Barrow AFC Community Trust has parted ways with the town’s football club.
The charity, which aims to inspire and educate people to get involved with sport, will continue with a new name – as the Barrow Community Sports Club.
Mick Cull, chair of trustees, said: “Whilst we are sad to be parting ways with the football club, we are excited about this new beginning as Barrow Community Sports Trust.
“We have a tremendous team of coaches and staff, led by Craig, who all have the best interests of our community at heart. The sporting opportunities and experiences on offer are second to none and our plans will have long term health and wellbeing benefits for the whole town.”
Barrow Community Sports Trust will continue to deliver its vision within Barrow and the wider Furness Peninsula, it said:
- To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities for the playing of association football and other sports capable of improving health and fitness.
- To provide and assist in providing facilities for sports capable of improving health and fitness, recreation or other leisure time occupation of such persons who have need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interest of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.
- To advance the education of children and young people through participation in sport.
Craig Rutherford, general manager of the charity, said: “As a lad who has grown up in Barrow from the age of four, it’s been my absolute privilege to have represented our local club in a number of capacities, from attempting to be a player, to Performance Centre and first team coach, to my main role as the lead of the community trust. I am very proud of the work our team has delivered in our locality.
“While the situation is unfortunate, I am full of passion to continue our work to help the local community under our new charity name of Barrow Community Sports Trust.
“I wish the club every success on and off the pitch and thank them for the amazing memories I take away with me. To have both professional clubs performing well and contributing to their community will only benefit our locality.
“I would like to thank our board of trustees, staff and everyone we work with for their support and backing, it means more than you will ever know.”
