THACKLEY TRUMPIT JUNE 2014 VIEW FROM MUPPET HILL By Waldorf

VIEW FROM MUPPET HILL   By Waldorf 

THACKLEY AFC

Another season comes to an end, one that started so well for Thackley, but now one that has fizzled out like a damp squib. In mid September, the Dennyboys were at the top of the league, opening the season with seven victories. At the end of November they were still in the top two, with matches in hand of most clubs around them, things were going pretty well, and it looked as if this could be the year that Thackley made a serious attempt to win promotion. (Thackley's last real push for promotion was in 1994, when they lost out on being crowned League Champions, on goal difference, to Stocksbridge Park Steels. If they had finished as league leaders at the end of that season, they would not have been promoted, because Dennyfield had not got all the facilities required for the step up to the higher league.) Alas the wheels came off the wagon sort of speak, with just one win during December, they dropped to fifth place in the league. January and February were hit by the weather, and just four matches were possible throughout the two month period. The rot then really started to set in, and since the beginning of March, Thackley have managed just three victories from sixteen games, which is relegation, rather than promotion form. Thackley are the only club in the Northern Counties East League that have remained in the Premier Division since it was formed in 1982. Other teams have come and gone  but only the Dennyboys have  neither been promoted nor relegated during the league's thirty two year existence, and next season will see them make another attempt to move up.   

Thackley finished the season in thirteenth place, they have won 22, drawn 4 and lost 18 of the 44 matches played, accumulating 70 points for the season. Although this is one of the highest points total they have achieved, it is their lowest finishing position in the league since 2008.  

So, Thackley need now to start to plan for next season, and they will be doing that with a new management team. For at the beginning of April they parted company with co managers, Lee Clapham and Dave Morgan. Lee had a disagreement with the committee, and Dave, who for health reasons, was going to leave at the end of the season anyway, also decided to step down. Andy Patterson was initially asked to take charge until the end of the season, but has since been appointed as Manager on a permanent basis. Andy, started his footballing career as a YTS player at Bradford City, he never made a senior appearance but was a regular in the Premier League Reserve Division side. After his release from the Bantams, he came to play at Thackley before moving on to play in the Scottish League. On his return to the area, he worked alongside Mick Watson in charge at Eccleshill United, then at Dennyfield with the Reserves. This season, Patty returned to play a couple of games with the reserves before being asked to take over as first team boss. Assisting Andy, will be Greg Beswick, he has been with York City Academy, and Mick Watson. 

The end of the season brings with it some interesting facts, below are a number concerning local and other clubs in the NCEL from the   current season.

Brighouse Town have finished as NCE League Leaders, being crowned as Champions with two matches remaining. They won 32 of their 44 matches and finished with 101 points, scoring 138 goals on the way. Next year they will be playing in the Northern Premier League (Evo-Stik North).

Winterton Rangers and Lincoln Moorlands Railway will be relegated from the Premier Division. Lincoln have won just 2 of their 44 games, conceded a massive 214 goals (they have a goal difference of -187) and finished with just 8 points. Winterton have fared a little better, winning 5 matches and finishing with 21 points. Long Eaton United will also be leaving the league, transferring to the Midland Football Alliance.   

Wakefield have finished bottom of the Evo-Stik North League and will be relegated. However, they had already resigned from the league some weeks ago because they are moving away from their current home, Wakefield Wildcat's Belle Vue Ground, and going to ground share with AFC Emley. Their new home does not have the correct facilities for the higher league.

Cleethorpes Town and Shaw Lane Aquaforce are to be promoted from the First Division. This means that four clubs will be leaving the league and with only three coming in, the number of teams is reduced from twenty three to twenty two.

Heanor Town player, Kevin Debrouwer has set a new record, being the only player in the NCEL to score over fifty goals in a season. He has netted a total of 56 goals (43 in the league and 13 in the cup). His tally included two four goal hauls and hat tricks in seven other matches.

In their first season in the Premier Division, Albion Sports will finish in a very respectable sixth position, with 80 points. The other Bradford based club in the division is Liversedge, they have struggled a bit this season and they have finished in twentieth position.

Eccleshill United have had an interesting season, they have excelled in Cup competitions as well as just missing out on a promotion place, finishing fourth in the table. Thackley knocked them out of the FA Vase, with the only goal of the game, but in two other competitions they have reached the  final. They won the West Riding County Cup at Valley Parade (forget all that Coral Windows    Stadium malarkey) in April, beating Conference North side Harrogate Town with a penalty in the last minute. To get to that final they had beaten higher ranked teams in all the previous rounds, Armthorpe Welfare, Farsley, Brighouse and  Guiseley, truly a great achievement. They also got through to the final of the NCE League Cup, the competition that Thackley have won for the last two years. Another visit to Valley Parade was their reward, but they could not complete a double, and were somewhat surprisingly beaten by fellow first division side Knaresborough Town, in a game that went to a penalty shoot out. 

Mick Lodge, the Thackley Secretary, has tended his resignation, so the club is desperately seeking a replacement. If you are interested in getting involved with one of Bradford's leading non league football clubs, you can contact Mick at mick.lodge@btinternet.com or ring the club for details. 

Finally, I would like to sign off, by thanking all the supporters that have made it to Dennyfield during the season and look forward to seeing them, and hopefully, a few more next season.