Isaac Marriott & Lewis Knight spoke to BCB Radio last week about their time with Avenue and the clubs plans for the future.
Check out the full interview here:
INTERVIEW: Management Duo Speaks to BCB Radio
Bradford (Park Avenue)’s management duo, Mark Bower and Danny Boshell discuss the club, squad and COVID-19’s effect on football with BCB radio.
Hear the full interview below, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking the link at the end of the video.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Avenue VS Histon Match Highlights – 12-04-2014
Towards the end of the 2013-14 campaign Bradford (Park Avenue) recorded a comfortable victory against Histon FC at the Horsfall Stadium.
Today we take a look back at that game that saw a brace and a goal for fan favourites, Chib Chilaka and Paul Walker.
HIGHLIGHTS:
MATCH REPORT:
Bradford (Park Avenue) recorded a comfortable victory against Histon FC at the Horsfall Stadium in The Skrill North.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, a well-respected minute’s silence took place before the match kicked off at 3.07pm.
Chib Chilaka scored two first-half goals to give the Avenue the lead at the break. The striker slotted home after James Knowles’ superb free-kick found Paul Walker, who spotted the run of Chilaka. Then, a minute before half-time, a brilliant run from Walker down the left flank allowed the winger to pass to Richard Marshall, but his strike hit the post, only for Chilaka to tap-in the rebound. The hosts sealed the win as Grant Black’s deep cross was brought down by Walker, and he curled a right-footed effort past the Stutes goalkeeper Charlie Grainger from 12 yards with the help of the post.
In a quiet opening spell of the first half, it was the visitors that created the better of the early chances. Matty Waters went close to giving his side the lead, as he fired a first time effort wide from six yards after receiving a cross from Michael Built.
Minutes later, the Stutes captain Charlie Day dispossessed Black in the middle of the park, and slipped a neat pass through to Waters, but the striker failed to trouble John Lamb in the Avenue goal from 16 yards.
Brian Page’s men were then punished as Chilaka’s strike gave the Avenue the lead. Knowles started the move with an exquisite 60 yard pass that landed at the feet of Walker on the touchline, the winger cut inside and played in Chilaka, who beat his man on the edge of the box, before side-footing into the bottom corner.
Following the goal, John Deacey’s men continued to press and were rewarded with their second goal, as Chilaka struck again to double their advantage. Walker burst down the left flank, crashing through two challenges before offloading inside to Marshall. The midfielder immediately charged into the box and opened up his body to curl an effort that beat Charlie Grainger, but hit the post, before falling to Chilaka who tapped in for his second.
The home side continued to attack in the second half and it wasn’t long before they scored again as Walker’s fine strike secured the win for the Avenue. Black received possession on the wide right from Chilaka and swung a deep cross that evaded everyone in the box, before falling to Walker at the far post. The impressive winger brought the ball down with his first touch and unleashed a curling strike with his right-foot that deflected in off the far post.
With ten minutes remaining, the home side nearly added a fourth from an unlikely goalscorer. The Avenue’s holding midfielder Jamie Price exchanged a delicate one two with Paul Beesley on the edge of the box, but his left-footed shot curled just wide from 20 yards.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lamb, Black (Bartle 77), Drury (capt), Marshall, Knowles (Harris 82), Howarth, Deacey (Maxfield 76), Price, Chilaka, Beesley, Walker.
Subs not used: Hotte, Davidson.
Scorers: Chilaka (31), (44); Walker (74).
Histon FC: Grainger, O’Malley (Baxter 79), White, De Havilland, Rumens, Libertucci, Built, Clunan, Waters (Clark 62 (Fulcher 67)), Freeman, Day (capt).
Subs not used: Naylor, Irso-Coombes.
Attendance: 312
INTERVIEW: (Part 2) Martin Knight Speaks To BCB Radio
Bradford (Park Avenue)’s Director of Football Operations, Martin Knight speaks to BCB radio.
