Three of the top sports teams in the area are coming together next Friday for a charity match at Furness Cricket Club.

Fans of both Barrow AFC and Barrow Raiders will compete for the third year running at the home of the Higson Cup and South Cumbria T20 holders, where they will be raising money for both clubs’ supporters trusts and for Mind in Furness.

The respective teams will have Bluebirds manager Ian Evatt and Raiders head coach Paul Crarey playing for them, showing the two clubs’ commitment to the cause.

Evatt, a keen cricketer, said: “It’s really important for us to be involved in events with the Bluebirds Trust and the wider community.

“I play a fair bit of cricket so this is a great event to be a part of, the fact that is to raise awareness of a brilliant charity makes it even better.

“Mind in Furness do some really important work and it’s vital to keep the conversation about mental health going.”

Co-organiser Louise Scarr, representing the Raiders Trust, is also looking forward to the event and the participation of Crarey.

She said: “It’s a great event between both sets of supporters and to promote both clubs as well as raising money. We have done this for a couple of years now and last year was very successful.”

For the Bluebirds Trust, Stu Nichols added: “It was an idea that Gill Derrish from the Raiders had a couple of years ago and it’s good that both the two sets of fans and that three of the main sports clubs in Barrow can come together like this.

The event takes place next Friday at 6pm at Furness Park, on Oxford Street. There will also be food available and a raffle for what was a well-attended event last year.

Co- organiser and Furness Cricket Club member Harvey Dale said: “We’re always happy to host games like these, especially when they’re for great causes.”

“We wish both teams the very best of luck, one or two of the players will need it!”