Goalkeeper Ed Hall has left the club to join Northern Premier League side Farsley Celtic.
The 24-year-old was a popular figure at Avenue but found first-team opportunites limited due to the form of first-choice Steven Drench.
The Yorkshire international moves to Throstle Nest with the best wishes of everyone involved with the club.
Good luck, Ed!
Avenue have completed the signing of midfielder Ben McKenna from league rivals Curzon Ashton.
The 25-year-old returns for his second spell at the Horsfall Stadium, having spent three months with the club during the 2016/17 season. Alex Meechan, who is now the manager of the club’s academy, brought McKenna to Bradford from Stalybridge Celtic in July 2016. However, after 21 appearances, Southport swooped to take him to Merseyside.
He began his career with hometown club Burnley before being released in 2009, when he made the switch to Carlisle United. After starring for the club’s youth and reserve sides, McKenna was promoted to the first-team at Brunton Park and made two senior appearances. During his time with Carlisle, he earned call-ups to the Northern Ireland under-17, under-18 and under-19 sides.
After a loan spell with Annan Athletic in Scotland, he was released by Carlisle and dropped into non-league with Workington Town. His scintillating form with the Reds saw him make the switch to Stalybridge Celtic, where he made 76 appearances before linking up with the management team of Meechan and Matt Hill in Bradford. He also spent time on loan with Ashton United during his spell with the Celts.
He made 21 appearances for Southport after leaving West Yorkshire, before signing for Stockport County. Curzon Ashton manager John Flanagan then moved to secure McKenna’s services, snapping him up from their National League North rivals in February 2018.
McKenna is a cultured midfielder who will bring width and energy to Mark Bower’s side, as well as an injection of pace. Primarily a right-sided midfielder, he will help fill the void left by Wayne Brooksby’s departure and will be available for Avenue’s first pre-season friendly against Silsden on 5th July.
He becomes the tenth confirmed member of the 2018/19 squad.
Want to see McKenna in action next season then why not purchase your 2018-19 Season Ticket now. This year’s adult ticket comes with one FREE under-16’s Season Ticket, and is excellently priced at just £135. Concessions are priced at £110, students / apprentices at £30 and under-16s can pick up a 2018-19 league Season Ticket for just £20. To download a season ticket application form please click here
Ben McKenna is now available to sponsor and supporters are able to sponsor either his home or away kit for £60. To download a player kit sponsorship form please click here
Utility man Adam Nowakowski has agreed a deal to enter his third season with the club.
The versatile battler is as towering as he is popular with the Avenue faithful and is a player that Mark Bower was keen to tie down. Although primarily a central midfielder, he can operate anywhere across the backline as well as in forward roles. His tough tackling makes him an asset in defence but his combative style of play and imposing physical presence enables him to dominate midfields.
Nowakowski joined in October 2016 on an initial loan from league rivals Darlington but soon made the move permanent after impressing at the Horsfall Stadium. Prior to linking up with the Quakers, he plied his trade with Harrogate Town and made over 150 appearances for our Yorkshire counterparts. Injury ruled him out of the play-offs last season, but his vast experience of the National League North will prove vital as Avenue look to defy the odds once again.
The fan favourite had a message for Avenue supporters ahead of the new campaign after putting pen to paper on a new deal:
“I’m really pleased to have signed on for another year with the mighty BPA! I’m really looking forward to pre-season and it’s great that Mark (Bower) and Danny (Boshell) have managed to keep a lot of the squad together, it means that we can quickly pick up from where we left off last season.
The camaraderie with the lads is the best I’ve seen and the whole squad can’t wait to get back together next week. Green and white army – let’s be Avenue!”
Want to see Nova in action next season then why not purchase your 2018-19 Season Ticket now. This year’s adult ticket comes with one FREE under-16’s Season Ticket, and is excellently priced at just £135. Concessions are priced at £110, students / apprentices at £30 and under-16s can pick up a 2018-19 league Season Ticket for just £20. To download a season ticket application form please click here
Adam Nowakowski is now available to sponsor and supporters are able to sponsor either his home or away kit for £60. To download a player kit sponsorship form please click here
Manager Mark Bower has moved to retain the services of midfield general Nicky Wroe for another season.
The vastly-experienced Wroe served as captain last season, making a remarkable 48 appearances in all competitions. He joined in July 2016 from Yorkshire neighbours FC Halifax Town, bringing a wealth of experience from his time in league football to the Horsfall Stadium.
A promotion-winner from non-league’s top flight with Torquay United, Wroe has also represented Barnsley, York City, Preston North End, Shrewsbury Town and Notts County among others.
