Keighley Cougar Prowlers, the Co-operative Championship club’s newly-formed girls club, has already been declared a success.

The Cougar Prowlers, who have been in existence for three months, are now fielding both Under 14 and Under 16 age group teams and they have competed in two Festival events, one at Meltham All Blacks near Huddersfield and the other at Stanningley, near Leeds.

Tom Hall, the Cougars’ Development Officer, said: “We’re delighted with the way the two teams are progressing. The girls have enjoyed playing in the two festivals and they have benefitted from the experience.

“The Under 16 team have won one of their five games so far while the Under 14 team has chalked up two wins and one draw from their five outings”.

Now the Prowlers are looking for more players. Added Hall: “It doesn’t matter whether any girl who is interested in trying the sport has any previous experience or not. They’ll be very welcome at the training sessions.”

Currently the Prowlers training at Oakbank Hill School on Friday evenings (All Weather pitch 6-30pm to 7.30pm) and Saturday mornings (Grass pitch, 10.00am to 11.00am).

The Prowlers are covered by the Cougars’ UK Sport Clubmark Gold award which guarantees that the environment is suitable for young people; the club has a separate constitution; the team has two coaches with Level Two qualifications and one with a Level One qualification and there are properly qualified first aiders at all of the team’s fixtures.

Hall said: “Now we’re looking for some local companies to assist us with sponsorship. At the moment we’re using playing kit that has been borrowed from the Bradford and Keighley Service Area and while we’re very grateful to them it would be far better if they had their own equipment.

“We’re also hoping to stage our own festival for female players in March next year and the venue for that event will be confirmed at a later date.”