VIEW FROM MUPPET HILL By Waldorf
THACKLEY AFC
It is often said that the older one gets, the faster the passage of time, and once again a new season dawns for the Dennyboys. It seems only a couple of weeks ago that we were travelling down to Rotherham to play Parkgate in the final match of last season, in fact it was the last weekend in April. The scoreline, a two all draw, just about summed up the whole of our last campaign, finishing in a rather disappointing thirteenth position in the league. Although Thackley did manage to win something last season, the April Fair Play award for the Premier Division.A new season brings hope for something better, as always, the ultimate aim is to win promotion to the next level of the pyramid, in Thackley's case the Evo-Stik League. There are also a number of trophies to play for, the most prestigious of which is the FA Cup, the best that club's at our level can hope for is a reasonable run in the competition and picking up a few quid on the way. However, the FA Vase is a different story, and Thackley have a reasonable chance of progressing to the latter stages and the possibility of, albeit somewhat optimistic, playing on the hallowed turf of Wembley. Again prize money is on offer for each victory, a successful run can make a big difference to a club's financial well being. The West Riding County Cup and the League Cup are other competitions that Thackley are involved in, but these, although well worth winning, carry nothing in the way of financial reward.
New Manager, Andy Patterson, starts his first full season at the helm, having been appointed after taking charge of the final six games of the last campaign. Three defeats, two draws and a win was not the best start to his managerial career but the committee wanted continuity and Andy, being an ex player and still involved with the club, gave them that. I am sure after this rather faltering start, he will turn things around and will begin the season with a bang, only time will tell. He will be assisted by Mick Watson and Greg Beswick. Mick has been around Thackley for some time now, involved at both senior and junior level. Greg hails from York and was previously involved with the York Academy side. Pre-season training started during the final week of June, it is hoped that the majority of last season's players will be returning, and I am sure that the management team will be adding a few more names to the list. It would be nice to start the current campaign in similar fashion to last year, when Thackley won their opening seven league matches.
There have been the inevitable changes to the constitution of the Premier Division, which last season consisted of twenty three teams. Five teams have left the league, (Brighouse Town promoted, Lincoln Moorlands and Winterton Rangers relegated, Basford United and Long Eaton United have moved to the new Midland Football League). Four teams have joined the league, (Worksop Town and Wakefield have dropped from the Evo-Stik, Shaw Lane Aquaforce and Cleethorpes Town have been promoted from the First Division), reducing the number of teams competing this season to twenty two. Worksop Town were not relegated, in fact they finished in fourth position in the Evo-Stik Premier Division last season. However, financial difficulties, their owner and sole backer left the club and so they resigned from their league and were re located in the Northern Counties East Premier Division. It is reported that their wage bill last year was well over £100,000, little wonder then that they are struggling now. I believe that their future is still rather uncertain, as they play their matches at Worksop Parramore's ground and there is some problems regarding their tenancy next season. At the time of writing, it is rumoured that Wakefield will not be around to start next season, it is reported that they are to be 'wound up'. Wakefield started out as the original Emley team, founded in 1903, after nearly 100 years playing at the ground in the village, they left in pursuit of promotion to a higher level, to play their football at Wakefield Trinity Wildcat's Ground, Belle Vue, in 2000. Although they did win promotion, they always struggled to get much support and after a rather nomadic few years, decided this season to return to play their games at the ground they had left fourteen years previously, sharing the facilities with AFC Emley, a new club formed in 2005 and currently in the NCEL First Division. So, some doubt at this moment in time of the exact number of teams that remain in the Premier Division, but all should be sorted out before the season starts on Saturday 9th August.
Thackley have rationalised the number of teams that they will be running at senior level next season. They have dropped their Under 19 and Under 17 sides, these will be replaced with an Under 18 side playing in the Huddersfield League on Sunday afternoons at Apperley Bridge. They will, of course, be maintaining the First Team and the Reserves (Lancashire League), playing their matches at Dennyfield.
The League fixtures for next season are not yet available, but a number of pre-season friendlies have been arranged. They begin with an away trip to Durham City of the Northern League on Saturday 12th July. This is followed by three home fixtures, Colne (North West Counties League) on Tuesday 15th July; Kendal Town (Evo-Stik) on Saturday 19th July and Knaresborough Town (Northern Counties) on Tuesday 22nd July. A visit to North West Counties side Barnoldswick Town has been arranged for Monday 28th July. I believe there may be another couple of fixtures to fit in, thus ensuring that the players are fit and raring to go before the season starts for real in August.
The club's AGM is to be held on Monday 14th July in the clubhouse starting at 7.30pm.
Thackley's pre-season fixtures :-
Sat. 12th July Durham City away KO 3.00pm; Tue.15th July Colne home KO 7.45pm;
Sat. 19th July Kendal Town home KO 3.00pm; Tue. 22nd July Knaresborough Town home KO 7.45pm;
Mon. 28th July Barnoldswick Town away
KO 7.45pm.
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