His energy levels, consistency and ability to retain possession in tight areas made him a favourite of Avenue’s management team last season, and the midfielder is likely to play a key role again next season.
Wroe is the eighth confirmed member of the 2018/19 squad, joining Steven Drench, Mark Ross, Shane Killock, Luca Havern, Nicky Clee, Oli Johnson and Adam Boyes in committing his future to Avenue. The club’s management team of Mark Bower and Danny Boshell have also agreed new deals in a promising start to the summer.
Want to see Wroe in action next season then why not purchase your 2018-19 Season Ticket now. This year’s adult ticket comes with one FREE under-16’s Season Ticket, and is excellently priced at just £135. Concessions are priced at £110, students / apprentices at £30 and under-16s can pick up a 2018-19 league Season Ticket for just £20. To download a season ticket application form please click here
Nicky Wroe is now available to sponsor and supporters are able to sponsor either his home or away kit for £60. To download a player kit sponsorship form please click here
Avenue will pay a visit to local neighbours Campion on Saturday 21st July in a pre-season friendly.
The visit to Scotchman Road will be the club’s final away friendly of the summer and will be followed by home clashes with Huddersfield Town’s academy and Barrow.
The Manningham-based outfit finished 9th in the NCEL Division One last season and will provide another stern test as Mark Bower looks to prepare his squad for the 2018/19 National League North campaign.
The action will kick-off at 12pm and further details will be released closer to the time, as is the case with all pre-season fixtures.
You can now view our complete pre-season fixture list below…
05/07 – Silsden vs. (Bradford Park Avenue)
Cobbydale Construction Stadium
7:45pm kick-off
07/07 – Hemsworth Miners Welfare vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)
The Fitzwilliam Stadium
12:30pm kick-off
12/07 – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Mansfield Town
Horsfall Stadium
Kick-off TBC
14/07 – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Yorkshire Regiment (Donald Bell Trophy)
Horsfall Stadium
3pm kick-off
18/07 – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Bradford City (Tom Banks Trophy)
Horsfall Stadium
7:30pm kick-off
21/07 – Campion vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)
Scotchman Road
12pm kick-off
25/07 – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Huddersfield Town Academy
Horsfall Stadium
7:45pm kick-off
28/07 – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Barrow
Horsfall Stadium
3pm kick-off
After a great season, Bradford Park Avenue placement students have provided feedback. Here is what some of them had to say about their time with the Park Avenue Teams.
If you would like to join the Bradford Park Avenue medical department for your placement, we have places available for next season, to register your interest please email tally@bpafc.com
“My sports therapy placement at Bradford Park Avenue was a thoroughly enjoyable experience that has definitely reaffirmed working as a sports therapist in sporting environments as my chosen career. Furthermore, this placement experience has further fuelled my desire to pursue this type of career. A huge part of the experience being so enjoyable was the role played by Tally, my supervisor. The help and guidance given by Tally in various areas such as handling techniques for exercises and soft tissue release, injury assessments, rehab program development and acute injury management has greatly developed me as a therapist. Another part Tally played in making this experience so enjoyable was how she treat me and the other placement students with the utmost respect and as her equal, making it an extremely comfortable learning experience. The management team, coaching staff and players also contributed to making this such an enjoyable experience as I was really made to feel part of the group. The club as a whole was an exceptional place to be on placement and a phenomenal club to be a part of for the duration of the 2017/18 season due to the great characters and personalities of all players and staff. I greatly appreciate the opportunity that the club gave me and also the understanding that I was there in a learning capacity. Overall, this placement at Bradford Park Avenue has made me a better therapist, putting me at a level where I feel confident to go and start work, shown me that this is definitely the area of work I want to build a career in and has provided me with a club that I will forever feel attached to due to the incredible experience I had as a part of it and because of the outstanding people involved at the club that I met while on placement.”
Jack Gaunt
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Therapy
Leeds Beckett University
My placement at Bradford Park Avenue and with Tally has really helped me get used to working around players and putting me into a situation which I had never come across before. Tally is really knowledgeable and helped me gain the confidence I needed to work in the university clinic. The players are also very welcoming as well as everyone else involved at Bradford PA. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for welcoming me into the club and allowing me this great placement.
Kimberly Phillis
BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
The University of Stafford
Tally was a fantastic placement supervisor. She was really insightful and helped you to grow as a sports therapist every step of the way from the beginning of placement right through to the very end. BPA was great club to gain experience under as not only Tal was fantastic but the players and managerial staff were all very welcoming, which helped me to settle in nicely. I have gained vital knowledge and experience from my placement at BPA and would highly recommend any students who are looking for placement/work experience to work with Tally and the club. Thanks again Tal for everything over the placement period, you were amazing and I could not of asked for a better placement supervisor.
