In response to Captain Cougar, I was at the Dewsbury game, stood very near to the drummer and co, and would like to add that not many people were moaning too much about the ref, but lets be honest, it is what everyone does at every game. Rugby league is well known for shouts of getemonside lol and hallalula when they agree with the ref. Most of the fans were trying to support the team and cheering them on, although the drummer and co kept on shouting Silsden and singing songs to Barry Mcdermott neither were playing for cougars that day !!!!!!! Although I would like to see Barry doing so. As for calling the club a joke - well if you dont like it go, life is too short to watch things you dont like. Personally I think the club both on the pitch and behind the scenes is doing a great job trying to push itself into the community, certainly better than it has for the past 5 years. Dont get me wrong I am all for the drums and the dressing up, I remember how successfull it all was the first time round in 2000- 2006, them days it was so popular with the fans, the lads even had t-shirts about them printed and sold in the club shop. The difference was though they always cheered about the Cougars, enjoyed the day and sang a song about George Micheal. the Bulls and how the Cougars where the better team, for those who rememeber altogether now:
George Micheals a wizard he wears a wizards hat...................

So hold on a min u are saying that us "so called drummers and co" sing about other things. George Micheal isnt nothing to do with the cougars. As for life being to short to watch things i dont like then i think you miss understanded me. I love watching the cougars and getting behind them and also bringing a bit of fun into it like cheering for Silsden and trying to get barry macdermot to wave at us.

Its the club side i dont like. Not enough is been done to bring more fans down and get behind the lads. For example 2 kids turned up to the walk from town. What does that say. Also a few months ago one of the cubs sides were suppose to play a curtain raiser but was cancelled when they got there.

To bring money into the club you need to attract kids who will bring their parents who will want club merchandise etc. You just have to look around the terreces to see that this isnt happening.

As for the quote about the fax fans moaning at the ref i stood in the fax end the first half and was that appauled by them fans moaning at the ref that i swopped ends. It reminded me of being at the cougars.

As for the response of "take a look at other clubs". I have been to every home and away match for the last 4 years and i could name more than 10 clubs that have a better match day experience than the cougars. Barrow and Oldham and york beeing at the top.

so come on then captain cougar who's at fault?Caus I've been watching for 27 years and have to say that the club behind the scenes are trying all sorts of things to get more support down, Helen and her crew work tirelessly in the efforts to push us forward, again I say if your so miffed ring em up, ask em why your needs are not being met and I'll keep on cheering on the lads.!

Exactly my point andrew to many people been going down for too long as you say 27 years and yes the club do need fans like you amoung others but there is not enough new people going. Who many new fans come on here or do you see at the game? You hear a lot of rumours or things that maybe happening but the crowed is still exactly the same.

[quote="captain_cougar"]Exactly my point andrew to many people been going down for too long as you say 27 years and yes the club do need fans like you amoung others but there is not enough new people going. Who many new fans come on here or do you see at the game? You hear a lot of rumours or things that maybe happening but the crowed is still exactly the same.as I've said ring the club and see if you can give some input, the club is very open to ideas on how to bring more people down, the way I see it is that they are doing just that! Trying ! If people don't want to come then is that the clubs fault, sometimes you can be flogging a dead horse, what we need like many other clubs is major finance and why would we want to go down that rout afaik on the never never , all we can do as fans is give those lads on the pitch our ultimate support and end this bickering, I for one can't wait until Sunday!.

I will try to write the song then, but it may get removed for being offensive I am sorry if it offends anyone:
George Micheal is a wizard, he wears a wizards hat,
He saw a fella in the park and said I fancy that,
he went into the toilet, he faniced a quick pull,
But before he could undo his zip he was up a bradford Bull.
Keighley, Keighley were the barmy cougar army and we come from Keighley.
If you need anymore song suggestions I can ask the originals for the lyrics.

I've just come in from a day in the Classroom where we have 80 plus kids visiting Cougar Park in a week. to this load of drival ...Dean , Tom , Baz and Jeremy deliver rugby league sessions to a similar number ,if not more, in school hours during the week and I'm sure will be equally demoralised when they read negativity like this

The Street Acadamies , Carneiege Championship Finalist teams over the past few years , a thriving scholarship and active U18 National Youth League squad based at Cougar Park , Anti Drugs and Healthy Lifestyles Presentations , The Freddie Gets Fit Campaign, 'Shakespeare in the Stands', Cougar based Maths SATS Booster sessions , Scout and Cubs Activities Days ,
A Primary school history project based on the Clubs history, regular tackle and tag tournaments ,The 'Cougar Apprentice' Marketing Course, Cougar Pride Summer School, Freddie in the Airedale Centre,The link up with both the Albion & Cubs Youngest Teams, The Freddie Gang Volunteer initiative, I could go on ...and on ..... but what would be the point because you wouldn't want to know anyway.

Not every project is going to an immediate hit (the Crawl being a good example)... we know that ... but instead of being negative ,why not some praise for those who have stuck their neck out to try something different , ok it might not have been a major success , but surely better than not trying at all like plenty of other clubs at our level.

As for the old chesnut about the Cubs game being called off , a sudden downpour prior to kick off was the reason for this ,n short of Messers Spencer , Farrar n Fawcett having some sort of private line to the big white man up in the clouds , was unavoidable and no slight on the kids rugby.

I'll probably get my ass kicked for this ,but there are plenty of us working damn hard with the young people of Keighley & its district to get the profile of the Cougars out there. Give us a break....

I may be wrong here so please correct me if i am captain_cougar.

I don't think captain_cougar is knocking the hard work going on at the club. I think he is on about the number of young kids coming to watch the Cougars.

If he is then you would have to say he has a point.
During the Cougar mania years, there was loads of kids about the ground on match day.

Well said Rach!!!!!! You won't be in bother caus your passion for the club is very clear.! Now there you have it captain cougar just a little of what Keighley cougars are trying to achieve in terms of encouraging new support.

I'm sure the club would be very appreciative of any new ideas to get people into the ground, so let's get our thinking caps on...
What about a red white and green car driving around Keighley with a loud hailer, like those old election day jobbies? Maybe handing out a few flyers in the town? Promotional beer mats? Group discounts, i.e buy X amount of tickets, get one free?
...I'll get my coat on the way out...