29 Dec 2022

New Years Message From Gareth | Update from Academy

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Dear Supporters of BPA,
I would like to wish a happy new year to all of those associated with our club. I have not been able to travel during this season, so I have not managed to see a real game. Hopefully I will be able to get over soon and see you all. 


I want to thank all of those that make the club work day in and out through these difficult times. Despite the national problems we have made slow and steady progress on improving the ground while our first team continues to outperform our limited budget. The club Development Committee has helped tremendously in this area. We will continue our efforts to further improve the facilities at the ground in this coming year. 


This past year Calum Cullen has taken on the responsibility of the stadium management and we are well on our way to reaching  financial stability despite the effects of Covid-19.  Thank you Calum. Thanks are also due to Neil and Ben for their help to keep the place running.


Thomas McStravick is the head of our Academy section and he has been successful in recruiting good youngsters. Please read his report below.


Our board currently consists of just three people, myself, Paul Armitage and David Little. In the coming year we intend to expand the board to include more local representation. We will be looking for candidates who love sport but also share our desire to build a club that serves the community that we are in.  We would like to hear from potential candidates. 


In addition, our board is studying various ways to involve our supporters in the management of the club in line with government recommendations. We hope to have a plan formulated at our next meeting in February. 


Finally I would like to thank Keith Bonney for his invaluable help on keeping our finances straight. 
With a bit of luck I will be able to attend a game in February and have a forum where we can talk about the plans for the future. 
UTA

Gareth Roberts
BPA

Report from the Academy.

The academy has seen significant growth over the last couple of years. We now have over 400 young people aged 5-18 in our juniors, performance centre and scholarship academy. We also have six full time staff working throughout our programme. This commitment from the club is a real reflection of our desire to build a long term sustainable and successful football club. The next generation of fans don’t just fall off trees so we need these young players coming through not only to produce the next first team superstar but also to produce the next Avenue diehard. 

There are some key dates coming up over the next few months for the academy. First up on the 11th January we have a trial evening for our BPA Player Pathway, which has seen over 350 registrations in less than eight months. These are parents who want their children to be involved at the Avenue from our juniors through to scholars. Encouraging signs but there’s still a lot of work ahead and we are aiming to increase the number of young players involved in our club from 400 to 600 in twelve months. Increasing the number of players involved in the club increases the number of potential new fans and also our chances of producing a first team player in the years ahead. To produce a quality academy it takes ten years of hard work. Players coming into the club aged 7, if looked after properly, can potentially play in our first team at 17 and then who knows after that. That’s our aim and we have some quality young players involved in our juniors at the moment with our u7’s recently invited to play in a selective tournament at west riding county FA with the other top teams in West Yorkshire at that age. The future is bright and it’s green and white. 

Another key date is the sponsors evening on 10th February. As a club we are focused on connecting with the local Bradford business community, this is an important aspect in our journey to becoming a sustainable football club. We will be inviting current academy player sponsors and also other potential sponsors to come along and enjoy an evening of entertainment at the Horsfall. We will have some food and entertainment on the night along with an auction to help us raise some funds.

In March and May we have our BPA Primary Schools Cup tournament with both boys and girls sections. Last year we have 24 teams participate. In 2023 we will have 48 teams taking part! Integra Insurance will once again be our sponsors for the event and we thank them for their support. 

So in summary we have lots to look forward to in 2023 and we welcome all support from our fan base to help us build the club and progress. 

Thomas

29 Dec 2022

THE VIEW FROM THE BOARDROOM – Paul Armitage’s notes (26/12/22)

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We’re all over the disappointment of the World Cup now and can get back to real football again! Paying millions for a four year competition is a world away from non-league in local communities. No doubt the cost of one ‘pop up’ stadium in Qatar would cover all NL budgets for a season or two.

Which gets me back to the UK Fan-led Review.

One of its early themes is the reckless pursuit of wealth by clubs and the enormous financial losses most football clubs regularly incur.

Our own plans require us to establish the solid base of a sports-led stadium developing community-led and well-supported growth for young people of all abilities, so that they can find personal and educational development and link that to activities at Horsfall.

