As a tribute to Richard and his long association with Thackley FC, club historian, Chris Frank, reviewed Richard’s playing days at the club. Chris’s research follows an opening passage giving Richard’s footballing career up to him making his debut for Thackley in 1967.

Football played a big part in Richard’s life and this was evident from an early age when he represented his primary school when in standard three. This continued when he went to Belle Vue when he represented the school at all age levels. His football skills won him a place in a successful Bradford Boys team, which included a number of players that moved into the professional game. Terry Hibbett (Leeds/Newcastle), Billy Legg (Huddersfield) and John Brown (Preston). He also represented Bradford Schools in their annual game against Glasgow Schools on a couple of occasions and in the away fixture played on the hallowed turf of Hampden Park.

Chris Frank writes:

"Newly promoted from the West Yorkshire League to the Yorkshire League, Thackley made their Division Two bow at relegated Harrogate Town on 19 August 1967. The visitors lined up: Ken Hill; Brian Gillard, Brian Kay; Ray Killick, Dave Waddington, Derek Wyness; Ray Cole, Tony Cryer, John Emmott, John Woodford and Richard Paley. Emmott (a hat-trick) and Cole earned a 4-1 victory. Shipley Times and Express football correspondent “Third Back” enthused: “A more than creditable debut was made by young Richard Paley on the left wing who, although a natural right footer, played a cool and thoughtful game.”

Owing to his studying away from home, appearances during the remainder of that inaugural Yorkshire League season were sporadic - around ten in total - and were confined largely to holiday periods. Away to Scarborough on 23 December 1967 (a 3-2 win for visitors) Richard scored the first of three goals notched up during the course of the campaign. His third - at home to Brodsworth on 16 March 1968 (a 4-1 victory for the hosts) - was registered on the same afternoon that present day club stalwart and erstwhile full-back Geoff Scott scored the only goal in a second team fixture at Firth Sports Reserves. Despite a disappointing ending of one win in nine games, Thackley finished fourth and thereby earned immediate promotion to Yorkshire League Division One.

The following season, owing to commitments elsewhere, Richard did not make a starting appearance for the club until 30 March 1969 (a 2-1 win away to Kiveton Park), but then lined up a further ten times before the end of the campaign as Thackley ended ninth out of 18.

His ongoing studies ensured that not until 22 November 1969 did Richard again turn out for the club (a 1-1 draw away to Farsley Celtic) - one of three league and two cup outings that season. Finishing in 13th place (of 18), the team failed to qualify for the newly restructured Yorkshire League Division One and were instead allocated to the second tier of three for 1970/71.

At a committee meeting held on 30 August 1970 it was agreed that Richard should receive an allowance of ten shillings (as recommended by Arthur Hylton) towards expenses incurred in travelling from his then home in Manchester in order to play for Thackley. The investment proved sound, as the club secured a swift return to Yorkshire League Division One, with 55 goals in 26 matches and a late run of 14 consecutive games without defeat helping to clinch the runners-up spot.

In a nail-biting end to the 1971/72 campaign Thackley missed out on safety by goal average alone and thus were relegated for the only time in their history to date (league restructuring aside). The following season proved more notable for achievements off the field (construction of a clubhouse and bar, with dressing rooms and showers adjoining) rather than on it (a disappointing tenth of sixteen finish).

What turned out to be the most memorable season of his Thackley playing career was now, for Richard Paley, about to begin.

The team launched their 1973/74 Yorkshire League Division Two challenge with a run of 21 games without defeat but, come the 30th and final match of the campaign on 27 April, they travelled to Leeds Ashley Road knowing that anything other than victory would confer the title on second place Ossett Albion - level on points but with a game in hand. A determined Thackley deployed: Peter Marsh, Bob Dover, Brian Kay, Derek Wyness, Kenny Wright, Dave Woodhall, John Jude, Richard Paley, John Myers, Brian Gillard and Steve Wheeler. Myers and Gillard claimed a goal apiece in a last gasp 2-1 triumph. Three days later Ossett Albion succumbed to a 90th minute winner at Harrogate Town, a result which - despite a valiant 5-1 sign-off over North Ferriby two days later - handed Thackley the championship on goal average.

In beating Farsley Celtic 1-0 at Valley Parade on 25 April 1974, Thackley became the first Bradford-based former West Riding County Challenge Cup holders to lift the coveted West Riding County Cup itself. The finalists took to the field: Peter Marsh, Bob Dover, Brian Kay, Derek Wyness, Kenny Wright, John Jude, Dave Woodhall, Richard Paley, John Myers, Brian Gillard and Steve Wheeler (the scorer). Richard Exley replaced Dave Woodhall on the hour. “Paley was outstanding among the forwards”, the Shipley Times and Express enthused.

With the exception of Dave Woodhall (whose place was occupied by Stewart Thorp), the same team had disposed of Northern Premier League Bradford (Park Avenue) by a 4-2 margin in the Semi-Final staged at Dennyfield on 30 March 1974 (the crowd of 877 generating gross gate receipts of £117 and bar takings of £53). Thackley recovered from two goals down and secured extra time thanks to a Brian Gillard close-range tap-in and a last minute headed own goal. In what the Telegraph & Argus would portentously term "the final nail in Avenue's coffin", John Myers and Steve Wheeler snatched victory for the hosts in the final ten minutes. Five weeks and nine games later, Bradford (PA) had ceased to exist.

Restored to Yorkshire League Division One, the club finished the 1974/75 season in third place, after being in contention for the title until the latter weeks of the campaign. In a repeat of the previous year’s performance, Thackley (minus Richard) beat Farsley Celtic 1-0 in the Final of the West Riding County Cup at Valley Parade on 5 May 1975, having beforehand disposed of Goole Town and Ossett Albion.

Thackley ended season 1975/76 in sixth place (out of 16), holding champions-elect Emley to a 0-0 draw at Ainsbury Avenue in the closing stages of the campaign. At its outset six months earlier, Richard had scored the only goal of the corresponding away fixture, demonstrating both skill and determination in the process. "A mistake on the left", the Huddersfield Daily Examiner reported, "let Paley scramble his way through three tackles and shoot just inside the near post".

As the years passed by, appearances grew fewer and less frequent. But come season 1982/83, as the Yorkshire League gave way to the Northern Counties East League, those Thackley supporters who ventured with their team to the far-flung outpost of Skegness Town drew comfort from the sight of substitute Richard Paley awaiting the call to action once more."

When his playing days came to an end, Richard continued to support the club at committee level, as well as ‘bag man’ along side Jim McKay in the early seasons of the Northern Counties East League. He held a number of positions on the committee, including Club President from 2005 to 2011. Richard was made a Life Member in 2011. He was Membership Secretary and was responsible for editing and producing the programme until last year. His deteriorating health preventing him from continuing in these roles.

Once again, all at Thackley AFC thank Richard for his loyality, dedication and hard work. He will be missed by all those at the Club. Richard's funeral takes place on Thursday 26 June 2025 and further details can be found here.