A NEW era is dawning for Keighley Cougars.

The Lawkholme club is embarking on the next chapter of its roller-coaster-ride story.

A wave of optimism has swept through Cougar Park with the return of a familiar face.

Mick O’Neill – who was at the helm during the ‘Cougarmania’ era of the 1990s when the team was on the verge of Super League – is back, heading-up a consortium.

After a troubled few months, it aims to restore order to the rugby league club – and once again give fans something to cheer about.

With a 12-point deficit to overcome at the outset, the season ahead won’t be easy.

But history tells us that things have not always been plain sailing for the Lawkholmers.

The undoubted highs have been interspersed with some devastating lows.

The club – playing under rugby union rules – was born out of a meeting in October, 1876.

A month later, the first game took place – against Cross Hills. It ended in a draw.

During its formative year, membership of the club stood at 49.

Even in those early days the club faced a challenge – a rival team, Keighley Athletic, was set-up in 1879.

The two outfits had their differences, but those were settled and two years later an amalgamation took place.

A further amalgamation in 1885 saw a joining of forces with Keighley Cricket and Football Club, and a move to the Lawkholme Lane ground took place.

The switch from union to rugby league occurred in 1900, when Keighley successfully applied for membership of the then Northern Union.

Within days, the first-ever RL game was held at Lawkholme.

Keighley was quick to make a name for itself in the Northern Union, winning the Second Division title in 1902-03.

But tragedy struck in 1906, when captain Harry Myers died from a spinal injury sustained after a collision with an opponent.

He had joined Keighley from Bramley in about 1895 and during his time at Lawkholme scored 90 tries and kicked 178 goals. He also made one appearance for England.

Former Keighley News sports reporter, the late Eric Lund, once stated: “In his last full season with the club, Keighley had their greatest cup season up to that time. They reached the semi-final of the Northern Union Cup for the first time.”

No fixtures were arranged during the First World War, and when matches resumed there was a hectic period of team rebuilding.

The pick of the bunch of players brought in was Dick Kendall, who proved a great servant to the club over 11 seasons, with a points haul of 535.

But he was also one of the unluckiest team members – during his time with the club he broke his left collarbone twice, fractured his right collarbone once, fractured his left forearm, broke bones in his right hand and suffered various finger injuries! After retiring from playing, he took-up refereeing.

The 1920s were a lean period for the club, but the following decade saw a massive turnaround which included what remains one of the Lawkholmers’ proudest achievements – a trip to Wembley.

Even ahead of that memorable day in 1937, when they met Widnes in the Challenge Cup final, there was much to be excited about at Keighley.

Big-name players were signed, massive ground improvements included the provision – for the first time – of a covered stand, and attendances reached hitherto unprecedented heights.

Alas there may not have been a fairy tale ending to the Wembley experience – Widnes won 18-5 – but it remains the club’s one and only Challenge Cup final appearance on the hallowed turf.

The Second World War years naturally saw young players from Keighley and other clubs called into the armed forces, but the Rugby League decided that competitive matches should continue and ‘emergency leagues’ were formed.

A system of ‘guest’ players was introduced to provide cover for teams.

After the war, the players returned to their own clubs and there was a period of considerable squad rebuilding.

The 1950s witnessed another landmark in Keighley’s history.

At the start of the 1952-53 season, the eighth Australian rugby league touring side opened its campaign with a game at Lawkholme – the first in front of TV cameras.

Regrettably the match didn’t go well for the Lawkholmers – the visitors topped a half-century of points, setting a record score for a touring side in an opening fixture.

Among the bright-shining Keighley stars of that decade was local product Terry Hollindrake, who signed from Keighley Albion in 1951.

Four years later he played on the left wing for Great Britain against New Zealand, becoming the first-ever Keighley-born Test player.

And he went on to become the first Keighley player to notch-up 1,000 points.

The 50s also saw the club drop its old playing colours of blue and white in favour of the now-familiar red, green and white.

Peaks and troughs has very much been a recurring theme since then.

In the 1967-68 season, club legend Brian Jefferson starred as Keighley recorded what was ranked as one of their finest cup triumphs, winning 15-5 at Widnes in the second round and avenging that 1937 final defeat.

Promotion and relegation battles followed through the 70s but a new low was reached in what should have been a celebratory season.

In 1985-86, a century on from rugby first being played at Lawkholme Lane, a financial cloud hung over the club.

As debts mounted and with the ground in need of urgent improvements following the Taylor report – published in the aftermath of the Bradford City fire disaster – Keighley was served with a winding-up order by the Inland Revenue.

This was only warded off by the sale of land to Keighley Cricket Club and Yorkshire Water.

Performances on the field were also suffering. Twice in three years Keighley finished next to bottom in the Second Division, and they sustained their worst-ever defeat – 92-2 – away to Leigh.

“It must be said that an incredible injury list along with several players being suspended didn’t help the cause and for the Leigh game only five regular first-team players made the trip,” said Eric.

However, things were to get even worse. In 1986-87, they ended-up bottom of the league, a large section of terracing had to be closed due to its poor state of repair, a lowest-ever crowd of just 216 turned out for a game – against Fulham – and the season finished with the club in the hands of the administrator.

The club was on the brink of extinction.

But Keighley’s battling spirit once again came to the fore, and improvements were seen on and off the pitch.

With at least some of the club’s financial worries behind it, experienced players were brought in, performances stepped up a gear and attendances rose.

However it was the 1990s that were to prove truly transformational for rugby league at Lawkholme Lane.

Magnet Joinery was unveiled as a new sponsor and a certain Mick O’Neill joined the board, together with Mike Smith, also now back as a co-director.

In 1991-92, the Cougars name – chosen in a competition – was adopted.

That era also saw the beginnings of the club’s pioneering community work, with schools in particular.

New records were set on the pitch, and a trailblazing razzmatazz was introduced on matchdays.

And the 92-93 season culminated with the club winning the Stones Third Division Championship.

Although denied promotion through a league reorganisation, there was much anticipation as Cougarmania spread through the town and attendances regularly exceeded 3,000.

It was in the 1994-95 season that joy and heartache once again came hand in hand.

Cougars won the end-of-season divisional premiership final at Old Trafford and had earned promotion to the top tier, but another reorganisation of the league structure denied the club its place with ‘the big boys’.

Fans campaigned against the decision and appeals were launched through the courts, but to no avail.

The past two decades have seen plenty more change – with personnel coming and going – there have been further ‘financial crises’ and of course there was the tragic death of Danny Jones, which sent shockwaves far beyond the world of rugby league.

After the latest turbulence at the club, supporters have welcomed the return of a steadying hand to the tiller.

They’ll be hoping that ‘Good Ship Cougars’ is heading for calmer waters, despite history dictating that a smooth passage isn’t always guaranteed.