Match Preview: Blyth Spartans Vs Bradford Park Avenue Saturday 17th February

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Avenue face a stern test this Saturday, as they visit a Blyth Spartans side riding high on a wave of confidence after back-to-back 3-0 victories.

Blyth disposed of Tamworth on the Lambs’ home turf last night, with long-serving winger Robbie Dale netting a hat-trick. Mere days before, they had comfortably defeated fellow play-off contenders Brackley Town at Croft Park thanks to a Dan Maguire brace and a strike from Jarrett Rivers.

Saturday’s opponents lie fifth in the league table, six points ahead of Avenue and one goal ahead of Mark Bower’s side on goal difference. Avenue do, however, have a game-in-hand on their rival Green Army.

February was kickstarted with a 5-0 rout of Gainsborough Trinity for Avenue, but the play-off chasers slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Darlington last Saturday following a second-half strike from former Bradford City midfielder David Syers. A win on Saturday would only be Avenue’s second of the calendar year, but they still find themselves firmly in contention for a top-seven finish thanks to impressive form in the latter stages of 2017.

Defender Mark Ross was the only absentee in last week’s defeat to Darlington and is once again a doubt for the trip to Croft Park. Assistant Manager Danny Boshell is available for selection after serving his suspension, but Mark Bower may opt to hand another start to loanee Dan Pybus.

Take a look at our guide to Saturday’s opponents below…

THE GAFFER:

Alun Armstrong

42-year old Alun Armstrong took charge of Blyth in September 2016 and guided the Spartans to the Northern Premier League title in his first-ever campaign in the dugout. As a player, he represented Avenue’s neighbours Bradford City during a brief loan spell in the 2003-2004 season, as well as featuring for Yorkshire sides Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers on loan in 2000 and 2006. His most successful spells, however, were enjoyed outside of Yorkshire. The former forward made 160 appearances for Stockport County between 1994 and 1998 after ascending the youth ranks of Newcastle United, and found the back of the net on 49 occasions for the Hatters. He also represented Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, Darlington and Rushden & Diamonds in a career spanning 14 years, before retiring after a very brief stint with Newcastle Blue Star. Armstrong famously scored the only goal during Ipswich’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan in a UEFA Cup first leg tie in 2001.

KEY PLAYERS:

 Jarrett Rivers

 24-year old winger Rivers made ten appearances for Blackpool before re-joining Blyth in 2016 and extended his contract with the club last month. A pacey winger known for being a constant threat to defenders, he made the headlines in December 2014 after his 90th-minute winner dumped Hartlepool United out of the FA Cup in the second round and saw Blyth advance in the competition.

Robbie Dale

Despite reaching the age of 33, Dale remains one of the biggest talents outside of league football and was on the scoresheet in Blyth’s defeat to Avenue back in November. He has made over 500 appearances in the green and white of Blyth since marking his debut with a hat-trick against Emley (then known as Wakefield & Emley) in 2005 and has helped the club reach the third round of the FA Cup on two occasions. The winger was named the Evo-Stik Premier Division Player of the Year in 2015 and turned down a contract with Oxford United as a 21-year-old. He will line-up on Saturday looking to continue his rich vein of form having netted a hat-trick in Blyth’s recent win over Tamworth.

Daniel Maguire

A forward who can also operate on each flank, Maguire is certainly one for defenders to watch out for. He scored 23 goals in 42 appearances as Blyth romped to the Northern Premier League title last season and has represented England C. Maguire is no stranger to football in Yorkshire, having spent two months with Halifax Town in 2015. The dangerous attacker will be looking to add to his already impressive goal tally for this season, having notched 16 so far.

FORM:

DLWLWW

Written by Tom Coates

 

 

CBS Director Nominations

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The period allowed for nominations to become a director of Bradford Park Avenue CFC has now closed, with 3 nominations received.

At the AGM on Thursday 15th February 2018 members will be able to vote for the appointment of directors. In the notice of the meeting we allowed members until Monday 12th February 2018 to make nominations.

Following a change in the CBS rules at the last AGM, the rules now allow for between 6 and 10 directors but we currently have 12. In the AGM notice it was confirmed that both Phil Lawler and Dave Stordy would be stepping down to bring the number of directors down to 10 as per the rules. However due to a change in personal circumstances Paul Wood has now informed the board he will be stepping down. Due to this Dave Stordy has committed to remain on the board and will no longer be stepping down. The club would like to place on record their thanks to both Phil and Paul for all their hard work and support during their time on the board.

In addition to the 2 directors stepping down a further 3 directors will be stepping down but will be able to stand for re election if they wish as per the CBS rules. The 3 directors stepping down are John Dean, Ben Harvey and Joe Mosley.

The club has received 3 nominations for Director and all nominations are shown below. Since there is room for all nominees within the maximum allowed, members will be invited to vote for all nominees en bloc.

BEN HARVEY

I am an existing Director seeking re-election to the board. I am Bradford born and bred, married with a young son of 3 and I have been following / involved with Bradford Park Avenue for the last 6 / 7 years. My professional background is Financial Services in which I have worked for the last 10 years. I currently work locally for the Yorkshire Building Society Group where I have experience in a number of different roles.

