Dennyfields, home of Thackley AFC based in West Yorkshire and play their trade in Step 5 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Dennyboys” after their home ground.
What if I told you that the likes of Johan Cruyff have played on this pitch? In 1975, Barcelona faced Leeds United in the European Cup Semi-Final first leg and needed somewhere to train, in the end Thackley was the chosen destination! How about that for a hidden football fact!
It’s the third time I have come across Thackley. The first time I ever saw them was back in 2012 in the League Cup final vs Shirebrook Town at Parkgate which saw Thackley win 3-1 and Shirebrook go home empty handed and broken hearted… The second time was last season at Athersley Recreation which saw the game abandoned due to fog after just over an hour… Do you see a pattern here?
Third time lucky I’m hoping today as Thackley face Frickley Athletic in the league. Straight onto the M1 from Barnsley into Leeds and across to Thackley sees me here with just under 2 hours to go before kick off. Time for Arsenal vs Tottenham! Arsenal win this North London Derby 3-1! It was also great to get chatting to another local here today named Ian who himself has done a number of grounds!
In to the ground I go! £6 to watch this NCEL tie! Buzzing! Lovely to meet the club officials here today! A very warm welcome! The players finish their warm ups and head in… Club Foot by Kasabian echoes around the ground and out come the players! It’s time!
Kick Off! A competitive start made by both teams here! Frickley Ken is here! A good turnout from Frickley altogether here today and they have ultras behind the goal!
18 minutes in and Alhassane Keita wins the ball back on the right for Frickley and he drives into the box, he plays a 1-2 and he gets his shot away… Good save! And he holds on to it!
29 minutes now and Thackley play down the left wing, it’s played in, Aidan Chippendale gets to it and sets himself up for the shot… OH! It’s a brilliant finish!! Right into the far corner! A proper strikers finish and Thackley have the lead!! 1-0!!
38th minute and Frickley play it forward to Brandon Burke down the left and he drives into the box, he’s in… Saved! It goes out for a throw in for Frickley which is taken, it’s played to Burke on the left, he plays a 1-2 and he’s through on the left… he lashes it in… But the flag is up! Frickley aren’t happy! Ken certainly isn’t as he lets his listeners know on podbean!
42 minutes and Thackley win a free kick in a shooting position from about 25 yards out, Kieran Haigh steps up… Oooooh! Just over! Close!
Right on half time now and Thackley have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one… It’s headed away to a Thackley man and the shot comes in… Over! And that is that for the first half with the score at 1-0.
Second half, 55th minute and Thackley play forward… Oh dear! Brandon Murillo has pulled up and gone down… that doesn’t look good as he bangs the floor in agony… Was it his knee? His ankle? It looks like he could be out for a while… Horrible when it happens! The stretcher is here and off he goes to an applause from the fans here today.
66th minute now and Frickley come forward, Javan Benjamin has it and he plays a 1-2 and he gets into the box, he shoots… Saved… And it’s cleared for a corner, in comes the corner… headed out for another corner, in it comes again… Thackley get the ball away from danger.
71 minutes on the clock and Frickley give away a silly throw in on the right, Thackley take the throw in and it’s played to Owen Murphy in the box on the right running at goal, he shoots… Keeper saves… He’s lost it… Lewis Waddington is there!! He taps it home and Thackley double their lead!! A howler from the Frickley keeper… 2-0!!
78th minute now and Frickley come forward down the right, it’s played to Brandon Burke who’s got plenty of space, he plays it across for Alhassane Keita… Who finishes!! Game on!! 2-1!!
The Frickley fans are in good spirits now! Can they get back into this game? Straight away they come down the right again with Szymon Czubik, he plays it across, he gets it back and goes for the far corner… OH! Keeper tips it wide! Corner, in it comes… OH! OFF THE LINE! nearly all the way in! Ken wants the goal, he’s not going to get it!
83rd minute now and Frickley have the momentum here! It’s played through to Szymon Czubik and he’s in… He’s brought down there… No Penalty!! Frickley can’t believe it! I thought that was a Penalty!! “2-1 to the Referee!” Frickley ultras giving the Referee some stick here! Ken: “2-1 is the ratio of officials of blindness to incompetent!”
89th minute and Thackley play it long, Frickley win the header, Thackley win the second ball and it’s headed on to Lewis Waddington who’s in… Offside! He scores but it won’t count! Frickley pile on the pressure… But Thackley hold on for the win! Kris Hargreaves giving it large to the Frickley fans… He’s loving that one!
FT: Thackley 2-1 Frickley Athletic
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – The Frickley ultras gave it a little go, there was a little buzz around the place as the game went on today.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a nice setup! The stand is what makes it for me! I like the steps on the other side but it would be better to put a covered stand on that side I think.
- Expense: 10/10 – £6!!
- Overall Experience: 9.5/10 – A brilliant day here in Thackley! A lovely friendly club and a great spirited game I saw today! Good to see Ken once again too! That game was set up for a grandstand finish though…
30.5/40