Stewart Willingham is one of the most recognisable faces in the non-league football circle, and Thackley AFC are lucky that he has been involved with the club for almost 50 years. It is fair to say that Stewart has "seen it all" during this time, and he was keen to share with everyone his experiences at the club, his love for football and why he has volunteered for almost half a century at Thackley AFC.

1. When did you join the Thackley AFC committee?

My first Committee meeting was in March 1970. I had been invited to join the Committee by the then Secretary, Don Brayshaw, whose wife was a colleague of mine at work.
At my third meeting it became apparent that Don had an ulterior motive for asking me to join the Committee, when he announced to the meeting, that, at the end of the season, he would have to resign as Secretary due to work commitments.

A deathly silence ensued and I glanced round the table to see that the eyes of the rest of the Committee were trained on me! As they were all, nothing changes, in their late 60’s, early to mid 70’s, it was obvious where this was going! At the 1970/71 AGM, as a wet behind the ears 27year old, I had been kippered into becoming the next Secretary!!
As it turned out, at the same AGM, Don became Chairman, as the current Chairman, Harry Blackburn had decided to retire.

As a matter of interest, the first Thackley match I watched was a home game at Ainsbury Avenue, as Dennyfield was then known. The date was 28th March,1970. The opponents were Norton Woodseats from Sheffield. We lost 2-0 and, following that defeat, our League record was: P24 W7 D4 L12 GF29 GA32 PTS18

2. What is your earliest football memory?

My earliest football memory was, as an 8 year old, walking with my Dad and 6 year old brother, from our prefab home in Gaisby Lane, to watch Bradford City at Valley Parade. I remember that we stood in what was then a tiny Midland Road stand.

I remember nothing about the game, but we did the same routine for several years. The outstanding memory of that time was watching a 16 year old Kevin Keegan playing for Scunthorpe United. At 16 he’d already made a name for himself as having great potential.

3. What is your favourite thing about Thackley AFC?

My favourite thing about the Club has always been the friendliness, the banter and the general good feeling around the Club, whether we’re winning or not. This is greatly helped by the fact that several of us have been together throughout much of the period.

4. What is your best football moment following Thackley AFC?

My best Football moment was the evening, I think in early 1975, that Barcelona visited Thackley to train, prior to a European Cup Semi Final match against Leeds United the following evening.

It was surreal to have the opportunity to meet, and chat to, the likes of Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and the Manager, Rinus Michels, who, formerly was Manager of Ajax and later went on to be Manager of Holland in the World Cup.

5. What is your worst football moment following Thackley AFC?

Worst moment following Thackley was losing 11-0 (may have been 11-1), away at Armthorpe Welfare about 20 years ago. Humiliating!

6. What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

The most enjoyable factors of volunteering are, the camaraderie, the friendships, and the sense of achievement at improving the Club facilities and achievements, on and off the field!

7. Which away ground has been your favourite to visit?

For many years my favourite ground to visit was Ossett Albion. This was because, over the years, we’d built up a great rapport with the members of their Committee who, like us, had all been with their Club for many years.

Latterly, I enjoy visits to Albion Sports. The reason being that they, like us, are a very friendly, hospitable group of people and always make us really welcome.

8. Who is the best player you have seen play for Thackley AFC?

I don’t really like to comment on who I think is the best player I’ve seen play for the Club. However, for the purpose of this exercise I choose three players, all of whom had playing careers in the Football League. These are not necessarily in order of preference.

The first is Terry Dolan who, after a Football League career with Bradford PA, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Rochdale, joined us as a player and Club captain in the mid ‘80’s and played for several seasons. After he left us he became Manager at Bradford City, Rochdale , Hull City, York City and Guiseley. He is now, I think, Chairman at Bradford PA.

The second player on the list is Tony Brown, who joined us from Ventus United and played centre back for several seasons before being spotted by Leeds United. He signed as a full time pro in, I think, the late ‘80’s. He played successfully for Leeds for several years.
We still see him from time to time. In fact, about 10/15 years ago, his son played for us for 2 or 3 years.

The third and final player on the list is Ian Ormondroyd . Ian Joined us from Manningham Mills and played for almost a full season before being stolen by City.
He did really well at City and, inside a year, had been transferred to Aston Villa for £650,000. As we’d found him and they’d got him for nothing, and then profited to the tune of £650,000, we wrote to them to suggest that perhaps we deserved a payback!

They sent us a cheque for £1000!

9. What was the best Thackley AFC social or night out?

It is difficult to pick out the best social event. All I can say is that in the Yorkshire League days the Annual Dinner was usually held in Bridlington or Scarborough and a group of us would go for the weekend!! The only comment I can make is ‘we supped some stuff!! ‘

10. If you could sum up Thackley AFC in one word, what would it be and why?

Very difficult! My word is TOPS! The Club is top of the tree for Friendship; Fraternity; Companionship, Hospitality; United achievement, and, in my opinion, very importantly, realistic targets!

However, very fortunately, now that we have a group of younger, very able professional members of our Committee, I’m hopeful that that those targets will become more ambitious!!