Barrow Raiders are delighted to be entering into a new partnership with Smiths Metal Centres, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of engineering raw materials.

As part of the agreement, Smiths Metal Centres will become partners of our Betfred Women’s Super League team heading into the 2025 season and main sponsors of our Advantage! Barrow Raiders Community Foundation, supporting a wide range of programmes across Cumbria. 

Our Advantage! Foundation currently delivers life-changing sport and wellbeing activities to thousands of people across Barrow-in-Furness each week. 

Meanwhile, after a successful debut season in the women’s top flight, Barrow Ladies will also receive the backing of Smiths Metal as Amanda Wilkinson’s side look to continue their progression in 2025.

Smiths started life as a clock making business in 1780. After a major downturn in demand for clocks after the war, the business transformed into the successful company you see today.

With a turnover of £140 million, Smiths is now a group of companies serving general engineering, motorsport and aerospace, driven forward by cutting-edge ways of working and a first-class approach to customer service.

The partnership between the two parties came to fruition after a chance meeting between Barrow Raiders chairman Steve Neale and Smiths’ Mark Dyer in Las Vegas earlier this year, during the rugby league extravaganza which saw teams from the UK and Australia travel to the United States. 

Smiths regional director Mark Dyer said: “We are extremely proud to be partnering with Barrow Raiders. When the opportunity arose, it was an easy decision to jump on board.

“They are a club renowned for their rich history and dedication to community outreach, and that aligns seamlessly with our mission to make a positive impact beyond our industry. 

“The shared values of community engagement, youth development and efforts to increase women’s participation are all reasons why we want to be part of the growth plans at Barrow Raiders. 

“Through collaborations with over 20 community groups and organisations, the club actively promotes health, education and inclusivity – all things we, at Smiths, are extremely passionate about. 

“We look forward to supporting Barrow Raiders in their ongoing endeavours, both on and off the field, and hope we can help the club continue to inspire positive change and development within the region.  

“We can only see this partnership developing over the years to come, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”

Barrow Raiders chairman Steve Neale said: “It is a sign of how much the club has grown in recent years that we are able to attract sponsors of the calibre of Smiths Metal Centres. 

“Leaders in their field, they shared our commitment of making a positive difference to the community, far beyond the industry they operate in. 

“While the opportunity to work together came after a chance meeting in Las Vegas, it was clear that both ourselves and Smiths were well aligned on our values, and the way in which we hope to see this working relationship grow.

“I’d like to personally thank Mark Dyer, plus the wider team at Smiths for being so receptive to this collaboration.”

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