23 Mar 2023

VIEW FROM THE BOARDROOM – Paul Armitage’s Notes (11/03/23)

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It has been a tough few weeks for our team with so many carrying injuries and for the travelling fans in particular, who have journeyed far and wide supporting the lads.

This is a good time to thank them for their support, their excellent behaviour and their endurance, making us a club with a reputation for friendly and welcome support. If any group deserved a run of wins, these are the guys worthy of special praise who deserve seeing more rewards on the pitch.

We saw Peterborough Sports getting a new investor this week, starting to build more stands and taking on a new challenge. Their pitch was as poor as Kettering’s so there are several problems to resolve down there. I believe they need to reach a 3000 capacity level by March 31st according to NL rules.

Peterborough were saying that lots of NLN teams are now concerned about long distance travelling in this league and the cost of running clubs at this level. The latest increases in costs of building, maintenance, utilities and players suggest some new realism is required for survival and continuity.

Gloucester’s departing chairman talks of monthly costs for them reaching £30k, which is partly why he is moving on. I’ve referenced the massive funds in the higher reaches of football before and the failure of sufficient financial support for the lower leagues. Whilst this continues some clubs at lower levels will eventually fail to survive or must drastically change their business plans.

Here at BPA some of that work has started. Two full years of a well-run Academy has just started to bear fruit with some lads getting first team experience and Tom is working hard to establish important new links with colleges so we can combine football and education and continue some development up to and beyond the under 19 level for some of our lads. He is also looking to grow and develop our approach to ladies football here.

Calum has made great improvements in terms of stadium commercials and is working hard to encourage greater use of all the facilities. New budgets are being set for all aspects of the business and whilst the challenges would be the same whatever League we were in, everyone is doing their best to keep NLN survival within our sights.

Companies with public, social and community policies have an opportunity to invest in our Horsfall Trust activities which, with NL Trust support, continues to invest in the health and wellbeing of South Bradford. The stadium, football club, Academy and other anchor users will benefit from increased engagement, sponsorship and support from local businesses.

It is particularly refreshing to see Integra Insurance supporting a Primary School football competition here, organised through Tom, and hopefully that will encourage more support of such worthy plans.

Please contact Calum or Tom for more details of how you, or your company, can get involved.

calum.cullen@bpafc.com

thomas.mcstravick@bpafc.com

23 Mar 2023

VIEW FROM THE BOARDROOM – Paul Armitage’s Notes (25/02/23)

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Here are few comments this year from National League clubs:

 ‘’I’m in my fifth season at the club, but I don’t have the resources or the time to take the club any further,” Mr Biddle said. “I am 61 and still work at my business on a full-time basis. 

“I’m still very committed to the club. What we have achieved is incredible really, but we really could do with some help from fresh investors just to sustain the level we are at now. I would stay and help if needed, but I would also be prepared to sell the club to someone capable of keeping us at our current level or maybe take it further.

Peterborough Sports owner’s quote.

Their ground would require high costs to meet the 3000 capacity requirements, despite their successes on the field.

With the global economic situation and the demands of developing my overseas business, I have concluded that I am unable to give the club the focus it will need in the coming months years. Therefore, I will be formally stepping down as Chairman at the end of the season

Gloucester City Co-Chairman quote

York City interim manager Michael Morton has expressed his frustration at the uncertainty surrounding his future with the club, after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Wealdstone. Morton has been in interim charge for ten days now, after replacing the sacked David Webb. ‘But with very little communication from the ownership of the club with regards to the managerial search, Morton is becoming frustrated with a lack of direction from those above him.’

Stories from this year.in NL, which go to show that clubs at this level face financial problems and are often seeking new investors.. It’s getting harder to finance football clubs at every level. Clubs must create confidence from their local communities and fund ideas and facilities that compete with a myriad of different entertainment sources. We have a plan to improve our facilities, develop young players and create more local interest in the club. Staying in the NL system is part of that plan. As a fan, all that is important to me.

There’s a regular cycle of clubs being either very fortunate or in poverty. It transcends the leagues. No club is exempt, from Derby County to Bury.

Southend are facing a winding-up order from HMRC (sounds familiar!) and Wrexham are being financed by Hollywood millionaires, in the same league. Both former league clubs facing different futures currently.

Scunthorpe have just changed ownership, to the delight of their fans, as have Oldham, both relegated last season, but hoping some new funds are forthcoming and can change their fortunes.

Luckily there is no shortage of armchair critics who know how to run football clubs, change managers and pick players. For them, problems are caused by owners, managers and players who refuse to listen to their advice and who fail to put someone else’s money where their mouth is.

Back in the real world we welcome our latest loan players and Academy lads to the first team squad and hope they can soon set about winning games. Most teams are heading for two-game weeks now, so it’s a good time to have more choices.

