View source for Barrow Raiders

{{short description|English rugby league club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby league club
| clubname          = Barrow Raiders
| image             = [[File:Barrow Raiders logo.png|200px]]
| fullname          = {{nowrap|Barrow Rugby League Football Club Ltd}}
| nickname          = ''Raiders''
| web               = [http://www.barrowrlfc.com barrowrlfc.com]
| colours           = [[File:Barrowcolours.svg|16px]] Blue and white
| founded           = {{start date and age|1875}}
| ground            = [[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]]
| capacity          = 4,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowrlfc.com/craven-park-ground/|title=Craven Park Ground &#124; Barrow Raiders|date=27 January 2020 }}</ref>
| chairman          = Steve Neale
| manager           =
| ceo               =
| coach             = [[Paul Crarey]]
| captain           = Jarrad Stack
| league            = [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]]
| season            = [[2025 RFL Championship|2025 season]]
| position          = 9th
| current           = 2026 RFL Championship
| homejersey         = 
| awayjersey         =  
| clubchampionships   =
| clubchampionshipyears =
| challengecups       = 1
| challengecupyears   = 1954–55
| premierships        =
| premiershipyears    =
| minorpremierships   =
| minorpremiershipyears =
| runnerups           =
| runnerupyears       =
| cup2                = [[Rugby Football League Championship Second Division|Second Division]]
| cup2titles          = 3
| cup2years           = 1975–76, 1983–84, 2009
| cup3                = [[RFL League 1|Third Division]]
| points              = 2,403
| cap                 =
| mostcap             =
| mostpoints          = Darren Holt
| pattern_name1 = <!--optional, default: Home colours -->
| pattern_la1   = _whiteborder
| pattern_b1    = _chevron_white
| pattern_ra1   = _whiteborder
| pattern_sh1   = 
| pattern_so1   = _whitestripe
| leftarm1      = 0000cc
| body1         = 0000cc
| rightarm1     = 0000cc
| shorts1       = 0000cc
| socks1        = 0000cc
| pattern_name2 = Away colours<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowrlfc.com/latest-news/2025-away-kit-on-sale-now/ |title=2025 away shirt on sale now |website=Barrow Raiders |date=15 January 2025 |access-date=12 August 2025}}</ref>
| kit_alt2      = 
| pattern_la2   = 
| pattern_b2    = _upper_blue
| pattern_ra2   = 
| pattern_sh2   = 
| pattern_so2   = _whitestripe
| leftarm2      = 00009a
| body2         = B5F268
| rightarm2     = 00009a
| shorts2       = 00009a
| socks2        = 00009a
| pattern_name3 = 150th Anniversary Kit<br />(2025 Home)<ref name=2025kit/>
| kit_alt3      = 
| pattern_la3   = 
| pattern_b3    = _redhoops
| pattern_ra3   = 
| pattern_sh3   = _redbottom
| pattern_so3   = _redtop
| leftarm3      = 000000
| body3         = 000000
| rightarm3     = 000000
| shorts3       = 000000
| socks3        = 000000
}}

The '''Barrow Raiders''' are a semi-professional [[rugby league]] team in [[Barrow-in-Furness]], Cumbria, England. The club play home games at [[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]] and compete in the [[RFL Championship|Championship]], the second tier of [[British rugby league system|British rugby league]].

Barrow have never won the [[List of British rugby league champions|League Championship]], their only major honour being winning the [[Challenge Cup]] in 1955.

Traditionally the club's home colours are blue and white and main rivals are fellow semi-professional Cumbrian teams [[Whitehaven RLFC|Whitehaven]] and [[Workington Town]].

==History==
===Early years===
[[File:Sh 1921 kangaroos.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A Barrow side met the 1921 Kangaroos in a tour match]]
Barrow Football Club was formed in 1875 and played its first home game on 4 December of that year against the Royal Grammar School, [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], at Cavendish Park on Barrow Island, then home to the town's cricket club.<ref name="Delaney">{{cite book |title=The Grounds Of Rugby League |last1=Delaney |first1=Trevor |year=1991 |publisher=Trevor R. Delaney |location=[[Keighley]] |isbn=0-9509-9822-2 }}</ref> It is thought that Tom H. Baynes, a shipping clerk, was the driving force behind the club's foundation. As well as being a player, he was probably also the first Barrow team coach. Early practice matches games were played in "a field loaned by a local farmer" as well as the Parade Ground and the aforementioned Cavendish Park.

At the 1883 annual general meeting, Cavendish Park got the vote over the Parade Ground as a permanent home on account of its better playing surface.<ref name=Delaney /> The first grandstand there was erected in 1893, and another one in 1893.

