Barrow Raiders raise thousands in vital funds from sponsors night

The event as the Lisdoonie Hotel saw those in attendance bidding to sponsor the members of the Raiders squad for the year, along with taking the opportunity to purchase various sponsorship packages for matches and kit, plus sponsoring a sod of turf on the Craven Park pitch.

In total, the night raised just shy of last year's tally of £18,000, which included Paul Hornby and Kris Wilkes – of new main sponsors JF Hornby and Process Pipework Services respectively – bidding in the player sponsorship auction as well.

And Barrow commercial director Murphy was delighted with the backing the club received from those in attendance on the night.

“Even though we had quite a few big hitters who weren't able to attend as usual, it never ceases to amaze me,” said Murphy, who also thanked the Lisdoonie for hosting the event.

“I'm always overwhelmed every year with the support the rugby gets – not just from businesses, but from ordinary folk who put their hand in their pocket and give hundreds of pounds to Barrow rugby.

“Paul Hornby has never been main sponsor of the rugby before, and he and Kris Wilkes stepped up to the mark. When big players came up, they stepped up like other main sponsors have in the past.

“Even though they have already put thousands of pounds into the club, they were still able to put a bit more in and they realise what it means. Both Kris and Paul are so unassuming and don't want the publicity, they just want the club to do well.”

Most encouraging for Murphy and his fellow board members were the advance sales of hospitality packages for the home games in the first part of the League One season, despite most of them being against the southern-based expansion teams rather than their traditional heartland opponents.

He now hopes the attendances will not suffer too much either, with the Raiders switching back to Saturday evening kick-offs at 6.30pm for their home matches this year.

“We've always been lucky, even in the darkest days in recent times, to have great sponsorship and great support,” said Murphy.

“We've got a great bedrock of sponsors because we are a community club. You see these guys who play for Barrow Raiders in the supermarket, you see them having a coffee with their family and you'll see a former Super League player like Martin Aspinwall, who is a former Grand Finalist, pushing his kids around in a trolley.

“It's crazy, but that's the thing about the community clubs – it's nice to put a bit back, then people recognise that and see that.”

The sponsors night remains one of the most important off-field events for the Raiders, although the board are working to seek extra income streams so they can press forward with plans to keep the club progressing and secure its long-term future.

And with a strong backbone of talent from the area in the squad, many of whom featured in Sunday's 22-22 friendly draw with Oldham, Murphy is confident Barrow will continue to receive the backing of those in the town.

“Everything is coming together,” said Murphy. “With the likes of Ryan Johnston playing first-team against Oldham and having a class game, with Luke Cresswell – who came from Barrow Island – and Shane Toal, an Ulverston lad, scoring four tries against a Championship side was brilliant, and people get that.

“People see their local club which they want to do well. We're not ever going to be a big-money team, so people appreciate that something like a tenner on 'sponsor a sod' is what's the right way.

“If we fill that, it's £1,000 for Barrow Raiders. We've always been blessed in the time I've been there, not only with the generosity of local businesses, but local people as well.”

The prize from the supporters trust raffle in Sunday's friendly against Oldham has not yet been claimed.

The winning ticket was blue 101 to 105 and the winner has a week to claim their prize at the Barrow Rugby Shop, on Scott Street.