THE late Keighley Cougars player Danny Jones has been inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame, which includes legends of the game going back over a century.

Mr Jones’s widow Liz was among around 50 family members and 150 supporters and club officials who gathered at Cougar Park on Friday night (June 26) to see the unveiling of a framed pen portrait of the popular player which now hangs in the club’s function room.

A plaque bearing his name was unveiled on an entrance wall.

It reads: “Gone are the days we used to share. But in our hearts you’re always there.”

An auction was also held which pushed the Danny Jones fund for his twin babies to around £210,000. Auctioned items included a Cougars shirt bearing Mr Jones’ signature, one of the last he signed.

Club chairman Gary Fawcett said Mr Jones was a worthy Hall of Fame member.

“It’s the least we could do to induct Danny into the Hall of Fame," he said.

“He played over 150 games and scored over 1,000 points, one of only five players to do so.”

Many people had tears in their eyes as the club played a short video of highlights from Mr Jones’ career.

The Hall of Fame includes such greats as Hal Jones, who played in the 1937 Cup Final versus Widnes, and Terry Hollindrake.

It also includes Harry Myers, a Keighley player who died in hospital in 1906 after a game in which he was injured.

Mr Jones, 29, died on May 3 after collapsing during a game. He had suffered a cardiac arrest triggered by hereditary heart disease.

A large number of supporters turned out for Friday's event.

John Parker, 85, a fan since 1935, attended with wife Hazel.

He said: “Danny Jones was a very good player and deserves this honour.

“I remember joking and chatting with him.”

Mrs Parker added: “The juniors and teenagers should look up to Danny for what he did – he was never naughty.

“He was a lovely lad who always said hello and had a few words with people.”

The compere for the evening, David Ingham, a skilled artist, presented the club with a portrait of Mr Jones.

Mr Ingham, chairman of the Pennine Amateur Rugby League, said: “Danny Jones reached a milestone that only five players achieved –1,000 points for the club. He is in the Hall of Fame for what he has done and for the circumstances of his unfortunate death.”

A poem about Mr Jones, written by Frank Law, grandfather of current player Scott Law, was read out at the ceremony.

It concluded with the lines: “And so we’re asking you St Peter, if you find that you don’t need him, put him on the transfer list, ‘cos here at Cougar Park we’d be delighted to have Danny Jones as number 6.”