In April 1897, the team switched from [[rugby union]] to [[rugby league]] following a unanimous vote at the club. Barrow joined the Second Division of the Lancashire Senior Competition and became champions in [[1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season|their first season]]. They lost a test match against [[Morecambe RFC|Morecambe]], the bottom club in the First Division, however, and failed to gain promotion.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} They were eventually promoted at the end of the [[1899–1900 Northern Rugby Football Union season|1899–1900 season]], by defeating [[Tyldesley FC|Tyldesley]] in the test match.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

In 1908, the club nearly doubled their attendance record to 12,000 in a third round [[Challenge Cup]] match against [[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]].<ref name=Delaney />

In 1914, Cavendish Park was requisitioned by the authorities for the war effort. Barrow moved to [[Little Park, Roose|Little Park]], Roose, three miles from the centre of town. The first match there was a 31–2 victory over [[Bramley RLFC|Bramley]]. The league at this time was suspended and clubs were forced to arrange their own fixtures in an unofficial war league. Boosted by an influx of players and spectators into the local shipyards for war production, Barrow became one of the dominant teams of the war period, winning the unofficial championship title in 1917–18 losing just twice in 22 matches.

=== Interwar Period and move to Craven Park ===
[[File:Willie Horne - geograph.org.uk - 484971.jpg|thumb|170px|[[Willie Horne]] started his career at Barrow]]
After World War I, Barrow had mixed fortunes and when the league resumed in 1919–20, they managed to finish fifth. However, over the next decade, despite having several county and national players, Barrow's form suffered and its league position was poor.

In 1929, it had been realised that rugby league in Barrow was approaching a precarious period, as the attendances at Little Park were gradually decreasing. This was in part due to industrial depression but also Little Park's location. The directors made an appeal to the town, and approached the mayor, Alderman John Whinnerah who was to be an ardent supporter. Commander G. W. Craven, a local war hero, started an appeal fund with a donation of £500. In a short time the club bought a central site, where the Jute Works stood for £2,500. [[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]] was built in 1931, largely as a result of the efforts of supporters, 500 of whom volunteered to construct the ground. The total cost of the building project came to £7,500 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £1,251,000 in 2013).<ref name="Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds">{{cite web|url=http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/|title=Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds|publisher=Measuring Worth|date=31 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

1937–38 saw Barrow reach the finals of the [[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]] for the first time, losing narrowly 4–8 to [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]. That season was a time of great opportunity for the Barrow team but was to end in disappointment. After playing seven matches in just ten days, they lost 7–4 to [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] in the final of the [[Challenge Cup]] at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]]; they also lost in the Championship play-off semi-final 13–7 against [[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]].  A new attendance record was set in that season – 21,651 in the [[Good Friday]] game against Salford. The Club had traditionally worn black and red, but for much of the 1937–38 cup campaigns they wore an alternative kit of blue and white which subsequently become the home colours of the club.<ref name=2025kit>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowrlfc.com/latest-news/barrow-raiders-launch-150th-anniversary-home-kit/ |title=Barrow Raiders launch 150th anniversary home kit |publisher=Barrow Raiders |date=18 October 2024 |access-date=28 October 2024}}</ref>

===Post Second World War===
[[File:Craven Park, Barrow.jpg|thumb|[[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]], the current home of Barrow Raiders]]

Barrow dropped out of the wartime Lancashire league in 1940–41, they did not return to league competition until 1945–46. As many of the pre-war players had retired, this was an era of rebuilding and recruiting.

The 1950s were the club's heyday. The team was captained by [[Willie Horne]] and Barrow appeared no less than three times at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]. On 5 May 1951, Barrow made their second appearance at Wembley and were beaten 10–0 by [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]. On Saturday 27 October 1951 13,319 spectators were at Barrow to watch the home side beat [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] 9–5. On 30 April 1955, Barrow made their third appearance at Wembley. This time, they won the Challenge Cup 21–12 against [[Workington Town]], later that year they added the Lancashire Cup after a 12–2 win over [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]].

On 11 May 1957, Barrow played again in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley against [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] and were narrowly beaten 9–7. 1957 signalled the end of the golden era of the club and most of the star players retired after this time.

The league split into two divisions in 1961–62 and because of a poor finish in the previous season, Barrow was forced to play in the second division.

In 1963, [[Jim Challinor]] moved to Barrow and became their [[player-coach]].

Their last appearance at Wembley Stadium was in 1967, where they were strongly tipped to win the Challenge Cup final again, but were beaten by [[Featherstone Rovers]] 17–12. A crowd of 77,000 paid a then record £54,435 to watch the game (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £1,625,000 in 2013).<ref name="Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds"/>

1973 saw Barrow appoint former player, [[Frank Foster (rugby league)|Frank Foster]], as coach. He built a side which won the Second Division championship in 1975–76 and reached a John Player Trophy final in 1981 only to lose 5–12 to Warrington. [[Phil Hogan (rugby league)|Phil Hogan]] was transferred to [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in 1978 for a then [[Rugby league transfer record|world record fee]] of £33,000 (based on increases in average increases, this would be approximately £249,700 in 2013).<ref name="Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds"/>

Barrow fluctuated between divisions but had three consecutive years in the top flight between 1980 and 1983. [[Frank Foster (rugby league)|Frank Foster]] was eventually replaced by Tommy Dawes in 1983.