Congratulations go to Will Longbottom on his extended deal. He is certainly playing well this season and scoring some much-needed goals now he is getting plenty of game time in.

**Notes from Chester on 25th February, sorry for the delay – Admin**

22 Mar 2023

Match Preview – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Buxton

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Avenue set to host in-form Buxton as clock ticks on survival hopes.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will host one of the league’s in-form sides on Non-League Day this Saturday as 10th placed Buxton visit the Horsfall Community Stadium.

The Avenue head into the game on the back of a narrow 1-0 loss at Boston United last time out. The Green Army had dominated proceedings in the first half and appeared to do everything but find the back of the net, only to come undone from a second half set piece as Boston’s Ben Pollock rose highest to head home from Billy Chadwick’s corner. Despite the result, it was a performance that pleased manager Mark Bower, but the Avenue boss was once again left feeling aggrieved at the match officials as his side were denied what looked a clear penalty in the closing stages.

The defeat at Jakemans Community Stadium means Bradford (Park Avenue) remain 23rd in the National League North, still eight points from safety. However, a midweek loss for Leamington, who sit just outside the relegation places, has given the Avenue a game in hand as they look to kick-start their survival bid.

Looking ahead to the visit of Buxton this Saturday, Bower said: “You want to get back out there and I thought there were some really good signs [against Boston United]. We’ve just got to get a win”. However, the Avenue will need to be at their best, as The Bucks will travel to West Yorkshire on a 12-match unbeaten run. Their impressive streak has seen them climb to 10th in the league table, taking points from promotion-chasers such as Kings Lynn Town and Darlington. Now just seven points from the play-offs, Buxton may have one eye on a late promotion bid, having spent the first half of the season nervously looking over their shoulders.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will hold the bragging rights over Buxton heading into this weekend’s clash, as they emerged from the reverse fixture with a 3-2 win at The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium back in early-December. Trailing 2-1 as the game came to a close, injury time goals from Oli Johnson and Jacob Blyth turned the match on its head and ensured the three points came back to Bradford. In fact, Bradford (Park Avenue) have been victorious in their previous two encounters with Buxton. However, the Green Army did succumb to a 1-0 defeat the last time The Bucks visited the Horsfall in an FA Cup replay in October 2009.

Both the team and the coaching staff will be hoping for a large crowd to get behind the Green Army this Saturday, as adults and concessions can take advantage of a reduced entry fee of just £5 to mark this year’s Non-League Day. To find out more about Non-League Day, click here.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Kick off: Saturday 25th March, 3pm

Where To Find Us:

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG

Directions By Car:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.

Directions By Train:

Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the  Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.

From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):

Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).

From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.

Directions By Bus:

From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.

These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.

Turnstiles: PAY ON GATE

The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Our reduced matchday prices for Non-League Day are as follows:

Adult – £5

Concession – £5

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1

16 Mar 2023

NEW u6’s Junior Skills Centre I Starts 22nd April 2023 🤩

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We are now recruiting for our NEW u6’s at Bradford (Park Avenue) Academy.

The programme will be delivered by our professional coaches at the wonderful Horsfall Community Stadium.

🗓 Saturday 22nd April 2023
⏰ 9am – 10am
👩👦 5 & 6 year old boys & girls
🏟 Horsfall Community Stadium, BD6 2NG
📧 thomas.mcstravick@bpafc.com
🖋 https://forms.gle/NE9aon4LXQ7zjCzQ8

15 Mar 2023

Match Preview – Boston United vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Avenue hope to kick-start survival against the Pilgrims.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will aim to get their survival bid back on track as they travel to Lincolnshire on Saturday to take on fellow strugglers Boston United at The Jakemans Community Stadium.

The game follows back-to-back postponements for the Avenue who twice saw their home fixture with Alfreton Town called off within the previous week. The game’s original date was moved due to last week’s cold weather, only for Monday’s rearrangement to be called off late in the day due to travel issues for the visitors. The Green Army will hope the extended rest period will work in their favour as they look to pick up a first away win since December.

Having picked up just one point from their previous six games, Bradford (Park Avenue) have slumped to 23rd in the Vanarama National League North, now eight points adrift of safety. With only nine matches left to play this season, it is vital the Avenue rediscover some of the form displayed in the latter months of 2022 if they are to pull off a great escape. Nonetheless, manager Mark Bower remains hopeful of his side’s chances, telling local news outlet the T&A last week that: “we’ve gone on good runs from nowhere before, and you’ve seen Blyth and Leamington do that in recent weeks, so we’ve got to keep the faith. It’s only March, so there’s still time”.

