The weather has caused problems for almost every club in the country from the Premier League down this month but Dennyfield has held up very well.

While clubs at Thackley's step on the non-league ladder, and many levels above, have struggled to stage any matches, Dennyfield has a remarkably good record and just one first-team fixture has been lost to the weather so far.

Head coach John Boyle feels there is a good reason for that: the hard work put in by volunteers behind the scenes.

"The pitch is very good these days, as the drainage has been improved little by little each year," said Boyle.

"I think a special mention should go to Ian Milner, who is doing a lot of work on the ground and is doing a fantastic job. He is involved with the junior section of the club and has taken up the extra work off his own initiative.

"The playing surface is in the best condition it has been in for years and it really helps all the teams at the club having a good pitch to play on. For my money it is one of the best in our division."

Boyle added: "Ian and the others running the junior teams are doing a great job. The section is a very vibrant part of the club. It is well run, it gets youngsters involved in Thackley and gives them an outlet to open-age football.

"These kids have seen others before them going all the way through to the first team and some have even gone on from that.

"They are as young as five when they start and go right through to the under-11s before they come under the youth section. It is very healthy for Thackley Football Club."

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