our main aim is to give Barrow a solid test in their first friendly and let the fans see good local lads testing themselves against the Bluebirds.

“We appreciate that the squad we have selected contains players who are, or have been, playing open age football for a number of years now. However, we have not forgotten about younger players coming through. I coach a squad in the Furness Football Performance Centre (set up by former Barrow AFC winger Neil Doherty) who will be moving into their final season at under-16s level.

“They have been together for three years now and I am very confident we will see these players playing in next year’s Furness select squad.

“Also included is Jack Gardner from GSK Ulverston Rangers under-18s, after the team had a successful season under manager Gary Fawcett.

“Barrow AFC asked him to nominate a player from his squad, and Jack was their player of the year and will now join the squad to face Dave Bayliss’ men.”

“It should be really good,” added Rutherford.

“We just really want to give Barrow a good test and I firmly believe there is a lot of potential in this area.”

First published at 13:40, Friday, 29 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk