Football fans, inside and outside The National League are now entering the last four weeks for the opportunity to take advantage of the great offer to obtain tickets for this season’s Vanarama Big Day Out 4, featuring the National League Promotion Final at Wembley on Saturday 12th May.
Get your tickets now before it’s too late.
Following the postponement of the Salford City game on Saturday, both clubs have agreed for the match to be rearranged for Tuesday 20th February 2018 with a 19:45 kick off.
Mark Bower’s depleted squad received a huge boost ahead of Monday’s clash in the shape of two loan signings.
The Avenue boss raided two of his former clubs to secure the signatures of Bradford City’s Dan Pybus and Guiseley’s Frank Mulhern on Friday, and both are available for the meeting with Gainsborough.
Experienced midfielder Danny Boshell will miss out through suspension following his dismissal against Nuneaton Town, and winger Wayne Brooksby’s hamstring troubles are likely to sideline him once again. Defender Mark Ross is also a doubt having limped out of the 2-1 defeat to York City back in mid-January.
French wideman Antoine Remi Recizac wasn’t involved against Nuneaton but could potentially be named in the squad for Monday alongside fellow recruit Adam Smith, who made his debut at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium from the substitutes bench. Smith will be lining up against familiar faces should he be involved on Monday, having made an appearance for Trinity in early January in a 4-0 defeat to Blyth Spartans. Former Leeds United forward Mulhern and ex-England youth international Pybus are just two of four players hoping to appear at the Horsfall for Avenue for the first time, with neither Recizac nor Smith having represented the club at home since joining.
Trinity were scheduled to travel to Curzon Ashton on Saturday but, similarly to Avenue, saw their fixture fall victim to adverse weather conditions.
The previous week had been a fruitful one for Dave Frecklington’s side, as their form picked up and saw them claim six points from home games against Alfreton Town and Chorley.
Prior to the victories, however, Trinity had lost three consecutive games without scoring a solitary goal.
Avenue’s January form wasn’t much better, as a tough run of fixtures led to the enduring of a winless month. Despite this, the Yorkshire side remain nine points clear of Monday’s opponents and find themselves eighth in the National League North. Trinity are hovering dangerously above the relegation zone and are 19th.
Tickets for Monday night’s game are priced at just £10 for adults, £7 for concessions, £5 for students and £2 for under-18s. Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a thoroughly entertaining affair at the Horsfall Stadium.
Bradford Park Avenue V Gainsborough 5 Feb 2018 19.45 KO
Following a pitch inspection this morning the game against Salford City has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Guiseley striker Frank Mulhern has joined Bradford Park Avenue on a 3 month loan.
Capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-18 and Under-19 level, Mulhern started his career in the Huddersfield Town Academy when he joined at Under 9 level in August 2005. After nearly 4 years with Huddersfield Town he departed for Leeds United in May 2009. He subsequently turned professional with the Elland Road club in the summer of 2015 following a two-year scholarship. However he was released and re-joined Huddersfield Town’s Under-23 Development Squad in February 2016, before joining Guiseley at the start of the current season. Mulhern has also had brief loan spells with Southport and Alfreton.
Frank will be available to go straight in to the team for the Salford City game on Saturday, subject to FA approval.
Mark Bower has secured the services of young midfielder Dan Pybus from neighbours Bradford City on an initial one month loan.
The attack-minded player started his career at Sunderland where he was part of their Under 23 and Under 18 squads. Playing predominately as a central or attacking midfielder, Pybus netted an impressive 15 goals in 23 games for Sunderland’s youth team in the 2015/2016 campaign. After a spell on loan at Derby County he joined Bradford City in March 2017. Since joining Bradford City he has made two 1st team appearances and has been a regular in their Development Squad. Pybus has also been capped at Under-16 level for England.
Pybus will be no stranger to the Horsfall Stadium or Bradford Park Avenue, having played in the Tom Banks Memorial pre-season friendly at the start of the current season.
Dan will be available to go straight in to the team for the Salford City game on Saturday, subject to FA approval.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE – MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Mark Yates – Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors boss Mark Yates (pictured right) has taken to life back in the Vanarama National League like a duck to water.
The side began 2018 bottom of the fifth-tier, with a worrying seven points separating them from safety.
But a confidence-boosting victory over Maidenhead United, followed by a goalless draw at league leaders Macclesfield Town helped put the Moors’ survival bid back on track.
Free-scoring Solihull fired six goals in two further wins against Woking and Dagenham & Redbridge to cut the gap to safety to just a point.
With Yates now establishing himself at The ATG Stadium with assistant Tim Flowers (pictured left), all eyes will be on the Moors heading into the survival run-in.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE – PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Sam Wood – Eastleigh
It’s been a great month for Eastleigh on the field, but a tough one off it.
Last week it was announced club founder Derik Brooks had passed away.
The Spitfires, however, have been in fine form in January, winning all four matches and moving into the top half of the Vanarama National League table.
Former Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers man Sam Wood has played an important role from left-back and with his pinpoint delivery from set-pieces and wide positions.