The season 1983–84 saw Barrow win the Second Division title and the Lancashire Cup against favourites [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] 12–8. The entire Barrow team was inducted into the Barrow Hall of Fame in 2003. Tommy Dawes, despite his initial success, was sacked in 1985.

In 1988–89, Australian [[Rod Reddy]] took on a [[player-coach]] role at Barrow in 1987. Barrow earned promotion to Division One but that campaign saw Barrow manage only one league win and suffer a club record 90–0 defeat at Leeds. Reddy was sacked and Denis Jackson took over as a caretaker coach for the rest of 1989–90.

After relegation in 1990, Barrow appointed a new coach in [[Steve Norton]] but finished 17th out of 21 in Division Two.

===Summer era===
[[File:Shaun ainscough try for wigan vs barrow (05-04-09).JPG|thumb|Barrow Raiders player, [[Zeb Luisi]] attempting to tackle [[Shaun Ainscough]] of [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]]]

In 1996, the first tier of British rugby league clubs played the inaugural [[Super League]] season and changed from a winter to a summer season.<ref name="hadfield20 December 1995">{{cite web |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/rugbys-pounds-87m-deal-gives-murdoch-transfer-veto-1526582.html |work= The Independent |title=Rugby's pounds 87m deal gives Murdoch transfer veto |first=Dave |last=Hadfield |date=20 December 1995|access-date=6 May 2009}}</ref> When the Super League competition had been proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Barrow were down to merge with [[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]], [[Workington Town]] and [[Carlisle RLFC|Carlisle]] to form a new club called Cumbria based in Workington which would compete in the Super League but ultimately this did not happen and Barrow were not part of the new competition.

Until 1995 the team was simply titled Barrow RLFC, but they adopted the nickname Barrow Braves to coincide with rugby league's switch to a summer season. [[Peter Roe (rugby league)|Peter Roe]] was head coach for a 15-month period, ending in January 1996.

=== Barrow Border Raiders (1997–2002) ===
In 1997 they merged with [[Cumbria]]n rivals [[Carlisle RLFC|Carlisle]] to form Barrow Border Raiders. Carlisle's [[Paul Charlton (rugby league)|Paul Charlton]] became coach of the new team. The new team played all its matches in Barrow; the merger was essentially a financial arrangement only. Barrow enjoyed mixed fortunes under Paul Charlton with two top-ten finishes in the [[Northern Ford Premiership]] in 1999 and 2000, before the club's fortunes took a turn for the worse in the 2001 season, which resulted in Paul Charlton not being offered a new contract.[https://web.archive.org/web/20111009034341/http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk/charlo_bids_for_barrow_return_1_476332?referrerPath=home%2Fsearch_results_2_3314 Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser | Charlo bids for Barrow return] In 2002, the Border part of the name, which was never particularly relevant to South Cumbria-based Barrow, was dropped.

=== Barrow Raiders (2002–2010) ===
Under [[Peter Roe (rugby league)|Peter Roe]]'s second spell at Craven Park, they were National League Two champions in 2004, their first trophy for 20 years. They were promoted to National League One. However, they were relegated back to [[RFL League 1|National League Two]] at the end of the 2005 season after winning just one of their 18 matches. The financial situation at the club forced a review of the coaching structure and the position of head coach was made part-time and the club parted company with [[Peter Roe (rugby league)|Peter Roe]]. In October 2005, local ex-player [[Paul Crarey]] was appointed as head coach. In his first season as coach of the Raiders he guided them to the National League Two play-offs on a very limited budget. After the end of the 2007 season, [[Paul Crarey]] controversially resigned from Barrow Raiders, after guiding them to a second successive play-off position.

Barrow had initially lined up former [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] coach [[Steve McCormack]] to take over until he received an offer of a position with Super League club Hull KR. On Thursday 2 November 2007 Barrow Raiders announced that former player Welsh-born Aussie [[David Clarke (rugby league)|Dave Clarke]] would take over, with Dean Marwood as his assistant. On 23 August 2008, Raiders gained automatic promotion from National League Two by beating [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]] 12–32 to clinch second place in National League Two.

On 5 April 2009, a crowd of 6275 watched Barrow play [[Super League]] club [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the best attended match in recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/results/report.php?z=challengecup&id=3121084|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224014654/http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/results/report.php?z=challengecup&id=3121084|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2012|title=The Rugby Football League|date=24 February 2012|access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref> Barrow held out but were eventually defeated 32–20. On 21 July Despite the club being 2nd in the league and having made the Northern Rail Cup Final coach [[David Clarke (rugby league)|Dave Clarke]] stepped down and became assistant to new head coach Steve Deakin.

