AFTER 10 years, 305 Barrow Raiders appearances, 122 tries and one goal, Liam Harrison will pull his boots on one last time when a Cumbria Select XIII take on Scotland in his testimonial tomorrow night (7pm kick-off).

The curtain has already come down on his Barrow career following the Kingstone Press League One play-off final defeat at Toulouse Olympique just under three weeks ago, but the long-serving second row has an 80-minute encore before leaving the professional game behind for good.

The 32-year-old may yet turn out at amateur level at some point in the future – and no doubt former club Barrow Island would welcome him back into the reckoning – and will still cut a familiar figure on the terraces at Craven Park, if not on the pitch.

But while he had made up his mind some time ago that this season would be his last, not to mention success resisted calls to reverse that decision, it is only in recent weeks the realisation his career will soon be over has come to the fore for Harrison.

“It's hard to describe, but I'm probably looking forward to it more,” said Harrison. “It will probably be my last one at Craven Park – I'm not sure whether I will be playing amateur much – and it is kind of dawning on me now.

“It didn't so much after the Toulouse game because I knew I had this game to come, so there is that sense of realism now that my career is finishing on Friday.”

From the highs of winning the Championship in 2009 and playing Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup in both 2009 and 2011 to the lows of relegation in 2011 and 2014, Harrison has witnessed it all in what has been one of the most roller-coaster decades of the club's history.

Indeed, he has been a mainstay of the side since being signed during Paul Crarey's first spell as Barrow head coach in 2006 as a centre, later transitioning into the pack, and never had any inclination to leave his hometown club despite interest from elsewhere.

“I won't lie, I have had offers and I've considered it, but it's only ever been so I can squeeze a bit more money out of them!” joked Harrison, adding: “It has never really crossed my mind, to be honest.

“It's easy to have it on your doorstep and you take it for granted, and I have the utmost respect for the players who travel to come here and play. I know they get paid money to do it, but to do something I love on my doorstep, I'm lucky for it really.

“I am very proud of it. It's something I look at and think I was really pleased I could play with the club for 10 years, but as I've said to various people, it has been made easier by the people who have been at the club.”

It has, perhaps then, been a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same for Harrison, who has found the transition through 13 different head coach changes and boardroom upheaval during those 10 years seamless thanks to familiar faces either still being around or, in some cases, returning.

One of those is Crarey and it is a nice bookend to the former Ireland international's career that he has played his final two seasons for Raiders under the man who brought him to the club in the first place.

“We've been putting together a programme for the evening and looking back to when he first signed me, we both look completely different,” said Harrison, who believes Crarey still has aims he wants to accomplish at Barrow.

“With Paul, I think it was a case of unfinished business. He didn't really leave on the note he wanted to leave Barrow on, I think he felt he could do a lot more with the club.

“He wants to see it thrive and succeed, and have an academy in place and he wants to make sure the talent stays within Barrow. Even though he wasn't coach at Barrow for a number of years and had a stint at Whitehaven, he was still involved in the local scene and he never took his foot off the gas.

“It's nice to see him appreciated on presentation evening and things like that for the effort he has put in. I know he likes to do this every year and have people asking 'are you signing?', but I think he'll be there next year. Hopefully he can take the club back into the Championship.”

Although he is signing off after tomorrow night's game, Harrison is in no doubt Raiders are in a strong position as they build towards another tilt at promotion from League One in 2017.

He praised the work of joint-directors of rugby Andy Gaffney and Mike Sunderland in not only their recruitment, but also being able to get many of the key members of the squad signed on two-year contracts to give a level of stability which the club have not always had in the past.

“The crux of the team, they don't have to worry about come this time of the year,” said Harrison. “Obviously there are players they want to sign, but it's good they've thought ahead and the key players, they don't have to go into battle with and renegotiate deals with.

“And they've made some good signings as well; Jarrad Stack, who I've played against many times, it would have been nice to play with him considering we've faced off countless time.

“Lewis Charnock has been at St Helens and comes with a glowing resumé, especially from Bradford, so they're certainly moving in the right direction and making all the right strides, so it should be interesting next year.”

But while his team-mates will be returning to pre-season training next month, Harrison is relishing the prospect of finally being able to put his feet up and not put his body through the rigours of preparing for the new campaign.

“I'm looking forward to just being able to enjoy it and not worry about training or pre-season when it's blowing a gale and you're getting wet and muddy,” said Harrison. “I am looking forward to that a lot!”

After 10 years service and 305 appearances for the Raiders, it is an opportunity to rest which he has more than earned.

Harrison will be hosting a post-match event at The Nines after tomorrow night's game, featuring live music from Barrow band The Sun Kings.

There will also be food and a chance for fans to mingle with the players, and all are welcome to attend. Entry is available on the door, but numbers are limited and advance tickets are available from the Barrow club shop.