As a new season begins every team is looking for some sort of silverware come April. This Saturday the new season starts in earnest when Thackley entertain Goole at the ‘Thank You Key Workers Stadium’, both teams, I am sure, will be looking for a winning start. Unlike Thackley, who have been in the Premier Division since the formation of the NCEL, Goole have had their ‘ups and downs’ sort of speak. The first game between Thackley and a Goole side was in 1996, this game was against Goole Town but they folded at the end of that season and Goole AFC was born. They entered the NCEL in 1999, won promotion to the Premier Division the year after where they resided for some five seasons before being promoted to the Northern Premier League. They were relegated back to the NCEL in 2018, which means, in reality they have only had one full season at this level because the last two have been curtailed. Thackley met Goole on ten occasions prior to their promotion in 2005, and honours were pretty even between the two sides. Thackley winning four, Goole three and three games drawn. In fact, Thackley managed to do the double over them in their promotion year. In games since their return, Thackley have won three and Goole one.

From a pre season point of view, both sides have not had that much success as far as results are concerned. However, Thackley did manage their first victory of the season on Saturday at Nostell with a 3-2 win. This was the last of seven warm up games in which they have played a number of teams from a higher level. I think the best of which was the 2-1 defeat against Yorkshire Amateurs the previous Tuesday, when that performance definitely deserved a better result. Throughout the friendly games, Pat has made plenty of changes from game to game and given quite a number of trialists the opportunity to make their mark. It will be very interesting to see his starting eleven for this first game.

Goole, for their part have played just three pre season games in preparation for this opening match.

However, past results and pre season friendlies count for nothing, both teams will be looking for all three points, not just to start the season with a win but to build confidence in the squad for next week’s important FA Cup games. Thackley are at home to Wythenshawe Town whilst Goole entertain Sunderland Ryhope.