Bradford (Park Avenue) make the trip to the Yorkshire Coast this weekend to take on Redcar Athletic at Green Lane in the Northern Premier League East Division.
Craig Elliott’s side come into the fixture on the back of a determined 1–0 victory over Garforth Town last Saturday, where Louie Chorlton’s thunderbolt proved the difference. Avenue showed real character to control the second half and protect their lead late on, earning a valuable three points that lifted them up to third place in the table.
The Green Army now face their toughest test yet against a Redcar side who have set the pace at the top of the division. The Seasiders, based in the Redcar and Cleveland area, have enjoyed a flying start to the campaign — winning 13 of their opening 16 games and scoring an astonishing 62 goals, the league’s highest tally by far. Their emphatic 6–0 win at Ossett United last weekend underlined their attacking power.
Avenue, unbeaten in six across all competitions, will be looking to continue their momentum and make a statement against the league leaders as they push to close the gap at the summit.
📍 Venue: Green Lane, Redcar, TS10 3RW 🗓️ Date: Saturday 8 November 2025 🕒 Kick-off: 3:00pm
For travelling supporters: If you’re using a Sat Nav, please enter TS10 3RL instead of the ground’s postcode (TS10 3RW) — this will direct you to Green Lane. The actual postcode may lead you down the back of a lane, so please check your route carefully before setting off.
Bradford (Park Avenue) can confirm that our Northern Premier League East Division home fixture against Consett AFC has been rearranged for Tuesday 25th November (7:45pm) at the Horsfall Community Stadium.
The fixture was originally scheduled for Saturday 15th November but has been moved due to our continued progression in the Isuzu FA Trophy, where we will now face Radcliffe FC away in the Second Round on that date.
We can also confirm our draw for the West Riding County Cup Second Round, with Avenue set to travel to Selby Town on Tuesday 2nd December (7:45pm).
Both fixtures promise to be exciting occasions as Craig Elliott’s side look to continue their positive form across league and cup competitions.
Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to announce the signing of striker Adam Haw from Cleethorpes Town for an undisclosed fee, further strengthening Craig Elliott’s squad as the season continues.
The club would like to extend its thanks to the Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund for their invaluable support in helping get the deal over the line.
Haw, 23, began his career at Guiseley AFC, before spells with Mickleover, Atherton Collieries, and Pontefract Collieries, where he caught attention for his sharp finishing and relentless work rate. He joined Cleethorpes in the summer of 2024 and quickly became a key figure in their promotion-winning side, scoring 20 goals in 49 appearances during the 2024/25 campaign, followed by four goals in 14 matches so far this season.
Now linking up with Craig Elliott’s side, Haw will be looking to continue his strong form in front of goal in the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division and is available immediately for selection in Saturday’s fixture against Garforth Town.
Speaking after completing his move, Adam Haw said:
“I’m delighted to sign for the club and thanks to Craig for wanting me in the group. I know a few of the players and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
First Team Manager Craig Elliott added:
“I am absolutely delighted to get this deal over the line. He is someone I’ve been chasing for a while.
Adam first came to my attention a few years ago, scoring goals and helping Pontefract Colls reach the play-offs. Since then, he’s gone on to improve his game at Cleethorpes, continuing to score goals and helping them to promotion last season.
His work rate is fantastic for the team and he’s still young enough to only get better. He lives fairly local, knows most of the lads, and has worked with my assistant Danny — so it ticked all the boxes for the type of player we wanted to bring into this team.”
Saturday 1 November 2025 | 3:00pm Horsfall Community Stadium, BD6 2NG
Bradford (Park Avenue) return to league action at Horsfall on Saturday as Craig Elliott’s side host Garforth Town in the Northern Premier League East Division.
Avenue sit 3rd after 15 games (W7 D7 L1), boasting the division’s best defensive record so far (9 conceded). Recent weeks have brought a mix of tight league contests and cup progress: a 0–0 draw with Heaton Stannington followed the 2–2 at Silsden.
