Eccleshill United Officially Renamed Keighley Town Ahead of 2026-27 Season

Eccleshill United will officially become Keighley Town from the start of the 2026/27 season after the club’s name change received formal approval.

The Macron NCEL Premier Division side, based at Cougar Park, said the rebrand marks a major new chapter for football in Keighley.

Owners Ryan O’Neill and Kaue Garcia also confirmed that Charles Wysocki has joined the board and accepted the role of chairperson.

In a statement, the owners praised Wysocki’s passion for football and his long-standing involvement in the local game.

Wysocki said: "This is a momentous and exciting time for Keighley and its history in football as we look to develop the club over the coming years.

"We consulted supporters throughout the process and the overwhelming response was that this was the right direction for the future of football in the town.

"Our aim is to build a club the people of Keighley can be proud of, with strong community links, local players and opportunities for all.

"Currently playing at Step 5 of the pyramid is a decent level but we have an initial five-year plan that will see us climb the ladder.

"And, if we can get Bradford Council on board with the proposed new main stand from the funds that were allocated from the Keighley Town's Council Fund, we will have a ground and facilities that will be the envy of clubs throughout the leagues.

"A lot has been said about the validity of what we are doing and that Keighley is not a football town, but that cannot be further from the truth.

"Over the years, I have seen numerous players that are of such a high standard that it is criminal that Keighley does not have its own town-named football team. This is about to change."

The club was purchased last year by the owners of Keighley Cougars, with approval for the rebrand later granted by both The Football Association and the Northern Counties East Football League.

Garcia, who will also serve as managing director, said: "It is our intention to have the people of Keighley proud to be associated with Keighley Town as we continue to promote inclusion and diversity, which has been a main driver for the rugby team.

"The town has so much potential to develop different sports and occasions at Cougar Park.

"It is our plan to install a state-of-the-art 3G artificial surface to allow rugby, football and community sports to be played on the surface without it causing the obvious issues."

Plans for the club also include the development of a junior structure, a BTEC youth programme, an Under-23 side and expanded opportunities for women’s and girls’ football.

Launch celebrations for the new identity will include a summer concert featuring JLS and UB40, as well as a dinner event on 17 July 2026 with former Liverpool and Wales national football team striker Dean Saunders appearing as guest speaker.

Keighley Town say they aim to strengthen community ties, invest in facilities and infrastructure and build a strong local player pathway as part of their long-term ambition to climb the football pyramid.