26 Oct 2019

Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund

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After two initial meetings, the representatives of the newly formed independent BPA Development Fund have been selected.

The fund will be represented by:

Dave Stordy (chairman)
Pete Sowden (treasurer)
Sharon Burnett (secretary)
Trevor Haylings
Alan Ham
Roger Banks
Alan Dolby
Neil Fawcett
Dave Rawling

The aim of the body is to bring in much needed funds via variety of methods including social events, raffles, sponsorships and others, which will be highlighted in the coming months.

Starting from this Saturday’s home match against Southport we will have a designated desk in the club house both before, after and during half-time giving further information as well as selling event tickets.

We would like to start this week by having a push to sell more ‘pitch squares’ which are available at just £10 each which gets your name into the programme for the remainder of the season.

If you have not already purchased a square we would ask you to consider buying one or if you know of any small businesses that might want to advertise by this method in the programme please see those on duty at the desk.

This week will also see us selling tickets for our up and coming ‘Comedy & Curry’ night, with top class comedian Nini Gillian on Friday 29 November.

We will also be handing out tickets for our New Year raffle, if every home fan could take 2 books of tickets (5 x £1 tickets per book) we will make a few thousand pounds.

We will be holding our annual football programme fair in the club house on Sunday 8 December 10am till 1pm, more details to follow.

If any fans wish to join the committee please speak with a committee person named above, likewise if anyone one has any fund raising ideas please pass these on to the committee.

Thanks Dave Stordy (chairman)

23 Oct 2019

Charity Of The Match – Southport: Beyond Bea

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Each game we select a charity to support in association with the Horsfall Community Trust via a bucket collection. The money collected is split 50/50 between the trust and the charity, raising much needed funds to support local and national initiatives.

The chosen charity for this Saturday’s home fixture vs Southport is Beyond Bea and was nominated by Ryan Burston.

Beyond Bea is a charity based in Manchester, it was established by Steph, who is a Midwife. Steph has always had a keen interest in bereavement care since she started her midwifery training and since qualifying. In 2017, Steph’s daughter Bea was born and sadly died due to a severe brain abnormality. Combining her existing passion and her desire to create a legacy for Bea, Beyond Bea was established and now provides bereavement training throughout the UK for free. This year alone Beyond Bea will have training over 2000 students and health professionals.

Speaking about why he chose the charity, Ryan said:

“Beyond Bea offer free baby loss and bereavement training to healthcare professionals. The study days they provide help ensure people are looked after in the right way following the devastating loss of a child.

After losing my Daughter Adriana in April 2018 this charity has become one that is very close to my heart and the demand for their services is increasing, so every penny raised for them really does help.”

For charities such as this, every penny helps, so please dig deep and support this fantastic cause. You can also support them by following them online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondbeacharity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beyondbea1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondbeacharity/
website: https://www.beyondbea.co.uk

If you would like to nominate a charity for a future fixture, then please email info@bpafc.com

22 Oct 2019

Match Report: Avenue U19’s 5 – 1 Eccleshill United U19’s

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A ten man Avenue U19’s ran riot last night at the Horsfall Stadium, netting 5 times to secure all 3 points in the Northern Alliance Under 19 League.

A free kick in the 12th minute saw T. Ali open the scoring with a header from a well delivered free kick.

The second came just twelve minutes later as Lyons tapped in a loose ball at the back post.

Lyons then secured his brace just six minutes later, sliding in at the back post to extend the Avenue’s lead to three.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Avenue however, as H. Ali was shown a red card just moments before the half time break for lashing out after being fouled by Ab. Khan, who received a yellow for his part in the incident.

Eccleshill came out strongly in the second half, making the most of the one man advantage with a headed goal from Aw. Khan just four minutes into the half.

But despite an extended period of pressure the Avenue U19’s defended resolutely and Eccleshill were unable to break through.

Lyons then struck again in the 71st minute, counter attacking to take the ball past a rooted Eccleshill defence before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper to claim his hat trick.

Eccleshill continued to apply pressure, but a counter attack from debutante Scarowi in the 83rd minute sealed the result.