I am very passionate about the development of the club both on and off the field and I would like to continue in my role of Director so I can continue offering my skills and experience to help the club move forward. I feel I have been a good link between the members and the board, and always ensure the members views are heard. Currently through overseeing the match day operation, I am committed to improving the match day experience for both new and existing fans to help the clubs support grow and take the club forward.

Proposed by Neil Fawcett Seconded by Dave Stordy

DR JOHN DEAN

I am an existing Director who is seeking re election.

I am 63 years old, was born in Horsforth and have always lived in Pudsey. After completing my education at Leeds University, where I gained a First Class B.Sc honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 1977 and a Ph.D in 1979, I spent nearly 28 years in the design of novel broadband microwave components for advanced radar applications at Filtronic Components Limited (FCL) in Shipley. I worked closely with Professor David Rhodes and in 1985 we were awarded the Queens Award for Technology presented by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. I held a number of senior positions at FCL including Engineering Director.

I am very interested in sport and have been a keen supporter of Bradford Park Avenue since the age of 8 years when I attended matches with my father, Leonard Dean, who was also a very keen Avenue supporter and who had witnessed the club in its glory years of the 20s, 30s and 40s. I have the Avenue blood running through my veins obtained through my father and I was privileged to be made Chairman of the football club in 2005, a post I have held to the present day. Over the years I have built up considerable experience in the role of Chairman and representing this football club in an official capacity. There has been many highs and lows in the last 13 years but there is an exciting future ahead and I would like to continue to support the progression of the club going forward.

Proposed by Ben Harvey Seconded by Neil Fawcett

JOE MOSLEY

I am happy to be considered to stand again as a board director for Bradford Park Avenue Community Football Club to continue both the development of the stadium and adjoining playing fields, and all other facilities and services that will serve to support both the Club’s and it’s wider Community ambitions.

Proposed by John Dean Seconded by Ben Harvey

Community Benefits Society AGM

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Just a quick reminder for members of the Community Benefit Society that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 15th February 2018 at 18:30 in the Clubhouse. Please note anyone who is not a member of the CBS for the current year will not be allowed entry to the meeting.

Formal notice was sent to all CBS members on Monday 29th January 2018.

As previously confirmed any member wishing to propose a resolution at the meeting must give formal notice of the resolution to Director Ben Harvey, no later than Monday 12th February 2018. The notification must include the exact wording of the resolution and the reasons for it.

Nominations for the appointment of any new Directors must be proposed and seconded in writing, the nominations are to be sent to Director Ben Harvey no later than Monday 12th February 2018.

All resolution proposals and Director nominations are to be sent to bpafc@outlook.com

The Board

Match Report: Bradford Park Avenue 0-1 Darlington

Syers strike sinks Avenue

Avenue suffered a 1-0 defeat to an in-form Darlington side, despite the Quakers being reduced to ten men in the latter stages.

Clearly satisfied with the convincing manner of Monday night’s rout of Gainsborough Trinity, Mark Bower named an unchanged squad for the visit of a Darlington side that hadn’t lost since the 10th of January.

Avenue started brightly and had opportunities to break the deadlock in the early stages. Wayne Brooksby drew an early stop from Aynsley Pears and Luca Havern leapt to meet a corner before clipping the crossbar with a powerful header.

The visitors grew in confidence as the game progressed and began to start asking questions of the Avenue backline. Havern was forced into making a crucial sliding interception to prevent Josh Gillies latching on to a Stephen Thompson through-ball shortly before Reece Styche rifled over with an audacious overhead kick.

Thompson was a persistent threat for the Quakers and came close to etching his name on the scoresheet with a low drive from distance.

The visitors emerged for the second-half with a quicker tempo than they had demonstrated previously, and a breakthrough seemed imminent. Styche squandered a golden opportunity to edge Darlington ahead when he bundled a Galbraith cross past the wrong side of the post.

They did, however, break the deadlock when the dangerous Thompson embarked on a mazy run down the right before pulling back to David Syers. The midfielder then steered past a helpless Drench to give Darlington a deserved lead.

The midfielder then came close to doubling his tally when he broke clear of his marker in the box, but he headed wide with only Drench to beat.

Avenue finally found themselves on the front foot for a brief spell as the final whistle approached, but Jamie Spencer’s tame effort couldn’t find the back of the net after Nicky Clee cut the ball back to the midfielder.

Frank Mulhern offered a spark in Avenue’s tiring frontline, with the forward’s introduction rejuvenating Mark Bower’s side in the final fifteen minutes.

Further hope was offered when Darlington’s Stephen Thompson saw red for a second bookable offence after a dive, but the visitors held on to seal an impressive victory.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Toulson (Mulhern 68’), Clee, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby (Vidal 50’), Pybus (Nowakowski 76’), Boyes, Johnson, Spencer.

Unused substitutes: Hill, Smith.

Darlington: Pears, Trotman, O’Hanlon, Turnbull, Heaton, Galbraith, Gillies (Brown 84’), Wheatley, Styche (c) (Mills 89’), Syers, Thompson.