Last time out Avenue defeated higher-league Morpeth Town 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the FA Trophy. Louie Chorlton put Avenue ahead in a dominant first half, before Morpeth levelled on 61 minutes. Jack Hall produced a vital late save to force the shootout, where Morpeth missed twice and Avenue advanced.
Craig Elliott said: “We put in a strong first-half performance where we dominated and played some great football. The only disappointment was not adding to the one goal.” On the turnaround after half-time: “They came out aggressively and pinned us in a bit. The wind played a part and we didn’t adapt as well as we could, but in the end we found a way to win, which is what matters in cup football.” Elliott also praised the shootout composure: “It’s not luck with penalties, it’s about technique and focus, and the players showed that.”
Garforth arrive 13th with 18 points from 15 matches. Their October results show variability: an impressive 3–0 away win at Bridlington and a 3–0 home win over Ossett United were balanced by defeats to Redcar Athletic and Heaton Stannington, plus a 1–1 draw at Consett. They have scored 22 and conceded 23, underlining the threat they pose in transition and from set-plays.
With momentum from last weekend’s Trophy progression and a strong defensive platform, Avenue will look to turn performances into three league points in front of the home crowd.
Saturday 25 October 2025 | 3:00pm KO | Horsfall Community Stadium
Bradford (Park Avenue) are back in cup action this afternoon as they welcome Morpeth Town to the Horsfall Community Stadium in the Isuzu FA Trophy First Round Proper.
Craig Elliott’s side come into the tie full of confidence following Tuesday’s 3–0 win over Pontefract Collieries in the West Riding County Cup. A brace from Connor Shanks and a goal from Tom Corner sealed progression to Round Two, extending Avenue’s unbeaten run and maintaining their strong momentum across all competitions.
Reflecting on that performance, Elliott praised his players’ professionalism and application:
“I thought we played really well and deserved the victory. It’s not easy to stay motivated in these games, but we’re unbeaten now and hopefully can keep the run going into the weekend.”
Elliott also highlighted the depth in his squad after several rotated players impressed, including Shanks and Moke, adding that the team are “taking both cups seriously” as they aim to continue their winning form.
Morpeth Town make the trip from Northumberland sitting 20th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, one tier above Avenue. The Highwaymen advanced to the First Round after a dramatic 3–1 penalty shoot-out win over Runcorn Linnets, following a 1–1 draw away at Stockham Lane.
Recent league form has been mixed — Morpeth have taken three points from their last three matches, including a 2–0 home win over Workington last weekend. They’ve found goals at both ends, with narrow defeats to last seasons East champions Cleethorpes (1–2) and Warrington Rylands (3–4) earlier in October showing their attacking intent but defensive vulnerability.
This is Avenue’s fourth consecutive home tie in this season’s FA Trophy, having beaten Redcar Athletic, Consett, and Heaton Stannington in the qualifying rounds to reach the First Round Proper.
Speaking ahead of the game, Elliott acknowledged that Avenue go into the fixture as slight underdogs against higher-division opposition:
“It’s not often we’re underdogs at home. We’re playing a team from the league above, and I’m expecting a tough match. But we’ll be ready, and I hope as many fans can come down and get behind us. We want to go as far as we can in this competition.”
Match Info
🕒 Kick-off: 3:00pm 📍 Horsfall Community Stadium, BD6 2NG
Bradford (Park Avenue) would like to extend our sincere thanks and best wishes to Junior Lead, Gary Ratnik, who departs the club this week after over four years of dedicated service to our junior and community programmes.
A message from Gary to you all is below.
Today is my final day of employment at the club.
When I first arrived at Bradford (Park Avenue), my goal was to make a real impact — to help develop something lasting for the next generation. Looking back now, I feel a great sense of achievement, even though the work is never truly done.
Our grassroots setup has become one of the best around, and the quality within our coaches, players, and culture has grown massively. I’m proud of how far we’ve come together — both technically and in the sense of belonging that runs through the whole membership.
