Alan Kilshaw

Alan Kilshaw
Personal information
Full nameAlan Kilshaw
Born (1982-11-23) 23 November 1982
England
Playing information
PositionLoose forward, Halfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004 Swinton Lions 1 0 0 0 0
2006 Blackpool Panthers 9 2 0 0 8
Total 10 2 0 0 8
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
–2009 Warrington Wizards
2011–13 England under-16 (Assistant)
2013–15 Sarina Crocodiles
2013–15 Mackay Cutters (Assistant)
2016–18 Rochdale Hornets 67 27 2 38 40
2021–23 Hunslet 42 23 1 18 55
2024 Swinton Lions 33 13 0 20 39
2025 Oakey Bears 0 0 0 0
2025 Keighley Cougars 14 6 0 8 43
2026– Oldham 5 3 0 2 60
Total 161 72 3 86 45
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2025– Nigeria 1 0 0 1 0
As of 21 March 2026

Alan Kilshaw (born 23 November 1982) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of Oldham in the RFL Championship.[1]

Playing career

Kilshaw came through the St Helens Academy. Playing his senior career at Swinton Lions and Blackpool Panthers.[2]

Coaching career

Warrington Wizards

Alan Kilshaw coached at Warrington Wizards in the National Conference League until 2009 where he left to take up a full time role with Warrington Wolves.[3]

Warrington Wolves, Cheshire and England Academy

Kilshaw worked as the Warrington and Cheshire development officer as well as working with the Warrington Wolves’ Player Development Centre.[4][5]

Alan Kilshaw was an assistant coach to the England under-16 between 2011 and 2013.[6]

Sarina Crocodiles and Mackay Cutters

In 2013, Alan moved to Australia to head coach Sarina Crocodiles, a feeder club to the Mackay Cutters where he was also appointed assistant coach.

Rochdale Hornets

Returning to the UK in October 2015 to join up with Kingstone Press League 1 side Rochdale Hornets.

In his first season with the club he coached them to lose only 1 and drawing 1 game, finishing 2nd in the table. Before going on to beat Toulouse Olympique away in France to earn promotion into the RFL Championship 1.

In 2017, Kilshaw led Rochdale to a ninth-place finish in their first season back in the Championship. Notable highlights included away victories at Bradford and Featherstone, along with a dramatic 38–30 win over Oldham at the club’s first-ever appearance at the Blackpool Bash, having trailed 30–8 at half-time.

In 2018, Rochdale Hornets secured their Championship status with a crucial victory away at Sheffield Eagles. The season had been overshadowed by significant financial difficulties following the resignation of chairman Mark Wynn, which led to several players leaving the club.

Despite the turmoil, Kilshaw was widely praised for his professionalism throughout a turbulent campaign. Some described the club’s survival as a minor miracle, with Rochdale winning their final two games — Dewsbury at home and Sheffield away — despite having only 14 players available for selection.

Kilshaw, informed the club in August 2018, he would not be signing the contract extension he was offered, citing the ongoing instability and off-field challenges at the club.

Hunslet

After a break away from the sport Alan joined Hunslet in the middle of the 2021 season, replacing Gary Thornton.[7] He tenure ended at the end of the 2023 season moving to RFL Championship side Swinton Lions. In his first season they lost in the Elimination Playoffs against Doncaster, and in his final season at Hunslet lost in the Preliminary Final once again against Doncaster.[8]

He left the club due to travel reasons starting a teaching job as well as having a young family.[9]

Swinton Lions

Alan joined his former club Swinton Lions ahead of the 2024 season.[10]

After a game against Widnes Vikings, pictures were posted online by Widnes forward Nick Gregson of sheets that had been dotted around the Swinton dressing room which showed an image of him with a noose around his neck and messages to ‘target’ his injured shoulder.

The RFL launched an investigation into the events of that day, which went on until December 2024, where Kilshaw was handed a three month ban from coaching which was suspended until December 1, 2025. Kilshaw resigned from his role as head coach of Swinton Lions after the then Championship outfit lost to his former side Hunslet in the play-off decider that saw the Lions relegated to League One.[11]

Oakey Bears

Alan moved back to Australia to join up with Toowoomba Rugby League side Oakey Bears, however after only 12 weeks and no competitive games he left to move back to England due to Visa issues.[12]

Keighley Cougars

After a disastrous start to the 2025 Betfred League One season, with head coach Jake Webster stepping down, owner Ryan O'Neil and Kaue Garcia signed Alan Kilshaw until the end of 2026.[13][14]

Although finishing 9th in the table in 2025, Kilshaw managed to steady the ship at the West Yorkshire town in his first year, earning himself a contract extension until the end of 2027.[15]

On 5 January 2026 it was reported that he had unexpectedly quit, just one week ahead of the new season starting, with Dan Burton stepping into the vacant head coach role in the interim.[16]

Oldham RLFC

On 6 January 2026 it was reported that he had taken the role of head-coach for Oldham RLFC in the RFL Championship[17]

Nigeria

On 17 October 2025 it was reported that he would take charge of the Nigeria team ahead of the forthcoming fixture v Cumbria in November.[18]

References

  1. ^ Dollin, Shawn. "Alan Kilshaw - Coaching Career - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Crusaders 52-16 B'pool Panthers". 21 May 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Chris Campbell gets the nod for Warrington Wizards top job". Warrington Guardian. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  4. ^ "2008, SUPER LEAGUE XIII: Cullen bows out as head coach". Warrington Guardian. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Rugby league in Warrington is stronger for contribution from Kilshaw". Warrington Guardian. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  6. ^ "My time Down Under – Total Rugby League". Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. ^ Release, Press (20 July 2021). "Kilshaw named as new coach at Hunslet RLFC". South Leeds Life. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Alan Kilshaw". Hunslet RLFC. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  9. ^ RLFC, Hunslet (19 August 2023). "Club Statement - Alan Kilshaw". Hunslet RLFC. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  10. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (11 September 2023). "Hunslet appoint new head coach for 2024 with current boss Alan Kilshaw heading to Swinton Lions". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  11. ^ Cook, Sam (7 December 2024). "Rugby League coach handed three-month suspended ban". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  12. ^ "New footy coach makes surprise departure | Our News | Local News covering Sport, Agricultural, Community & Business News for Clifton, Oakey, Allora & Pittsworth in QLD Australia". www.our-news.com.au. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Alan Kilshaw confirmed as Head Coach – Keighley Cougars". Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Cougars appoint League 1 specialist as boss despite suspended ban". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Future in safe hands as Kilshaw extends stay with Cougars". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  16. ^ "KEIGHLEY COUGARS ANNOUNCE DEPARTURE OF HEAD COACH ALAN KILSHAW". Keighley Cougars. 5 January 2026.
  17. ^ Aaron Bower (6 January 2026). "Oldham secure new head coach after lengthy search for Sean Long replacement". Love Rugby League.
  18. ^ Stephen Ibbetson (17 October 2025). "Alan Kilshaw takes Nigeria coach role for Cumbria game". Total RL.
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