This weekend Avenue look for their first win since the 2nd of September when they beat Consett in the FA Cup first qualifying round. 

The Green Army return to Northern Premier League action, facing Hyde United at Horsfall Community Stadium.  Kick off is at 15:00 on Saturday. Gates open at 13:30.  

Admission prices are as follows: Adults will pay just £13 entry, Concessions are in at £10, Students with a valid ID pay just £5, Youth (12-17) is just £3, and u12s go completely free!

Bower’s green army could jump Gainsborough in the table if results go their way this weekend. Currently sitting in 18^th (two points above the drop) Mark understands the importance three points will mean for the team and the fans.

Avenue lost 5-2 to Tadcaster Albion in the West Riding Cup on Monday.   Mark took the sensible decision to rest the first team squad for that match.  The academy boys who stepped up put in a commendable performance and gained valuable experience.   Before the match Mark said

“It’ll be a young team that play that game. With the squad that we’ve got and the injuries we’ve got, we’re not going to risk many first team players for that game.” 

Being well rested, we can expect the first team squad to perform to the best of its abilities this weekend.

Hyde United sit seven places above Avenue and have won their last three league games against Atherton Collieries, Stafford Rangers and Basford United. 

After losing to Avro in the Manchester Premier Cup; manager Nick Spooner stated: 

“Hopefully everyone is back (from injury) … a couple could’ve done with a rest, but momentum was strong” – responding to the interviewer’s thoughts of: “Bradford Park Avenue being a good game to bounce back in.” 

Written by Finlay Sturges  

Twitter – @FinlaysturgesSJ 

Instagram – @FinlaysturgesSJ 

FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS – Tim Clapham @Avenueite

Bradford (Park Avenue) and Hyde United first met in Floodlit League football in the 1970s when they contested five matches over three seasons. 

The North West Floodlit League comprised of clubs from the Northern Premier League and Cheshire League, and Bradford took part in the four seasons 1970-1 to 1973-4. 

The visit of Hyde to Park Avenue in October 1970 was watched by 1,894, the club’s highest-ever crowd in the competition. 

The 1973 power strikes brought an early end to the floodlit league that season and Hyde’s home game against Bradford was one of only a handful of matches played. 

Rivalries were resumed in Northern Premier League football in 2001-2 when each team won their home game. 

The following season Hyde finished bottom of the league and were relegated with Colwyn Bay. They only won five league games, one being against Bradford at Hyde at the beginning of the season. 

The clubs did not meet again until October 2011, when they were drawn to meet in the 3rd qualifying round of the F.A. Cup. With home advantage, and top of the Blue Square Bet North, Hyde were firm favourites to beat Evo-Stik NPL Bradford from the league below. 

However, in one of the shock results of the day Bradford triumphed 1-0 with Tom Greaves netting the decisive goal in the final minute. The clubs last met in 2014-15 in Conference North when Bradford completed a league double. 

That season Bradford finished 13th, but Hyde dropped back into the NPL after being relegated with Colwyn Bay and Leamington.