On 31 August 2009, after just 6 weeks in charge, Steve Deakin left the club and [[David Clarke (rugby league)|Dave Clarke]] reclaimed the head coach role, leading the club to the 2009 Co-Op Championship league leaders trophy and a grand final appearance versus [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]. In the 2009 Co-Op Championship Grand Final, a 77th minute try settled the game and Barrow beat Halifax 26–18 to claim the Championship title..

Barrow finished fourth in 2010 with coach [[Steve McCormack]] leaving the club to take up a teaching post. After a lengthy search for a new coach, Barrow appointed [[Garry Schofield]].

=== 2011 season and relegation to Championship 1 ===
Barrow's application to join the then franchised [[Super League]], after their Championship Grand Final win in 2009, was rejected early in the 2011 season as it was deemed the club did not the meet minimum requirements.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/9441316.stm|title=Widnes regain Super League place|date=31 March 2011|access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref>

Head Coach Schofield was sacked as coach after only five games in 2011 and his assistant Nigel Wright was appointed in his place. With 6 games to go in July Barrow sacked Nigel Wright and appointed former player Dave Clarke as their manager for the rest of the season.

==== Rule breaches and RFL charges ====
The on-field problems were matched by off-field difficulties, with the club accused of breaking salary cap rules. A 6-point deduction due to salary cap breaches in the 2010 season, ended any play off hope.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/14341604|title=RFL dock Barrow Raider points for salary cap breach|date=29 July 2011|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref>  At a tribunal in October 2011, claims that the club "systematically breached" the following three rules were upheld.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/15212305|title=Barrow relegated by the RFL after points deduction|date=7 October 2011|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref>

* Rule C.1.1.7 – failing to record in player contracts all financial benefits or benefits in kind that a player is receiving;
* Rule C.1.1.11 – no club or club official shall loan money or goods or make payment or provide any benefit in kind to a player unless they are recorded in the player's contract;
* Rule D1.8 (f) – misconduct by committing a breach of Championship Salary Cap Regulations.

Their chairman, Des Johnston was banned from any involvement with Rugby League for 8 years<ref name="BBC Sport">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/22437216|title=Chairman warns Barrow Raiders 'could go out of business'|date=7 May 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> and 29 points were deducted for the 2011 season, relegating them to the [[RFL League 1|Co-operative Championship 1]].

=== 2012–2017 ===
Success in Championship 1 during 2012 meant that Barrow were promoted directly back up to the Championship the following year. Unable to compete, and after narrowly avoiding relegation in 2013, they were once again relegated at the end of the 2014 season.

At the end of the 2014 season [[Paul Crarey]] was re-appointed head coach, replacing [[Bobbie Goulding]]. The former player had previously coached the team between 2005 and 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/29175597|title=Barrow Raiders: Paul Crarey replaces Goulding as head coach|date=12 September 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref>

The team strengthened on the field during three consecutive seasons in, the now renamed [[League 1 (rugby league)|League 1]] with improving table finishes (2015: 7th) (2016: 5th) (2017: 3rd)

On 27 May 2017, Barrow won the [[League 1 Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/raiders/16442052.league-one-cup-final-barrow-raiders-38-north-wales-crusaders-32-highlights/|title=League One Cup final: Barrow Raiders 38 North Wales Crusaders 32 highlights|website=The Mail|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> after defeating [[North Wales Crusaders]] 38–32 at [[Bloomfield Road]] as an opener to the [[Summer Bash]] weekend. At the end of the 2017 season, Barrow secured promotion back to the [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]] with a 10–6 play-off win against 2nd place Cumbrian rivals Whitehaven.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/raiders/16435344.barrow-raiders-promoted-after-beating-whitehaven-10-6/|title=Barrow Raiders promoted after beating Whitehaven 10–6|website=The Mail|date=29 September 2017 |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref>

=== Return to the Championship (2018–2019) ===
Barrow achieved a better than expected start to the 2018 season with strong results on the field including holding League favourites Toronto to a draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/raiders/16429326.full-time-whistle-report-as-barrow-raiders-draw-8-8-with-toronto-wolfpack/|title=Full-time whistle report as Barrow Raiders draw 8–8 with Toronto Wolfpack|website=The Mail|date=12 February 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> However, the club faced significant financial issues. For the second time in just over 5 years, chairman David Sharpe announced significant short term cash flow issues.<ref name="BBC Sport"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/raiders/16423480.on-the-brink-barrow-raiders-chairman-sharpe-issues-call-to-help-clubs-finances/|title=On the brink: Barrow Raiders chairman Sharpe issues call to help club's finances|website=The Mail|date=29 June 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Steve Neale replaced Sharpe as chairman stating that there was a "bright future for the club" after raising short term funds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/raiders/16421067.new-barrow-raiders-chairman-neale-hopes-for-bright-future-amid-financial-gloom/|title=New Barrow Raiders chairman Neale hopes for bright future amid financial gloom|website=The Mail|date=5 July 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Barrow finished their inaugural Championship season in 10th place avoiding risk of relegation.

