Barrow AFC Players Engage in Community Visit at Onside Sports

Barrow AFC Players Visit Onside Sports Coaching Development

On Friday, 2026/27, first team players Alex Reid and Olly Crankshaw from Barrow AFC Foundation visited Onside Sports Coaching Development and Community Sports Arenas C.I.C. at their combined multi-sports holiday club. The visit was part of the club's ongoing commitment to community engagement and development.

Interaction with Children

The visit began with Alex and Olly serving as captains for a team of younger children in an indoor football match. They took turns to be in goal, offering encouragement and advice to the children. The players also joined in a table tennis session with the kids, playing games and enjoying the variety of sports on offer. After the session, they signed shirts for young Bluebirds attending the camp, engaging in friendly conversations with the children.

The final part of the visit was a football session on the 3G pitch. Alex and Olly provided advice during a team versus team shoot-out, once again finding themselves in goal. The atmosphere was filled with smiles from both the players and the children, creating a fun and positive environment.

Community Impact

Tracy Ivison, Barrow AFC Foundation Manager, expressed her satisfaction with the visit, stating, 'They were fantastic with the children and really enjoyed the visit as much as the children did. We had a full group photo at the end with all children, the players, and all of the Onside coaches, including the Onside Sports owner Gav Butler.'

The visit was a success, with both the players and the children enjoying the activities. Onside Sports Coaching Development and Community Sports Arenas C.I.C. extended a warm welcome to the Barrow AFC staff and players, and the club expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with the community.

Thank you to Onside for welcoming the staff and players to their session, we hope they enjoyed it as much as we all did. Keep up the great work!