NEW Thackley secretary Mark Holstead has been settling into the role and he insists he is even more determined than ever to see the club climb the pyramid.

Holstead is no stranger to the myriad of jobs on the plate of a club secretary after a stint in the same capacity with Eccleshill United.

He said: “I always knew Thackley had huge potential but since being here and finding out more and more about the club I think it’s a sleeping giant.

“As the Eccleshill secretary, I was always an interested spectator as to what was going on at Dennyfield and now I’m here I see the full potential of the club. I hope I can add my influence here, put my slant on things and help to push the club up the leagues.

“I’m not just an administrator – I’m a qualified coach and an all-round football man.

"That makes it easy to see just what this club can achieve. Andy (Patterson, first-team manager) is in situ now and he will get all the support he needs from me and the club, and I hope that what we do this coming season reflects the potential here at Dennyfield.”

The Thackley committee have backed recent managers Dave Morgan, Vince Brockie and Lee Clapham, who was joint boss with Morgan following his return to Dennyfield.

Ground improvements have been made and their current ground-grading certificate would allow them to play in the Evo-Stik League if they were to gain promotion.

They have re-applied, which comes at a cost as the club must pay for the ground committee’s inspection, for the last five seasons but the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division is a difficult one to get out of as there is only ever one promotion place.

Other than when a club wins the title that does not have the relevant ground-grading certification, that place goes to the champions.

Holstead is undeterred by the criteria as he feels Thackley have what is needed to make the step up.

He added: “This is a club that is able to progress and one that has the standing and stature that means it could easily exist at a higher level. It is a big part of the community in the city of Bradford with its junior and girls' sections.

“There are over 400 players and coaches involved in so many teams at different age groups of both boys and girls. It is a club that has a lot of history.

"Bradford Park Avenue are back at the top end of the non-league pyramid after being at our level, and we have seen Brighouse Town start to move up, so why not us? There is nothing holding us back – we can go for it.”