IT was Yorkshire's first international match in around two years last weekend, and there was a healthy Thackley contingent involved.

The club's player-manager, Pat McGuire, captained the county to their 8-1 Yorkshire Cup win over Kashmir, while Dennyboys defenders Kris Hargreaves and Loz Hunter were also in action.

Even Thackley physios Joe Tate and Carl Clifford were involved in the set-up.

Talking about his Yorkshire call-up, Thackley stalwart Hargreaves said: "It was good to play in the game.

"It's a real privilege to be called up by the county, and it's nice to be selected for representative honours.

"They're fairly sporadic, these CONIFA internationals, and because of Covid, this was our first one in two years.

"With where some of the teams are based (Chagos Islands, Somaliland etc) there is a lot of travelling involved, but we certainly aim for one or two internationals a year."

As for the game against Kashmir itself, Hargreaves said: "It was nice to be playing for a trophy.

"Exhibition games are still interesting, and bring fans in, but playing for silverware just adds a bit more competition.

"Kashmir are in their infancy, so they knew we'd have been a big scalp, as we've been established for a few years now.

"But we did well and it was special to win a nice trophy, just like it would have been lifting the West Riding County Cup or the FA Vase."

Hargreaves is a centre-half, with McGuire a central midfielder.

Asked what it is like to play behind McGuire for both Thackley and the county, Hargreaves said: "Pat's been around the block, and played professionally (for Bradford City) before moving down the leagues.

"His experience, knowledge and ability are so valuable to both teams, and I'm grateful to have him so close to me on the pitch.

"He has demanding standards but it's a privilege to play with him and under him at Thackley, which comes in beneficial when we're with Yorkshire together."

After a slow start, Thackley have won three of their last four NCEL Premier Division games, moving up to eighth in the process.

But they face a tough ask this afternoon when they visit league new boys Sherwood Colliery, who after a barnstorming start, sit fourth in the table.

Hargreaves mused: "Sherwood is a difficult one, because it's not like they've come up from the league below, like Emley, who we've played in things like the NCEL League Cup before.

"They've always been in leagues in the Midlands, so they're an unknown entity that we've not heard a lot about before.

"Seeing them come in and have the brilliant start they had was very interesting, so it will be a new challenge for us this weekend."

Thackley can close the gap to high-flying rivals Eccleshill United to six points with a win at Sherwood.

The Eagles have soared up to second in the NCEL Premier Division, but they are in FA Vase first round action at Heaton Stannington today.

There are other league games in Thackley's division though, with struggling Albion Sports at AFC Mansfield and mid-table Silsden hosting Penistone Church.

In the NWCFL First Division North, 15th-placed Steeton visit Chadderton, one of just three games in that league due to several teams having FA Vase commitments.

Leaders Liversedge host Stockton Town in the NPL East Division, while elsewhere in that league, mid-table Brighouse Town welcome Worksop Town to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium.