With Covid-19 forcing amateur football to a standstill and no clear end in sight, most local clubs have been putting the hours in off the pitch to upgrade facilities and plan ahead; non more so than at the Handmark Engineering Stadium at Rakesmoor Lane – home of Barrow’s sole North West Counties team, Holker Old Boys.

Photos recently emerged online of the work going on within the first team dressing room, with glowing praise coming from various officials and players from other clubs. Joint first team manager, Kevin Watkin, said: “It is good to be able to keep improving the club bit by bit. It can be very difficult for amateur clubs, but with such a good group of volunteers around the club, and great efforts from the lads to raise funds, we are fortunate enough to be able to continue to develop facilities”.

Watkin had glowing praise for the players who had arranged a number of nights at the club over the last year; from hosting bands and DJ’s to helping encourage the use of the club as a venue for private functions.

With the changing rooms undergoing a reconfiguration, Watkin explained this enabled them to install a kit and physio room, which is almost complete.

The plans don’t stop there, however, with Watkin keen to explain: “The club has a lot of ideas. It’s just being patient and looking ahead for the next one-to-five years and understanding what is achievable and what are the key improvements that are needed, non of this would be possible without such an active committee and a driven group of volunteers.”

That plan extends to making the club more family orientated, by installing disabled and baby changing facilities. There are also plans to refurbish the floodlights at the ground, as well as improve the outdoor viewing area and the drainage on the bottom pitch areas, but Watkin is keen to stress: “Some of these are reliant on being successful in seeking funding so we are hopeful these can be approved and enabled.”

However, whilst the work off the pitch is thriving, he admits last season on the pitch was a story of frustration. As part of a three man management team, with Paul Southward and Glyn Dixon, Watkin explained: “Last season started with such positivity and we got off to a great start after what I thought was a good pre-season.

“Unfortunately, form dropped through that difficult time for all amateur teams, at the end of November and beginning of December, which left us with a frustrating run-in – not really contending for play-offs but no threat of relegation.”

It is hoped that they can keep the strength of squad that started so positively last season and Watkin explained: “[We want to] add to it with local players, seeing the improvements being made to keep the club moving forward and taking an opportunity to challenge themselves at the highest amateur standard”. Something, he admits, has always “proven difficult.”

Pictures courtesy of Holker Old Boys