With key contributions at both ends of the pitch, Wood earns the accolade for January 2018.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH – MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Jason Ainsley – Spennymoor Town
It may be the first season for Spennymoor Town in the Vanarama National League North, but the side from County Durham are making an excellent impression.
While sitting fourth in the table, Ainsley has also masterminded a strong challenge in the FA Trophy, beating Solihull Moors to reach the final 16 of the competition.
League wise, Spenny faced several of their rivals for a place in the top seven, managing victories over Blyth Spartans and Bradford Park Avenue to start the month.
A creditable draw at Bootham Crescent versus York City- a side four divisions above them just two seasons ago- and the home defeat of Tamworth concluded a strong January for the new boys in the sixth-tier.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH – PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Shane Byrne – Brackley Town
Victory over top of the table Salford City in their final match in January showed just why Brackley Town have been tough to beat and score against this campaign.
Shane Byrne- a tough tackling Irishman at the heart of the Saints midfielder- has been an important part of Kevin Wilkin’s side, unbeaten during the opening month of 2018.
January began with four points in matches against Nuneaton Town and Leamington, before Brackley dealt well with a long midweek trip up to Barrow, coming away with a fairly comfortable 2-0 win in an FA Trophy replay.
Two further results in the aforementioned victory against Salford and at Tamworth put Brackley in a commanding position towards the top of the Vanarama National League North.
The midfielder’s stand out influence since the New Year earns him the award.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Tony Burman – Dartford
An unbeaten January has maintained Dartford’s position at the top of the Vanarama National League South.
Tony Burman will be hoping to add a fourth promotion with the club to his CV after a fine start to season for the Darts, with a three point lead over their nearest challengers.
The table toppers won all three home matches during the first month of 2018, including a strong Havant & Waterlooville outfit plus Whitehawk, who were unbeaten during January up until that point.
After narrowly missing out in the play-off semi-finals last season for promotion to the fifth-tier, Burman and co will be driven to make amends this time around.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Gold Omotayo – Whitehawk
The end of 2017 was one to forget for Whitehawk.
Without a win in the opening 23 matches and a 19 point gap from safety, some thought the writing was already on the wall for Steve King’s men.
But the Hawks seem to have struck gold with their new star man Gold Omotayo, a Swiss-born striker making quite a name for himself in the National League game, scoring five goals in as many games this month.
A brace for the 24-year-old earnt Whitehawk a first league victory of the season at Eastbourne Borough on New Year’s Day.
Goals in matches against Truro City and at Oxford City both proved to be winners, and have provided the Hawks a glimmer of hope in their battle against the drop.
Could this be the kick-start to one of the greatest of all escapes?
Avenue will be targeting a scalp over league leaders Salford City after enduring a winless January.
Mark Bower’s side haven’t tasted victory since Boxing Day, when a late rally saw off Curzon Ashton and fans were treated to a sublime solo effort from Wayne Brooksby.
Brooksby’s hamstring troubles mean he is unlikely to feature against the table-toppers, and Mark Ross is also a doubt having missed out on last week’s draw against Nuneaton Town. New signings Antoine Remi Recizac and Adam Smith, however, could be in line to feature with the latter having made his Avenue debut in last week’s goalless draw. Goalkeeper Ed Hall is available after featuring for Yorkshire last Sunday.
A positive result for Avenue on Saturday could provide a favour for Yorkshire rivals Harrogate Town, who still trail Salford by four points despite their title rivals slipping up against Brackley Town last week.
Prior to the Brackley defeat, Salford had won three consecutive league games, with former Barnsley marksman Mike Phenix notching in two of the three victories.
Goalkeeper Max Crocombe was the centre of controversy in Salford’s last meeting with Avenue, and he is likely to start having not missed a game since mid-November.
Salford’s squad has been bolstered since their visit to the Horsfall last October, with midfielders Tom Walker and Nick Haughton penning deals with the club in January. Walker joined from National League North rivals FC United of Manchester, and Haughton returns for his third stint with Salford having enjoyed two loan spells at the club whilst on the books of Fleetwood Town.
Following the recent exciting news that the sports academy will be re-locating to the Horsfall Stadium, we are now pleased to announce that we are inviting applications from male and female students (16-18 year olds) who are interested in a career in the sports industry; the college is open to all students with an interest in Rugby (both codes) and Football.
Students will study for a BTEC Level 2 or 3 dependent on their academic qualifications. Students can expect professionally delivered training and education, healthy learning environment, regular evaluation and feedback from coaches, support and encouragement during their time at the academy, and advice on future career progression.
Our aim is to improve and develop young players through challenging, enjoyable, and energetic training sessions. This will help develop the players tactical knowledge, and game understanding.
We are now accepting application forms for September 2018 so for further information and an application form please contact:
Rob Stanley – info@horsfallcollege.com
Alex Meechan – meeks80@tiscali.com
Alternatively please click on the link below to download an application form:
Horsfall College Of Sport Application Form
