Here! We! Go!
No sooner has it felt like one season ends, another one starts with ‘Pre-season 2023’ officially beginning this week with a double-header day of football over at Thackley AFC this Saturday.
Boss Andy Welsh and women’s interim manager Jason Jarrett (pictured) take their respective sides across the M62 for the first time in the new era of Bury Football Club.
Starting at 12noon, Jarrett’s charges get us underway as they lead into the North West Women’s Regional League (NWWRL) Premier Division in 2023/24. Thackley Ladies currently compete in the West Riding Women’s Regional League, finishing 7th last season. Many of the championship-winning side from last season have returned and are raring to go this summer.
To follow at 3.30pm, the men’s side take to the Dennyfield pitch.
Andy Welsh has put together a strong squad of players over the summer, bringing in a string of attackers who will no doubt be the envy of the league. With Benito Lowe, Tom Kilifin, Darius Palma and Andy Briggs coming to the party, we start the season with a front-line that contributed almost 150 goals last season. Certainly exciting times lay in wait for Shakers supporters this season.
Benito Lowe 
Tom Kilifin 
Andy Welsh with Darius Palma 
Andy Briggs joins the Shakers from Steeton
The hard work starts now, with the bulk of the squad back in training this week, with running sessions and ball work in equal measure. As always stated, pre-season fixtures are there for the lads to gain fitness and sharpness but we know supporters will travel over in their numbers to take in the game. Thackley are encouraging supporters to buy tickets in advance so they can manage ground operations, so check out the information below on how to get hold of these, as well as details on travel and facilities to be expected on the day.
In Opposition
Thackley AFC are based in the small suburb of Thackley, a couple of miles north of Bradford, West Yorkshire.
The club plays in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division (Step 5), finishing in a respectable 14th last season.
Their home ground is the ‘Thank You Key Workers Stadium at Dennyfield’ and the primary colours of club are red and white, with the nickname of the ‘Dennyboys’ in recognition of
They are managed by duo Danny Forrest and, known to many reading this, Tom Greaves. This game has been arranged as part of the agreement that saw Greaves, and fellow attacker and former Bury FC player Aidan Chippendale join Bury for the last five games of last season.
Club History
Thackley FC was formed in 1930, spending much of their early years in local football before joining the West Riding County Amateur League in 1939. The club then moved into county-wide leagues, spending 25 years in the West Riding County Amateur League, winning that league on five occasions before a brief spell in the West Yorkshire League. Thackley then joined the Yorkshire League before becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League’s Premier Division where they have been ever since with the club’s best season being in 1993–94 when they were runners-up, losing out on goal difference to Stocksbridge Park Steels.
The club has never been relegated from that division throughout the League’s 40-year history.
Thackley’s best efforts in national cup competitions have been in the FA Vase, their best season being in 1980–81 when they got to the fifth round. The club has never progressed beyond the second qualifying round of either the FA Cup or the FA Trophy.
Tickets
- General Admission – £6 + booking fee
- Concessions – £4 + booking fee (Students (with a valid form of student ID), and senior citizens over 65)
- FREE admission to u16s, accompanied by an adult
Get your ticket from Thackley’s website by clicking here.
On the Day
Turnstiles: open from 11:30am, cash or card in the Bar, on the Gate and at the Tea Bar.
Kick Off: The Women’s friendly will kick-off at 12noon followed by the Men’s friendly to begin cking off at 3:30pm.
Disabled Access: There are ×3 disability parking spaces outside the Clubhouse and next to the entrance gate. There is disabled access to the ground and also the Clubhouse. If a disabled space requires reserving, please contact Thackley.
Food & Drink: On match day “Arthur’s Bar” Clubhouse will be open where you can purchase your alcoholic and soft drinks. Arthur’s Bar was renovated in 2020 and is the go-to place for events in the community. Serving hot food will be the “Tea Bar” inside the ground. There will also be a Pizza food truck for this fixture as a special guest, and a pop-up bar within the stadium.
Programme: A full programme has been prepared for this fixture. Thackley have ordered extra for this game, but if you miss out get in touch and Thackley will try to accommodate a re-print.
#NonLeagueDogs: Dogs are welcome in the ground and in Arthur’s Bar as long as they are kept on a lead at all times.
Before the match: Locally, there are a number of bars and pubs which sponsor Thackley who would love to see you. Do check out The Ainsbury Micro Pub, The Black Rat Micro Pub and the White Bear. Fancy Fish and Chips? Their sponsors Towngate Fisheries next to the White Bear would love to see some Bury supporters too.
Travel & Parking
Capacity: 3000, Cover: 600, Seats: 300
Address: Dennyfield, Ainsbury Avenue, Thackley, Bradford, BD10 0TL.
Contact Tel: (01274) 615571.
General Ground Directions: Via M606 (or M62 Junction 27 and A650) – A6177 (Bradford Ring Road eastbound) and A658 (Harrogate Road) to Greengates traffic lights by (Roebuck Inn). Take 657 towards Shipley and at Thackley corner (beyond S bend) turn right into Thackley Road. At crossroads beyond Methodist Church , veer into Ainsbury Avenue and Dennyfield is 200 yards ahead. Alternatively via M621 (Junction 1). A6110 (Leeds Ring Road westbound), A647 to New Pudsey Station – then A6120 to Rodleyand via A657 as above.
Parking: There is a large on-site car park which can hold around 100 cars. There is some street parking on Ainsbury Avenue and surrounding streets, but please be respectful to other members of the community and do not “double park” as this will stop access for emergency services vehicles.
Public Transport (Train): Shipley 2¼ miles, services to Bradford / Leeds.
Public Transport (Bus): First Bradford 613, 614, Keighley Bus Company 60 from Shipley (Market Square, 5 minutes walk from station) to Bradford (Leeds Road, Aire Street) six times per hour, journey time 10 minutes. Then left into Aire Street, right into Crag Hill Road, left into Thackley Road and immediately right into Ainsbury Avenue, ground on right (8 minutes).
