One of our newest volunteers; Ste Grimshaw, has written a review of last season:
There was a growing sense of optimism among the Green Army as Bradford (Park Avenue) prepared for the 2025/26 campaign. Craig Elliott was about to embark on his first full season in charge, having been appointed four games into the previous season and successfully steadied the ship following the club’s back-to-back relegations. A respectable 10th place finish had restored a measure of stability and raised hopes of a promotion challenge in the season ahead. Those aspirations were reflected in an ambitious recruitment drive, which brought a host of exciting new additions to the club, alongside returning familiar faces who had impressed during previous spells with Avenue.
August
The Avenue were entering the new campaign on the back of an encouraging pre-season. Four wins from six friendlies, with the only loss coming against Folkestone Invicta of the Isthmian League (who would incidentally go on to win the Premier Division and earn promotion to the National League South), along with an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round victory over Mossley, provided the dressing room with confidence as they headed to promotion favourites Matlock Town on the opening day.
Avenue could have been forgiven for thinking the fixture list had been unkind to them as it presented a series of tricky encounters in August, but their resilience was evident in the opening rounds of the Northern Premier League – East Division. A hard-fought point away to Matlock Town to get the ball rolling was followed up with further draws at home to Emley AFC (another West Yorkshire side with lofty ambitions) and away to Hallam on a tricky, hilly pitch. The resolute character shown by Avenue to come from behind against both Emley AFC and Hallam seemed to inspire the side, as they rounded off the month with three consecutive league victories against Dunston, Pontefract Collieries and Ossett United, with new left-back Charlie Winfield proving particularly impressive.
September
Having exited the FA Cup in the Preliminary Round in mid-August at the hands of Avro FC, Avenue began September with an FA Trophy victory over Redcar Athletic on penalties, the side who would go on to finish runaway winners of Avenue’s NPL East Division. Little did Bradford know, this would mark the beginning of a fruitful cup-run in this competition which would see them eliminate rivals from their own division, and more than hold their own against higher opposition.
In the league, Avenue continued their impressive unbeaten start throughout the rest of the month. The Green Army bounced back from a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Grimsby Borough, a game that saw the visitors net two stoppage time goals to escape with a point, by securing back-to-back victories away to Blyth Spartans and at home to Lincoln United respectively. Sandwiched within these wins, Bradford claimed another NPL East scalp in the FA Trophy, seeing off Consett with a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Connor Shanks and Marcus Carver. A creditable point at Bridlington was then followed with a 2-1 home success against Ashington, a Joe Ackroyd screamer the pick of the bunch to round off another busy month.
October
The month began with further cup success for the Avenue as they eliminated another NPL East rival in Heaton Stannington, with a 2-1 FA Trophy victory setting up a home tie against Northern Premier side Morpeth Town. As matters returned once again to the league, Avenue suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of North Ferriby at the Horsfall Community Stadium. However, in true Avenue ‘no surrender’ spirit, the side bounced back from this disappointment to embark on another unbeaten run, avoiding defeat in all competitions for the remainder of the month. A Carver double secured the points away to Blyth Town, followed by consecutive draws away to local rivals Silsden, and at home to Heaton Stannington respectively.
As Halloween approached, the Avenue fans were in for more cup treats as the side recorded a comfortable West Riding County Cup victory over Pontefract Collieries, before knocking out Northern Premier club Morpeth Town on penalties in the FA Trophy.
November
Despite beginning and ending the month on a high, November proved to be a tricky time for the Green Army. A 1-0 home win over Garforth Town was followed by consecutive away league defeats; a 4-1 loss to eventual champions Redcar Athletic, and a 2-0 defeat at struggling Newton Aycliffe. Following this, the defence was tightened with consecutive clean sheets and a comfortable 3-0 victory away to Bishop Auckland in torrid conditions.
The month also saw the end of Avenue’s impressive FA Trophy run with defeat at National League North outfit Radcliffe. Despite the Greater Manchester side sitting two divisions above Bradford and holding home advantage, the Green Army twice came from behind in a spirited display, only missing out in a dreaded penalty shootout – a fate which would come back to haunt the side on the final game of the season.
