Keighley Rugby Union Club are proud of their firm foundations – literally.

They are building a gymnasium alongside their clubhouse as a legacy, not only to the players who have helped them gain promotion from Yorkshire Division One last season but also for the future.

Keighley didn’t have a first or second-team game last Saturday but about 20 players turned up at the ground for a working party on the gymnasium.

Speaking at the club’s annual dinner in the clubhouse on Saturday night, director of rugby Graeme Sheffield said: “The gymnasium, which will hopefully be finished by Easter, will be a legacy to the lads who got us promotion to North One East and to the future.

“We had two choices – pay players, which we don’t do at Keighley, or build a legacy, and we opted to build a legacy.”

To help the gymnasium be finished, there is a Buy A Brick scheme for £100.

Anyone interested in contributing should contact Kenny Dyson on 07801-035819 or Sheffield on 07905-891870.

At the annual function, Sheffield also paid tribute to his players and fellow coaches for bringing success to Keighley.

He said: “What a 12 months! We have gained promotion and are now playing the likes of Beverley, Morley and Cleckheaton.

“We are proud as punch at the club about winning the promotion play-off and our aim now is to consolidate. We also want our junior section to mature.

“We are grateful to Danny McGee and Dave Lister for coming back to the club, and also to players such as Jake Hill, Sean Minnikin, Smith Brown and Ashley Waligura, who have come up from the second team, but the jewel in the crown is Ben Blackwell.

“However, we should also pay tribute to the Sudgen family. Our skipper Leigh Sugden has carried the first team at times, and I am proud of him. He has been a leader on the field and off it for numerous seasons.

“I have also been blessed to work with some good coaches such as Tim Brunskill, Kevin Young and Dave Lister. They are Keighley through and through.”

Keighley return to action with a tough trip to second-placed Beverley on Saturday.