Friend back on the sporting side - a real flier (7)
I believe the answer is:
lapwing
'a real flier' is the definition.
'lapwing' can be an answer for 'flier' (type of bird). I am not certain of the 'a real' bit.
'friend back on the sporting side' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'the sporting side' becomes 'wing' (as in left and right wings. I am not sure about the 'sporting' bit.).
'pal' in reverse letter order is 'lap'.
'lap'+'wing'='LAPWING'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lapwing that I've seen before include "Large plover with a loud call -- peewit" , "Type of plover" , "Bird of the plover family" , "high-flier" , "Crested plover" .)