The government’s Sports and Equalities Minister, The Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, has visited local rugby league club Keighley Albion to discuss their efforts to secure a new long-term home and thank the, for their continued services to community sport.

Minister Andrew met with key volunteers involved with Keighley Albion at Rose Cottage in Utley, where he heard about the club’s efforts and will to secure the site and its facilities.

The club are currently situated at Crossflatts, but due to continued demand from young people interested in getting involved in rugby league and with them now supporting well over 400 children, they have outgrown their current site and are trying to secure new facilities.

Albion chairman Richard Dibbin how urgent the need is for an upgrade, telling the Keighley News: “These facilities are desperately needed as we are turning children away due to not having adequate number of changing rooms.

“We don’t have enough pitches either, just one full-sized pitch and one small junior pitch.”

But with four junior pitches and two full-sized ones, Keighley Albion’s plans, which are supported by local MP Robbie Moore, would bring the sport to the heart of Utley and see the facilities at Rose Cottage used for community sport.

Speaking after the visit, Robbie Moore MP said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Sports and Equalities Minister the Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP to Keighley, where he met with members of Keighley Albion Rugby League Club and heard about the potential for a long-term home for the club at Rose Cottage in Utley.

“Keighley Albion play an absolutely vital role in promoting sports and physical activity in our town, and with an astounding 400 young people aged four to 18 from across our community registering for the club in recent years, I am determined to ensure they secure larger facilities to meet their growth plans.

“It is absolutely vital that for the good of our kids and young people, and for the love of rugby league, that we secure these facilities for the club.

“Keighley Albion do an incredible service to sport in our area and as Keighley’s MP, I will do all I can to help.”