IT was an evening of celebration tinged with sadness at the Keighley Cougars celebrated their 2019 season with their annual awards night.

The event took place hours after Phil Stephenson’s death following his battle with Motor Neurone Disease and chairman Mick O’Neill kicked off events with a tribute to the legendary prop who holds the club's summer appearance record with 342 games for the Cougars.

The big winner on the night was Stephenson’s fellow Cougars legend and Hall of Famer, James ‘Buster’ Feather who, despite now being 35, cleaned up three of the big prizes, the hooker taking home the player’s player of the year, A1 Stairlifts Man of Steel and the Keighley Cougars Supporters' club player of the year accolades.

The club’s football manager Jeremy Crowther was inducted into their Hall of Fame, a well-deserved reward for a near three decades of service to the club.

In that time, Crowther has run both the club’s reserves and scholarship set-ups as well as contributing massively to the club’s community work, teaching rugby league to an estimated 2,000 children across 50 schools.

The big prize, the Keighley Cougars' player of the year went to Serbian international Jason Muranka with the backrower also taking home the media player award following a successful debut season with the club.

The Supporter’s Club Man of Steel, voted for by club members, was awarded to Macauley Hallett, the centre also sharing the ever-present award with Jack Miller.

Miller himself also went home with the top try-scorer trophy for his 14 efforts throughout the season.

Taylor Prell bagged the club’s try of the year for his debut effort against Doncaster in April, with the fan’s equivalent going to Alfie Seeley for his breath-taking leaping effort in March’s Challenge Cup defeat to the Bradford Bulls.

Seeley was also announced as joint winner of the rising star award along with fellow reserves product Aaron Levy, the latter also securing the top tackler award, Matt Welham won the top metre maker accolade.

The reserves, controversially removed from the new competition for next season, bowed out with awards of their own, Morgan Robinson winning the player of the year for his efforts throughout the year.

The Harry Wilson Man of Steel went to Jordan Aitchison, the full-back breaking into the first team this season before having his year cut short by a hamstring tear.

The player’s player trophy was awarded to Cain Crotty and Brandon Godward leaving with the Rising Star accolade.

Rochdale-based Jordan Cella picked up the reserves clubman as a thanks for his commitment to the club this season, travelling to and from Lancashire all season to be an ever present for Dean Muir’s side.

The overall clubman of the year was a club person awarded, given to player welfare manager Judith Marples and David and Margaret Procter, for their voluntary work throughout the year caring for both the first and reserve team players and coaching staff.

The club also issued special recognition awards to David Kirkley, for his continuous hard work behind the scenes, and Mary Illingworth from Phoenix Trophies as a thank you for producing the trophies and awards for the club every year.

Keighley Cougars 2019 awards winners:

Player of the year: Jason Muranka

Player’s player of the year: James Feather

A1 Stairlfits Man of Steel: James Feather

Hall of Fame inductee: Jeremy Crowther

Rising star: Aaron Levy & Alfie Seeley

Club people of the year: Judith Marples, David Procter & Margaret Procter

Media player of the year: Jason Muranka

Try of the year: Taylor Prell

Supporters club man of steel: Macauley Hallett

Supporters club player of the year: James Feather

Fan’s try of the year: Alfie Seeley

Top try scorer: Jack Miller

Top tackler: Aaron Levy

Top metre maker: Matt Welham

Ever present: Macauley Hallett & Jack Miller

Reserves player of the year: Morgan Robinson

Reserves Harry Wilson man of steel: Jordan Aitchison

Reserves player’s player of the year: Cain Crotty

Reserves clubman of the year: Jordan Cella

Reserves rising star: Brandon Godward

Special recognition awards: Mary Illingworth & Dave Kirkley