CLUB captain and midfield general Pat McGuire is delighted that Thackley have applied for promotion from the Toolstation Northern Counties East League.

Applications to be accepted onto step four of the football pyramid had be lodged before the November 30 deadline and the Dennyboys were one of five clubs to make a submission.

Once they have asked to be considered for promotion, clubs have to undergo a ground grading visit to ensure their facilities are worthy, which comes at a price, as do any improvements that may have to be made.

McGuire said: “Everybody knows that the club has been through a few bad years off the field but we’ve been up there with the title-chasing clubs for most of this season.

“We’ve got a great squad of players, a top management team and a great committee at this club. We’ve been getting it right on the pitch and we’ve steadied ourselves and started to push a bit further.

“I’m delighted that the club has backed the ambitions of the players and management staff by applying for promotion. It’s the first time the club has done that in 13 years and it comes just a couple of years after the club almost went bust and folded altogether.”

A group of long retired committee men came back to retake the reins and get the club back on an even footing. The outlook is vastly different just a few short years later and McGuire feels that the Dennyboys are back where they belong, challenging at the top of their division.

The skipper added: “We’ve got the backing of the club and that means so much to us.

“It’s also nice to be taken seriously again as a top club. We’re a scalp now when we play the sides in our division and that makes it hard for us but it’s exciting at the same time.

“There’s a great atmosphere around all of the time again now. We’ve got a good pitch and great stadium and I honestly believe that where we take it is up to us.

“Thackley is on the map again.”