Ellie Fowler
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Therapy
Leeds Beckett University
Following the excitement of Harry Kane’s last minute winner against Tunisa, the club will be opening the clubhouse on Sunday for supporters to come watch the next game against Panama on the big screen.
On the afternoon the clubhouse and bar will be open from 12.00pm until 5.00pm. Supporters will also have the chance to visit the Supporters Information Desk where the can sign up for their season ticket.
This year’s adult ticket comes with one FREE under-16’s Season Ticket, and is excellently priced at just £135. Concessions are priced at £110, students / apprentices at £30 and under-16s can pick up a 2018-19 league Season Ticket for just £20. To download a season ticket application form please click here
Supporters will also be able to sign up for a range of other low cost sponsorship opportunities ranging from player kit sponsorship to pitch squares.
The Clubshop will also be open and will be having a sale on all old stock with plenty of bargains to be had.
Today the club are delighted to announce the new badge for next season.
Gareth Roberts stated: ‘Although, we are in the process of changing ownership of the club to a Community Interest Company from the Community Benefit Society we are aware how important our fans are to the club. With this in mind we have decided to re-introduce the brackets and the club will now be known as Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC and we will be reverting back to the Coat of Arms badge. The club is committed to being part of the community and appreciate the commitment the fans make to this great club. This is a new era, albeit an old name and badge, and we are looking forward to the new season and your continued support.’
CEO Rob Stanley commented: ‘In one way we are stepping back to move forward. During discussions with fans and committee members it became apparent that a return to the old name and badge was high on everybody’s agenda. This club has a proud history and, hopefully, a bright future. We have to ensure the club is sustainable and we move forward one step at a time. We are determined to put this club at the heart of the community and increase our brand awareness within the City. Our fans are vitally important to us and we hope that they will show the excellent support they have shown over the years.’
If you haven’t got your season ticket yet for the 2018-19 season then what are you waiting for? This year’s adult ticket comes with one FREE under-16’s Season Ticket, and is excellently priced at just £135. Concessions are priced at £110, students / apprentices at £30 and under-16s can pick up a 2018-19 league Season Ticket for just £20. To download a season ticket application form please click here
The National League are teaming up with Prostate Cancer UK this week in a gruelling “7 Marathons in 7 Business Days” challenge.
Chief Executive, Michael Tattersall (pictured right), will be taking on over 180 miles of walking from today to support Kevin Webber (left)- an Ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK- and raise awareness and funds for the charity.
The walks will be held in Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester (x2), Preston and Liverpool until 19th June. Tomorrow’s walk in Leeds will include Alex Neary- Editor of The Non-League Paper- and Pitchero CEO Mark Fletcher.
They will be joined on each leg by representatives of partners of The National League- including Vanarama and UCFB- as well as friends from the football family.
The National League raised over £4,000 in funds for the Prostate Cancer cause at its annual Gala Awards Night on Saturday night.
For those wishing to donate, Michael Tattersall has created a JustGiving page, which can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michael-tattersall4
The National League’s social media accounts will keep you up to date with Michael and Kevin’s progress.
VANARAMA RENEWS ITS TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Vanarama, one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies, has today announced it has renewed its title sponsorship of The National League. This announcement comes after four successful years as title sponsor that began in 2014. Vanarama will continue to take the naming rights for the next three years across all National League divisions.
The Vanarama National League will receive great exposure with BT Sport continuing its excellent broadcasting of live matches and highlights for the next three years. Fans can also view video clips of all matches online, on mobile and across social media on the National League’s portals. By extending their winning partnership, Vanarama and The National League will continue to innovate and grow the competition – it also signifies Vanarama’s continued desire to be at the heart and soul of football.
Andy Alderson, CEO at Vanarama said:
“Since we decided to take title sponsorship of The National League back in 2014 we’ve seen growth as a company, but also growth in the popularity of non-league football. These leagues are formed of real, honest clubs with real honest fans and that resonates with us here at Vanarama and the services we offer.”
Brian Barwick, Chairman, The National League added:
“We’re immensely proud and delighted to announce a further renewal of our title sponsorship with Vanarama. The last four years have proven to be transformational for both the National League and Vanarama, and we look forward to continuing our unique and highly rewarding partnership.”
For all Vanarama media enquires please contact: Jasmine El-Gabban on 020 7499 2842 or jasmine.el-gabban@alpacacommunications.com
For all National League media enquiries please contact: Oliver Osborn on 0121 643 3143 or oliver@thenationalleague.org.uk