December
Bradford’s fine cup performances continued in December as they opened the month with an impressive 3-0 victory away to Selby Town in the West Riding County Cup. Three points at home to Blyth Spartans followed, a game memorable for it’s conclusion with assistant manager Danny Ellis coming off the bench to net the winner in the 94th minute, sparking scenes of jubilation at the Horsfall. However, the year concluded with a string of worrying results. A hard-earned away point at Lincoln United was followed by consecutive defeats: first, a decidedly not-so-‘Good Friday’ loss at Emley, then a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Pontefract Collieries on Boxing Day.
January
Avenue started 2026 without a win in three games, eager to arrest their dip in form and make amends for the back-to-back defeats over the holiday period. What better chance to do so, then, with a trip to local rivals Brighouse Town on New Years Day. The Green Army rose to the occasion, with goals from Carver and Kareem Hassan-Smith securing a comfortable 2-0 victory in front of a crowd of 587.
In predictable January fashion, Avenue’s following home fixture against Matlock Town fell victim to the weather, but the extended rest period proved fruitful as the side returned to action in fine form in mid-January with an emphatic 4-0 away victory against Ashington; Carver’s brace continuing his fine form which would see him net four goals in three games across the calendar month.
Unfortunately, Avenue’s upturn in form was tempered by a shock County Cup exit at the hands of visitors Barnoldswick Town. Consecutive league draws followed, with a two-goal lead surrendered at home to Bridlington before the side showed some resilience to come from behind and salvage a point at North Ferriby.
February
February marked a welcome return to winning ways for Bradford, sparked by a memorable debut from Ben Andreucci in the rearranged home fixture against a strong Matlock Town side. The new signing announced himself in style with a brace, inspiring Avenue to a vital 2-0 victory in what was arguably their finest performance of the season to that point.
As it turned out, 2-0 became a recurring and favourable scoreline throughout the month. Identical victories followed at home to Blyth Town and away at Consett, either side of a frustrating 1-0 defeat to local rivals Silsden.
March
March threatened to derail what had been a promising campaign for the Green Army. A convincing 3-0 home victory over Newton Aycliffe lifted spirits among the Avenue faithful, but this optimism was curbed by consecutive away defeats at Garforth Town and Heaton Stannington.
With the dominant league-leaders Redcar Athletic next to visit the Horsfall, a crowd of 869 turned out in force and helped inspire the Avenue to a hard-earned 1-1 draw against the champions-elect. Buoyed by that result, Bradford ended the month on a high, edging past Hallam 1-0 in front of another impressive crowd.
April
An Easter weekend trip to fellow play-off contenders Dunston awaited the Avenue, but despite fashioning numerous gilt-edged opportunities, they were frustrated by an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Dan Lowson. The hosts made the most of that reprieve, with substitute Sado Djalo snatching a late winner just two minutes from the end. Bradford were now four points adrift of the playoffs with just four games remaining. The equation was simple – there was no more margin for error!
Just as they had done at the beginning of the year, Avenue looked to reignite their campaign against relegation-threatened Brighouse Town just two days later. Bradford ruthlessly swept aside a youthful Brighouse side with an emphatic 8-0 victory, but despite the dominant display, they remained four points adrift of the playoff spots.
With just three games remaining, Avenue headed east to Grimsby Borough knowing that Pontefract, the team occupying the final playoff spot, were playing host to champions Redcar. In swirling wind and roared on by an impressive away following, Avenue secured a vital 3-1 victory. It proved a memorable away day for the Green Army, with those in attendance fortunate enough to witness a sublime Carver freekick worthy of gracing any goal of the season compilation. Coupled with Pontefract’s defeat to Redcar, the result cut the gap to the playoff places to just a single point.
