Alan Kilshaw
Alan Kilshaw is an English rugby league coach, at Oldham RLFC in the RFL Championship.
Playing career
Kilshaw came through the St Helens Academy. Playing his senior career at Swinton Lions and Blackpool Panthers.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.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.Alan Kilshaw was an assistant coach to the England under-16 between 2011 and 2013.
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. 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.He left the club due to travel reasons starting a teaching job as well as having a young family.
Swinton Lions
Alan joined his former club Swinton Lions ahead of the 2024 season.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.
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.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.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.
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.