FOR the first time in their history, Thackley will be playing at a titled ground in the new season after doing a deal for the naming rights of Dennyfield.

The club was formed in 1930 so, after 87 years of tradition, they have taken a step into the future by negotiating a sponsorship deal for their Ainsbury Avenue base.

The signs have already gone up at the ground and the Dennyboys will be playing at the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield next term.

Club secretary Mick Lodge said: "We've had some good backing from a few sponsors over the last few years – Specsavers and Surefreight in particular – but this is the first time we've ever gone down this route.

"We'll be playing at the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield, rather than the Mitton Group Stadium, because that is the name of Eccleshill United's ground.

"There has to be a difference in the name to set us apart, especially with the clubs being so close geographically.

"The deal has come around through our chairman Phil Woollias, who knows the people who own the company.

"Phil is a big Bradford City supporter – he and his family are all season-ticket holders and the Mitton Group are big backers of City.

"Phil spoke to his friends and contacts and we ended up with a new sponsor, so we're all very happy."

The pitch at the newly-named ground should also be improved after the work that Lodge, the rest of the committee and volunteers have put in over the close season as Thackley look to continue their revival after last season's fifth-placed finish and record points haul.

Most of the work done over the summer has been concentrated on the playing surface, as the surroundings were all very well kept. There has also been some work done in the referees' changing room.

Lodge said: "We've done reseeding and returfing and had areas verti-drained, which we've had to get contractors in to do, but then the great British weather intervened and the sunshine came when we were praying for rain for once.

"We didn't have to wait for long because all of the rain over the last couple of weeks has really helped and the pitch looks lush now.

"Nothing major needed doing other than the pitch – we've done bits and pieces here and there but we've been on top of it throughout the year.

"There was a bit of disaster when we redid the floor in the refs' room. We had a flood overnight on the same day.

"These things happen but it meant that we had to get some more floor tiles, unfortunately not of the same quality due to the cost, and start again."