Former club secretary and press officer Stewart Willingham is keen to get in touch with a number of Thackley’s former players this weekend.

Brian Kay, a Thackley player in the late 1960s and early 1970s, is back in the country for a visit and an old boys reunion is planned at the clubhouse on Monday night.

Willingham explained: “Brian has lived in Australia for 25 years but is back in Bradford at the moment. He has been back a few times down the years but has made this visit a six-week one and, from what he has hinted, it will probably be his last trip.

“I have trawled through old T&A match reports and our club records and have made a list of players I know played for us at the same time as Brian.

“Some of them we see at home games regularly and a lot of them still live in Thackley, or Bradford, while some have moved out to Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate and surrounding districts.

“But some we have lost touch with. We are pretty sure the majority of them still live in the T&A catchment area and will be able to make it to Dennyfield for about 8pm on Monday.

“Everyone is welcome, not just former players. I’m sure there will be a lot of supporters and opposing players who would like to come along and not just have a drink with Brian but renew some acquaintances at the same time.”

Names that Willingham’s research revealed are: Peter Marsh, Neil Whitehead, Alan Bentley, Kenny Wright, Barry Wright, Bob Dover, Peter Barker, Steve Whealan, Ray Killick, Derek Wyness, Ray Cole, Tony Cryer, Dick Paley, Brian Gillard, Ken Hill, John Emmott, John Myers, Stuart Thorpe, Duncan Poynter, Jimmy Cuthbertson, Alan Rhodes.