Hear the second part of the interview on the video below:
INTERVIEW: (Part 1) Martin Knight Speaks To BCB Radio
Bradford (Park Avenue)’s Director of Football Operations, Martin Knight discusses the early end to the season in his interview on BCB radio.
Hear the first part of the interview on the video below:
Head To Head: Avenue VS Norwich
As anyone will know, Canaries like to sing, so it’s no surprise that the club with that nickname boasts the oldest known football chant on record.
The song is in fact older than the club itself, having probably been penned for Norwich Teachers or Caley’s FC in the 1890s. The writer of the song is often attributed as Albert T Smith, who became a director of Norwich City when the club was founded in 1902, and the song was adopted by fans of the club.
As this is the final article of our head to head stats against current Premier League giants, it seems fitting to see it out with a song, so here are the lyrics to Norwich’s song below:
In the days to call, which we’ve left behind,
Our boyhood’s glorious game,
And our youthful vigour has declined
With its mirth and its lonesome end;
You will think of the time, the happy time,
Its memories fond recall
When in the bloom of your youthful prime
We’ve kept upon the ball
Kick it off, throw it in, have a little scrimmage,
Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
On the ball, City, never mind the danger,
Steady on, now’s your chance,
Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal.
Let all tonight then drink with me
To the football game we love,
And wish it may successful be
As other games of old,
And in one grand united toast
Join player, game and song
And fondly pledge your pride and toast Success to the City club.
Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
On the ball, City, never mind the danger,
Steady on, now’s your chance,
Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal.
City!
City!
Now, onto the stats:
Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Norwich City
| Games won: | 5 |
| Games drawn: | 2 |
| Games lost: | 3 |
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Sep 1934 | Bradford Park Avenue v Norwich City | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 19 Jan 1935 | Norwich City v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 21 Sep 1935 | Bradford Park Avenue v Norwich City | W | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 30 Apr 1936 | Norwich City v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 4-1 | League Division Two |
| 29 Mar 1937 | Norwich City v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 3-1 | League Division Two |
| 30 Mar 1937 | Bradford Park Avenue v Norwich City | W | 1-0 | League Division Two |
| 01 Sep 1937 | Norwich City v Bradford Park Avenue | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 06 Sep 1937 | Bradford Park Avenue v Norwich City | W | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 27 Aug 1938 | Norwich City v Bradford Park Avenue | W | 1-3 | League Division Two |
| 24 Dec 1938 | Bradford Park Avenue v Norwich City | W | 3-0 | League Division Two |
Head To Head: Avenue VS Aston Villa
Founded in 1874, Aston Villa has an admirable trophy cabinet having won 7 first division titles, 7 FA Cups and 3 European titles, amongst others.
Apart from a dip in the 1970’s where they dropped into the third division, Aston villa has competed in the top two tiers of English football for their entire history. A history that stretches back before the formation of the football league, of which they were founding members.
Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Aston Villa
| Games won: | 3 |
| Games drawn: | 2 |
| Games lost: | 6 |
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Mar 1913 | Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa | L | 0-5 | FA Cup |
| 05 Dec 1914 | Aston Villa v Bradford Park Avenue | W | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 10 Apr 1915 | Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 27 Sep 1919 | Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa | W | 6-1 | League Division One |
| 04 Oct 1919 | Aston Villa v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 20 Nov 1920 | Aston Villa v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 27 Nov 1920 | Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa | W | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 17 Oct 1936 | Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa | D | 3-3 | League Division Two |
| 20 Feb 1937 | Aston Villa v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 4-1 | League Division Two |
| 27 Dec 1937 | Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | League Division Two |
| 27 Apr 1938 | Aston Villa v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 2-0 | League Division Two |
Football Family Appeal: Brighouse Town
The current climate has had a massive impact on everyone’s life and livelihoods.
Football, and in particular non-league football clubs, have not been immune to this.
