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History
Keighley R.U.F.C. (or the Keighlians Old Boys R.U.F.C. as it was originally named) was formed by a group of old boys of Keighley Grammar School in 1920. It’s name was first changed to Keighlians R.U.F.C. and later, in the mid1960s to Keighley R.U.F.C.
In the early years matches were played at a variety of venues in and around the town before a more permanent playing area was secured on council land near to the gas works at Thwaites. In addition for many years we had a social club in Lord Street in the town centre.
Our facilities at Thwaites were improved gradually over the years ( surviving a near catastrophic fire in the 1960’s) until finally we moved to our present address at Utley in 1986.
The club is justly proud of its progress and development and we now have playing facilities and a club house which stand comparison with most.
Many outstanding players and impressive sides have been produced over the years but the pinnacle of the club’s achievements was in the 1947/8 season when it won both the Yorkshire Shield and Yorkshire Cup competitions, beating Sheffield by 17 points to 0 in the Shield final at Otley and Otley by 14 points to 6 in the Cup final at Skipton. It is almost certain that this unprecedented feat will never again be equalled.
We field three senior sides on Saturdays and an under 19’s side on Sundays. In addition we were one of the pioneers of mini rugby in Yorkshire in 1967 and now have a thriving and much admired junior section for all age groups from under 7 years to 17 years.
With the formation of leagues in 1987, we began life alongside Wharfedale and Rotherham in league North East One, where we remained until reconstruction of leagues in 2000 placed us in Yorkshire One league . This is generally acknowledged to be one of the most competitive leagues at level seven in the country. After relegation in 2001 we returned to Yorkshire One league in 2003/4 as League Two champions and have remained there until 2012, when we finished 2nd in Yorkshire 1 and so won the right to play the 2nd team in Northumberland and Durham 1 league (Alnwick) for the right to promotion to North 1 East league. Victory at Alnwick on 28th April 2012 by 18pts to 16 ensured promotion to Level 6 for the season 2012-13.
In 2020/21 the club is celebrating its Centenary.
In the early years matches were played at a variety of venues in and around the town before a more permanent playing area was secured on council land near to the gas works at Thwaites. In addition for many years we had a social club in Lord Street in the town centre.
Our facilities at Thwaites were improved gradually over the years ( surviving a near catastrophic fire in the 1960’s) until finally we moved to our present address at Utley in 1986.
The club is justly proud of its progress and development and we now have playing facilities and a club house which stand comparison with most.
Many outstanding players and impressive sides have been produced over the years but the pinnacle of the club’s achievements was in the 1947/8 season when it won both the Yorkshire Shield and Yorkshire Cup competitions, beating Sheffield by 17 points to 0 in the Shield final at Otley and Otley by 14 points to 6 in the Cup final at Skipton. It is almost certain that this unprecedented feat will never again be equalled.
We field three senior sides on Saturdays and an under 19’s side on Sundays. In addition we were one of the pioneers of mini rugby in Yorkshire in 1967 and now have a thriving and much admired junior section for all age groups from under 7 years to 17 years.
With the formation of leagues in 1987, we began life alongside Wharfedale and Rotherham in league North East One, where we remained until reconstruction of leagues in 2000 placed us in Yorkshire One league . This is generally acknowledged to be one of the most competitive leagues at level seven in the country. After relegation in 2001 we returned to Yorkshire One league in 2003/4 as League Two champions and have remained there until 2012, when we finished 2nd in Yorkshire 1 and so won the right to play the 2nd team in Northumberland and Durham 1 league (Alnwick) for the right to promotion to North 1 East league. Victory at Alnwick on 28th April 2012 by 18pts to 16 ensured promotion to Level 6 for the season 2012-13.
In 2020/21 the club is celebrating its Centenary.