MATCH INFORMATION
KEIGHLEY COUGARS v COVENTRY BEARS - JOSH LYNAM TESTIMONIAL MATCH
SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY - 3PM KICK OFF
COUGAR PARK - KEIGHLEY - BD21 3RF
REFEREE - MR KEVIN MOORE (NORMANTON)
ADMISSION:
ADULT - £10
CONCESSIONS - £5
JUNIORS - FREE
LYNAM'S TESTIMONIAL FINALLY ARRIVES
KEIGHLEY Cougars star Josh Lynam will see his years of service to the club recognised on Sunday, as he runs out for his testimonial match against Coventry Bears.
His father, former rugby league professional Daz, says the game at Cougar Park is just reward for the second row, who has stuck with the club through it all, despite the temptations that laid elsewhere.
Lynam junior joined the club as a young boy, and made his way through the ranks before making his first team debut in 2013 at Batley Bulldogs.
He is a Keighley lad too, which makes Sunday’s testimonial even more special.
Speaking about his son, Lynam senior said: “He’s had offers to join others but he’s a hometown boy and he’s always wanted to play for Keighley.
“That’s what he wanted from six years of age, when he played for the Cubs side, and he’s come all the way through.
“When he was five, I used to take him to watch me play for Doncaster and even then, he was always messing about with the ball on the sideline.
“My dad was the same, taking me to the rugby, so it’s in the blood for us as a family.”
Talking about an often forgotten aspect of playing rugby league at this level, Lynam said: “As his dad, he won’t realise the sacrifices he’s made.
“It’s not massive money, so he’s had 10 years of missing out on stag dos and going out on Saturdays with mates so he can play for Cougars on Sundays.
“I know people will say, ‘well at least he gets to play for Cougars’, but he’s not made a lot of money, he’s not in a big house or living comfortably.
“He is going to make money from the testimonial but a couple of years ago, we didn’t know what was round the corner with the club, and he wouldn’t even have had one. But he’s stood by the club through all of that.”
Being a one-club man means Lynam junior has had his fair share of memorable moments.
Asked to pick out his favourites, the second row’s father said: “There was his debut at Batley in 2013. They had Alex Walmsley in their side then, who now plays for Great Britain and St Helens.
“There was when he helped them win the iPro Cup at Blackpool (against York in 2016). He did well when Cougars were beaten by Widnes in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final in 2014 too.
“It was great to see him named at second row by Cougars fans in their Team of the Decade as well.”
Remarkably, Lynam is still only 26 and his father maintains he still has a lot to learn from current coach Rhys Lovegrove.
He said: “Josh is still young and needs his coaching. Whether it’s Jason Demetriou, Paul March, Craig Lingard or Rhys, they all have their different methods and it’s not easy to just change.
“Josh has had to adapt his whole game because Rhys told me he was making too many tackles, when he wanted him to be in the right (attacking) positions.
“Josh didn’t get his squad number either because he was injured and Rhys didn’t know his capabilities.
“He could have got complacent, given that he’s been in the team for years, but he’s worked hard in pre-season, and now he has Rhys singing his praises.”
Darren Lynam interview courtesy of the Keighley News
TEAM NEWS
Head Coach Rhys Lovegrove has two new injury worries ahead of Josh Lynam's Testimonial on Sunday afternoon.
Benn Hardcastle (Glute) and Ritchie Hawkyard (Leg) join Lovegrove's injury list with Will Cooke and Macauley Hallet (Both Foot), Jordan Aitchison (Chest) and Ryan Wright (Ankle) all still ruled out as they were for last week's dramatic victory over the Dewsbury Rams.
One injury worry that has now left the Head Coach is that of Billy Gaylor, who returns to the side after missing last week's opening friendly with a ligament problem.
Dan Parker and Dan Hawksworth both come into the squad after featuring for Castleford on dual-registration terms in their pre-season friendly defeat at the Widnes Vikings last Sunday.
Steven Hayes, who was a member of the reserves squad last season, also comes in on a one-month trial from Castleford based amateur outfit Lock Lane and is named in a 23 man squad to face the Bears.
Jack Arnold is still ruled out through suspension.
COUGARS: Agoro; Bailey; Coventry; Darley; Desmond-Walker; Feather; Gaylor; Hawksworth; Hayes; Kesik; Levy; Lynam; Miller; Moran; Muranka; Parker; Prell; Seeley; Sheriff; Stead; Webster; Welham; Wray.
