IAN Evatt is pleased about the youth set-up developments Barrow AFC have put in place at the Bluebirds’ Performance Centre this season.

The Performance Centre got their season under way this week with the new Barrow under-21 side, managed by head of youth Tony Callister and his assistant Liam Reid, kicking off with a 5-1 win over Ribbleton in the Lancashire County League.

Recently, Evatt noted it is hard for injured players such as Jacob Blyth to get minutes under his belt with no reserves side, as he has to be thrown into the first team rather than making progressive steps in their rehabilitation processes.

And the Bluebirds boss is a firm believer in how important the new set-up will be for producing stars of the future, as Evatt looks to use Barrow’s catchment area to the club’s advantage.

“It’s an important step for the football club, “ said Evatt. “I said when I first took the job, that it’s important the club has longevity, and Barrow is in a huge catchment area where we need to tap into.

“We need to get the young talent to come and see what we’re doing with the first team, and to buy into the youth squad and to try and progress up the ladder into our team.

“Also, it helps players who have been injured to get some minutes into their legs, it’s so important for the clubs progression that we have this set-up.”

Evatt and assistant manager Peter Atherton have shown faith in young talent since being at at Holker Street, including giving further opportunities to Barrow native Nathan Waterston after he was signed from Workington by Ady Pennock last season.

Liverpool youth product Andy Firth has established himself as Barrow’s first-choice goalkeeper since signing in the summer too, while loanees Luke Burgess, Tyler Smith and Kyle Jameson have all been getting plenty of minutes since being at the club as well.

The challenge now is to start progressing graduates from Barrow’s Performance Centre into the first team, with the under-21 side designed to help bridge the gap between youth and senior professional football.

Evatt knows that will not happen overnight though and hopes having a group of young players, be it signed on with the Bluebirds or on loan, will show other youngsters they will get an opportunity.

“We’ve shown this season that Peter and myself will help to develop young players,” said Evatt.

“We like having young players in our set-up, it’s a chance for everybody.

“We need to start producing assets on the football pitch and it’ll be great to get started with that.”