Keighley Cougars announce signing of prolific fullback

Keighley Cougars might have suffered relegation during their maiden campaign in the Championship, but they’re still showing Championship levels of ambition as evidenced by their latest signing of Brandon Pickersgill.

The club invested heavily on the field prior to the 2023 campaign with faces such as Luke Gale, Sadiq Adebiyi, Thomas Doyle and others all coming in to the fray.

Despite that the Cougars hid a mid-season snag and eventually succumbed to relegation in the cruellest of fashions, dropping down to League One on points difference courtesy of just three points difference.

Now back in League One, which they previously went unbeaten in during the 2022 campaign, the club are again showing ambition as signified by the recruitment of Brandon Pickersgill.

Pickersgill started the 2023 campaign with Featherstone Rovers but made just one appearance for the Flat Cappers, before moving to Halifax Panthers where he helped the Panthers lift the 1895 Cup.

Previously Pickersgill had played with Bradford Bulls representing the Odsal side from 2018 to 2022 and making over 50 appearances after having debuted with London Broncos in 2017.

Still aged just 26 Pickersgill has been signed on a three-year contract, the club showing intent and clearly signifying that they expect the full-back to be able to help guide them out of League One at the first time of asking and then help establish the Cougars as a solid Championship side.

Keighley confirmed the news via their social media platform as they posted on X, formerly Twitter, the news to their fans.

A post read: “Brandon Pickersgill signs a 3-year deal and joins the Cougars until the end of 2026!

“This transfer would not have been possible without the support of Mrs Susan Lee and our thanks go out her for supporting us with this deal.”

The club have also taken to X to share a clip in which Pickersgill speaks about the move to join the Cougars.

He explained: “Yeah, I’m buzzing. I’m happy to be here and am looking forward to ripping in.

“When I got the phone call a few weeks ago the planning started and we finally got it done today. I’m just looking forward to getting started in pre-season now.

“I’ve played with a few of the boys so that’s a positive for me, it will help me settle in a bit quicker.”

Asked bout the length of his contract, Pickersgill highlighted that it came due to the set plan to get straight out of League One in year one.

“When they offered me three years I knew I’d take it straight away, that security is important to me and hopefully I’ve found a home here in Keighley.

“I’m here to perform my best and League One is a tough league, it will be no easy feat but we’re aiming for the Championship so hopefully we can get there as soon as possible. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to get there.”