THACKLEY'S new chairman Ben Oliver has been quick to praise the club's influential player-manager Pat McGuire.

The Thackley and Yorkshire captain took charge at the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division side part way through last season.

And Oliver, who recently replaced Phil Woollias as chairman, believes no-one is better suited to the role.

He said: "You can see Pat's affection for Thackley and he wants to better the club for the people around him. I watched him play last year and he's a real leader.

"He has his own ideas and he wants to entertain. Other teams in the division have more experience, but Pat is the right man in charge of our young squad, which will include some Under-21s this year."

The club have just signed Robert Marsh from Glasshoughton Welfare and the new chairman was pleased with the club's transfer market dealings.

He said: "We've brought in some good pedigree, having signed the likes of Adam Muller, who has played for several non-league clubs like Ossett Albion. We've also retained most of last year's squad."

Oliver grew up in Thackley and works as a solicitor in Leeds. He recently returned and said: "I contacted the club last October to ask if I could help on a volunteer basis.

"They said they survive on volunteers so they were grateful for the offer. I've brought in two of my solicitor friends to help out. They're from different parts of Yorkshire, but they love football and wanted to get involved.

"We can use our business background to push our social media influence and ticket offers and we want to engage with the local community too.

"One of the committee members has just been appointed at Thackley Primary School, so we're hoping for closer links with schools and getting younger fans through the gate too."

Although some younger men have joined the club's committee, Oliver is delighted that many of the older members have stayed on too.

He was keen to credit them for their influence. He said: "Players now want to join Thackley because they can see we're a well-run club.

"Our previous financial issues were very public, but I'm pleased to announce that the club is now operating on a sustainable and progressive basis.

"Those old committee members came back on board in 2015 and did a wonderful job in arresting that slide. They have had the club's best interests at heart for the last 40 years.

"We want to build on Phil's good work as chairman, and young and old, everyone at the club is pulling in the same direction."