Reape unveils new management team
3rd June, 2017
Thackley have revealed their new management line up for the 2017/18 Toolstation NCEL Premier Division season as they look to build on their fifth-placed finish to the previous campaign.
Manager Chris Reape has appointed Andy Patterson to take over as his assistant following the departure of Paul Clayton to Knaresborough Town.
Patterson is well known both at the Dennyfield club and in the Bradford area having played as a professional at Bradford City and then at Thackley where he was top scorer for three seasons.
He has had brief spells in management at Eccleshill United and Thackley but work commitments have limited his availability until recently and he is now looking forward to working alongside Reape on a more regular basis.
In addition, Niall O'Brien has been brought in as first team coach.
This is his first venture into football management following a long career which included spells as a professional at Halifax Town and Hucknall Town in National League North.
Other clubs in his early career were Scarborough, Eastwood Town and Retford United and more recently he has played for Ossett Albion and Ossett Town as well as Wakefield and Emley.
O'Brien is no stranger to Thackley having played for the club in 2016 but work commitments meant that he had to give up football so the club say it's "very pleasing that Niall has agreed to return to Thackley to work alongside Chris and Andy.
"He will bring new ideas and a fresh outlook to training and to matchdays and everyone at Thackley is looking forward to building on the success of last season's record points haul and making a concerted push for promotion."
(Story Source: Thackley)
Click here for Thackley's team page.