KEIGHLEY Cougars were raising funds all weekend, and they played host to a memorable charity match on Sunday for their popular former captain Phil Stephenson, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease.

The aim of the game was to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND) and it was a huge success, with excited fans watching players past and present battle it out

There was a mix of ex-Cougars players and reserves, along with players from local clubs Silsden, Keighley Albion, Clayton and Worth Village, all pulling their boots on to support Stephenson.

A brilliant 80 minutes of rugby league ended with Linner's Legends beating Stevo's Select 48-12 to receive the 'Phil Stephenson Charity Game' cup.

Cougars head coach Craig Lingard skippered the Legends side, and he said: "Phil is in the Cougars Hall of Fame and is a massive player in the club's history.

"We had our benefit night for Aidan Scully's wife (who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour) on Saturday too and you want to come together for these charity events. You look after your own in rugby league."

Asked whether the club's charity events and last week's takeover had brought a feelgood factor back to the club, Lingard said: "We'd have felt better about events if we'd won on Saturday.

"But the rest of the weekend showed there are more important things in life. Coventry was just a rugby league game, that's all, and the events for Phil and Kirsty put things back into perspective."

Lingard laughed when asked about his individual performance in the charity match, saying: "It was very ordinary. I played about 10 minutes then pulled my hamstring.

"It was my first game in about five years, and although your head tells you you can play, your body says otherwise.

"We'd all drunk a lot of alcohol at the benefit event the night before and I was out of the habit of playing too. That's my on field career well and truly over."

Cougars want to run the event every year for Stephenson, with many players keen to sign up next year.

A fundraising team has been set up in his honour and TeamStevo8's 22 members will all take part in the Great North Run on September 9, running for the MNDA and Stephenson.

Sunday's event at Cougar Park was organised by Stephenson's wife Karen, TeamStevo8 and Cougars' Fundraising Committee and over the course of the day, £1340 was raised for the MNDA.