New Barrow Raiders signing Perry Singleton has thanked former club Workington Town for how they brought on his game during his time in west Cumbria.

Singleton made a successful transition from the amateur game when he moved to Workington from National Conference League side Barrow Island in 2017, becoming a potent force at centre during his three seasons at Derwent Park.

He won the club’s Coaches’ Player of the Year award in his maiden campaign with Town and he bounced back from an injury-hit 2018 to score 12 tries in 20 league appearances last season in Betfred League One.

Singleton said: “I would like to thank them for giving me an opportunity in the pro game. They’ve been massive to me in the last three years and if it wasn’t for me changing job then things might have been different.

“I want to thank them for the last three years and I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Singleton is also grateful for the understanding Workington showed in allowing him to continue his rugby career back down the coast after they released him from his contract after his change in work commitments.

He said: “I can’t thank their board enough because the board could have easily turned round and said ‘no’, and that would have been me in limbo.

“But they agreed because they didn’t want to see me out of the game, so I’d just like to thank them for everything that they’ve done for me.”

Singleton is now getting himself up to speed in trying to help his hometown club bounce back into the Championship, following last season’s relegation.

A reunion with his old team-mates will be coming soon, however, as the Raiders will be facing their old rivals Workington in a pre-season friendly at Craven Park on Sunday, January 26, which precedes the league meeting between the two teams at the same venue on Good Friday.

“It’s a bit funny because I looked at the paper and saw that we’ll be playing Workington, so that will be quite special for me, really, because I get to play against my old team-mates and my old coaching staff and that,” Singleton said.

“I couldn’t thank their fans enough because they were understanding as well, so it will be good to see all of them as well.”