The visit of Keighley-born former Prime Minister’s spokesman Alastair Campbell to Keighley Cougars on Sunday has been hailed as a major success for the club.

Campbell attended yesterday’s Co-operative Championship One fixture against Oldham which the Cougars won 34-26 to establish their credentials in this year’s competition.

Helen Carter, the Cougars’ General Manager, said: “Alastair spent all afternoon at Cougar Park with his son Callum. They were guests of the club and told us afterwards that they had enjoyed the occasion.

“Alastair is writing an article about his return to his home-town and the club for a planned feature in ‘The Times’.

“We had an opportunity to show him all the work that is going both on and off the pitch here in Keighley and he seemed particularly impressed with our community programme.

“Alastair’s sporting preference is normally soccer and Burnley FC, but when mentioned us on his blog and said he once had ambitions to play for Cougars, it was just too good an opportunity to miss.

“Besides spending time with our Board of Directors Alastair met the players and coaches, the club staff and fans and they enjoyed meeting a Keighley man who has achieved so much in his professional life.

“There have been discussions about him returning to Cougars at some future date to train with the players and look in greater depth at the club’s operations”.

Campbell also gave interviews to many of the media representatives who attended the game. Added Carter: “This too helped the club because it added to the profile of the occasion.

“Alastair drove all the away from London for his visit to CougarPark and we’re really grateful he could spare us his time”.

Sounds like he is definitely doing his bit for the club, and not all self publicity as is sometimes the case with those involved in politics.

Fine work by the club