The following season, Barrow were once again relegated to the [[RFL League 1]] after a 68–2 defeat against [[Toronto Wolfpack]] on 1 September 2019.<ref name="nwemail.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/17873639.barrow-raiders-relegation-league-one-confirmed-heavy-defeat-toronto-wolfpack/|title=Raiders' relegation confirmed by heavy defeat at Toronto|website=The Mail|date=September 2019 }}</ref>

=== Back in League 1 (2020–2021) ===

After relegation from the Championship in 2019, Barrow started their return to life in League 1 with a 32–22 victory over [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]] on 1 March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowrlfc.com/event/doncaster-vs-barrow-raiders/|title=Doncaster vs Barrow Raiders &#124; Barrow Raiders|date=March 2020 }}</ref>

On 16 March the structure and timing of the competition was placed in doubt as all rugby league games were suspended until 3 April at least as part of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom's response to the coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Rugby Football League suspends season until 3 April |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/51911290 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 March 2020}}</ref>  The suspension of the season was extended to indefinite.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rugby League to stand down staff and players |page=3 |issue=3,219 |work=Rugby Leaguer & League Express |date=30 March 2020}}</ref>

A discussion between the RFL and club officials in May saw seven of the 11 clubs reject a suggestion that the season could recommence with games being played behind closed doors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Championship on the brink of closing for the season |page=3 |issue=3,226 |work=Rugby Leaguer & League Express |date=18 May 2020}}</ref>  The RFL board met on 20 July and having consulted with the League 1 clubs decided to abandon the 2020 season as the majority of clubs did not support playing behind closed doors.<ref>{{cite news |title=No relegation from Super League in 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/53474508 |access-date=20 July 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 July 2020}}</ref>  At the date of suspension only two rounds of matches had been played and the season was declared ''[[null and void]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Championship and League One null and void |url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/championship-and-league-one-null-and-void-31446/ |website=Serious About Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2020 |date=20 July 2020}}</ref>

=== Championship return (2021–) ===
In the 2021 [[RFL League 1]] season, Barrow finished top of the table and were promoted back to the Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/live-rugby-league-transfer-news-21981092/|title=Rugby League news LIVE: Greg Inglis joins new club, Adam Quinlan interest, Luke Briscoe signs|website=www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=TwentyPromotion>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/36000/barrow-raiders-promoted-to-the-betfred-championship|title=Barrow Raiders promoted to the Betfred Championship|website=Rugby League|date=11 September 2021|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref> On the final game of the season, against [[West Wales Raiders]], Barrow won 76–0 after West Wales fielded a team which included several debutant players rather than forfeit the match for a 24–0 loss, though either result would have been enough to secure automatic promotion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/36006/barrow-in-warm-praise-for-west-wales-raiders |title=Barrow in warm praise for West Wales Raiders |website=Rugby League |date=13 September 2021 |access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>

In the [[2022 RFL Championship]] season, Barrow finished 4th in the table and qualified for the playoffs. The club were eliminated in the first week of the playoffs by [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2022/sep/15/barrow-raiders-cumbria-shock-super-league-return-rugby/|title=Barrow Raiders give Cumbria hope of a shock Super League return|website=www.theguardian.com|date=15 September 2022 }}</ref>

== Grounds ==

=== Previous grounds (1875–1931) ===
Barrow played their first match in 1875 at Cavendish Park on Barrow Island, the then home of Barrow Cricket Club. The park had two suitable playing areas and until 1883 the new club used the Parade Ground, but then moved to the Athletic Ground as it had a better playing surface for rugby. A first grandstand was built in 1887 for the princely sum of less than £50 to the landlords, The Furness Railway Company. Another grandstand on the opposite side was finished in 1893. On 28 March 1908 a crowd of 12,000 crammed into the ground for a [[Challenge Cup]] tie against [[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]]. In 1914 the club decided to move away to [[Little Park, Roose|Little Park]] in nearby [[Roose]]. In 1920, the club bought Little Park from Lord Richard Cavendish for £3,000 and in the following years put up two grandstands in 1921 and 1924. A record crowd of 12,214 was recorded against [[Oldham RLFC]] in a [[Challenge Cup]] game on 17 March 1923. Cavendish Park and the Parade Ground is now home to a fire station while the Athletic Ground is still used as community playing fields. Little Park was developed for housing.

