BARROW RAIDERS chief Paul Crarey reckons his side have what’s required to be competitive in the play-offs – and provide some good sporting news for the south Cumbrian town.
The Raiders’ round-ball neighbours Barrow AFC, based a mile-and-a-half up the road from the Speed Competitions Stadium at Holker Street, are having to adjust to life in the non-league ranks after May’s relegation from the English Football League.
That ended a six-season stint in League Two, the club having previously played in the Football League from 1921, when they were founder members of the Third Division North, to 1972, when under the old re-election system, the Bluebirds lost their Fourth Division place to Hereford.
The Rugby League club became members of the Northern Union in 1897 and boast a proud history, including a Challenge Cup triumph over Workington in 1955.
They last played in the top flight in 1989-90, when Crarey was a player under Rod Reddy, then Dennis Jackson, who replaced him as coach in the November of a testing season in which just one win was recorded.
Barrow’s geographical location has provided challenges for both the Rugby League and football clubs in terms of recruiting players.
The current Raiders have a strong core of local talent, and finished the regular season with a 42-20 home win over Whitehaven – their 17th win from 24 league outings.
The Raiders last made the play-offs in 2022, a year after coming up from the old League One as champions under Crarey, who began a second spell as coach in September 2014.
With a forthcoming bye round likely to be beneficial, he said: “If we compete the way we can, complete high, kick well and manage the match, we can be a match for anyone.”