In the national game, unlike last season when Leicester were crowned Premier League champions, this year’s title has been won by one of the pre season favourites in Chelsea. The title race has been fought out between all the ‘big guns’ in the Premier League and I think most football people would have had no trouble in naming the top six clubs at the start of the season. The only difficulty being just in what order they were likely to finish.

Local professional teams have been successful particularly Huddersfield Town who will be playing against the afore mentioned ‘big guns’ next season. Leeds United just lost out in getting to the play-offs, which is an achievement considering their ownership problems over the last couple of years, Gary Monk appears to have brought some stability back to the club. However, following the recent acquisition of the club by Andrea Radrizzani, he has decided to move on.

Our own Bradford City came so very close to moving up into the Championship. I for one, was not too disappointed that they did not gain promotion, of course I would have rejoiced like all the Bantams fans if they had beat Millwall. However, I am not sure whether they are ready for the step up to the second tier of football at the moment. Stuart McCall has done a great job over the last twelve months to produce a team capable of getting to the play-off final but perhaps he needs a little longer to build a team capable of competing at that level.

In the semi professional game our two local Conference clubs, Guiseley and Bradford Park Avenue, managed to avoid the drop, again it was a tense final day for the Leeds based club, their safety only guaranteed in the final minutes of the season. Farsley Celtic were the most successful of the Evo Stik teams, gaining promotion via the play-offs, they beat Ossett Town and now they will join BPA in the Conference North League. After such success, it was very surprising to hear that joint managers, John Deacey and Neil Parsley, had both departed just a couple of days after giving out the awards at the Player’s Presentation Night. Strange goings on at Throstle Nest, perhaps the real reason for their swift departure will come to light in the future. A new manager and assistant were appointed within forty eight hours, I appreciate that these things need to be sorted out in haste, but this quickly, makes me slightly suspicious.

So to the Northern Counties East League, Bradford based Liversedge and Albion Sports both finished in the top half of the table. Thackley’s final position of fifth made them the most successful of the three and with a total of seventy eight points for the season gave them their highest ever tally.

So, why has Thackley had such a successful season? I am pretty sure it is something to do with the togetherness at Dennyfield, not only of the team but of the club as a whole. Two of our players were interviewed recently by the Bootiful Game, a monthly magazine specifically aimed at the NCEL. Kris Hargreaves and Jerry White have been at the heart of the Thackley defence this season and gave their views on why the Dennyboys had been the surprise team in the league. Kris’ association with Thackley started over eight years ago, he says that he has played in some really strong Thackley sides but what they have achieved this year was something special. He went on to say that this success was the result of a willingness of all the players to compete at their highest level every week. The side’s experience, mixed with youth, has been a powerful mix. The fact that the management team of Chris Reape, Paul Clayton and Andy Patterson have stuck with the club has been a testament to what continuity can bring. Kris is part of a defence which is the third tightest in the league; this has been one of the major reasons that the club has been so successful.

Jerry White plays alongside Kris at the back and he puts Thackley’s performance this season down to the hard work put in by everyone, from the players to the committee and the management staff. Jerry goes on to say that he has been around Thackley for the last ten years or so and has not known a team spirit to better it in all those years.

‘Every single person absolutely loves Thackley and I think that’s the main reason we have risen to the heights we have’, he says. ‘As a group of players, I feel we are all ready for a big promotion push next season and personally I cannot wait. All the players that have been involved with Thackley this season have given their all and it’s inspired me to perform at the highest standard week in week out. I cannot wait to see what next season brings and the things Thackley can achieve’.

There is currently a buzz about the place and like Jerry; everyone is looking forward to an even more successful 2017/18 season.