=== Craven Park (1931–present day) ===
[[File:Craven Park, Barrow Raiders RLFC - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|View of Craven Park prior to removal of NE terrace roof]]
In 1928, the club's committee started to look for a site nearer to the town and found an area on [[Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness|Craven Park]]. After tipping more than 40,000 tons of fill onto the site previously a derelict Jute Works, reservoirs, railway tracks and mission hall the club moved their main stand from Little Park and built a new stand on Clive Street and officially moved in, in August 1931.

On 15 April 1938, the club's record attendance was established when 21,651 saw them play Salford. In February 1949, storms ripped the entire roof off the main stand and in the early 1950s concrete terracing replaced the old wooden railway sleepers. Floodlights were turned on in November 1966. The ground was renovated in 1991.<ref name="Delaney" />

In 2015, the roof was removed from the terrace adjacent to Willie Horne Way. This was followed in 2021 with the removal of the condemned Hindpool Road end roof, leaving only two areas of cover in the ground.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toilet acts as unexpected archive for Raiders' 75-year-old treasure|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19142307.toilet-acts-unexpected-archive-barrow-raiders-75-year-old-treasure/|access-date=12 March 2021|website=The Mail|date=8 March 2021 }}</ref> Plans were also unveiled for a marquee on the terrace next to the main stand.<ref>{{cite web|title='Exciting times ahead' – Barrow Raiders reveal plans for permanent marquee at ground|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19130143.column-exciting-times-ahead-raiders-look-create-venue-barrow-lacks/|access-date=12 March 2021|website=The Mail|date=3 March 2021 }}</ref>

==2026 squad==

{{Rugby league squad
|squadname=Barrow Raiders 2026 Squad
|BC1=white
|FC1=blue
|BC2=blue
|FC2=white
|source=
|date=
|list1a={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|AUS}} Alex Bishop|pos=SO|pos2=HK|pos3=SH}}
|list1b={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Broadbent|pos=CE|pos2=WG}}
|list1c={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Bullock (rugby league)|Joe Bullock]]|pos=PR}} 
|list1d={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Andrew Bulman|pos=WG}}
|list1e={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|SCO}} [[Brett Carter (rugby league)|Brett Carter]]|pos=CE|pos2=FB|pos3=WG}}
|list1f={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Matty Costello]]|pos=CE|pos2=WG}}
|list1g={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Cresswell|pos=FB}}
|list1h={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|SCO}} [[Charlie Emslie]]|pos=SR}}

|list2a={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Ryan Johnston|pos=SH|pos2=SO}}
|list2b={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ryan King (rugby league)|Ryan King]]|pos=SR}}
|list2c={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Finn McMillan|pos=SR}}
|list2d={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Greg Richards (rugby league)|Greg Richards]]|pos=PR}}
|list2e={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Tee Ritson]]|pos=WG}} 
|list2f={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ellis Robson]]|pos=SR|pos2=PR|pos3=LF}}
|list2g={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|AUS}} Jarrad Stack|pos=SR}} (c)
|list2h={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Curtis Teare|pos=CE|pos2=WG}}

|list3a={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|SCO}} [[Shane Toal]]|pos=WG|pos2=CE}}
|list3b={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Brad Walker (rugby league)|Brad Walker]]|pos=LF|pos2=SO}}
|list3c={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Walker|pos=PR}}
|list3d={{Rugby league squad player|no=|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Josh Wood (rugby league)|Josh Wood]]|pos=HK|pos2=SH|pos3=SO}}

|coach={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Crarey]]
|assistant={{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Rea
|assistant2=
}}

==2026 transfers==
{{unreferenced|section|date=October 2025}}
===Gains===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player !! From !! Contract !! Date 
|-
|{{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Tee Ritson]]
|{{Leagueicon|St Helens|12}} [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|2 years
|2 September 2025
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Greg Richards (rugby league)|Greg Richards]]
|{{Leagueicon|Toulouse Olympique|12}} [[Toulouse Olympique]]
|1 year
|16 November 2025
|}

===Losses===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player !! To !! Contract !! Date 
|-
|{{flagicon|Jamaica}} Delaine Gittens-Bedward
|
|
|Rowspan=4| 31 October 2025
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} [[James Greenwood (rugby league)|James Greenwood]]
|
|
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Aaron Smith (rugby league, born 1996)|Aaron Smith]]
|
|
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Tom Wilkinson (rugby league)|Tom Wilkinson]]
|
|
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Aiden Doolan
|{{leagueicon|Castleford|12}} [[Castleford Tigers]]
|2 years
|12 November 2025
|}

===Retired===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player !! Date 
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ryan Shaw (rugby league)|Ryan Shaw]]
|18 September 2025
|}

==Players==
{{main|List of Barrow Raiders players}}

===Hall of Fame===
The Barrow club launched its Hall of Fame in 2001 with 1950s legends [[Willie Horne]], [[Phil Jackson (rugby league born 1932)|Phil Jackson]] and [[Jimmy Lewthwaite]] its inaugural inductees.

