BPA vs York City – LIVE STREAM

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We are happy to announce the live streaming details for the Boxing Day National League North fixture vs York City.
Follow the link below to access the game, we go live from 14:30 on the day, where you can expect;

  • Mike ‘The Game Caller’ Gledhill on fine form with backing from Josh
  • Interviews
  • Highlights


All this will cost you just £5.00. If you are a first-time user of the system, you will need to set up a free account.
Season ticket holders will of course get the game free of charge!


The streaming link is https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/b1NqRXpj

Merry Christmas!


Stay safe, and Up The Avenue!

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our supporters, staff and players.

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This has been a crazy year and has tried our patience, but despite all the headwinds against us we have made significant progress as a club. Most visibly we have obtained a 35-year lease on Horsfall Community Stadium, installed a new security fence and put in a new 3G pitch. Behind the scenes we have created The Horsfall Community Trust as a full charity, which in turn has created the Horsfall Community Stadium CIC (HCS). HCS is managed by a board which includes representatives from Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC (BPA for short) and our partners, West Bowling Amateur Rugby League Football Club and Bradford Airedale Athletics Club.

At our football club we are indebted to the business team for setting up a sustainable business plan and for hiring our able staff in the form of Calum and Thomas.  Mark, Neil and others have also been instrumental. Likewise, on the field our managerial trio and our players have been putting in an incredible effort in difficult circumstances which is greatly appreciated by those that love this club. Also particularly exciting is the academy development and that we are now 5-18 years and we have Ladies and Men’s 1st teams – all under the official banner of Bradford (Park Avenue).

To get to where we are today has taken the efforts of many people, too numerous to thank in this letter, but they have done a tremendous service on behalf of the club and indeed for the City of Bradford. I especially want to thank the volunteers from BPA and West Bowling for the work that they have done at the Stadium. We look forward to the day when we can enjoy it.

Our club is now managed as a Community Interest Company and I am lucky to be supported by my co-Directors John Dean and David Little. Keith Bonney continues to do an outstanding job as our Accountant. John is known to most of you and an avid fan. David has a strong background in commercial law and in football. He is the legal affiliate to Swans Supporters Trust since 2004 and formerly a director of Supporters Direct until it merged with the Football Supporters Federation. David is also our BPA Company Secretary.

We began trading on 1 November 2019 as the new Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC and we have just completed our 31 May 2020 annual accounts. These accounts have been audited by Armstrong Watson and will be published shortly. The accounts show a loss of £1,678,179. Do not be alarmed as this figure is mostly a non-recurring loss related to the assumption of past deficits from our predecessor companies. The money is not owed externally but to John and myself as Directors. Although we expect to have losses in our 2020/21 fiscal year accounts, after the pandemic we expect our company revenues to grow over the next few years to eventually develop surpluses and guarantee future sustainability, which is our ultimate goal as a club. We feel that our business plan is robust, but it has been badly affected by the pandemic and we have been grateful for government support and that of the various sporting authorities. Despite that support there are still major financial challenges potentially ahead of us, which of course is not unique to our club. 

On 6 August 2020 we transferred the stadium operations to the newly formed company, HCS. That company now operates the stadium including the bar and cafe.  Its main activity is the hiring out of the stadium to third party users which brings in new revenue. Our club will be working closely with HCS as anything which helps stadium economics helps our economics.  I ask you all to keep this mantra in mind as we move forward.

I should also like to take this opportunity to thank the Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund for the financial help it has given the CIC.   During the period November 2019 to May 2020 the Fund gave us a magnificent £11,500.  Amongst other things, the money was used to pay for away travel and a GPS training aid system.   The club is extremely grateful.

To those of you who make donations to the football club on a regular and on-off basis I also express my thanks.  I can assure you we take care of every incoming pound and we make sure every outgoing pound is spent wisely.

Our accounts omit one huge figure.  That is the value of the time given by our heroic green army of volunteers as I mentioned above. Our helpers turn out in all weathers and perform essential tasks.  They often go unnoticed and unthanked.  It is impossible to put a value on their contribution but I reckon it runs well into six figures.  Without our helpers there would be no Bradford (Park Avenue).  Thank you doesn’t come close to expressing my gratitude. 

Contrary to popular belief I do not have bottomless pockets.  The Horsfall project is stretching me to the limit but I am determined to succeed.

In October 2020 the government announced the National Lottery would be making awards to all football clubs in the National League.  We were awarded a grant of £90,000.  We are extremely grateful to the National Lottery and its players.  We would not have been able to start our season without this help.

I appreciate these are difficult times for all of us.  If you can find it in your budget to make a one-off or regular donation to the CIC that would be brilliant.  We have a donate button on the website.  Better still make a transfer to our bank.  The details are:

Account Name: Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC

Sort Code: 20 76 92

Account Number: 93972291

If you confirm your donation to our accountant Keith Bonney (keith.bonney@bpafc.com) we shall acknowledge your kindness.

Finally, thank you for your support.  Over the last twelve months we have become a better football club both on and off the field.  Like any business, football is about getting the right people in the right roles.  We are getting there.  Please keep supporting us.  Encourage others to join.   We are Bradford.

Gareth Roberts

Chairman

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC

BT SPORT TO REMAIN THE HOME OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

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  • Live matches every week from the pinnacle of non-league and grassroots football
  • BT Sport and National League relationship to enter a second decade

BT Sport has renewed its exclusive rights to broadcast the Vanarama National League for a further three years, until the end of season 2023/24, with more games set to be broadcast than ever before.

