Horbury Town V Thackley AFC- Match Preview

Macron NCEL Premier Division- Saturday 29th November 2025- Kick Off: 3.00pm

Match Preview by Cayden Sands

Overview:
Thackley return to NCEL Premier Division action on Saturday when they travel to Horbury Town.

After last Saturday’s loss against Rossington Main, both the team and supporters will be eager to pick up a better result as the league begins an important period, with the second half of the season getting into gear.

However, despite Horbury being in the relegation places, everybody involved with the Dennyboys knows this will be far from a simple fixture, with their opponents looking to improve their fortunes.

The Opposition:
Horbury Town’s debut campaign as a member of the NCEL Premier Division has been a difficult one up to this point, with the club finding itself second bottom of the league.

However, this hasn’t been without some good moments, with a set of good results that show what the team could be capable of.

These include a draw with Barton Town by a 2-2 scoreline, a very entertaining 4–4 tie with Pickering Town and a 1-0 win against Sheffield FC and 3-2 triumph against Albion Sports that came not long after each other.

The team is also enjoying a run in the NCEL League Cup, reaching the fourth round.

Key Players:
Horbury’s top goalscorer is Joe Jagger, who currently has eight goals across all competitions, making him a reliable scorer as the team continues their hunt to climb the table.

James Cusworth and George Whittaker have also proven to be key names, scoring a solid four goals each.

Previous Meeting:
The most recent meeting between Horbury and Thackley came earlier this season, with the teams settling for a 0-0 draw in BD10.

As both sides settled into the season in their own ways, a tough encounter was expected, with the goalless nature of the game ensuring both teams left the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield with a point each.

Ground Description and Directions:
Located outside of the town centre is Horbury’s Pulse Hire Ltd Stadium, a ground that represents the side’s quick emergence into the pyramid, whilst maintaining many of its humble features.

A small ground with a capacity of just 500, the ground has a total of 150 seats, with these seats making up most of the ground’s covered capacity.

The ground’s clubhouse can be accessed via Slazengers Sports Club, whilst the club shop is part of the ground’s cafe.

Those using public transport to travel are recommended to get a train to Wakefield, with bus routes serving Horbury from the city centre.

Drivers can enter Horbury via the A642 and turn into Daw Lane and Dudfleet Lane before then following the signs for Slazengers Sports Club.

(Directions: NCEL Website)

Admission Prices:
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
U16: FREE with a paying adult, £2 if not
Dogs now permitted

(Admission Prices: NCEL Website)