==Past coaches==
Also see ''[[:Category:Barrow Raiders coaches]].''

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Hector Halsall]]
* [[Cec Thompson]] 1960–62
* [[Frank Foster (rugby league)|Frank Foster]] 1973–83
* [[Tommy Dawes]] 1983–85
* [[Tommy Bishop]] 1985
* [[Ivor Kelland]] 1986–87
* [[Dennis Jackson (rugby league)|Dennis Jackson]] 1987
* [[Rod Reddy]] 1988–89
* [[Dennis Jackson (rugby league)|Dennis Jackson]] 1989–90
* [[Steve Norton]] 1990–93
* [[Geoff Worrall]] 1993
* [[Peter Roe (rugby league)|Peter Roe]] 1994–96
* [[Steve Hogan (rugby league)|Steve Hogan]] 1996
* [[Peter Roe (rugby league)|Peter Roe]] 2004–05
* [[Paul Crarey]] 2006–07
* [[David Clarke (rugby league)|Dave Clarke]] 2008
* [[Steve Deakin]] 2009
* [[David Clarke (rugby league)|Dave Clarke]] 2009
* [[Steve McCormack]] 2010
* [[Garry Schofield]] 2011
* [[Nigel Wright (rugby league)|Nigel Wright]] 2011
* [[David Clarke (rugby league)|Dave Clarke]] 2011
* [[Darren Holt]] 2011–13
* [[Anthony Murray (rugby league, born 1977)|Anthony Murray]] 2013–14
* [[Bobbie Goulding]] 2014
* [[Paul Crarey]] 2014–present
{{div col end}}

==Seasons==
===Super League era===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|Season
!colspan="9" scope="col"|League
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|[[Super League play-offs|Play-offs]]
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|[[Challenge Cup]]
!colspan="2" rowspan="2" scope="col"|Other competitions
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Tries
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Points
|-
!scope="col"|Division
!scope="col"|P
!scope="col"|W
!scope="col"|D
!scope="col"|L
!scope="col"|F
!scope="col"|A
!scope="col"|Pts
!scope="col"|Pos
!colspan="2" scope="col"|Top try scorer
!colspan="2" scope="col"|Top point scorer
|-
!scope="row"|[[1996 Barrow Raiders season|1996]]
|[[1996 RFL Division Two|Division Two]]
|22||5||0||17||354||651||10
|10th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[1997 Barrow Raiders season|1997]]
|[[1997 RFL Division Two|Division Two]]
|20||7||0||13||335||632||14
|8th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[1998 Barrow Raiders season|1998]]
|[[1998 RFL Division Two|Division Two]]
|20||8||2||10||354||377||18
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|6th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[1999 Barrow Raiders season|1999]]
|[[1999 Northern Ford Premiership|Northern Ford Premiership]]
|28||12||0||16||660||718||24
|10th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2000 Barrow Raiders season|2000]]
|[[2000 Northern Ford Premiership|Northern Ford Premiership]]
|28||14||0||14||647||711||28
|10th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2001 Barrow Raiders season|2001]]
|[[2001 Northern Ford Premiership|Northern Ford Premiership]]
|28||12||1||15||631||685||25
|14th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2002 Barrow Raiders season|2002]]
|[[2002 Northern Ford Premiership|Northern Ford Premiership]]
|27||12||1||14||707||670||25
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|13th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2003 Barrow Raiders season|2003]]
|[[2003 Rugby League National Leagues#National League Two|National League Two]]
|18||11||0||7||546||419||22
|5th
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2004 Barrow Raiders season|2004]]
|[[2004 Rugby League National Leagues#National League Two|National League Two]]
|18||14||1||3||521||346||29
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|1st
|
|R3
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2005 Barrow Raiders season|2005]]
|[[2005 Rugby League National Leagues#National League One|National League One]]
|18||1||0||17||299||832||2
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|10th
|
|R5
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2006 Barrow Raiders season|2006]]
|[[2006 Rugby League National Leagues#National League Two|National League Two]]
|22||12||0||10||599||481||24
|6th
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|R5
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2007 Barrow Raiders season|2007]]
|[[2007 National League Two|National League Two]]
|22||17||0||5||769||387||55
|3rd
|
|R5
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2008 Barrow Raiders season|2008]]
|[[2008 National League Two|National League Two]]
|22||16||0||6||703||375||52
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|2nd
|
|R5
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2009 Barrow Raiders season|2009]]
|[[2009 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|20||13||0||7||632||261||44
|1st
|Won in Final
|R4
|[[Championship Cup]] ||style="background-color:#DDD"|RU
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2010 Barrow Raiders season|2010]]
|[[2010 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|20||12||1||7||607||449||39
|4th
|Lost in Semi Final
|QF
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2011 Barrow Raiders season|2011]]
|[[2011 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|20||9||0||11||527||540||0
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|11th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2012 Barrow Raiders season|2012]]
|[[2012 Championship 1|Championship 1]]
|18||14||0||4||617||383||45
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|2nd
|Lost in Final
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2013 Barrow Raiders season|2013]]
|[[2013 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|26||8||0||18||482||792||33
|12th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2014 Barrow Raiders season|2014]]
|[[2014 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|26||4||0||22||462||870||19
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|14th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row" |[[2015 Barrow Raiders season|2015]]
|[[2015 Championship 1|Championship 1]]
|22||14||8||0||661||423||28
|7th
|
|R4
|[[2017 League 1 Cup|League 1 Cup]] ||R2
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row" |[[2016 Barrow Raiders season|2016]]
|[[2016 League 1|League 1]]
|21||15||1||5||769||375||31
|3rd
|Lost in Play-off Final
|R3
|[[2016 League 1 Cup|League 1 Cup]] ||R1
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row" |[[2017 Barrow Raiders season|2017]]
|[[2017 League 1|League 1]]
|22||18||1||3||731||381||37
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|2nd
|Won in Promotion Final
|QF
|[[2017 League 1 Cup|League 1 Cup]] ||style="background-color:#FE2"|'''W'''
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|[[2018 Barrow Raiders season|2018]]
|[[2018 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|23||5||3||15||382||816||13
|10th
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|R5
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|
|-
|Championship Shield
|30||8||3||19||491||1006||19
|5th
|-
!scope="row"|[[2019 Barrow Raiders season|2019]]
|[[2019 RFL Championship|Championship]] 
|27||5||1||21||479||861||11
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|13th
|
|R4
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||QF
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2020 Barrow Raiders season|2020]]
|[[2020 RFL League 1|League 1]]
|colspan="9"{{N/A|League abandoned due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]}}
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2021 Barrow Raiders season|2021]]
|[[2021 RFL League 1|League 1]]
|17||13||1||3||596||275||27
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|1st
|N/A{{efn|League leaders do not compete in playoffs}}
|R3{{efn|Officially round 1 due to the competitions temporary restructure in 2021.}}
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||R1
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2022 Barrow Raiders season|2022]]
|[[2022 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|27||18||1||8||757||587||37
|4th
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|R6
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||SF
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2023 Barrow Raiders season|2023]]
|[[2023 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|27||8||1||18||471||672||17
|11th
|
|R4
| ||
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2024 Barrow Raiders season|2024]]
|[[2024 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|26||9||1||16||458||758||19
|11th
|
|R3
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||QF
|
|
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|[[2025 Barrow Raiders season|2025]]
|[[2025 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|24||10||1||13||525||559||21
|9th
|
|R3
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||QF
|
|
|
|
|}

