Leigh Leopards congratulate Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey on making club history today.

Crarey takes charge of the Raiders at Oldham in the Betfred Championship in what will be his 350th game as head coach of the club.

Crarey surpasses the previous record holder Frank Foster who coached Barrow in 349 games.

Crarey has played and coached Barrow Raiders against Leigh on many occasions and in tribute Derek Beaumont referenced their famous win over the then Centurions at Craven Park in 2018.

During Leigh’s record breaking season in the Championship in 2022 Crarey’s team came agonisingly close to a repeat only to be denied by a length of the field interception try by Australian international Blake Ferguson with seven minutes remaining as Leigh scrambled a 30-28 victory.

Crarey, 59, played nearly 200 games as hooker for Barrow and also represented Whitehaven, Carlisle and Cumbria.

After cutting his coaching teeth in the community game he coached Barrow from 2005-07 and returned to the club in 2014. He has also coached Whitehaven, Cumbria and the BARLA Great Britain Lions, the latter alongside former Leigh player Sean Richardson.

To celebrate his achievement Crarey was guest of honour at Leopards’ game against Leeds Rhinos. He was presented with a bottle of champagne by club owner Derek Beaumont and chairman Mike Latham and a congratulations card signed by players and staff.