“If you’re lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he’s never going to come off the field second.”

One of my favourite sporting quotes, it’s from iconic American football coach Vince Lombardi, who led an unfancied, isolated team and town in Pittsburgh to unprecedented greatness.

We have been working with Ian Evatt on a video to support the Bluebirds Trust’s forthcoming ‘Play Your Part’ campaign, which we hope to launch this weekend, all things being equal. Of course, Ian is no stranger to the media and his ability to put his vision across to the team and town is a real asset.

It offered an insight into why Ian is doing such a great job and why we are where we are. His attention to detail and desire to get each scene in one take impressed, as did the atmosphere of expectation and enjoyment at training. Hard work, fitness enjoyment and attention to detail is the order of the day. Head and heart together.

A lot of leadership comes from within, an inner fire and self-belief. Ian, playing in every division and getting all the way to playing in the Premier League, has that heart in abundance but has also used his head to learn some excellent habits he is now passing on to great effect, on his own terms.

Of course, one of his first mentors was Jim Smith, the legendary Derby County manager, who died last week. Ian paid this warm tribute in The Mail, saying: “He instilled some proper football values, in terms of the way you need to discipline yourself, the way you need to give 110 per cent every day and how focused and driven you need to be. It was a demanding environment, but a good environment.” Values you see being instilled in this young Barrow side.

Ian also recently readily acknowledged the major part ex-Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had in his development.

He said: “We went out to attack, played without fear and tried to hurt the opposition’s back four – that’s what I got from him.” We can all see this desire writ large on the pitch this season.

So, we have clear vision, attention to detail, high standards and a fearless style. The head and the heart of a manager and team that could lead us to the greatest heights. Watch and see.

* The video with Ian Evatt talks about how you can play your part and there are lots of great examples of this already, all of which go to supporting our club financially during this fabulous season and beyond.

One stalwart of this is of course the half time raffle, a staple for many years. Led by the supposedly retired and indefatigable Russ Rawley, the last few games have seen records broken in terms of participation.

For the very few who escape Russ’ clutches, Andy Leitch will doubtless have attempted to sell a football card to you.

Our Race Night also raised a good sum of money, impossible without your support. Last month, we were lucky enough to receive money from the Barrow Supporters team in the K2B, over £600 towards the support of your club, through the Trust.

And every penny, over an agreed reserve, is going into the support of Barrow A.F.C, through the purchase of shares which supports the progress both on and off the field.

So, you are really playing your part, the relationship between Trust and club is closer than ever before and we will be looking forward to introducing more ways to help in the weeks to come.

* Sometimes, a football away day doesn’t quite turn out as expected and there’s not much worse than a postponement.

Saturday at Atherton Collieries was one, although I’m sure they bust a gut to get the game on, given the occasion, revenue and large travelling support converging on Lancashire.

The supporters bus had to be content with a short tour of the A590 towards Kendal and back, perhaps the more thoughtful of our support taking the opportunity to earn much-needed brownie points back home for the many away trips to come.

Intrepid souls spread out over the North West, including from the deep south, making themselves comfortable in some excellent Manchester hostelries.

Others who’d taken the train took the, some would say, foolish decision and joined the Christmas shopping crowd.

Wigan possibly hasn’t been a preferred Saturday destination since the heady days of Northern Soul, so for those that far in, it was a quick pint and back to Lancaster pubs for the Liverpool game and the food market.

Unsurprisingly, many of these elements eventually found themselves back in their Barrow local, hailing the excellent Liam Conroy victory before heading home merrily. Life, and indeed postponements, are what you make them. We go again tonight.