This weekend’s hosts currently sit 18th and three points clear of the relegation places following a recent revival in their league form. The Pilgrims have lost just one of their previous seven games, a run not too dissimilar to what Bradford (Park Avenue) might need to replicate in order to stay up this season. The Avenue defence will also be mindful of Boston centre-forward Billy Chadwick who has impressed since joining the club on loan from Hull City. Chadwick has scored four goals in his last five games for the Pilgrims, a run of form that has coincided with the extension of his short-term loan deal until the end of the season.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will hope to take inspiration from the reverse fixture with Boston United back in late-November, a 2-1 victory at the Horsfall Community Stadium courtesy of second half goals from Simon Richman and Jacob Blyth. The result holds particular significance in Avenue’s season as it sparked a three-game winning streak and a six-match unbeaten run. The Green Army will hope this is a good omen as Saturday’s encounter approaches.

Without a win on their last three visits to Boston, Bradford (Park Avenue) will feel they are due a victory this weekend at The Jakemans Community Stadium. Their last triumph away to the Pilgrims came in April 2018 with a double from Adam Boyes overturning an early deficit to secure a 2-1 win for the Avenue.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Kick off: Saturday 18 March 2023, 15:00.

Getting there:

The Jakemans Community Stadium, Pilgrim Way, Wyberton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7NE

Matchday car parking and travel (taken from the Boston United club website):
Matchday car parking at the Jakemans Community Stadium is exclusively for car park season pass holders and club guests in season 2022-2023.Further car parking spaces will become available following the completion of construction works at the Community Stadium in the future.

Any disabled supporters intending to attend any of our upcoming fixtures are advised to contact the ticket office on (01205) 364406 to discuss their in-ground and parking requirements.

There are still various ways to reach the club’s new stadium…

SHUTTLE BUSES

Transport will be running from the town centre on matchdays. The cost is £1.50 each way, with Cropley Coaches picking up outside the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre on St George’s Road (PE21 8YB) at the following times on Saturdays (3pm kick off):

12.00pm

12.45pm

1.30pm

2.15pm

Each bus will also subsequently pick up outside Boots in the Market Place and outside the Quayside Hotel on London Road.

Coaches will return to the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre (on Saturdays) at:

5.00pm

5.45pm

All timings are approximate and will depend on traffic conditions on the route.

As all the parking spaces are not yet available at the new Jakemans Community Stadium due to ongoing construction works, we would ask as many people as possible to use this service, or consider one of the alternative means of accessing the stadium…

ON FOOT

There are a network of footpaths from the town to the stadium, although those using the footpath will have to cross the A16 via the crossing points.

CYCLE

Cycle racks are available either end of the Acorn Taxis (West) Stand, with all cycles left at the owner’s risk.

TAXI

Club partners Acorn Taxis are offering deals for supporters travelling to and from the Jakemans Community Stadium.

Departing from their office in the bus station, the cost for journeys to and from the stadium would be £6 (each way) per car and £10 (each way) per minibus.

You can book an Acorn Taxi by calling (01205) 358358. Please book well in advance.

BUS SERVICES

Brylaine bus services B13 and K58 serve The Quadrant. Further details can be found on the Brylaine website (here) – please note: “The Quadrant” is not listed on the two Brylaine schedules, but we are informed that they drop off and pick up on Wallace Way (on The Quadrant).

Stagecoach, meanwhile, operate bus 57 between Boston and Spalding. It stops in The Quadrant, near to Starbucks, and services people travelling between Boston and Spalding bus stations. For full details, click here.

CAR SHARING

We would ask as many people as possible to consider car sharing to not only help with parking at the stadium, but also to help reduce the travel carbon footprint. For car sharing, however, we would also recommend that face coverings are worn – and the vehicle is well ventilated.

PARKING ARRANGEMENTS

Car parking will exclusively be for sponsors, club guests and car park season pass holders during the 2022-2023 season.

If parking near the stadium, please consider those living in the area.

TICKETS:
EAST STAND (TERRACING) – AWAY SUPPORTERS

Turnstile E2

Adult: £14

Concession: £11

U16: £5

1+1 Family: £17

1+2 Family: £21

2+2 Family: £34

To purchase tickets online, click here.

13 Mar 2023

GAME OFF

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We can now confirm that after talks with the National League and tonight’s referees, the match has been called off due to travel issues for Alfreton Town.

A date for the rearranged fixture will be announced as soon as it is agreed between us and Alfreton. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by tonight’s delays.

10 Mar 2023

Alfreton Postponed | Rearranged For Monday Night

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We can confirm that tomorrows National League North match versus Alfreton Town FC has been postponed following a pitch inspection.

The match has been rearranged, and will now take place on Monday 13th March at 7:45.

Anybody who had tickets for the original game will still be able to use them for the rearranged game on Monday night.