Man Of The Match: Lyons

Avenue U19’s Line Up:

Smith
Kenny
Ockerby
Mayfield
Wright
Douglas
Scott
Scarowi – 83′
Lyons (C) – 24′, 30′, 71′
T. Ali – 12′
H. Ali – Red:45′

Subs:
Haggas
Dracup
Moriarty
Warburton

21 Oct 2019

Academy Kick Off 2019/20 Campaign At The Horsfall Tonight

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The Bradford (Park Avenue) Academy will kick off their Northern Alliance Under 19’s campaign this evening at the Horsfall Stadium.

The side will face off against local rivals, Eccleshill United U19’s with kick off at 7:45pm.

Entry costs just £3 for adults and £1 for under 18’s.

Snacks and hot drinks will be served throughout the fixture in the clubhouse.

Come along and support the future of the Avenue as they seek to forge a career in the beautiful game.

17 Oct 2019

New Academy Website Launched

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As part of a modernisation of the club’s online presence, we are proud to announce the launch of a new website for the club’s Academy.

The aim of the new website is to work as a hub to attract young prospects to the club, but will also be utilised to keep supporters up to date with academy progress.

Speaking about the website, Des Hazel, the club’s Head of Youth Development and Recruitment said:

It’s a big step forward in terms of recruiting the best prospects from within the local catchment area, but also to those further afield. With the potential to follow a pathway to progress into semi-professional football it’s important that we get this message across and that we not only deliver, but look the part too.

The website, which will be developed further over time will be the source for all academy updates going forwards, but will also integrate with the first team website, allowing supporters to access all Avenue news in one place.

The website can be viewed at www.avenueacademy.co.uk and was built in house at the club, saving considerably on costs in relation to using a third party supplier.

The club can also confirm that work is underway to redevelop the first team website.

Associate General Manager Carl Marsden Said:

The website [referring to bpafc.com] was originally developed some time ago, and as technology has advanced, we’ve been some what left behind in terms of design and functionality.

As a club, our image is everything, it’s how we attract new supporters through the gate, as well as how we attract sponsors.

Further to this announcement, the club is happy to announce the addition of two more volunteers to the media team, including the return of Ben Harvey, who will assist in the day to day maintenance of the club’s website and media presence.

17 Oct 2019

ACADEMY TRIALS | October Half Term 2019

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Bradford (Park Avenue) are looking for the next generation of footballers to join the Academy for the 2020/21 season, as well as candidates to join our Under 19’s squad this season.

The club will be running trials for the academy and Under 19’s side this October half term at the University of Bradford training facility behind the Laisteridge Lane Student Village.

The trials will take place at 9am on the 28th of October 2019.

Address:

Laisteridge Lane Student Village Bradford
Laisteridge Lane,
Bradford,
BD5 0NH

To sign up for a trial, fill out the form below:

[contact-form-7]

15 Oct 2019

Last Chance To Pre-Order New Avenue Book

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Today is the last day to pre-order Diary of a Lost Cause – Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC 1966-1970

‘Diary of a Lost Cause – Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC 1966-1970’, records the final four years of the club in the Football League.

Covering all the day to day news, match reports, statistics, analysis and opinion, it also contains substantial present-day interviews with personalities involved at the time. These include former Avenue player and Director of Football Terry Dolan, Kenny Hibbitt who had a very full playing career and became a legend at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bobby Ham who served both Bradford clubs with distinction, and the late captain and manager Don McCalman, amongst many others. Each of these Avenue men have their own tale to tell which reveals an unfolding human story among all the strife.

A limited edition, it is available only through ordering in advance. To ensure you don’t miss this opportunity for an early Christmas present, for details email j.charnock@btinternet.com or write to the author, Jeremy Charnock, at 22 Rylands Avenue, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16 3NJ. Names of subscribers will be printed in each copy and a launch night is expected in November. The price of the book in hardback format is £25 (+£5 postage where applicable) for around 400 pages of nostalgia.

13 Oct 2019

Half time draw results – Hereford

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The winning tickets from yesterday’s half time draw are:

426 Green.

191 Yellow.

931 Green.

You can enter the half time draw for just £1 at any home game by seeing one of our ticket sellers by the gate when you arrive.

If you have a winning ticket and are yet to claim, simply bring the ticket with you to the next home game and see Trevor at the main gate.

