Players progressing from Thackley into the full time game are few and far between but if the young lad kicking the ball around the Dennyfield turf on Tuesday makes the grade the club’s under-age squads could be packed with locals.

Bantams legend Ian Ormondroyd and Tony Brown, who worked as a mechanic at a garage on Manningham Lane before being snapped up by Leeds United – literally from under the noses of his home town club, are in an exclusive club.

While players from a higher level have played for Thackley in their latter years, notably Greg Abbott, who was player manager at Dennyfield, Ormondroyd and Brown are the only two that have gone onwards and upwards from the Bradford outfit.

However, the young man who was practising his skills on the pitch following the Dennyboys’ narrow victory over neighbouring rivals Liversedge has only a tenuous link with Thackley.

Secretary Mike Lodge said: “He is a good little footballer and he has a heck of a shot on him. It's no wonder Manchester United have signed him at the age of six!

“He has been at Huddersfield Town in the youth set-up but Man United are having a look at him now. He is Brett Missin’s son. Jordan (Thackley striker) is his uncle. He certainly knows what to do with a football, much like Jordan and his brother do.”