Macron NCEL Premier Division side Eccleshill United will be known as Keighley Town from the start of the 2026/27 season after their name change was officially recognised.

Based out of Cougar Park, owners Ryan O’Neill and Kaue Garcia said they are excited and ambitious for the future of football in Keighley and are delighted that Charles Wysocki has joined the board and accepted the role of chairperson.

In a statement, they praised Wysocki’s deep passion for the game and his long-standing involvement in local football as a major asset to the club moving forward.

Wysocki added: "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."

Eccleshill United was purchased by Keighley Cougar rugby club owners, O’Neill and Garcia, last year.

Following discussions with supporters and football authorities, approval was granted by both The FA and the NCEL for the club to move forward under the new Keighley Town identity.

Garcia, who will also take on the role of 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 are also underway to develop the football structure over the coming years, including a junior set-up, a BTEC youth development programme for school leavers, an Under-23 development side, and opportunities for women’s and girls’ football as part of the club’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

The club’s official launch celebrations will include the major summer concert featuring JLS and UB40, as well as a dinner on Friday 17th July, 2026, with former Wales international and Liverpool striker Dean Saunders appearing as guest speaker at Cougar Park.

Keighley Town say they plan to strengthen its links with the local community by developing a strong local player base and continuing investment into facilities and infrastructure, with a long-term ambition to progress further up the football pyramid.

The Macron NCEL website will begin to reflect the name change following the league's AGM next month.