We’re at Keighley Rugby Union Club in Utley, just on the outskirts of Keighley. When I went to South Craven School I followed a few mates down, and then started playing here. I got into the Colts and then started playing in Seniors. I played for the first team for 25 years and was captain for five years. Played all my career down here, which was fantastic.

Playing for a club, you’ve just got such a good vibe. I’ve met so many friends through playing rugby, it’s great for anybody, the social side. It’s been best thing I’ve ever done is play rugby.

Back in the day we used to train twice a week and it was heavy, hard training in mud. Now they have this fancy artificial grass pitch which is great for the club because we can always come and play rugby and train, whatever the weather is, whereas a lot of clubs struggle. It’s hired out, so there’s football played on it and sometimes rounders and stuff like that. It’s great for the community.

I moved to Keighley about 28 years ago, as a teacher working in a local school. I played down here for a number of years, and I coached here for a good 15 years, for various teams, and started up a girls section here with my older daughter.

During COVID a couple of us that were in our 50s, we decided to have a social. So we came down and played an hour of touch and pass and then, socially distanced on the terrace, we’d have a beer and a chatter. I think that really helped a lot of us emotionally get through the COVID situation, and five years on there’s still 40 people coming down on a Monday night to play a bit of touch and pass. We’ll have kids from 10 years ranging up to me. I’m the oldest, I’m 60 next year.

The social aspect of it really appeals to me, keeping in touch with people. We meet up early before a game, some of us haven’t played for 20 odd years but we still turn up, to support the lads that are playing now. We’ll have a beer and a bite to eat and just generally catch up and amuse ourselves.

I started playing rugby when I was four years old, growing up with my dad, brother and sister all playing here as well. It’s why I’m so active, because I love it so much. I was playing with the boys up until age 11, when I had to move clubs because there was no girls team here. But it is really great to see that they have started a girls team now, with a few other clubs forming Aire Wharf. It’s nice to see that there’s a growing love for rugby in the area, especially for girls.

I am a second year sports therapy student in Loughborough. I’ve obviously been around the club my whole life, so I’m shadowing the current sports therapist at the moment, just getting a feel for what I’d like to do in the future. But it’s more the fact I want to give back to the club what they gave me when I was so young, all the support I got from my dad, who’s coached me a lot, and from players who remember me from when I was little as well. I still play rugby. I’m currently injured, coming back from a PCL (knee ligament) tear. Hopefully I’ll make my comeback this year, hoping to play for senior women, Yorkshire.

Growing up in Keighley it is a very diverse place which we’re lucky to have. It’s a big town but it’s also a very rural area. We’ve got beautiful hills, beautiful countryside very close which is lovely. The buildings and architecture in Keighley is also really beautiful and I don’t think many people kind of stop and look at the buildings, I don’t think many people appreciate how beautiful the town actually is. I’ll be coming back to Keighley, 100%, after uni.

I’m actually an offcomden. I played professional rugby in a previous life. But my wife’s from Silsden which isn’t far from here. Anyways, I came down to the club just purely from a recreational standpoint and got asked if I would like to do the coaching, and it was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss. It’s a good bunch down here and an exciting place to be.

Me and my wife live in Silsden now. The club just accepted us with open arms, and there’s always something going on. You’re always welcome to come down and get yourselves involved. Everything from maintenance to functions and comedian nights. You name it, and there’s stuff going on.

I miss playing, absolutely. It’s not quite the same coaching, you don’t get that same rush, but it’s probably the closest you’ll get to it. You’ve still got that camaraderie, around the lads, it’s huge.

We’ve got a massive junior section for girls at Keighley, and Wharfdale Rugby Club have got a senior side. Ellie Kildunne, she’s a Keighley girl born and bred, someone we’re really proud of. She started off here, and has obviously gone from strength to strength. She’s big on the international scene now, making a name for herself with England and winning World Cup.