Cougars set out to kickstart the town's recovery from Covid-19

The rugby league club has set out to bring together businesses every month to network, forge relationships and create new deals.

It says its similar business club during the height of Cougarmania in the 1990s had a lasting effect on the town's economy.

Lisa Gill, the club's managing director, said: "One of the biggest successes of the 90s was introducing different business people into a fun environment at Cougars.

"Out of friendships that grew, to this day hundreds of thousands of pounds of business was created."

Lisa said the 90s scheme has inspired the new Cougars Business Club, a major initiative to help struggling businesses recover from the damage of COVID-19.

She launched the club this week with a video on Facebook recalling the Cougars' glory days and promising similar success next season.

She started by praising frontline NHS workers – who will be offered free tickets to Cougar matches next season – and Captain Tom Moore who inspired the country while raising millions of pounds for the NHS.

Lisa said she had been similarly inspired at Keighley Cougars by seeing what Keighley people had done over the past couple of years to revive the struggling club.

She said: "The stand was in shocking state of repair, players hadn't been paid, but just like Captain Tom they have inspired people to believe.

"Now, 18 months later, the stand has been miraculously reinstated by people using their own money and the generosity of businesses and volunteers. A new team is in place to take rugby league by storm next season."

Lisa said the Cougars wanted to relaunch its community projects with young people, which she claimed at their height in the 90s reduced the local crime rate by 12%. She said that before this, the first initiative would be the Cougars Business Club.

She said there would be three levels of membership, all of which would give businesses an advertising hoarding at Cougar Park and a social networking lunch on the last Friday of every month.

Executive membership offers two tickets to every game, with hospitality in the Cougars restaurant. VIP membership offer match their seats in the centre stand, a buffet and, access to the VIP suite.

The third level, aimed at people who do not like rugby and do not want to attend matches, offers the advertising hoarding and monthly business lunch.

Lisa said: "This initiative is a massive opportunity for the club, and sponsors alike, to #JoinThePride and kick start local businesses."

Email lisa@cougarmania.co.uk for further information.