Thackley boss Dave Morgan felt all of their players deserved to be in the squad for Wednesday night’s West Riding County Cup final at Valley Parade, and admitted it was his worst job as boss deciding who made the cut.
Morgan said: "For weeks, ever since we won the semi-final at Goole on March 1, all the talk has been of Valley Parade and the cup final. I can totally understand that but it’s been driving me nuts.
“We had the conversation in the dressing room so many times after training sessions.
"Who was going to be in the squad, who wasn’t, who would be starting and who wouldn’t, and I would stand in front of them all thinking ‘dear oh dear don’t you realise how hard this is going to be for me’, and knowing that they didn’t care about that.
“All they were worried about was being one of the ones in that squad. I know they have all been a part of the season and all worked hard. I know they have all done a job when asked, put themselves on the line and could all be relied on.
“But I also knew I had to leave some of them out. I told them way back that I had 16 shirts and they couldn’t all have one. I also said they all deserved one in one way or another but that the decision was mine.
“I’m the boss, I’m in charge and I choose the team and squad. I live or die by my decisions and I will be the one asked to vacate the premises if we are not doing well.
"At times like this it’s not a nice job but you have to be strong enough, brave enough and tough enough to make those decisions.
“I told them that some would be disappointed but they would have to take that disappointment and come back a stronger man.
"I also said that they are young enough to go on and play in these big games in the years to come - none of them are in the last-chance saloon. They are not old stagers with one last chance of glory.
"There will be other days for the ones who missed out and the ones who were in a losing side in a big cup final.”
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