Head Coach Rhys Lovegrove has today confirmed the retained list following the conclusion of the 2019 season.
The following players are under contract for 2020: Jordan Aitchison; Jack Arnold; Matthew Bailey; Will Cooke; Jack Coventry; James Feather; Macauley Hallett; Benn Hardcastle; Aaron Levy; Jack Miller; Kieran Moran; Jason Muranka; Dan Parker; Taylor Prell; Alfie Seeley; Matt Welham.
The following players have been offered a contract for 2020: Billy Gaylor; Josh Lynam; Louis Sheriff.
The following player has joined the coaching staff due to not being medically cleared to play following concussion: Matt Nicholson.
The remaining 12 players will leave the club, 11 following the expiration of their contracts on the 30th November 2019 with Mark Barlow retiring from playing.
Everyone at Keighley Cougars would like to place on record our thanks to those players who are departing Cougar Park and wish them the best in their future endeavours and their careers elsewhere.
Joshua Chapman below reviews the Keighley Cougars careers of those leaving the club.
DAVEY DIXON
Scotland international Davey Dixon, otherwise known as #DoubleD, departs the club following three years with the Keighley Cougars.
Formerly on the clubs scholarship programme, Dixon returned as one of Craig Lingard's first signings ahead of the 2017 season following his departure from the Castleford Tigers.
Despite earning a suspension early into his career for his part in the brawl that marred the Challenge Cup victory away at the Fryston Warriors, Davey established himself as a first team regular throughout that season as he only missed 7 games all campaign as the Cougars just missed out on the play-offs following the Super Eights.
His performances in turn earned Dixon a new 2-year contract.
2018 was a more frustrating year for the winger at Cougar Park as he struggled to hold down a regular place in the side following the emergence of Harry Aaronson and the arrival of Alife Seeley despite the off-field troubles that plagued the club during the second half of the season.
He would only make 12 appearances for the club but did end the year on the high with two tries for Scotland during their World Cup qualification campaign.
Staying loyal to the club for 2019 after the Cougars went to the brink, Davey's loyalty was rewarded with 19 appearances out of a possible 23 and scoring 7 tries including a memorable effort on the return of Keighley to the field at Whitehaven on the opening day.
In total, Dixon scored 16 games in 50 appearances for the club and the winger's efforts won't be forgotten by those associated with the Cougars.
HARVEY HALLAS
Harvey Hallas leaves Cougar Park following 4 spells over 2 season with the club after initially arriving ahead of 2018 following his departure from Wakefield Trinity.
Harvey instantly became a fans favourite with his strong carries in attack and big tackles in defence with his trademark beard winning over the Cougars faithful as much as his efforts on the field.
A season ending injury away at Workington would bring a premature end to an impressive season in 2018 before the Cougars off-field issues forced the Prop to move on and join the Dewsbury Rams.
However, things didn't go to plan for Hallas at Dewsbury and he would return on a month's loan in March that saw him put in a Man of the Match performance on his second debut against Distington in the Challenge Cup.
Returning to the Rams for the Easter period in April, Harvey then returned on dual-registration terms briefly before securing a release from his parent club and re-signing with Keighley on a permanent deal until the end of the season.
A total of 24 appearances, complimented by 4 tries, came over these four spells with Harvey a firm favourite with the fans.
CHRIS CULLIMORE
Hooker Chris Cullimore leaves the club and has already signed terms with amateur club Elland since the final reserves games of the season on Wednesday evening.
'Cully' initially was a part of the clubs reserves structure in 2015 and 2016 but returned midway through last season following a two and half year spell with his hometown club, Halifax.
Breaking into the side following the departure of Ryan Wright midway through the 2018 campaign, the start of the 2019 season saw Chris have to settle for a regular role as a leader of the reserves side with a string of man of the match performances seeing fans call for him to be thrown into the first team picture.
After impressing in the 1895 Cup defeat to Newcastle, Cullimore never looked back and became a regular under Rhys Lovegrove following the departure of Craig Lingard, eventually making 11 appearances during the campaign.
Chris leaves with 3 tries and 18 appearances under his belt for the club and will no doubt return to this level at some stage from his new club.
JAMIE THACKRAY
Former Great Britain international Jamie Thackray departs the club following one season with the Cougars.
Answering the call from Craig Lingard during the winter crisis, 'Thacks' returned to playing with Keighley after a season out of the sport following his departure from Doncaster in 2017.
His experience and knowledge proved pivotal to the young and thrown together team at the start of the year and there was no ring rust on the veteran as he secured an expected regular place in the side as one of the marquee off-season signings.
