KEIGHLEY Rugby Union Football Club are hoping that youngsters can help to turn their ship around.

New director of rugby Russell Gibson confessed: "Everyone at Keighley is painfully aware of where we have been in recent times – from the highs of promotion to North One East to the lows of the double relegation down to Yorkshire Two, injuries and a shallow pool of players able to step up to first XV rugby being a major factor in those relegations."

However, growing their own is being seen as one way to make progress.

Gibson added: "The development of our Academy system last year was the start of this process, with two from our previous season's under-17s making debuts for the first XV (winger Joe Sugden and back-rower Elliot Barker).

"This is testament to the hard work our junior coaches and managers do, and something we need to get behind to develop the senior players of the future."

An integral part of this process is the club's developing player programme involving the under-16s and under-17s.

Gibson explained: "We are currently in the process of setting this up, and those who show the most promise will be invited to train alongside our seniors one evening a week, with a dedicated team of development coaches and manager to bring out their full potential.

"Although we see our juniors as a key asset of the club, we also have a lot to offer current rugby union players, and rugby league players who would like to try something different in their off season."

Gibson also knows first hand the importance of the social side of Keighley RUFC.

He said: "Keighley has always had a strong culture of camaraderie. It's rare to see our players disappear straight after a game – that happens in a lot of clubs.

"The players, through the core values of rugby, have always had the common bond which creates friendships for life.

"I can testify to this after walking into the club aged 17 back in the mid-80s.

"It was, and still is, a place where players' girlfriends, wives and families are seen down at the club on a game day, which gives the place a real family feel."

* Keighley have provisionally arranged a friendly at Old Otliensians on Wednesday, August 19 (7.00).

It will be a warm-up fixture to their first-round Yorkshire Shield tie at Ripon on Saturday, August 29 (3.00).