==Honours==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}

===League===

*[[Rugby Football League Championship Second Division|Second Tier]] / [[RFL Championship|Championship]]
::'''Winners (3)''': [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season|1975–76]], [[1983–84 Rugby Football League season|1983–84]], [[2009 RFL Championship|2009]]
:::[[RFL Championship Leaders' Shield]]
:::'''Winners (1)''': [[2009 RFL Championship|2009]]
*[[Rugby Football League Championship Third Division|Third Tier]] / [[RFL League 1|League 1]]
::'''Winners (2)''': [[2004 Rugby League National Leagues|2004]], [[2021 RFL League 1|2021*]]

===Cups===

*[[Challenge Cup]]
::'''Winners (1)''': 1954–55
*[[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]]
::'''Winners (2)''': [[1954 Lancashire Cup|1954]], [[1983 Lancashire Cup|1983]]
*[[League 1 Cup]]
::'''Winners (1)''': 2017

==Club records==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}
*Most tries in a game: 7 by Tee Ritson against West Wales Raiders 12 September 2021
*Most goals in a game: 17 by [[Darren Carter (rugby league)|Darren Carter]] against Nottingham City 27 November 1994
*Most points in a game: 42 by [[Darren Carter (rugby league)|Darren Carter]] against Nottingham City 27 November 1994
*Most tries in a season: 50 by [[Jimmy Lewthwaite]] in [[1956–57 Northern Rugby Football League season|1956–57]]
*Most goals in a season: 135 by Joe Ball in [[1956–57 Northern Rugby Football League season|1956–57]]
*Most points in a season: 323 by [[Jamie Rooney]] in [[2010 RFL Championship|2010]]
*Most tries in a career: 352 by [[Jimmy Lewthwaite]]
*Most goals in a career: 1,036 by Darren Holt
*Most points in a career: 2,403 by Darren Holt

==See also==
*[[Barrow Raiders Ladies]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.barrowrlfc.com/}}

{{Barrow Raiders}}
{{Barrow Raiders Hall of Fame Inductees}}
{{RFL Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrow Raiders}}
[[Category:Barrow Raiders| ]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1875]]
[[Category:Sport in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:Rugby league teams in England]]