VIEW FROM MUPPET HILL By Waldorf
Football is now
deemed to be a squad game, Premier League Clubs can register up to twenty five
players, this is not only to cover for injury but so they can rotate them,
ensuring that they are not over tired and to keep the players fresh. Likewise,
in the non league game, teams assemble squads of players, but there is no
limiting number, as long as they are registered with the club they are allowed
to play. However, the reason for having a number of players available at
Thackley's level, is that almost all players have conflicting interests and are
not always available to play. Injury, of course, is the main reason that
players are not able to take part in matches, but there are many others, that
professional clubs do not have to contend with. Work commitments and suspension
are major causes of players unavailability, alongside holidays and having to
attend other family functions such as weddings etc. Another cause of
absenteeism is 'stag do's', with most of the players in their teens and
twenty's, these seem to come around at regular intervals, often leaving a team
three or four players short. Gone are the days when a prospective groom had a
night out before the wedding, now it is days away in the sun and players often
missing for more than one match, when they do return, they are usually not in a
fit condition to play a game anyway. Thackley have suffered quite badly from
unavailability this season, which makes their high flying league position all
the more remarkable. So far this season the Dennyboys have used thirty two of
their 'squad' players, never because they wanted to keep them fresh, all
because of unavailability for one reason or another. It poses quite a problem
for the managers, but I suppose it is
the same for all the teams at our level.
Thackley have
progressed in the FA Vase and are now in the Third Round, which is the round
they reached last year, before exiting, when Wisbech Town beat them 4-2 at
Dennyfield. They have played four ties to get this far in the competition,
Whitehaven (2-1); Darlington Railway (5-1); Eccleshill United (1-0) and earlier
this month, Armthorpe Welfare (4-0). To progress to the Fourth Round, something they have managed on four
previous occasions, (1987/88 beaten by Durham City in a replay; 1993/94 beaten
by Atherton Laburnum Rovers in a replay; 2004/5 beaten by AFC Newbury; and 2005/6 beaten by Arnold Town.)
they need to overcome one of their
cup bogie teams, Ashington. Although, in their only Vase meeting to date,
Thackley beat their North East rivals
6-0, that was way back in 1987, they have lost to them three times in recent
years in the FA Cup, each time by the only goal of the game. Mention the town
of Ashington and all football followers will immediately know it is the
birthplace of World Cup winning brothers Bobby and Jackie Charlton. Jackie
Milburn, the Newcastle United legend, was also born there and as well as
playing for the Premier Division club, he played for the town's team.
Currently, Ashington play in the First
Division of the Ebac Northern League and boast the best home record in that
league, having dropped just two points
from a possible twenty one so far this season. As usual on these occasions,
Thackley will be running a coach to the match which is to be played on Saturday
7th December. It is likely to be a pretty tough game to win, but when the
Dennyboys are on song, they are a match for anybody.
The FA Vase victory
against Armthorpe was just one of four wins during the month, in which seven
matches were scheduled but only six played, one was this season's first victim
of the weather, a waterlogged Dennyfield. November started badly for Thackley,
when they suffered their worst defeat for some time, going down seven two, to a
rampant Pickering Town team, their manager had been sacked just three days
before the match. The players must have felt they had something to prove, after
the match six handed in their track suits and quit the club in support of the
axed manager. League victories were gained against Retford away (1-0), and Long
Eaton United at Dennyfield (5-2), but a defeat (4-3) at Heanor Town was a bit
of a set back, before in the final match of November, Thackley returned to
winning ways with a victory at Armthorpe. This was not in the league, but in
the Second Round of the League Cup, so Thackley are still on track to win the
competition that has provided silverware for the Dennyboys at the end of the
last two seasons.
Thackley are
currently in second position in the league, five points adrift of leaders
Tadcaster Albion, but with three games
in hand. Brighouse Town are the only team that can catch them at present, if
they win all their matches in hand, the
Dennyboys play them in back to back fixtures in January. The next home
game at Dennyfield is on the 14th December, kick off 3.00pm, when Thackley come
up against top of the table Tadcaster, a six pointer for certain.
Finally, on behalf
of everyone at Dennyfield, can I wish all our supporters and 'Trumpit'
followers, a 'Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year'.
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