Players from Barnsley Football Club and Barnsley FC Ladies visited children at the final week of Summer Soccer Camps on Thursday afternoon.
In the third combined men and Ladies visit in as many weeks, Ryan Hedges, Liam Lindsay and Cameron McGeehan were joined by Sophie Bell and Sophie Crosby in the Oakwell indoor centre.
The players took part in a Q&A session with the children at the Soccer Camps before posing for pictures and signing autographs.
Following last week’s head tennis, it was then time for the quintet to take part in another football challenge.
The players all had a go at the crossbar challenge with children from each group also joining in the game.
McGeehan, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Scunthorpe United, enjoyed meeting some of the fans back at his parent club at the Soccer Camps.
He said: “It’s really good to see all of the kids enjoying their football and asking some questions. It’s good to help them out and give them a few tips and pointers. It’s a really good facility we have and I’m happy the whole club and family can get involved with that. The coaches and the guys running it are really good so it’s always nice to help them out. We enjoy it as a team and take our turns coming.
“I’m really enjoying it [being back at Barnsley]. It’s a great club and I think you appreciate it even more when you leave and come back. It’s really nice to be back and I’m just looking forward to the season really kickstarting. It was great to meet the two Sophie’s and chat to them a little bit about how their season is going. It’s something that is really important at the club. Hopefully they have a good season.”
Having followed in her Barnsley Ladies colleagues’ footsteps in representing Chris Hamilton’s side at Summer Soccer Camps, right back Bell gave her thoughts on sharing the visit with the men’s team.
She said: “It makes a big difference for us being seen on a level playing field and for the kids it’s nice to see everybody together. It’s the same thing at the end of the day.”
The Ladies begin their FAWNL Cup campaign on Sunday at home to Bolton Wanderers Ladies, before taking on the Trotters again the following week in the league.
Left back Crosby also spoke to Reds in the Community about the visit before previewing Sunday’s round one cup tie with Bolton.
She added: “It’s been really good to see the young fans. It’s really nice to hear some of the interesting questions they’ve had to ask. It’s good to see so many people wanting to play football at such a young age, and a mixture of ages as well as girls and boys. We’re looking forward to being at home. We’ve got great facilities here and we’ve been able to train on it as well. It’s a fantastic pitch and it’s going to be interesting. Cup games are always a bit different to the league so we’re going to take in the hard work we’ve been doing this season into the game on Sunday.”