Avenue are next at home to Southport on October 26th. K.O. 3pm

Photo: Sweeney nets his first goal at home to Hereford. Credit: John Rhodes

12 Oct 2019

MATCH REPORT | Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC 3 – 2 Hereford FC

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Bradford (Park Avenue) collect all three points in Mark Bower’s return to the Horsfall Stadium.

With a number of changes to the Avenue line-up, including a couple of familiar faces returning to Horsfall, positivity seemed to be instilled in the team right from the kick-off. Bradford had a number of early free kicks, most of which were well saved by Brandon Hall, the Hereford goalkeeper.

However, in the 9th minute Lewis Knight broke though before being brought down outside of the area by Hereford goalkeeper, Hall who was booked and there was another Bradford free kick to follow. The effort hit the wall and a scramble in the box lead to a chance for Adam Nowakowski who showed great composure to slot it low and under the left of keepers outstretched leg, giving Avenue the lead early on.

Both sides spent the next ten minutes trying to get the ball down and under possession, however neither could confidently retain the ball for a prolonged spell. In the 22nd minute Alex Hurst burst down the left wing and curled a fantastic cross into the back post where Lewis Knight was waiting to loop the ball over and around hall, finding the net to extend the Bradford lead to 2-0.

Hereford then started to grow into the game and following a series of corners found themselves with a chance for Tom Owen-Evans as he broke in behind the Avenue defence, only to be brought down by Green resulting in a penalty to Hereford. Tommy O’Sullivan stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it well past Joe Green, Avenue’s lead cut to 2-1, which it remained until the half time interval.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Avenue found themselves with a penalty of their own when Mitch Lund’s effort was well saved but Dan Sweeney was on the stop ready to score the rebound when he was dragged down. Sweeney took the penalty and slotted it low to the goalkeepers left, again extending Bradford’s lead to 2 goals, 3-1.

Just before the hour mark, a bouncing ball in Avenues box lead to a chance for Hereford and the scorer of their penalty, Tommy O’Sullivan, grabbed himself a brace, making it 3-2 after smashing in the loose ball.

With over half an hour left for Avenue to hold on to their lead they could not just sit back and had to push to extend their lead again. Sweeney had a couple of half chances, one coming from a long kick from Joe Green who provided great distribution all afternoon and was in fantastic form guarding his area.

After Hereford’s second goal they struggled to create another clear chance as Green and the Avenue defence held strong and dominated aerial balls in and around the area.

The sound of the referees full time whistle was greeted by ecstatic celebrations from the Avenue’s fans, a perfect way for Mark Bower to announce his return to the club.

Line Up:

Joe Green

Mitch Lund

Keith Lowe (C)

Liam Hughes

Josh Heaton

Lewis Knight (90’ for Iasiah Bazeley)

Germaine Agustien (70’ for Isaac Marriot)

Dan Sweeney (90’ for Andre Johnson)

Alex Hurst

Adam Nowakowski

Subs

Iasiah Bazeley (90’)

Isaac Marriot (70’)

Jon Moran

Andre Johnson (90’)

Brad Dockerty

7 Oct 2019

Fans Invited To Nominate A Charity For Each Home Game

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Bradford (Park Avenue) are launching a new charitable campaign in association with the Horsfall Trust where a nominated charity will be in the spotlight each home game.

Bucket collections will be run on matchdays with half of proceeds going to the nominated charity and the other half going to the Horsfall Community Trust.

Volunteers Wanted

The club is looking for volunteers to collect these donations at home games.

This is a vital part of the scheme and relies on the volunteers who are willing to give up a small amount of their time to make a big difference.

Have Your Say

The club is also asking for fans to get involved with the scheme in terms of putting forward charities to be nominated. If you would like nominate a charity then email info@bpafc.com with the name of the charity you would like to nominate, a brief explanations of what type of work the charity does and why you feel the charity deserves the clubs support.

Nominated Charity: Hereford FC 12th of October

The first charity nominated is the National League endorsed Prostate Cancer UK’s Manarama: The Drive to Save Lives scheme who aim to raise much needed funds to help stop a disease killing one man every 45 minutes.

Pin badges and wristbands will be available for donation to the charity at Saturdays match against Hereford.