Past and present Great Britain and England internationals were among around 50 people who came together to celebrate over 40 years of women’s rugby league.
The exhibition, held at the Barrow Raiders ground, was organised by Barrow director Mary McPortland and featured memorabilia donated by former players including original shirts worn by the Barrow Bluebirds.
The Lancashire Shield trophy was also on display, with Barrow the last team to have won the competition in the 1997-98 season.
Among those present was Sally Milburn, who played 23 times for Great Britain and was one of the first three women to be inducted into the Rugby League Hall of
Fame.
She was joined by the Kitchin sisters Liz (now Kerr) and Allie and Joanne Hewson, all ex-Great Britain internationals.
The exhibition was a curtain-raiser to the Raiders’ Women’s Super League clash against York, with the Valkyrie head coach and former England player Lindsay Anfield also making an appearance.
Mary, who is known as Mac, said: “This has outstripped our expectations. It was great to see so many women telling their stories and sharing memories.”
It was the first in a series of events that form The Pioneering Years, a two-year project marking the founding of the first women’s clubs.
Julia Lee is the driving force behind the project.
She said: “There was a real sense of community and pride which is what we set out to achieve. Many of thise women don’t realise the enormity of what they did by striking out and playing the game they loved despite the obstacles in their way.
“They’ve left a huge legacy and inspired so many women and girls who have followed them in their footsteps.”
