I’ve had some really good meetings this week with members of our club looking after Furness Raiders.

When we publish our development plan for 2020 it will heavily focus on growing the game of rugby league in the area.

The focus will not be simply on putting all our resource in to first team rugby. We recognise that there are some problems with the amateur game in terms of numbers playing, but we don’t think it is irreversible and want to be stakeholders in helping to help reinvigorate the area’s rugby league.

There are some fantastic, well run amateur clubs that are blessed with dedicated volunteers that have, in some cases, devoted their whole life to maintaining and growing their clubs. We can’t afford to let any of our clubs slip away.

There is drop off in the amateur game around the age of 14 and then again in the late teens. However, our numbers are very strong at the younger age groups.

There are bound to be drop-offs as people change and make life choices, but I am still very hopeful that we can do better than we currently are.

The pathway from early teens to Furness Raiders seems to be now a well-trodden one.

It is fantastic that the youth players in the area definitely view the Furness Raiders as a team to strive to play for.

Over the past three seasons, they have done fantastically well, with one cup winning season, one final appearance and the current season proving that the team is equally as strong.

Barrow Raiders have obviously benefited with the signings of Ryan Johnston, Jake Carter, Adam Ford and Connor Terrill. I’ve been to see a couple of games this season and there are definitely more signings in the pipeline.

The Furness Raiders is totally funded by the profits from the Super Lotto and it is fantastic that our loyal fans who contribute to this are effectively paying for this production line of talent, not to mention a contribution to the contracts of all those players who progress.

The club has made a commitment to get more involved with the team. We need to give the side a similar profile to the first team and we have asked that our media department try to build up the home games better, interview some players and coach, Dave Cairns, and that our commercial department help to bring in some sponsors.

We have proven with our community work that it is sometimes easier to attract sponsors to be involved in our community programme and we expect similar in trying to keep youngsters involved in the game of rugby league.

The first team proves more difficult to introduce new sponsors, but I have to say we are totally blessed with the loyal ones we currently have.

This evening at 6pm, the Furness Raiders host Wakefield. If you haven’t seen the team before get down to Craven Park, you really will be in for a treat.