A FINAL farewell will be said to a Keighley Cougars rugby league legend on the pitch he graced for 15 years.

The funeral service for Phil Stephenson, who died ­– aged 47 – last month after a courageous two-year battle against motor neurone disease, takes place at Cougar Park on Thursday (Oct 17).

Anyone is welcome to attend the noon service, in a marquee on the Lawkholme pitch.

It will be followed by a private committal.

The Hall of Fame bar will be open afterwards.

Stephenson, who lived at Cowling, played more than 340 times for the Cougars, joining from Clayton Amateur Rugby League Club, until his retirement at the end of the 2006 season and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame. He also captained the side.

He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in June 2017.

Following his death, friends and community leaders paid moving tributes, describing the father-of-three as “an inspiration” who refused to let the increasingly-debilitating condition destroy his good humour.