This tends to offer value for parents and their children at affordable levels and meaningful activity to harness youthful energy. Combining sport and non-academic education allows for personal growth and achievement and whether it is linked to soccer at Avenue, rugby at West Bowling or athletics with Bradford and Airedale, or even all three, we are moving towards organising age group progress and improving facilities for all those users.

It takes time and money to do this and each of our anchor users are moving along similar lines and uncovering funding and volunteers to create the vision.

We have relied on substantial grants and some loans, along with very generous contributions from our own benefactor to get us this far and we are all well aware that financial viability is essential.

Bradford has a good history of philanthropic benefactors over decades. My own favourite is Titus Salt as I was born in that neck of the woods, but there were many others and it would be good to see those who have made good in the city returning benefits for such good causes and getting involved in the quest for a viable sports stadium that aims to help youngsters.

It is proving to be only a little easier to find grants than to find patronage from entrepreneurs these days, but we are all keen to find the new patrons.

Running a football club is almost by definition a pathway to insolvency if we don’t manage the finances well and finding the next generation of players to eventually win a World Cup starts at the grassroots, which is where our investment plans start.

Here at Avenue we older supporters know only too well that the sudden loss of a benefactor can create havoc and Gareth knows that too. All benefactors must share the concerns of how their legacy is perceived, so finding the numbers of supporters or the individuals needed is a perpetual quest. Hopefully it will be more successful than seeking the Holy Grail!

See you again in what we all hope will be the Happy New Year and more NLN points.

26 Dec 2022

Bradford (Park Avenue) mid-season review: Avenue’s second half of the season is looking brighter

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After a slow start to the season and early fears of falling through the NLN trapdoor, Bradford (Park Avenue) have shown resilience to drag themselves from the brink.

Avenue had one of the worst possible starts to the season, with fans spending the first two months wondering where the first win was coming from.  Losing seven and drawing four left Avenue sitting at the bottom of the table with no end to their dismal run in sight.

To compound matters, they even suffered defeat in the FA Cup second qualifying round against level nine side Ashington AFC away from home.

It looked like their fortunes were not going to change in October as they went down to their heaviest defeat of the season so far, losing 4-1 to Southport but the following weekend the patient Avenue faithful were rewarded with a welcome first win.  Curzon Ashton, so often our bogey team, surrendered all three points at Horsfall Stadium.  This result sparked a revival with the team going on to win their next two league games and, despite a blip against high-flying Brackley Town, they rounded off the month with a well fought victory over Gloucester City.  This excellent month propelled Avenue up the table and out of the drop zone for the first time in the season.

November didn’t start well.  The team kicked off with back-to-back defeats.  A creditable draw at Alfreton was followed by a disappointing exit from the FA Trophy at the hands of local rivals Farsley Celtic.  Hope was restored at the end of the month with wins against newly promoted Banbury and long-established NLN side Boston.

This put them in good stead for December and Avenue duly went on to win their opening two games.  The determination and resilience shown by the players in the match at Buxton will live long in the memories of those fortunate enough to witness it.   Finding themselves a goal down in added time, Avenue conjured two great goals to snatch all three points.

At this halfway point of the season Avenue are sitting in 17th place, four points away from the drop and, for the optimists among us, ten points off the play-off places. 

Avenue head into today’s Boxing Day derby against Farsley Celtic buoyed by their recent run of results and determined to take revenge for that defeat in the FA Trophy.   The sides resume their rivalry at the Citadel on New Year’s Day.

You can watch all the goals from the first half of the season on our YouTube Channel below.

YouTube player
22 Dec 2022

THE VIEW FROM THE BOARDROOM – Paul Armitage’s Notes (17/12/22)

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We have some big games this month, mainly for getting points on the board but also for making money. Each month we are getting a bit closer to the stadium company breaking even, which would be a major milestone and would allow us to consider first team improvements if and when any are required.

As the World Cup draws to a close we can be grateful we have no VAR technology spoiling our games. I’d be fine with goal-line technology but for the rest we are happily too far away to qualify
for all that. I’d rather talk about the refs and liners than wait for ever for marginal offside decisions.

Like the players on the pitch the officials are trying to do their best (with at least eleven blokes having a pop at them). They need all the support we can give them!

