A GROWING amateur rugby league club has scored a major success following a long campaign for improved facilities.

Keighley Albion is one of just two clubs in the north chosen to pilot a new style of modular building.

Officials worked with the Rugby Football League to secure the building, which will offer desperately-needed changing provision together with showers and toilets.

Bosses at the Crossflatts-based club said this week they were delighted at news of the award, the culmination of a six-month selection process.

"Our club has grown but we have been struggling for a long time for space," said chairman Dean Brookes.

"This new building will enable us to expand further and means we can move forward assured of good facilities for the years ahead.

"It's great news."

Preparation work was due to start at the site this week and the building is expected to be delivered, in sections, later this month.

Keighley Albion has a dozen teams, catering for age groups ranging from under-sevens to seniors.

It shares its site with Crossflatts cricket and football clubs.

Club official John Normington said the new facility would provide a massive boost.

"It will enable us to maintain our aims of getting children and young people from the Aire Valley playing amateur rugby league in Keighley," he said.

"The junior section was formed as recently as eight years ago and started with just one team of eight children.

"We now have ten junior teams – 180 young people actively playing rugby league – an achievement the club is extremely proud of."

He paid tribute to those behind the campaign.

"This success is the culmination of a great deal of hard work on the part of the committee – in particular Dean and Joanne Brookes – who have been working for a number of years to secure funding or an award of this kind to help cement the future of the club," he added.

Keighley Albion – which two years ago had a bid to Sport England for £38,000 to fund improvements rejected – won support in its battle from MP Philip Davies, whose constituency includes Crossflatts.

He visited the site to meet officials and offer his backing.

Mr Davies said Keighley Albion and Crossflatts Cricket Club played a crucial role in the community, and did a "brilliant" job providing sporting opportunities for young people.