Whiteley is prize guy for Thackley (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Whiteley is prize guy for Thackley

11:10am Friday 25th May 2012 in Thackley By Ian Whiting

Baris Northern Counties East League Cup winners Thackley held their presentation night in the clubhouse at Dennyfield and the three main awards went to very popular recipients.

The player of the year went to Paul Whiteley, while Vince Brockie and his staff voted Callum White manager’s player of the year.

The committee’s player of the year was Mark Bower, who had joined the club as second-choice keeper behind former Bradford City second-year pro Matt Convey.

Bower waited in the wings, trained hard and kept the bench warm for most of the season but came into his own when Convey left the club into the second half of the campaign.

Thackley have a tradition of never having a top scorers accolade but Brockie gave a special mention to his assistant Andy Patterson and physio Dave Roche after making the presentations.

The ceremonies were brought to an end by club secretary Mick Lodge when he handed over the funds raised for injured captain Rob Morgan.

The centre back was badly injured making a regulation challenge in a league game last December and is expected to be sidelined for another 12 months.

The club held a special evening with World Cup winner Nobby Stiles and his son John, who moved onto the after dinner circuit after his own playing career had ended.

John Stiles is a former team-mate of Brockie during the pair’s time at Doncaster Rovers.

Lodge said there had been a significant amount raised and he also passed on his thanks to the Baris sponsor and Staveley MW chairman for a generous personal contribution.

Thackley were playing Staveley when Morgan ruptured his knee ligaments.

The club captain was not in attendance at the awards night but his younger brother Lewis collected the cheque on his behalf.