Cougars launch The KC Club and record a world Rugby League first

Keighley Cougars have today become the world’s first professional Rugby League club to donate their main front-of-shirt sponsorship category to a leading charity organisation.

The Sue Ryder Care – Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope near Keighley is the charity in question and their logo will now be displayed in the prime position on all Cougars’ uniforms for the next three seasons.

The Cougars - who currently compete in Co-operative National League Two - are following in the footsteps of international soccer giants Barcelona and Aston Villa who have previously undertaken such a venture but they are recording a genuine first for the 13-a-side code.
This new initiative will run in tandem with a new membership scheme – The Keighley Community Club or The KC Club.
 
The KC Club is an exclusive members club that will offer all its members a wide range of exciting benefits and at the same time make weekly cash donations to the Sue Ryder Care – Manorlands Hospice.

This will support Keighley Cougars as they continue to build for the long-term as a professional Rugby League club and develop their already successful community programmes.  The Cougars believe the initiative will not only safeguard the future of the town’s only professional sporting organisation but also enable them to offer education through sport to the youth of the local community.

Leading local business The Co-operative Motor Group Nissan has already supported the The KC Club by donating two promotional vehicles to assist with promoting the partnership throughout the area and hence benefit both the charity and the club itself.
 
Commenting on the launch of the initiative, Keighley Cougars Chairman Neil Spencer said, “We are tremendously excited to launch this innovative initiative which is a world first for Rugby League and supports a hugely important charity.
 
“Our support of Manorlands and the launch of the The KC Club in tandem with this will bring tremendous benefits to both our club and to our community.  We believe it can drive us forward as a professional sporting organisation and more significantly it can create a platform for us to increase the reach of our already successful community programmes and to continue to offer education through sport to many young people.”
 
Spencer added, “We hope The Sue Ryder Care – Manorlands Hospice will enjoy an increased profile and some additional resource to assist their vital work
 
“Many families are unfortunately touched by cancer and we hope that by donating our front of shirt sponsorship in this way we will reassure our community that we are committed to this important cause.”
 
“I am also delighted the scheme is supported by a range of key partners from throughout our community and we thank them all for their tremendous backing”.
 
Spencer concluded, “On behalf of everybody at the Cougars, I would now encourage as many people as possible to join The KC Club.  The scheme can become something that Keighley Cougars and the town of Keighley can be very proud of.”
 
Also commenting, Jodie Shepherd from Sue Ryder Care – Manorlands Hospice said, “ We are delighted to be involved in this initiative with Keighley Cougars and are grateful to have been chosen. We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our £2million running costs and the support of our local communities means a great deal to us. We hope the scheme will be well supported as it will be beneficial to both our local rugby team and our local hospice. “
 
And Mr Paul Wickham from The Co-operative Motor Group Nissan also added, “Rugby League is a sport close to our hearts, as The Co-operative Motor Group is part of the Co-operative group who sponsor the National League competition, but the cougars new membership club illustrates perfectly how businesses in the community can help make a difference and The Co-operative Motor Group Nissan is proud to support what we know will be a very worthwhile resource. “
 
To become a member of the KC club and support the Cougars and Manorlands simply contact the office on the number below or download an application from the website on www.keighleycougars.info or call into the office at Cougar Park, The Co-operative Motor Group Nissan or Manorlands hospice.