LIVERSEDGE boss Jonathan Rimmington is tipping local rivals Thackley for big things.

The Sedge chief is impressed with the current rude health of non-league football in the area but the Dennyboys stand out for him as the club to watch out for.

Rimmington has seen at first hand how well they are performing on and off the pitch and is predicting a promotion – if not this season then in ones to come.

He said: “They’ve played well against us and I’ve seen a couple of their games against other sides when I’ve been checking out our future opponents and they always step up to the plate.”

Sedge stunned everyone with their storming start to the campaign and led the Northern Counties East League top tier after 13 games. That early pace-setting by a club that just escaped relegation the season before took the focus off Thackley, who were tucked into third spot at the time.

Rimmington’s men have since dropped to seventh but that is still a huge improvement on recent seasons, while Thackley are fourth, just two points behind second-placed Bridlington Town.

The Sedge manager said: “Thackley boss Chris Reape has built a great team and he’s got a good club. I like the way that he’s got them playing.

“They look very solid and that’s the first thing that you have to get right. They also have good players so they’re always capable of scoring goals.

“They look like a top team now and I think that they’ll only get better over the next two or three years. Ours is a difficult division to get out of with one promotion place and no play-offs. There always seems to be one club that has big financial backing that goes up."

With a ten-point lead, Cleethorpes are in the box seat for top spot this season and Rimmington added:

“Thackley might not make it this year but I’m convinced that they’ll go up. It’s nice to see them, Albion Sports, Brighouse Town and new boys Campion all doing so well.

“It shows just how much talent there is in the area and it proves that money isn’t everything. These clubs aren’t the most prosperous but they’re doing well because of loyal players and very, very good coaching and management. It’s great to see.”