FURNESS Raiders have received Rugby Football League Development Academy accreditation. 

Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey, Furness Raiders head coach Paul McMillan and director Scott Deakin received a plaque officially recognising the achievement from RFL talent inclusion manager Phil Jones this week.

This recognition after the 'several' year journey, in conjunction with Furness College, was started by Paul Crarey and Keith Nutter and intensified over the last 18 months by Scott Deakin and Matt Jefferson.

It was designed with the intention of developing local talent able to slot into Barrow Raiders main squad or other clubs and stop the talent drain out of the county with prospects previously heading south to sides like St Helens, Wigan, and Warrington.

In addition, the Furness Raiders, in partnership with Furness College, also places importance on education with aspiring players required to be enrolled in some form of A-Levels, apprenticeships, or coaching courses.

This program has seen success with the likes of Jake Carter, Charlie Emslie, Adam Ford, Ryan Johnston, Connor Terril, Tyler Lancaster, Blain Marwood, Max Anderson-Moore, Jack Stephenson, and Ethan Bickerdike all going on to play at a higher level after being coached at Furness Raiders. 

After achieving their long-set-out goal, Scott Deakin thanked all those involved 

He said: "Although this is not a Tier 1 Academy, we are the only club in Cumbria to be recognised as a Development Academy and a talent pathway, and shows the general direction Barrow Raiders is heading.

"This is due to the professionalism and dedication of all those involved. Special thanks must go to our two Head Coaches Paul McMillan and Steve Perry, and two Assistant Coaches Mark Dixon and Mike Whitehead, who give up their free time to coach and provide advice including nutrition and strength and conditioning training regimes.

"We need to build on this success and must see this as a start and not the completion of a journey.

"We want to attract all the local rugby talent and look further afield in Cumbria, to help develop them along their rugby path with the result being they put on a Barrow Raiders shirt and run out at Craven Park.

"We plan on having at least one, possibly two, every year that have the quality or potential to make it into the first team."