Barrow Raiders Ladies have signed prop forward Jodie Crawford as they prepare for their first season in Group 1 of the Betfred Women’s Super League.
The 25-year-old becomes the Raiders Ladies’ first arrival of the off-season, having impressed coaching staff at last month’s hugely successful open trials.
Crawford also trialled for the club in 2021 and 2022 and the first time around, she was selected for the ladies first team but was unable to play after finding out in January 2022 that she was pregnant.
The following year she trialled again – just 10 weeks after the birth of her daughter. She missed out on a spot in the first team but was invited to link up with the Raiders Ladies Reserves instead.
She went on to captain the side during the 2023 season and put in a number of excellent performances, impressing Barrow Ladies head coach Amanda Wilkinson and her coaching staff along the way.
The signing of Crawford demonstrates how the club’s female pathway continues to develop, with several players from the reserves stepping up to the ladies first team over the last 18 months.
Crawford said: “It means so much to me to be back alongside the girls I had played with for so many years.
“As I was part of the team that had secured promotion to Group 2 of Super League and being selected for the first team in 2022 but then not getting chance to show my abilities at that level, I am over the moon to finally get to step up and show what I can do at a higher level.
“It just makes it so much more meaningful, doing it with the girls I know and love. I can’t wait to get back out there with them.”
