BARROW crowd favourites Pat Trainor and Tony Kay will be telling stories of their playing days as they launch a Raiders initiative at Craven Park this Sunday.

The duo – joined by Raiders coach Paul Crarey – will be the first pair of a number of legendary Barrow names who have been enlisted for the Lewthwaite Suite Experience, which kicks off before the club’s final pre-season friendly against Keighley Cougars.

Other players due to feature are David Cairns and Andy Whittle, Phil and Steve Hogan, Dean Marwood and Paul Burns, and Phil Atkinson and Darren Holt.

The fundraiser idea came from the board as the club look to add a bit more to the match-day experience for supporters and sponsors alike.

Commercial manager Pete Murphy said: “The idea of this is for the match-day experience to be more than just 80 minutes watching the game. We have great facilities up in the Lewthwaite Suite for about 40 or 50 people and we’ve thought for the last couple of years that we should utilise it more.

“So, after a few chats in the bar after the game last season, we got our heads together with Dave Cairns, who runs the past players association, and we come up with this. All the big clubs have speakers on before the game as part of a corporate packages and we thought it would be brilliant to do the same. It’s kind of like a mini sportsmans dinner before each game. We want keep it affordable but let it still be a bit special.

“So for this first one its £30 a ticket, mainly because it’s a friendly fixture, and then through the season it will be £40 a ticket.

“People who come up to the Lewthwaite Suite before each game will be invited up two hours before kick off, there’ll be complimentary drinks and a nice buffet on and the main event. Our guest speakers on the day with be telling their tales from their time at the rugby.

“I’m really looking forward to it. They’ve all promised us a no-holds-barred Q&A session each week.”

Chairman David Sharpe said: “The club has tried hard over the last few years to strengthen ties with our past players, helped tirelessly by former GB star, Barrow legend and good friend Dave Cairns. We don’t want these guys who were childhood heroes for so many to be forgotten.”

Trainor was a quick and fearless player who featured in every back position for the team except scrum half. He played 199 games and scored 51 tries.

Centre Kay had two spells at Barrow from 1985-1988 and 1991-1992, scoring 46 tries in 87 appearances. He also played for St Helens and Workington.

Very limited tickets for the Keighley game with Trainor and Kay are still available by phoning the Scott Street rugby shop on 824454. Card payments can be taken over the phone.

Other dates and speakers confirmed so far: February 22 – Barrow v Rochdale (iPro Sport Cup) David Cairns and Andy Whittle. March 13 – Barrow v Hunslet – Phil and Steve Hogan. March 25 – Barrow v Newcastle – Dean Marwood and Paul Burns. April 17 – Barrow v Rochdale – Phil Atkinson and Darren Holt.