Bradford footballer Tawheed Ahmed thrilled to be at Thackley

The Dennyboys have added the 23-year-old winger to their ranks after he impressed manager Danny Forest whilst at fellow NCEL Premier Division side Tadcaster Albion last season.

After a previous spell at Nostell Miners Welfare as well, Ahmed is set to reignite his career in Bradford after spending time at Silsden in the past.

The move back home, in footballing terms, has got him excited for the season ahead.

He said: “I’m delighted to be back and playing in and around Bradford.

“Thackley is a club that I’ve known for a while, and I feel very grateful to be here.”

Giving his key reasons behind making the move to Thackley, Ahmed said: “Of course, playing locally is massive for me but the coaches have also given me a great reason to move here.

“Danny Forrest and Matty Dempsey have been amazing since I arrived at the club, and they played a big part in me coming here; they spoke so well about the project.

“I know a few players who have played under Danny too, and they all had good things to say about his methods of playing and training, which is always nice to hear.”

It has been a seamless transfer for Ahmed so far, having scored a sublime solo effort in Thackley’s friendly against Steeton.

He’s hoping that his fast start to life with the Dennyboys will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season.

He said: “I’ve settled in well; the lads have taken to me kindly and the feeling around camp is a positive one heading into the new season.

“I’ve only been here for a few weeks, but I feel like I’ve been part of the group for ages.”

He added: “The goal I scored against Steeton was one of the best I’ve scored.

“I managed to collect the ball in my own half and just ran, and thankfully the ground opened up for me and I was able to finish the chance off nicely.

“It’s a good way to start my time here and I’m hoping that it can give me that confidence for the start of the season.”

Tahweed Ahmed (on the ball) carving his way through Steeton on the way to scoring (Image: Submitted)

A move to Thackley has offered Ahmed a welcome return to Bradford, but he admitted that his time away from the district has made him stronger as a person.

He said: “Playing for Nostell and Tadcaster has taught me that, mentally, football can be quite tough.

“Some weeks you can win a game and play really well, and the next week you’re only coming on for the last 30 minutes to try and make a difference when you’re losing.

“However, I’ve learnt to keep going and persevering even in the challenging times.

“I can look back at the past two years with fondness, although it has been difficult at points, but I know I’m in a better place for it now.”

Discussing his goals for the upcoming season, which gets underway on Saturday as Thackley host Beverley Town, Ahmed said: “As a team, I think the play-offs should be a minimum goal for us because we only just missed out on them last year.

“We’ve got a very talented squad and I feel that we have enough quality to be pushing at the high end of the league.

“On a personal level, I want to keep improving and enjoying my football.

“Scoring and assisting on a consistent basis is also a big goal of mine because if I can do that, then my teammates will be able to rely on me.”