Keighley Rugby League Club was originally founded in 1875 under the name of Keighley RLFC. Keighley did not join the breakaway Northern Union Clubs until 1900, five years after their original formation. They made an impressive start in the Northern Union, coming second and third in their first two seasons and winning the second division championship in the season 1902-03. Apart from the 1990s this was Keighleys most successful period, in which they never finished outside the top five teams in their division.
Apart from brief glimpses of success in the late thirties and early forties, Keighley struggled through the post-war periods and never returned to their earlier glory days. Rugby League as a whole slumped through a two-decade period that started in the sixties, attendances dropped and so did Keighleys performance. By the early 1990s things had become almost critical for Keighley, the ground was decrepit and the team was losing to the likes of the now extinct Nottingham City. Something needed to be done, or the Club with such a proud history would surely fold.
In August 1991 the Cougars were officially launched in an imaginative step to resurrect a club that had sunk without a trace. The years that followed saw a new link formed with the Keighley community and a surge of young families coming through the gates. The renovation of the old Lawkholme Lane ground followed and with this came a new name for the old ground Cougar Park.
The Cougars created an atmosphere unrivalled anywhere else in the Rugby League and a level of ideas and entertainment that are now being used by Rugby Leagues most successful teams. The Cougars then embarked on their most successful period. In 1993 the Cougars won the old third division only to be denied promotion due to the Rugby Football League merging the second and third divisions. In 1995 the Cougars winning the second division championship only to be denied promotion to the newly created Super League followed this.
The following year, there was only one promotion place into Super League and competing against some of the larger relegated teams the Cougars could only manage second place to Salford Reds.
Although the Cougars have suffered set back with each success, there is still a feeling of ambition in and around the Club. Once again with the support of the community we will move forward.
Apart from brief glimpses of success in the late thirties and early forties, Keighley struggled through the post-war periods and never returned to their earlier glory days. Rugby League as a whole slumped through a two-decade period that started in the sixties, attendances dropped and so did Keighleys performance. By the early 1990s things had become almost critical for Keighley, the ground was decrepit and the team was losing to the likes of the now extinct Nottingham City. Something needed to be done, or the Club with such a proud history would surely fold.
In August 1991 the Cougars were officially launched in an imaginative step to resurrect a club that had sunk without a trace. The years that followed saw a new link formed with the Keighley community and a surge of young families coming through the gates. The renovation of the old Lawkholme Lane ground followed and with this came a new name for the old ground Cougar Park.
The Cougars created an atmosphere unrivalled anywhere else in the Rugby League and a level of ideas and entertainment that are now being used by Rugby Leagues most successful teams. The Cougars then embarked on their most successful period. In 1993 the Cougars won the old third division only to be denied promotion due to the Rugby Football League merging the second and third divisions. In 1995 the Cougars winning the second division championship only to be denied promotion to the newly created Super League followed this.
The following year, there was only one promotion place into Super League and competing against some of the larger relegated teams the Cougars could only manage second place to Salford Reds.
Although the Cougars have suffered set back with each success, there is still a feeling of ambition in and around the Club. Once again with the support of the community we will move forward.
