The Academy side are just two games away from
bringing some silverware to
Dennyfield and thus
eclipsing the first team after reaching a semi-final - but the manager is still not flavour of the month.
Graham Clifford continues to do a sterling job of
running the Academy and
his expertise has led the youngsters to the last four of the Northern Alliance Youth League Cup, a
creditable run as the
competition involves the league's four regional
divisions.
Along the way, some of Clifford's better players have been seconded to the
first team, one of them being his son Sean.
The quick-footed striker spent a few years with Bradford City's youth set-up but returned to Thackley last summer.
He picked up a serious foot injury playing for the first team but Clifford senior selected him for the Academy side too soon into his recovery.
"He got a very bad cut on the top of his foot which needed a lot of stitches," said the Academy boss.
"It was healing well and I thought he would be okay playing for us.
"He got another kick right on the same place and the cut opened up again. I got it wrong but I have been
getting it in the neck from the missus, Boyley (first-team manager John Boyle) and Sean ever since.
"It was a calculated risk really as we in the Academy have set our stall out to try to win the cup this season.
"We have played our best side and that includes Sean, Dave Woofenden, Andy King, James Firth and a few others who have first- team experience already.
"The side we have been playing in the Alliance League has been very
different but that is good. The lads all need games and there are too many to keep the same 14-man squad."
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