Last updated at 13:44, Wednesday, 04 July 2012

THE Furness Select football squad are determined to give Barrow AFC a decent workout.

TEAM BONDING: Furness Select squad players at Furness Academy playing fields REF: 50035649B000

The Bluebirds started pre-season training this week, and Saturday’s friendly against the area’s top amateurs at Holker Street acts as their first warm-up game ahead of the 2012/13 season.

Dave Bayliss’s side begin their Blue Square Bet Premier campaign at home to AFC Telford United on Saturday, August 11, followed by away games to league newcomers Hyde United and Woking.

Before the real business begins though, AFC have nine warm-up matches, starting with the now annual clash with the Furness Select squad, who have been gearing up for the fixture with some training sessions.

The squad had a get-together on the Furness Academy playing fields last Friday, under co-bosses Tony Callister and Craig Rutherford, who said: “We both believe there is a lot of talent in this area and hopefully some of the lads may catch the eye.

“We tried to look at a young team with a view to impressing, but also with a little bit of experience thrown in to guide the younger players through the game, and to help with communication.

“Our main aim is to give Barrow a solid test in their first friendly and let the fans see good local lads testing themselves against the Bluebirds.”

Furness Select: Ross Liddicott (Holker); Sam Stephens (Crooklands); Tom Heywood (Crooklands); Craig Redhead (Holker); Lee Miller (Vickerstown); Gareth Smith (Holker); Chris Wraight (Crooklands); Brad Hubbold (Holker); Danny Cummings (Vickerstown); Kev Watkin (Holker); Martin Grundy (Holker/Ambleside); Dave Swarbrick (Holker); Danny Keenan (Vickerstown); Sean Paterson (Vickerstown); Dave Mansergh (Crooklands); Jack Gardner (GSK Ulverston Rangers).

First published at 13:36, Wednesday, 04 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk