THACKLEY’S FA Cup journey begins this afternoon at home to Wythenshawe Town in the extra preliminary round, but it will be an occasion marked by grief.

Town’s star striker Sam Jones tragically passed away late last month at the age of just 28, to the shock of the footballing world.

The Dennyboys will be wearing black armbands in support of the opposition today, and boss Pat McGuire said: “It’s an absolutely tragic situation and our sincerest condolences go to them.

“It’s an awful situation for them, but fair play, they’ve won their opening two league games 1-0 since it happened.

“It’s their first go in the FA Cup too, so they’ll be really up for it. For us, we’ve just got to go out and do our jobs and make sure we get the better of them.”

Thackley should have got the better of Goole in their opening Northern Counties East League Premier Division game last Saturday, but blew a 4-2 lead to draw 4-4.

McGuire said: “It was a good game for the neutral but not so much for me. Individual errors and slackness cost us and in the end we were lucky not to lose.

“It was exciting, and that’s what we want for the fans coming to Dennyfield. Obviously there are good signs going forward as we’ve hit seven in our last two games.

“But the lads have been told in no uncertain terms that conceding four is not acceptable, and there have been repercussions from that in training.”

One of Thackley’s best players last Saturday was McGuire himself, as he made a rare appearance in midfield and caused havoc with his set-piece deliveries.

Explaining his decision, he said: “I wanted to have a look at the game on the pitch, as you get a different perspective from there rather than in the dugout.

“I felt we were missing a bit of organisation in midfield, which I can bring.

“I do need a bit more of that from the senior lads though, someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, instructing everyone to sit tight or get after the opposition.”

McGuire was coy about whether he’d play again today, but admitted: “We have a couple of lads unavailable due to cricket and holidays. One of them tested positive for Covid out in Magaluf so he’s still stuck there.

“It’s been a hectic week, and it’s just trying to strike that balance between picking the best team we have available, without disrupting the set-up too much.”

In part due to that, Thackley haven’t made wholesale changes to their squad over the summer.

But they have still made smart signings, with McGuire saying: “Matt Broadley has joined Pickering Town, so we’ve brought in a like-for-like pacey forward in (former Campion man) Jahro Parchment.

“Dan Vinten has come in, as we needed to strengthen in defence, and he has good experience, having been with the likes of Northwich Victoria before.

“We’ve brought another local lad in in Kamran Khan and then there’s Asa Mitchell and Omar Habeeb.

“Those two are coming back off long injury lay-offs so they’re like new signings.”

Elsewhere in the FA Cup today, Albion Sports and Campion are on the road at Irlam and Athersley Recreation respectively.

But the big tie comes at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium, where Silsden will host Eccleshill.