Tributes have been paid to Stewart and June Willingham who are stepping down after decades of work at Thackley.

The Thackley clubhouse was packed to the rafters for the joint celebration of the time they have selflessly spent tirelessly working for the Dennyfield outfit and it was a fitting evening for the pair to bow out.

Stewart has been secretary, programme compiler, press officer, part-time groundsman and even occasional bar tender for 37 years.

His long-suffering, according to Stewart, wife June has been match secretary and mastermind behind the hospitality that is almost legendary.

"It was nice to see so many faces and Jim McKay's speech was excellent. It was a fine night and June did a really good job organising it," said Willingham, who will be missed at the club after stepping down from the committee altogether.

Of the luminaries assembled, one received special praise from Willingham.

Terry Dolan was in attendance, not as manager of a rival non-league club but as a former player.

Willingham said: "We have had some very good footballers here over the years but I think Terry was the best."

That is some statement when considering Ian Ormandroyd, Tony Brown and Greg Abbott have all pulled on the red shirt.

There have been other players who did not make the full-time ranks but deserved to, such as England youth international James Riley and Amjad Iqbal, who may yet if his current club Farsley Celtic gain one more promotion.

"I know the competition is stiff but, as an overall player, Terry was the nearest we have had to perfect," said Willingham.

"I think we only got him because Jim (McKay) was our manager at the time and they had played together at Bradford Park Avenue.

"Terry is not just a great ex-pro, he is also a genuinely pleasant man - a gentleman, and you can't say that about a lot of people who have had his success in the game."