Keighley Cougars have become one of the first clubs in professional Rugby League to achieve the RFL’s ‘Clubmark Gold’ rating.

Sport England’s ‘Clubmark’ is the scheme which allows a sport’s national governing bodies to accredit their clubs when they create safe, effective, and child friendly environments.

Clubs who achieve ‘Clubmark’ status are officially ‘rubber stamped’ as being, a ‘quality’ club.

It proves that the club has all the right procedures in place as well as appropriate policies, action plans and coaches with relevant qualifications to ensure that it has a ‘safe, effective and child friendly environment’ and are known as: ‘A Quality Assured Rugby League Club’.

‘Clubmark Gold’ is an enhanced level of achievement and brings such benefits such as promoting clubs within their communities; increasing participation levels; developing coaches and volunteers at clubs; raising standards and receiving priority status when they lodge funding applications.

Keighley Cougars are one of the 129 Rugby League clubs across the country that have achieved ‘Clubmark’ status.

The Cougars will receive their ‘Clubmark Gold’ certificate in a special presentation at halftime during the Co-operative Championship One game against Workington Town on Sunday, May 31 from the RFL’s National Development Manager Andy Harland.

Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Sport and the RFL are all celebrating the presentation of the Cougars’ ‘Clubmark Gold Success’. The Gold award is part of the club accreditation scheme re launched by the RFL on April 1st 2009.

Jo Drapier, the Bradford and Keighley Rugby League Service Area Co-ordinator, said: “Cougars have shown great initiative and well done to them for achieving Clubmark Gold Status”.

Dean Muir, the Cougar Community Foundation Manager, said: “We’re delighted and honoured to gain a ‘Clubmark Gold’ award. It’s the result of a great deal of hard work and illustrates that our club is heading in the right direction”.

Thats excellent news, a big pat on the back to everyone at the club, it must be really rewarding to have all your hard work and comittment recognized , well done, onwards and upwards.

This is indeed excellent news and shows those involved at the club are working their socks off and are now being rewarded.

Very well done to all concerned.

Between the win against swinton, the latest new sponsors and this, it is for sure a great weekend. Now lets plod on and secure the next 6 points with style. Well done to all concerned.

As said well done to everyone at the club,just wish the people of Keighley could see what great work is being done down at the Cougars and get down there to support the club.I think when we play Dewsbury which is on sky,we have to create a party atmosphere which was our trademark in the past.Would be good if we could issue some free family tickets around town,it's worked in the past and i'm sure some of the young kids would like to be on t.v,give them some flags to wave.

Will def be doing a ticket push and i am getting some prices on flags they are quite expensive so just waiting for some more quotes to come in. I watched the Leicester L Irish game at weekend and the flags looked great.