Thackley AFC and Bury AFC have agreed for Tom Greaves and Aidan Chippendale to join the Shakers on a temporary dual registration basis once the Thackley AFC season has concluded on 8 April 2023.

Greaves and Chippendale joined Thackley AFC from Bury AFC in the summer of 2022 and both have been in fantastic form, scoring 48 goals between them. Both were part of the Bury AFC team which achieved promotion under Andy Welsh in the 2021/2022 season.

Bury AFC have a substantial fixture backlog which will need to be concluded in the coming weeks before the season ends, leading to pressure on the Bury AFC playing squad. This has led to Bury AFC enquiring whether Thackley AFC would allow Greaves and Chippendale to be signed on a dual registration basis to assist Bury AFC once the Thackley AFC season has concluded. Thackley AFC has agreed to this request.

Both players will remain with Thackley AFC until the conclusion of Thackley AFC’s NCEL Premier Division fixtures, currently scheduled to end on 8 April 2023, before being available for Bury AFC.

This is a temporary arrangement and both Greaves and Chippendale will return to Thackley AFC for pre-season for the 2023/2024 season. Both Greaves and Chippendale remain on the coaching staff of Thackley AFC, with Greaves being Joint Manager and Chippendale being a First Team Coach.

Thackley AFC and Bury AFC have had a good relationship over the last few years which included a pre-season friendly in July 2021. As part of the agreement for Greaves and Chippendale joining Bury AFC, the two clubs have agreed to a further pre-season friendly this coming summer (date TBC) at Thackley AFC. Thackley AFC is glad to be able to support Bury AFC with this temporary arrangement whilst they battle with their fixture backlog, and look forward to welcoming the Shakers to Dennyfield in the summer.