Keighley Town

Keighley Town FC is a non-league football club based in the town of the same name, sharing the ground of Keighley RLFC. The club was originally known as Eccleshill United, playing at their ground in the residential area of Wrose in Bradford.

The name change came in time for the 2026-27 season. Eccleshill were formed in 1948 and played in the Bradford League before joining the West Riding County Amateur League. They reached the Premier Division of the latter competition, becoming champions in 1976-77.

Cougar Park, the club's home from 2025-26

Eccleshill’s application to join the Northern Counties East League was rejected in 1982, but they were admitted to Division Three in 1985 after making improvements to their Plumpton Park home. The third tier was absorbed into Division Two in 1986-87, with United going up to Division One after finishing as runners-up. 

Promotion to the Premier Division followed in 1990-91. They were demoted in 1993-94 before regaining their status in 1996-97 as Division One champions. In June 2007, former ‘Eagles’ player, Mick Watson, was appointed as manager after the departure of Steve Watson, who had been at the helm for the previous two years. 

Ray Price succeeded the boss in October 2008, staying in charge until the end of the 2008-09 campaign. It ended in relegation. Former goal scorer James Hanson was signed by Bradford City in July 2009 at the start of what would be a fantastic professional career after he had moved from Eccleshill to Guiseley. 

Paul Jenkinson arrived as the new manager in October 2009 after Steve Watson was in charge for a second time, and then appointed replacement Danny Bolton decided he could not give the role the commitment it required. Remarkably, another new man, Mark Senior, arrived to take the job before the year was out.

In May 2010, experienced Football League midfielder Ian Banks was unveiled as the Eagles' new manager. Bradford City signed an agreement to play their reserve games at Plumpton Park in 2010-11, bringing in valuable coffers to the club. 

Bobby Davidson, another famous pro player, was next to take the manager’s job at Plumpton Park, arriving in December 2012. The role continued to attract former players of great stature, with United appointing Lee Duxbury to work under the head of football, Mark Ellis, in July 2013.

Gerard Jones was head coach in 2014-15, as the club ended a partnership with America-based soccer academy RIASA, which had provided them with young talent throughout the campaign. Mark Greaves came in to replace Jones. Sean Regan was then appointed in November 2015, stepping up from his coaching role. 

The team reached the playoffs in 2017-18 with Regan’s side defeating Shirebrook Town and then Grimsby Borough to achieve promotion to the Premier Division. The manager eventually stood down in May 2019, being replaced by Lee Elam.

In 2021-22, non-league football was restructuring. United lost their inter-step playoff on penalties to Kempston Rovers, which would have seen them promoted to a higher level after finishing as runners-up of the NCEL. Ryan Toulson arrived as manager shortly after. Elam returned to the post in May 2023.

Eccy announced that they would be playing first-team home matches at Cougar Park, Keighley, from the start of the 2025-26 season, with Keighley Cougars RLFC buying the club in July 2025, changing their name to Keighley Town for the 2026-27 season.

The club's former identity

Keighley Town FC will play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division in the 2026-27 season.

My visit

Plumpton Park

Wednesday 17th September 2008

I was in West Yorkshire for a spot of groundhopping after staying over after watching my club, Scarborough Athletic, play at Glasshoughton Welfare the previous evening. The early morning had seen me go to Bradford Park Avenue, Halifax Town and then Bradford City. Next on my list was Eccleshill.

I arrived from Valley Parade by bus, which dropped me off nearby. Entry to the ground is through a gap between the houses. Unfortunately, the gate was locked, meaning I had to negotiate a very muddy public footpath which runs behind the clubhouse. 

A vandalised fence gave me access to a practice pitch behind the Main Stand and enabled me to take my photos over the fence. Plumpton Park appeared a smart ground which mingled in nicely with its neighbours. It has a small section of covering at the Clubhouse End. The dressing rooms and clubhouse were behind this stand. 

The Main Stand was found along one side and sat into a grass bank. The other two sides of the ground were made up of a combination of hard standing and grass. The most notable feature was a throwback to an era when I was first taken to games by my Dad. 

At the far end, there stood a gentlemen's toilet block without a roof and lowish walls. I'm sure this must cause some amusement amongst the local residents who could look down on the patrons from their houses!

I hoped to visit the ground one day to see Scarborough Athletic play, as I wanted an excuse to visit the magnificent Four Lane Ends pub, built from Yorkshire Stone, to sample the Tetleys, which was about a ten-minute walk from the ground.

Cougar Park

Keighley Cougars 40 Barrow Raiders 12 (Sunday 11th July 2021) Rugby League 1 (att: 572)

It was just over five months before I intended to head to and live in Thailand. Before I departed, I had a spare week to fill on leave from work. It was my plan to criss-cross England, catching up with friends and family and seeing sport wherever possible along the way, at a time when some pandemic restrictions were in place.

After a testing day in Scarborough, laying the ashes of my mate Crusher at North Marine Road, I caught the train through to Leeds. I considered a day at the Yorkshire v Kent County Championship cricket but decided on rugby league instead. A train to Saltaire and a walk through Roberts Park, catching some cricket, was a good way to ease a hangover.

I returned to the station to catch a train to Keighley, with my intended walk along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to my destination being too far and too tight on time. On arrival, I was surprised how long it took me to reach Lawkholme Lane, which was the previous name of the rugby ground. 

The clubhouse couldn't tempt me with a beer, so instead I enjoyed a cup of tea with my food, ready to relax and enjoy a game in a sport I enjoyed whenever I made the effort to attend. Sadly, no beer meant that I was not brave enough to put on my Eddie Waring impression for the locals. They missed out badly.

What I saw was a proper mauling. I couldn’t believe the unimaginative visitors were top of the league. They left with plenty of injuries, knocks and advice from the helpful home crowd who also offered the ref plenty of feedback. It was sports ground heaven. Just like lots of places from my formative years. 

I was also entertained, if that's the right term, by the performance of the PA man. Like Ray Von of Phoenix Nights, on speed. Too loud and far too often. He was funny for a couple of minutes at a push.

All in all, it was great stuff. I walked back into town and had time to visit a local supermarket and then see a steam train arrive on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. It was just what I needed before the night's main event, the Euro 20 final between England and Italy, which I watched in my room at Discovery Inn, opposite Leeds railway station.

No pubs were open to sell beers after the disappointing loss, so it was a couple of cans from the offie over the road and some snacks, before getting up the following day to take the train to rainy Chester-le-Street to catch up with mates and spend too long in the pub.