Thackley AFC travel to the Southerns Stadium at Bracken Edge tomorrow to face Yorkshire Amateurs FC. Yorkshire Amateurs ("the Ammers") returned this season to the NCEL Premier Division after spending last season at Step 4 and obtaining a respectable mid-table finish, but ultimately being relegated due to Ground Grading requirements.

Thackley and the Ammers faced each other in pre-season in the Yorkshire Trophy, the Ammers winning the fixture 3-2 on the day thanks to goals from Joe Mitchell and Ash Flynn (x2). Goals for the Dennyboys on the day came from Simon Poole and Tom Greaves. Shortly after the game there was a change of control at board level for the Ammers, which led to the departure of manager Nathan Cartman and most of the playing squad.

New manager Mark Maspero has brought in a number of new younger players and the Ammers and are re-forming their path at non-league level. The late building of a new squad has had an impact on the current league position of the Ammers, who currently sit in 20th position on 4 points. However, despite not picking up results the defeats which they have been involved in have all been close fought games, and this is not a fixture to be taken lightly. Mid-week the Ammers lost to a strong Campion team 1-0 but were well in the game. The sole win for the Ammers was against Frickley Athletic who Thackley played last wee, and who are a strong team.

Thackley come into the fixture in a good run of form, with 7 victories, 1 draw and 1 defeat in the last 9 games. A mid-week victory against Swallownest saw the Dennyboys book safe passage into the 3rd Round of the NCEL League Cup, and victory at Dennyfield against a strong Frickley Athletic team lifted Thackley AFC to 10th in the league table.

With a number of players still missing through injury and suspension, the current run of form is even more pleasing. Still to return are Parker, Bell, Suddards, Grech-Brooksbank, St-Juste and Captain Crawford. Crawford serves the final game of his 3 game ban and misses out on facing the team he departed in pre-season to join Thackley.

Match details (taken from the NCEL Website) are below for any travelling supporters:

Address: Southerns Stadium, Roxholme Road, Leeds, LS7 4JG

General Ground Directions:

M621 J2: A58 (Wetherby), up Roundhay Road to Fforde Green Hotel. Keep to right hand lane, through lights, double back at next set of lights. When back at first set of lights, right into Harehills Lane. Go uphill to 6th right turn (Sycamore Ave). Left at top. Entrance on right; A1 Nth: Exit at Wetherby junction. A58 towards Leeds. At outer Ring Road, cross roundabout, road becomes dual carriageway (Easterly Road). Cross roundabout. Take right lane until 2nd lights then right into Harehills Lane and as above; A1 Sth: Exit on A64. At Ring Road roundabout, right and at next roundabout left into Wetherby Road and Easterly Road, then as above.

Public Transport:
Station: Leeds 2½ miles. First Leeds 12, 13, 13A from Leeds (New Briggate, 10 minutes walk from station) to Leeds (Roundhay Road, Harehills Lane) twelve times per hour, journey time 11 minutes. Then turn round and right into Harehills Lane, right into Roxholme Avenue, right into Roxholme Road, ground on left (14 minutes).

Admission Price: £6 adults, £3 concessions, under 16s free with paying adult.
Capacity: 1550, Cover: 160, Seats: 200