THACKLEY are enjoying the feeling of being top of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League.

Their current standing is testament to the efforts of everyone involved at Dennyfield and club captain Pat McGuire is delighted to see smiles on the faces of his team-mates, backroom staff and the band of volunteers who help run the club.

Following the Dennyboys’ midweek derby win over Liversedge, which saw Thackley claim the outright leadership of the Premier Division, McGuire said: “We’re all very happy at the moment.

“Other teams have got games in hand on us but we had ten games in hand over some clubs last season after that wet winter but we did nothing with them. That’s why it’s better to have the points on the board.

“Being at the top is a good feeling and I think that it’s a nice reward for the hard working committee at the club, the management and the playing staff.

"The club has come through some very testing times in recent years and, especially at this level, there is usually a high turnover of players. But not here at Thackley – the core of this squad has been together for three or four seasons now and have stayed together. It’s been a combined effort and I think that’s paying off now.”

The question is just how far can the Dennyboys take it. Their current form is good, they are not facing a glut of games and they have a strong squad but the skipper is not getting carried away.

“Someone’s got to win the title so who knows!" he laughed before adding: “We’re not looking that far ahead, not in November. We’re in a good position but we’ve achieved nothing yet so we’ll see what happens.

"I think in the last two seasons we’ve ended with 49 and then 59 points so for us to have 45 points on the board at this stage is great.

“But it can all change so quickly and we know that you can’t take anything for granted because you have to keep working and keep striving to improve.”

The skipper had a special mention for the boss Chris Reape ahead of today’s game at Barton Town Old Boys.

He said: “Chris won’t be with us because he’s going in for quite a serious operation this weekend. I spoke to him on Thursday and wished him well from all of the lads and told him we would get three points for him today.”