BARROW AFC's Performance Centre are preparing for the new season as boys and girls teams ready themselves for fresh challenges.

The club's under-18s team start life back in the North West Youth Alliance and against Altrincham at Furness Building Society Stadium on Sunday (2.30pm kick-off).

The club have moved to the competition as they look to start building towards fielding an under-21s side in future, with the aim of producing more future first-team players.

Performance Centre head Tony Callister said: “This coming season holds much excitement with the under-18s squad moving into the Youth Alliance, which will provide strong opposition.

“The team, managed by Craig Rutherford, are looking to compete among other similar club set-ups within their age group, which further develops them as players.”

The under-18s team have been boosted by a five-year sponsorship deal from Phil Collier Associates, with Callister adding: “It promises to be a very exciting season and, with the strong sponsorship backing from Phil over these next five seasons, we aim to move forward in a positive manner as we look to develop further above the current under-18s age group.”

There are also developments with the girls Performance Centre following the successful introduction of under-12s and under-14s teams last season.

With main sponsorship from The National League Trust and other funding from The Sir John Fisher Foundation and Barrow Borough Sports Council, the club have also carried on their Only Girls Allowed programme for primary school children.

The new season for the girls will now see the introduction of two new teams at under-11s and under-12s.

Trials for the sides will take place on Sunday, September 4 at the Training Pitch, home of Furness Rovers. The under-11s trial will start at 11.30am and the under-12s at 1pm. All potential players are invited to attend.

Callister added: “Girls football continues to develop in the area and, with the support of local clubs, we are excited to create two further teams at under-11s and under-12s.

“This makes four age groups at Barrow AFC and, with last season's success, offers the girls chances to be picked up by clubs higher up the pyramid and helps them move towards realising a dream and following in in the footsteps of local superstar Georgia Stanway.”