Coventry Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson has made several changes to the side that defeated the London Broncos Reserves 22-14 last Friday evening.
Former Cougar Adam Allerton drops out along with Hayden Freeman, Reece Rance and Will Tully
Jonathon Allen, Doug Chirnside, Niall Collett and Aaron Ryan are all in brought into the squad ahead of the trip north to Cougar Park.
Chris Cullimore, fresh of his two tries against the Broncos Reserves, makes his return to Cougar Park, however there is no place for his fellow former Cougars, Alex Williams and Reece Williams, who are both left out of the squad after featuring last weekend.
BEARS: Allen; Budd; Chant; Chirnside; Clavering; Collett; Cullimore; Fellows; Hamilton; Harber; Hill; Kaufman; Langton; Neath; A Ryan; P Ryan; Sheridan; Smith; Stewart; Williams.
RE-USABLE PLASTIC PINT GLASSES NOW AVAILABLE
Join the Cougars in going green!
In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and our use of non recyclable plastics, from Sunday's game the Cougars will be launching branded hard plastic pint glasses!
When you order your first pint on gameday at Cougar Park, pay a pound deposit to get your own branded hard plastic pint glass to use throughout gameday.
It's then up to you whether you take it home as a keepsake or return it to the bar, where we will give you your pound coin back, and enable us to wash and re-use the glass!
The Cougars would like to say a massive thank you to Wave Refrigeration for their sponsorship of the glasses.
JOSH LYNAM'S CAREER
Joined Cougars: December 2009
Heritage Number: #1450
Debut: L42-10 v Batley Bulldogs (A - 3/2/13, CH)
Appearances (Subs): 100(26)
Tries: 37
Points: 148
2009 - After being awarded the ‘Top Gun’ award in the Cougars Scholorship system Josh signs his first professional contract under Barry Eaton aged 16.
2011 - Reserve team Player and Players Player of the year.
2013 - After a strong pre season Josh made his 1st team professional debut in the round one Championship fixture vs Batley Bulldogs at Mount Pleasant aged 19.
2013 - After a breakthrough season and becoming a regular in the 1st team Josh was awarded the Keighley Cougars Young Player of the Year award.
2014 - Following his fine form in the previous season josh was awarded the squad number 11 shirt.
2014 - Josh was part of the Keighley Cougars team that reached the Challenge Cup Quarter Final loosing out to then Super League side Widnes Viking’s.
2014 - Josh was an ever present for Keighley only missing 1 first team game.
2014 - Due to restructuring of the Rugby League Keighley were relegated from the Championship after finishing 10th in the 14 team comp. This wasn’t without controversy after Batley fielded an illegible duel registration player which left the club considering legal action.
2014 - Following interest from other clubs josh decided to try his hand in Australia’s Queensland Cup Competition, Australia’s premier competition outside of the NRL signing for Brisbane Broncos feeder club North’s Devils.
2015 - Josh returned to Keighley after visa issues while down under (nothing criminal may I add 😂) prior to the 2015 season.
2015 - The tragic death of Danny Jones which rocked the players, club and rugby league community to the core.
2015 - Top Try scoring forward in the League 1 competition.
2015 - After finishing second in the regular season Josh was part of the Keighley side that lost to Swinton in the Playoff final losing agonisingly by 1 point a game in which Josh scored in.
2016 - Silverware at last - Ipro Cup (League 1 Cup) winner at Blackpool vs York City Knights.
2017 - Craig Lingard is appointed head coach taking over from Paul March.
2017 - After impressive early season form Josh was rewarded with a new 2 year contract .
2017 - Season comes to a disappointing end for the club after making the Super 8’s.
2018 - After a strong start to the season the club suffers financial problems resulting in the team missing out on the end of season play offs.
2019 - Despite having the opportunity to leave with the clubs future up in the air Josh stays loyal to his home town club.
2019 - The return of Cougarmania! Mick O’Neill returns to the club after being within days of going out of existence.
2019 - Josh is appointed Vice Captain by Craig Lingard for the 2019 season.
2019 - Josh is awarded a Testimonial for his 10 years service to his home town club by the RFL.
2019 - Captains the club for the first time away to Newcastle Thunder.
2019 - Rhys Lovegrove takes charge after the release of Craig Lingard.
2019 - Josh is selected in the back row in the clubs team of the decade 2010-2019.
Josh's career factfile courtsey of Club Historian John Pitchford and Josh's Testimonial Commitee