Unused substitutes: Scott, Bancroft, Saunders

Attendance: 773

Referee: David Underwood

Gaffers Notes: Bradford Park Avenue Vs Darlington Saturday 10th February

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On Saturday we welcome Darlington to Horsfall for another big game. Having forced our way back in to the play off places we want to stay there, but to do that we must make sure we approach the game in the same way we approached Monday night. Darlington are in good form themselves, are unbeaten in 4 and have won their last two including a 3-0 win over Blyth last weekend. In Tommy Wright they have a manager who likes his team to play with no fear and attack the opposition, so the game should be quite open and hopefully a decent spectacle. We suffered a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in a game we should have got something from, but Darlington are much improved since then so it will be another tough one for us.
Enjoy the game
Mark

GALLERY (TEST)

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GALLERY FROM MATCH REPORT

Match Report: Bradford Park Avenue 5-0 Gainsborough Trinity

Five-star Avenue hammer sorry Trinity

After enduring a winless January, Bradford Park Avenue returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 rout of Gainsborough Trinity.

Mark Bower shuffled the pack for the visit of 19th-placed Gainsborough Trinity, with on-loan midfielder Dan Pybus making his first start at the Horsfall Stadium and fellow loan recruit Frank Mulhern being named a substitute. Wayne Brooksby returned from a hamstring injury to reclaim his spot on the right-hand side of midfield, and Nicky Clee switched to left-back in a surprising change.

The hosts took an early lead via the returning Brooksby, who rifled into the top corner after pouncing on a Clee corner that had rebounded off the post.

Avenue took advantage of the early momentum, piling forward in droves as they hunted for a second. Nicky Wroe and Clee both saw long-range piledrivers deflected wide, and Shane Killock almost weighed in with a rare goal but volleyed over from just inside the box.

Brooksby looked extremely lively in his first outing since the defeat to York and stung the palms of Henrich Ravas with a powerful drive in the early stages.

The dominant home side soon found a way past Ravas again, with Adam Boyes providing one of his most unique finishes of the season to double Avenue’s lead. His perfectly executed cushioned volley allowed him to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form.

The Trinity goalkeeper was called into action shortly after conceding, as Ryan Toulson’s cross was headed back across goal by Boyes and into the path of Oli Johnson. However, the forward couldn’t direct his low drive past Rivas who made an impressive save.

Boyes came agonisingly close to netting again when he raced through to latch on to a through-ball, but saw his deft touch parried wide.

The visitors’ best chance of the first-half came when Shane Clarke struck goal wards from distance, but the midfielder’s effort fizzed wide of the post.

Pybus certainly made an impression on his debut following a loan move from Bradford City, and almost marked his arrival with a goal but saw his strike blocked on the line despite rounding a stranded Rivas.

Trinity threatened through Liam King late on, but the half-time whistle blew with Avenue firmly in the driving seat.

The hosts made a dream start to the second-half despite the visitors ringing the changes with a double substitution at the interval, as Boyes dispossessed Nathan Stainfield before coolly dispatching past Rivas.

Somewhat surprisingly given the comfortable nature of the lead, Mark Bower’s side continued to pile pressure on their opponents and Johnson forced another vital stop from Rivas after latching on to a Pybus flick.

Pybus then well and truly introduced himself to the Avenue faithful with a marauding run down the left, with the youngster evading the challenges of several players and covering an impressive distance before striking the post and allowing Brooksby to poke home the rebound.

Former Avenue favourite Craig King hammered an effort against the post as Trinity began to appear desperate, but the visitors couldn’t find a way past an Avenue defence that seemed impenetrable.

Avenue then entered dreamland as Johnson cut-in from the left before drifting back out wide and hammering a left-footed strike across goal and into the bottom corner.

The struggling visitors rarely threatened in the latter stages, and Avenue saw the game out in relatively comfortable fashion. It could have even been six when Clee darted into the box but saw his teasing delivery fly across the box without receiving the elusive finishing touch.

Another former Avenue player, Tom Davie, headed goal wards with two minutes remaining on the clock but Steve Drench held comfortably before the curtain was drawn on a mesmerising performance.

Mark Bower gave a special mention to those that worked on the pitch prior to the game in his post-match interview, stating that the Horsfall surface was in “great condition” in spite of heavy downpours. He also hailed the impact of debutants Dan Pybus and Frank Mulhern and referenced another new arrival in Adam Smith when discussing the “bench full of quality” at his disposal.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Toulson, Clee, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby (Smith 68’), Pybus (Vidal 73’), Boyes (Mulhern 71’), Johnson, Spencer.

Unused substitutes: Hill, Nowakowski.

Gainsborough Trinity: Ravas, Vann (Stainfield 45’), Davie, Richards (Bateson 45’), Beatson, Jacklin, C. King, Clarke (Russell 60’), Jarman, Horsfield, L. King.

Unused substiutes: Wells, Simmons.

Booked: Brooksby, Mulhern (Avenue), C. King, Bateson, Jarman (Trinity).

Referee: Alex Kirkley