The final home game of the season was played out in front of another bumper crowd, Carver’s well-taken first half strike proving the difference between the sides as Bradford edged past a resilient Bishop Auckland team battling to avoid relegation. The previous evening, Pontefract had dropped further points in a 2-2 draw against Emley, meaning Avenue’s victory lifted them back into the playoff places with just one game of the regular season remaining.
Avenue arrived at Ossett for the final game of the regular season knowing that their fate was in their own hands. Matching Pontefract’s result away at Dunston would be enough to secure a playoff semi-final trip to Matlock. Ossett, however, were far from pushovers. With their own NPL East survival at stake, the hosts had every incentive to make life difficult for the Green Army. Two goals in quick succession shortly after the hour mark appeared to have put Avenue on course for the victory they required, but an 80th minute penalty converted by Ossett’s Ben Tweed made for a nervous finale. With news filtering through that Pontefract were ahead against Dunston, Avenue knew only a win would be enough to secure the final playoff spot. After what felt like an eternity of stoppage time, the final whistle blew sparking celebrations from both sets of supporters. Not only had Avenue secured a playoff berth, but results elsewhere also confirmed Ossett’s survival at the expense of Blyth Town and Bishop Auckland. Craig Elliott’s men could now turn their full attention to their midweek playoff semi-final away to runners-up Matlock Town.
The playoffs
The following Tuesday, a crowd of 1,268 witnessed Bradford’s stunning 2-1 victory away at Matlock Town in the playoff semi-final. Having finished 13 points clear of Avenue during the regular season, Matlock entered the tie as favourites. However, Avenue had no intention of following the script. Their talismanic striker, Marcus Carver, once again delivered, firing the visitors into a 23rd minute lead. The hosts responded positively and continued to press for an equaliser. Avenue’s resistance was finally broken on the stroke of half-time when Matlock were awarded a penalty, which Cameron Wilson calmly converted to level the scores at the break. The second half saw Matlock dominate possession and pile on the pressure, but they were repeatedly frustrated by a combination of resolute defending and a series of outstanding saves by Avenue stopper Jack Hall. As the tie appeared to be heading towards extra time, Avenue struck a decisive blow. Five minutes from time, they launched a swift counter-attack, with Ben Andreucci applying the finishing touch to once again haunt Matlock, just as he had on his debut back in January. The final whistle sparked scenes of pure jubilation among the travelling Avenue supporters and those following from afar. Against the odds, Craig Elliott’s men had booked their place in the playoff final, setting up a West Yorkshire showdown with Emley.
The final itself was a cagey affair, with neither side able to create many clear-cut opportunities. The best chance of the 90 minutes fell to Adam Haw late in normal time, only for Emley goalkeeper Porter to produce an outstanding save and keep the scores level. As the contest drifted into extra time, Avenue suffered a significant setback when captain Mark Beevers was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Emley’s Joe Clegg. It was Beevers’ second dismissal against Emley during this season and left Avenue facing the remainder of the match with ten-men. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Avenue’s defence stood firm, repelling wave after wave of Emley pressure to force the tie to a penalty shootout. Even then, the fortune appeared reluctant to favour Avenue. They lost both coin tosses, leaving Emley to choose both the order of kicks and the end at which the shootout would take place. After both sides converted their opening two penalties and Emley confidently dispatched their third, Avenue’s Jak McCourt saw his effort narrowly go wide of the target. Emley maintained their composure from the spot, converting the remainder of their penalties to secure victory and bring Avenue’s remarkable playoff run to a heartbreaking conclusion.
Looking ahead
After a remarkable finish to the campaign, in which Avenue won five of their final six league matches and overcame favourites Matlock Town in the playoff semi-final, there was further cause for optimism ahead of the final when manager Craig Elliott committed his immediate future to the club. Announcing the agreement, the club stated that it reflected “the board’s ambition to continue growth and progress on the pitch.”
Although promotion ultimately slipped away at the final hurdle, the side’s spirited playoff run, coupled with Elliott’s decision to remain at the helm, has provided renewed stability and optimism for the future. With strong foundations now in place, Avenue can look ahead to next season with confidence and belief.