The Performance Centre, now known as PlayerLab, reached over 140 participants at its peak. We’ve given our players incredible experiences — facing clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Leeds United, Hull City, Leicester City, Bradford City, Sheffield United, and Burnley — and even taking a team to the Belfast Cup. The programme continues to evolve with first-team players now involved in weekly sessions, which is something I’m really proud to have helped put in place.
Over the past three years, I’ve also been deeply involved in running our School Holiday Camps — with this summer welcoming over 75 young players, more than 60% of whom were new to the club.
It’s been a joy to introduce and drive forward the AveyFest Presentations, bringing everyone together to celebrate the achievements of the year, alongside two brilliant Junior Volunteer Award Nights, recognising all the effort and passion in our junior ranks.
When I first started, our involvement with local schools was minimal. Now, through teamwork and dedication, that’s grown to 31 hours a week of activity across multiple schools. I’ve loved helping to build the Enrichment Programme for children with SEN, and working closely with our scholars — mentoring them as young coaches, volunteers, and ambassadors of the club.
The club has changed so much since I first walked through the door just over four years ago. Back then, we had only the Pavilion and the Clubhouse. Since then, through collective hard work, we’ve seen the addition of new stadium facilities, modular changing rooms, offices, hospitality areas, and more.
Two projects I’ll always hold close are the café — born from the idea of creating a welcoming, safe space for our members and volunteers — and the new club entrance and shop, designed to improve safety and showcase our pride. Both were made possible by the amazing volunteers and young players who gave up their time and energy to help. I’m grateful to every single one of you who believed in my ideas and wanted to make BPA a better, stronger place.
Even as I leave, I’ve been able to help create a new museum and programme shop for everyone to enjoy on matchdays — something I hope will continue to grow.
I leave tired but proud. There’s always more to do, but I hope I’ve helped lay strong foundations for others to build upon. I can’t let go completely — football is part of who I am — so I’ll be continuing as a volunteer coach for the U10s. I’m sure I’ll see many of you at future matches, maybe in the bar rather than behind the entrance desk.
Finally, I’d like to thank Thomas McStravick for giving me the opportunity, and to all the coaches, parents, and volunteers who’ve stuck with me and helped build what we have today.
The Bradford (Park Avenue) Sports Foundation is proud to announce Brush Strokes of Belonging — a unique creative and active workshop taking place at Horsfall Community Stadium on Monday 27 October 2025 (10am–2pm).
Designed for young people aged 8–16 — with a particular focus on neurodivergent children and young people with autism, ADHD, and SEMH needs — this special event offers a supportive environment to express creativity, build confidence, and connect through sport and art.
Delivered in partnership with Burley Banksy (Andy McVeigh) and SENDiVERSE Festival 2025, the workshop will give participants the opportunity to design and paint large-scale football-themed banners that celebrate community, belonging, and self-expression. Each banner will be proudly displayed around the stadium, allowing young people to see their creativity showcased in a public space.
Alongside the art sessions, participants will also enjoy inclusive football activities led by Foundation coaches — promoting teamwork, fun, and physical wellbeing in a relaxed, supportive setting. The combination of art and sport reflects the Foundation’s mission to make every child feel valued, confident, and connected, both on and off the pitch.
The celebration doesn’t end there — all participants will be invited back for a follow-up event on Saturday 15 November 2025, when Bradford (Park Avenue) host Consett (3pm kick-off). The young artists will attend the match as official mascots, with their artwork displayed around the ground, celebrating inclusion, creativity, and community spirit.
💚 Event Details Date: Monday 27 October 2025 Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm Location: Horsfall Community Stadium, BD6 2NG For: Young people aged 8–16 (must be accompanied by a parent/carer) Focus: Neurodivergent children and young people with autism, ADHD, and SEMH needs
🎨 Follow-Up Event: Saturday 15 November – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Consett (3pm KO) Participants will attend as matchday mascots and see their artwork showcased around the ground.
A few weeks ago, the Bradford (Park Avenue) Sports Foundation was proud to represent our community at the Rotary District Conference, held at the historic Scarborough Spa.
The two-day event celebrated the outstanding work of Rotary clubs across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in supporting young people, the environment, health, and community wellbeing.