For us it’s a rare pleasure to be moving up the table and wondering if we might make the playoffs again and it shows the value of sticking with the management team. Their weeks of hard work and vision is starting to bear fruit and confounding the handful of critics we have.

The NL have given us a long, detailed diatribe on their deal with BT on streaming games. They seem destined to create a similar hierarchy of wealth that exists with the PL and EFL, where the top division gets the bulk of the financial benefits and the rest feed off scraps. No ‘levelling up’ troubling them and no democratic voting system across the three divisions either!

The NL Board have recently been taken to task on their ‘broken promises’ to distribute lottery cash based partly on attendances, which never happened. We benefitted from that decision to share the money more broadly and we are keen to see greater equality of any cash-sharing dividends.

Clubs with bigger gates already get bigger income but the NL should look after all its clubs, not the few richer ones. However it makes no sense having governance rules or making statements and not applying them.

That goes for the planned streaming income share too, but the desire to give the premier division more is likely to prevail.

The NL Board risk exacerbating the accusation that vested interest is at play in their considerations. We were fined £6k when we cancelled matches just before the league closedown and must have been one of the few businesses in the country to have been fined for preventing the spread of Covid.

The NL fined other clubs too, to the tune of about £100k, rigidly using their rules when others were applying common sense. It might help the NL Board if they added some independent directors with commercial backgrounds to help them reach decisions and avoid the ‘vested interest’ charge.

21 Dec 2022

Academy Keeper Liam Hall Signs 18 Month Contract!

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We are delighted to announce that Academy Keeper Liam Hall has penned an 18 Month Contract with the first team.

Liam, who has been on a non-contract since the 2021/22 season is now under contract until the end of the 2023/24 season.

This marks a major milestone for the academy, with Liam being the first to sign a deal since Academy Technical Director Tom McStravick came into the club.

On the deal, Tom had this to say ‘ I am delighted that Liam has been offered an 18-month professional contract with us at Bradford (Park Avenue). Not only does it show that our pathway is open to those who work hard enough and ultimately are good enough but it also shows a commitment from us as a club in the development of young players. Liam has demonstrated a commitment to his work each day and a constant determination to improve his game. This sends a message to current and potential new scholars that opportunities are available, if you want it and are good enough, at this club’.

Danny King, first team coach, who has worked with Liam since his arrival into the club and seen his development commented ‘Liam has improved greatly since coming to the club, working with an excellent goalkeeper in George Sykes-Kenworthy and with the experienced players in our team, Liam has matured into a very good player. This has seen him already have a taste of men’s football, in the County Cup last year against Campion, and making his debut against Southport in the last league game of the 2021/22 Season. This year saw Liam take a further step in playing for Ossett United, before another County Cup game vs Brighouse. I’m delighted for Liam, who with a continued hard working approach, has a bright future. Well done to Tom and the academy staff, and hopefully there are more to come!’

Everybody at the club wishes Liam well as he progresses in his career, well done Liam!

You can watch Liam’s first interview with the club on our YouTube Channel below.

YouTube player

#UTA

19 Dec 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Farsley Celtic (H)

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This Boxing Day The Green Army play host to the Celt Army in the Vanarama National League North. Please note that Kick Off is set for the earlier time of 1pm.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be aiming to serve up a Christmas cracker for their home support as they host West Yorkshire rivals Farsley Celtic at the Horsfall Community Stadium on Boxing Day, the first of a festive double-header between the two sides.

A rejuvenated Avenue are heading into Monday’s derby off the back of an impressive three wins in a row and will hope that the two postponements since their last outing, a 1-0 home victory over AFC Telford United, will have given their players enough recuperation to continue their climb up the table.

The visitors this weekend currently occupy one of the four relegation spots in the National League North, sitting in 22nd place as they make the short seven-mile journey across West Yorkshire.

Like many clubs outside of the top two divisions of the Football League, the cold weather has also disrupted Farsley’s December fixtures, but their last outing earlier in December saw them record a surprise 2-0 victory at home to high-fliers King’s Lynn Town, only the latter’s third league defeat of the season. However, Farsley’s lack of consistency has proven to be a problem in their bid to avoid relegation as they are yet to secure back-to-back wins in this campaign.

