Robins fly through training!

Ashton United's joint managers Paul Phillips and Steve Halford can have few doubts about the bravery of their squad after seeing the Robins fly through training, literally!

To build team spirit ahead of their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League opener at home to Grantham Town on Saturday, the duo arranged for their first team and youth team squads to take part in a team building session with Manchester-based charity Challenge4Change.

Based in Trafford Park, C4C's centre is the only indoor training facility of its kind in the North with a 13 station aerial runway suspended 35 feet above the ground and a high ropes training course. The Premier Division club's players were put through their paces by highly qualified instructors with challenges including flying through their while jumping to a trapeze! They also showed their head for heights by overcoming a number of team obstacles 25 meters off the ground and thankfully for some, others at ground level, pictured.

Ashton United Director Steve Hobson said the club's stars were stretched to the limit by the fun physical activities designed to teach effective communication and team skills as well as inspiring confidence and motivation.

Hobson said: "The people at Challenge4Change have been absolutely fantastic for us and have provided a bespoke programme to suit the outcomes we wanted. This season, with a change of management, we have a whole new team of players.

"Our youth team is also a new squad. Coming to Challenge4Change has helped bond the whole club and helped lads get to know and rely on each other for support. We even had our secretary clambering over high ropes and taking the 'Leap of Faith'. I always thought he was mad and today he proved it!"

Hobson also thanked supporters from Hurst Cross who turned up to cheer the players on last week and added: "The club is extremely grateful to a number of supporters who attended to take some pictures, tweet and update Facebook on the progress of the players as they went through the session."

Challenge 4 Change (C4C) is a registered charity providing learning through fun physical activities. For more information visit: www.challenge4change.org.

Image courtesy of Jez Sayle