Our Community Director, Mat Everett, was invited to present as part of the Youth Showcase, delivering an engaging session on the Foundation’s partnership work with Rotary and the positive impact these projects are having in Bradford.
Mat highlighted the progress of key initiatives including Rotary Kickback, Breaking Barriers, and our ongoing Extra Time Club sessions — all designed to use football as a force for good, helping young people build confidence, resilience, and community connection.
The conference featured an inspiring range of speakers, including keynote presentations from Rev. Kate Bottley and Christa Ackroyd, alongside panels exploring youth engagement, leadership, and wellbeing. Attendees also enjoyed live performances from a Rotary Young Musician finalist, interactive showcases, and a live illustrator capturing the energy of the weekend.
💚 The Foundation would like to thank Rotary in Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire for the invitation and their continued support of our work. Together, we’re creating opportunities and changing lives through sport, education, and partnership.
Tuesday 21 October 2025 | 7:45pm KO | Horsfall Community Stadium
Bradford (Park Avenue) return to Horsfall on Tuesday night as they host Pontefract Collieries in the First Round of the West Riding County Cup.
Craig Elliott’s side head into the fixture unbeaten in three matches, following a goalless draw with Heaton Stannington at the weekend. Avenue created the better chances throughout but couldn’t find a breakthrough, with Marcus Carver, Joe Ackroyd and Kareem Hassan-Smith all going close in front of goal.
Captain Mark Beevers made his return from injury to lead the side and will hope to build on that display as Avenue look to continue their positive run of form and progress in the County Cup.
The two teams last met in August, when Avenue produced a convincing 3-0 victory at Ossett United’s Ingfield ground — goals from Beevers and a brace from Charlie Winfield sealing all three points in a strong away performance.
Tuesday’s clash provides another opportunity for Elliott’s men to maintain momentum ahead of Saturday’s FA Trophy First Round Proper tie against Morpeth Town, while offering valuable minutes to the wider squad.
Kick-off: 7:45pm Venue: Horsfall Community Stadium, BD6 2NG
🎟 Admission:
Adults – £6.00
Concessions (65+, Blue Light, Students, Armed Forces) – £4.00
The Bradford (Park Avenue) Sports Foundation has released a powerful new video showcasing the impact of its Breaking Barriers initiative — an education and prevention programme tackling knife crime, violence, and anti-social behaviour through honest discussion, lived experience, and sport.
The video features Councillor Naushad Moosa, ward officer for Royds Ward, alongside pupils who attended the event at Horsfall Community Stadium, where young people took part in interactive workshops, football activities, and inspiring sessions with guest speakers including Tim Haigh of Lived Experiences.
Councillor Moosa said:
“Knife crime doesn’t just affect individuals — it affects families, friends, and whole neighbourhoods. Too many lives have been changed or lost because of one bad decision or one moment of anger.”
“This workshop is about changing that story — it’s about awareness, prevention, and giving young people the confidence to make positive choices.”
During the event, pupils shared what they learned about decision-making, consequences, and responsibility:
“It’s been a great experience to come to Bradford Park Avenue because we’ve learned a lot — if you have a knife, you’ve got to think before you do something. If a friend tells you to do something wrong and you just do it, the police can arrest you, and like Tim said, it’s a horrible feeling.”
Another participant reflected:
“Violence is not okay. We learned so much about how to keep ourselves safe — and that carrying a knife could mean a lifetime in jail.”
Breaking Barriers was developed by the Bradford (Park Avenue) Sports Foundation in collaboration with West Yorkshire Police, the NHS, and Lived Experiences, to help young people see the real impact of violent choices — not through fear, but through understanding, empathy, and truth.
Councillor Moosa praised the approach, adding:
“This kind of work is proactive, not reactive. It’s about education, prevention, and reaching young people early — giving them the right tools to make better decisions.”
💚 The Foundation would like to thank Councillor Naushad Moosa, Tim Haigh, and all the schools and partners involved in delivering another meaningful and inspiring Breaking Barriers event.