Revenge will no doubt be on the minds of the Avenue players and staff following last month’s defeat to Farsley in the FA Trophy. Farsley emerged victorious at the Horsfall with a narrow 2-1 victory, dumping Bradford (Park Avenue) out of the competition in just the Second round.

However, with Farsley sat six points behind Bradford (PA) with two games in hand, the Avenue faithful might argue the importance of the upcoming league fixtures instead, as a win on Monday would move them nine points clear of their rivals.

Avenue boss Mark Bower will have no complaints about the goal contributions from his players in previous games, with five players contributing to the six goals scored in the recent run of victories.

Jordan Preston was particularly impressive in the victory over AFC Telford United last time out, with the Scottish striker netting his first goal since joining on loan from Spennymoor Town. Bower will be hoping for more of the same over the festive period.

A win on Monday for the Avenue is also essential to improve their disappointing head-to-head record against the visitors. From the previous six league meetings between the two sides, the Green Army have only been victorious twice.

However, the last league meeting between the two clubs back in March saw the Avenue emerge with a 1-0 home victory. This, coupled with Farsley failing to pick up any points in their previous four away fixtures this term, means Bradford (Park Avenue) will have their sights firmly set on the win.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw

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:

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. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:

  • Adult – £14
  • Concession – £10
  • Student – £5
  • Youth (12-17) – £3
  • Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1
16 Dec 2022

MATCH POSTPONED – SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC

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We can confirm that, following a pitch inspection this afternoon, tomorrows game against Scarborough Athletic has been postponed. There are ongoing concerns regarding parts of the pitch and also the surrounding areas.

We will publish details of the re-arranged game as soon as we have them.

15 Dec 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Scarborough Athletic (H)

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Bradford (Park Avenue) will have to stay switched on when they welcome promotion chasers Scarborough Athletic to the Horsfall Stadium this weekend.

Bradford will be wanting to continue their climb up the table but with Scarborough coming to town this will be no easy task for The Avenue.

Despite the Green Army’s recent upturn in form, Scarborough will offer a different challenge that the home side will have to over come to get anything from a highflyer in the league.

YouTube player

The players will surely remember the reverse fixture, where a worldie from Jamie Spencer (above) and a first goal for Sheffield United loanee Andre Brooks (below) almost stole all three points back to Bradford, however in the final few minutes it was reduced to just one, after Darren Dominic Tear fired 2 goals past the defence to make it a draw.

YouTube player

(Park Avenue) have only lost once in their last five league games, the most notable was coming from behind against Buxton, scoring twice in injury time to secure all three points and its this resilience and determination that (Park Avenue) boss, Mark Bower will be wanting from his players this Saturday afternoon.

Scarborough have the second-best scoring record in the league this season with 40 goals scored already, only three behind the league leaders Darington, Bradford’s defence will have to be switched on to avoid adding more goals to that statistic.

George William Sykes-Kenworthy the Bradford number one between the sticks will certainly have his work cut out for him, with five clean sheets to his name already this season he’ll be hoping to make it six when he comes up against Scarborough’s top goal scorer Michael Coulson who’s scored eight goals so far this season, but Sykes-Kenworthy is no stranger to the danger that Scarborough pose having already pulled off some vital and brilliant saves this season.

At the other end though Scarborough have not had the same luck and have had one of the leakiest defences of any team currently in the top ten, this will be music to Jacob Blyth’s ears being the clubs current top goal scorer with five goals and is a great opportunity to fill his boots, as well as Will Longbottom who is only one goals behind Blyth in the charts.

Scarborough will be heavy favourites going into this fixture only losing once out of their last five league games, (Park Avenue) will have to be at their best to take anything from Scarborough, and a win for the home side would see them claw even further away from the drop.

Match Preview by James Fletcher @illustrationsjf

Tickets for the game are purchased on the gate and priced at £14 Adults, £10 Concessions, £5 Students, £3 Youths and £1 Juniors (u12s accompanied by an Adult).

Premier League and Championship Season Ticket holders can gain half-price entry to this game, just display your physical or digital Season Ticket at the turnstiles.

Travelling to the Horsfall for the first time? Follow the directions and map below!

Address

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.