Bradford Park Avenue’s neighbours, Brighouse Town have launched an appeal to raise much needed funds to help the club survive throughout the ongoing crisis.
In a post on their Just Giving page, Brighouse Town’s team stated:
“Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, like all businesses, we have had to shut down, which has resulted in all future income which the club relies on to cover its operating costs becoming non-existent.
This has resulted in us having to give away nearly all our club stock due to use by dates and the likelihood that the current situation is due to last several months.
Match day revenue and local sponsorship account for nearly all of the club’s revenue, Since the 1st of February -until the season was suspended, we had 1 home game.
We still had 4 home games to play, along with the local schools finals and two well attended major local amateur finals that are played at the ground at the end of the season, all of which are essential revenue for the club.
With the season being cancelled this has meant all future income for this season has ceased.
This has led to the club having a void in our income as existing bills and future bills still need to be paid.
The current situation is a threat to many football club’s continuation and existence and we are no different. We are looking for help from the football family the local community and business to help the football club fill this gap.
Without the community, Brighouse doesn’t exist. Everyone at the football club thanks you for your support any amount no matter how small will go towards ensuring the future of the club,
Brighouse town has set up a just giving page for donations to be made, If you would like to help, you can do so at the link below:
Head To Head: Avenue VS Bournemouth
Until recently, The Cherries have spent the majority of their time bouncing between the third and fourth tiers of English football, but 2015-16 saw them grace the top flight for the first time in their history, and they have remained there ever since.
Before changing their name to AFC Bournemouth in 1972, the side went by the name of Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. It’s during their time under this moniker that they faced Bradford in the third tier and the FA Cup.
Bradford (Park Avenue) VS AFC Bournemouth
| Games won: | 0 |
| Games drawn: | 3 |
| Games lost: | 2 |
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jan 1950 | Bradford Park Avenue v Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic | L | 0-1 | FA Cup |
| 09 Dec 1961 | Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic v Bradford Park Avenue | D | 2-2 | League Division Three |
| 28 Apr 1962 | Bradford Park Avenue v Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic | L | 1-2 | League Division Three |
| 22 Aug 1962 | Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic v Bradford Park Avenue | D | 2-2 | League Division Three |
| 29 Aug 1962 | Bradford Park Avenue v Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic | D | 1-1 | League Division Three |
Head To Head: Avenue VS Watford
Whilst Watford’s trophy cabinet doesn’t hold a candle (in the wind) to other premiership clubs, they’re still standing thanks to the support of a world famous musician.
Lifelong Watford supporter and international super star Elton John became club chairman in 1976 and declared an ambition to take the team into the First Division.
Soaring through the leagues like a rocket man, Watford climbed from bottom place in the lowest division of The Football League to top position in the highest division in just 7 years. They then started the 1982–83 season with four league wins from the opening five fixtures but were unable to maintain a title challenge, eventually finishing the season second behind Liverpool, which ensured UEFA Cup qualification for the following season.
Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Watford
| Games won: | 2 |
| Games drawn: | 3 |
| Games lost: | 4 |
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 1932 | Watford v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 04 Oct 1958 | Watford v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 2-1 | League Division Four |
| 21 Feb 1959 | Bradford Park Avenue v Watford | D | 1-1 | League Division Four |
| 24 Aug 1959 | Bradford Park Avenue v Watford | D | 1-1 | League Division Four |
| 01 Sep 1959 | Watford v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 1-0 | League Division Four |
| 02 Dec 1961 | Bradford Park Avenue v Watford | D | 1-1 | League Division Three |
| 21 Apr 1962 | Watford v Bradford Park Avenue | W | 0-2 | League Division Three |
| 02 Oct 1962 | Watford v Bradford Park Avenue | L | 3-2 | League Division Three |
| 10 Oct 1962 | Bradford Park Avenue v Watford | W | 1-0 | League Division Three |