Injury halted his progression around the Easter period, but he returned into the fold immediately and scored his only try for the club in the victory over the West Wales Raiders in July.
This would prove to be Jamie's 13th and final appearance for the club and he now leaves Cougar Park following the end of his current deal, which coincides with his 40th birthday.
LUKE MILLION
Hooker Luke Million departs on the back of a year with the club after arriving following a spell in France with Villeneuve.
After starting the year as a regular in the first team, making 6 appearances, in the second half of the season Million fell out of favour.
From May onwards he was restricted to reserves grade Rugby League after falling behind Billy Gaylor and Chris Cullimore in the pecking order of hookers.
However, his efforts when on the field can not be faulted as he impressed in the early season defeats to Whitehaven and Bradford.
MARK BARLOW
Mark 'Sparky' Barlow announced his retirement following a 20 year career in the professional and semi-professional game after last week's defeat to Newcastle on the final day of the season.
Joining in February as a back up option if required to Benn Hardcastle and Jack Miller, Barlow would have to wait until August's win away at Coventry to make his debut for the club with a second and final appearance following last Sunday against Newcastle.
However, his bubbly personality and love of the game made him a real character and a real leader and figure in both the dressing room and on the terraces.
And this showed more than ever when with the reserves side as his wealth of knowledge about the game and infectious personality rubbed off on the young side throughout the year, more so in their victory over the Featherstone Rovers in May.
His laughter and experience will be missed at Cougar Park.
DOM HORN
Dom Horn has signed with amateur outfit Mirfield Stags following the conclusion of the season last Sunday.
The back rower, formerly with Dewsbury Rams and Hemel Stags, joined the clubs reserves side from Dewsbury Moor ARLFC in April of this year in order to try break back into the semi-professional game.
A number of impressive performances in the second string caught the eye of Rhys Lovegrove who rewarded Dom with a first team debut in June's defeat away at Hunslet.
This would be one of four first team appearances for Horn during his time with the Cougars, with his last appearance away at Doncaster coming on the back of a personally tough fortnight following the death of friend and former teammate Archie Bruce.
JORDAN PARRY
Scotland students winger Jordan Parry leaves after a sole season with the Cougars.
Spending the first half of the season with the reserves, Parry finally got his breakthrough when Rhys Lovegrove opted to take a punt on the winger in June.
And he rewarded Lovegrove's faith with a try just ten minutes into his debut as the Cougars defeated the London Skolars in front of the OuRLeague cameras.
A further two appearances followed in defeats to North Wales and Newcastle but Jordan failed to add to his effort against the Skolars in those two games.
ALEX WILLIAMS
It has been a frustrating season personally for Alex who has spent more time on the treatment table than on the field.
Tearing his hamstring in the pre-season defeat to the Leeds Rhinos, Williams fought back and recovered from injury to make his sole first team appearance in the 1895 Cup defeat away at the Newcastle Thunder.
However, a further injury followed after and Alex would only make a further 3 sporadic appearances for the reserves throughout the season as he continued to battle injuries.
JORDAN CELLA
Jordan Cella was picked up by the club from amateur club Rochdale Mayfield after impressing in the winter open trials.
Despite being named in a couple of 19 man squads, Cella never made an appearance for the first team but only missed 1 of the reserves 18 games throughout the year.
His strong carries and aggressive style won plaudits as he became a real leader of the reserves dressing room as well as an infectious personality that always saw Jordan smiling and laughing at both training and on gamedays.
Travelling from Rochdale 4 times a week for training and games, Cella's commitment to the cause will never be faulted or forgotten by the Cougars.
ADAM ALLERTON
Like Dom Horn, Adam Allerton has signed with amateur outfit Mirfield Stags following the conclusion of this season.
A hard hitting and strong carrying centre, his impressive performances for the reserves saw Adam invited to train with the first team by Rhys Lovegrove.
He was rewarded with a debut and sole appearance for the club in August's away victory at Coventry Bears.
Unfortunately, with no reserves in 2020 there was no place in the squad for Adam and the decision has been made to allow him to leave Cougar Park.
DAVID WEETMAN
A mid-season arrival from Newcastle Thunder, David Weetman didn't make a first team appearance for the club during his brief spell in West Yorkshire.
However, the Geordie was an ever present for the reserves after his arrival at Cougar Park in June.
These regular appearances for Dean Muir's side were capped off with a dramatic last minute winning try in July's victory against Halifax.
Travelling to and from Newcastle 3 times a week to train and play, Weetman's commitment can not be faulted and either can his passion for the game of Rugby League.
Comprehensive and informative.Thank you.