Thornaby FC’s senior teams stand firmly united this week.
The men’s and women’s sides have shared a single-minded focus to deliver crucial results on the pitch to honour inspirational midfield general, Shaun Ryder.
Ryder, a hugely respected and well-liked figure at Teesdale Park, had to spend time in hospital earlier this week to undergo surgery following a serious leg break.
The severe injury occurred during last Saturday at Boro Rangers, a match that was rightly abandoned with the score at 1-1.
Before the heartbreaking setback, the men’s team had been enjoying a resilient run of form, moving 11 points clear of the relegation zone after suffering just two defeats in eight matches.
The squad is now channelling their shock into motivation as they face a demanding schedule in the Ebac Northern League Division One.
Hitting the road to face two teams firmly in the play-off mix will be a tough test.
Thornaby travel to North Shields this Saturday before heading to West Auckland next Thursday, just ahead of the Easter period.
They will then return home to Teesdale Park to host Easington on April 7. The rescheduled date with Boro Rangers could also be added to the list next week.
Throughout this run, the group is completely united in the hope of delivering positive results for their sidelined captain.
Craig Skelton, Thornaby’s co-manager alongside Simon Kasonali, said: “The whole group was absolutely shocked by the severity of the injury sustained by Shaun.
“He is such a massive part of what we do here. However, the club has been completely overwhelmed by the messages and support from the wider football community following his leg break.
“Shaun is our leader, and the team would love nothing more than to step up and deliver more positive results now, doing it for him while he misses the rest of the season.”
The ‘one club’ mentality at Teesdale Park has been clearly visible, with the Thornaby women’s team also sending heartfelt messages of support to Ryder.
They are determined to produce the goods themselves in their ongoing promotion push, starting with a crucial home fixture against Brunsmeer Athletic this Sunday.
The women’s squad faces a massive run-in, knowing they cannot afford to slip up between now and the end of the season.
Aiming to win all six of their remaining matches, Thornaby is chasing down the top spot in the North-East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division.
Securing first or second place is highly likely to guarantee them a coveted promotion to the National League. Bradford City lead the table by eight points, but Thornaby remain hot on their heels with two vital games in hand.
They kept that momentum rolling last Sunday with a spirited 4-2 away victory over Ossett United. Sophie Curle’s brilliant double, combined with crucial goals from Eve Gatens and Sophie Tierney, sealed the points on an emotional afternoon.
Before kick-off, the team stood together to pose with Ryder’s No 4 shirt, sending a clear message of solidarity to the men’s captain.
Curtis Collantine, Thornaby women’s boss, said: “Shaun’s injury really hit the squad hard when they heard about it, as we are all one big family here.
“We were so pleased to deliver the three points at Ossett to show our feelings and let him know we are right behind his recovery.
“What we need to do now is concentrate on delivering the points and continuing the momentum we have built up.
“The players are working so hard, and they know that they can’t afford to drop their standards. They need to keep going and stay focused on the task at hand to achieve our goals.”
