STEETON can look forward to exciting times ahead as they gear up for their first league game at their new Cougar Park home, according to manager Roy Mason.

They kick off their new season following promotion to the newly-formed North West Counties Hallmark Security League Division One North with a trip to Holker Old Boys on Saturday, August 4.

But they will now have to wait until Saturday, August 18, for their first game at their new home, Cougar Park, when they host AFC Blackpool.

Steeton’s second match of the season, against Avro on Wednesday, August 8, was originally at home. However, at the request of Steeton, this has been switched to an away fixture, due to planned maintenance work at Cougar Park.

This will be followed by their first game at their new home, Cougar Park, on Wednesday, August 8, when we take on Avro.

Mason says his squad is already relishing the fresh challenge ahead and looking forward to playing at Keighley Cougars’ base.

He also issued a rallying cry to the people of Keighley to support his side at their home matches, adding the town can now have two teams it can be proud of.

Mason’s summer has been busy after Steeton’s league move was rubber-stamped by the Football Association in June, with a number of players joining.

Strikers Callum Meade, Aaron Hollindrake, former Bradford City and Park Avenue midfielder Andy Lee and goalkeeper Alfie Stevens-Neale have all joined during the close season.

Mason hopes to sign three more players, including a midfielder, before Saturday’s clash and would like to add more experience to his young squad.

He said: “It’s exciting for us. This is what we have been aiming for, and we have planned for it for the last 18 months.

“We will need to find our feet in this new division for the first few games.

“I am really looking forward to the new season and playing at Cougar Park.

“The groundstaff have done a fantastic job this pre-season. The hot weather has not helped us though, but they have worked tirelessly on the pitch.

“We played our first pre-season game at Cougar Park last week against Leeds City. It was good for the players to play in a proper stadium like that.

“Without the support of the Keighley public, it is going to be really difficult for us.

“People under-estimate what playing in front of a big crowd in a stadium can do for our players, it will help them. I would like the people of Keighley to get behind us.”

Mason added he has talked to representatives of Cougars’ new owners, Austria Holdings, and revealed they support the two sports playing at Cougar Park and are looking forward to building a long-lasting relationship between the two clubs.

He said: “I have had a chat with the new owner of Keighley Cougars and he is into football and interested in what we are doing.

“There is a new era for Cougars and a new era for Steeton and Keighley now has two teams it can be proud of.”

Meanwhile, Steeton sealed a 4-3 win over Kirk Deighton Rangers on Saturday.