It’s a great privilege to have been chosen as the first representative of the Bluebirds Trust on the board of Barrow AFC.

In my first few weeks in the role, I am already seeing just how busy it’s likely to keep me through to September 2020, though the investment of time is amply rewarded by the sense of shared achievement when things go well.

The Bluebirds Trust director at Barrow AFC is uniquely placed as a conduit between the fans and the club that we all love, and as such I see one of my main duties being to keep the fanbase up to date on the latest news from Holker Street.

This weekly column will be one way in which that outreach and engagement can be achieved.

Having never written a column before, the thought of finding interesting (I hope!) things to say on a weekly basis seemed challenging when it was first proposed, but from matchdays to our maintenance volunteers, club events like our upcoming presentation night and all the initiatives that the Bluebirds Trust themselves are engaged in, there really is no limit to material.

Barrow AFC is a true community club, and as such there is always something going on to keep people informed on.

This season has been a very positive one given where the first team found itself twelve months ago.

Ian Evatt has taken to the Holker Street dugout better than all but the most optimistic could have hoped and is already a real fan favourite.

But while the playing side appears to be safe in his hands, the club has to maintain focus off the field as well. This summer will see intensive work at Barrow AFC and I look forward to being able to provide more detail on what this entails in the coming weeks.

It’s the first time since I became involved with the Bluebirds Trust that I’ve had the sense that the end of the fixture list means the start of the hard work and not the end!

Moving forward, this column will contain updates on all things Barrow AFC, possibly with some guest pieces here and there written by others involved with both the Bluebirds Trust and the club itself.

I hope it proves informative and, who knows, maybe entertaining too.

It will certainly be an honour to write it on behalf of our loyal support.

*The conclusion to this 2018/19 season may lack real drama as the club occupies a comfortable top half position, but let’s not lose sight of where we were last year: facing the very real prospect of relegation to National League North, with all the damage and uncertainty that brings both on and off the field.

I for one feel ready to celebrate an uneventful run-in!

The opportunity for that celebration is this Sunday when Barrow AFC will be hosting its annual Presentation Night.

Tickets for the event are available either from the Club or by calling 01229 666010. The price to attend is £15, which includes a light meal.

This is our opportunity to celebrate the progress the team has made under Ian Evatt. The Easter Bank Holiday will be in full swing with the arrival of Hartlepool to look forward to the following day.

The players and staff will be in attendance for what should be a very enjoyable evening.

The club are also offering the chance to sponsor our awards. This is priced at £100 per award and includes two tickets for the event, social media coverage of your sponsorship and the chance to present the award with a souvenir photo for you to keep.

*One of the most welcome sights for our team as they travel the country is our ‘magnificent’ (Ian Evatt’s word) away support.

We’ve covered the length of England, from Hartlepool to Dover, this season, once again recording the most miles of all the teams in England’s top five divisions.

This great effort is supported through the Bluebirds Trust. Our buses carry fans to most games, always meeting, especially in the south, our exiles, many of whom are in the National Supporters Club.

Add to that mix our friends from FC Koln in Germany. It will come as no surprise that it is easier to get to Bromley from Cologne than from Barrow.

Bluebirds fan Derry Greaves has used planes, trains and automobiles to attend every single game this year – a ‘perfect season.’

He will be presenting the Trust Player of the Season Award on Sunday and is certainly the best-placed person to do so. Congratulations, Derry!

For many, following the Bluebirds is a way of life, with ups and downs along the way. That’s the passion and commitment we need to move the club forward, both at Holker Street and on the road.