BT Sport has been broadcasting live and exclusive coverage of English football’s fifth tier since 2013. The new deal will see matches broadcast live each week, in a regular Saturday slot.

BT Sport’s coverage, led by presenter Matt Smith, follows the regular season championship race plus the exciting end-of-season playoffs through which one team gains a second promotion place into the English Football League. Alongside Smith are commentators Adam Summerton and Adam Virgo plus pundits including former Norwich City and Barrow striker Grant Holt, former Torquay United manager Chris Hargreaves and former Southport manager Kevin Davies. Joining them are reporters Natalie Quirk and Becky Ives. 

Alongside the weekly live match coverage, the BT Sport team bring fans every goal from every National League match in the weekly Vanarama National League Highlights show. The show is created through an innovative link between BT and students associated with selected National League clubs who receive broadcast training from BT to go on and help create the show.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “Over the past few years we’ve developed an innovative relationship with the league, including world-first 5G-enabled remote broadcasts and training local students who help create BT Sport’s National League highlights shows. The National League remain a valued partner to BT, particularly during the pandemic, in staging last season’s playoff matches and the 2020-21 season.”

Brian Barwick, chairman of the National League, said: “”We are delighted to continue our partnership with BT Sport. Their coverage of the Vanarama National League has been simply outstanding.

“Informed and comprehensive, our League has been broadcast in a highly polished and professional fashion. A lot of hard work over the last past seven years has produced some exceptional television.

“The new three-year contract will take us into over a decade of coverage by BT Sport. This speaks volumes for the confidence we have in how our matches have been brought to an established and growing audience”.

Fans of non-league football have more ways to watch on BT Sport than ever before, on TV, through the BT Sport app on smart TVs and games consoles, mobiles and tablets.  For more information visit www.bt.com/sport.

Mark Ives is to join The National League management team from early next month.

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Ives’ nearly two decades at The FA included the senior role of Head of Judicial Services.

The experienced executive has been appointed as The National League’s Interim General Manager from January on a three-month contract.

The National League will use the early part of 2021 to assess the management structure the organisation best needs following the imminent departure of its long-serving CEO, Michael Tattersall, at the end of this month.

Official Ebay Store NOW OPEN!!!​​

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We are delighted to announce that the Official Bradford (Park Avenue) Ebay account is now live!

There are already some brilliant items on the site ready for you to bid on! With some of them not available elsewhere!

More will be added over the coming days, so head on over and see what we have to offer you!

Follow the links below, to take you the first 2 completely exclusive deals.

#UTA
#OneOfAKind

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284111536418

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284111633914

Avenue sign Booty to strengthen midfield options

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With the hectic Christmas period shortly upon us and suspensions and injuries challenging our committed but small squad Mark Bower has moved to secure the services of local lad Regan Booty. 22 year old Booty who hails from Huddersfield and came through the Huddersfield Town academy. Booty made 42 appearances for Aldershot whilst on loan which won him his permanent transfer to Notts County. He made 24 appearances for the magpies as they secured a playoff place in last years shortened season, scoring 2 goals along the way. The cultured left footed central midfielder enjoys dictating play, by getting on the ball and creating chances for his team mates. Regan will go straight into the squad for tomorrows National League North home game against inform Leamington. You can see Regan live on our streaming platform.

https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/dlRKak5R

Regan Booty –

I’m glad to get everything sorted in time for the game tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to getting that match day buzz back and to be back playing games. I already know a few of the boys, so I’m looking forward to meet the rest of the squad and get going’

Ryan Toulson –

Regan is a player we have kept an eye on over the last few years. Myself and Mark watched him at Huddersfield Town on numerous occasions and we tried to bring him in previously so we know the qualities that Regan can bring to the team. He’s an aspiring young player who wants to progress in the game, so hopefully his hunger and quality will be beneficial all round’

The club would also like to confirm that Ethan Henderson and Ion Ibrain have both left the club and we would like to wish them both well with their footballing careers.

#UTA

Bower to be absent from the dugout whilst he isolates

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We can confirm that our Manager Mark Bower will be absent from the dugout and training for a short period of time whilst he self isolates after coming into contact with positively tested COVID19 sufferer. The exact period is yet to be determined as we await the results of a test on Mark himself. It will definitely cover this weekend’s home match vs Leamington and our fixture next Tuesday at Chester in the FA Trophy.

Mark will continue to work during isolation, picking the team and coordinating training with his able lieutenants Danny and Ryan. Danny and Mark will be in touch during match day via carrier pigeon as Mark watches the game via our live video stream.

#UTA

BPAFC vs Leamington – LIVE STREAM

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We are happy to announce the live streaming details for this Saturday’s National League North fixture vs Leamington.
Follow the link below to access the game, we go live from 14:30 on the day, where you can expect;

  • Mike ‘The Game Caller’ Gledhill on fine form with backing from Josh
  • Interviews
  • Highlights

And one or two new features!


All this will cost you just £5.00. If you are a first-time user of the system, you will need to set up a free account.
Season ticket holders will of course get the game free of charge!


The streaming link is https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/dlRKak5R


Stay safe, and Up The Avenue!

Ladies Lose Out To Altofts

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So after a month off due to lockdown and only one training session under the belt we visited Altofts Ladies who were top of the league and already beaten us on our patch this season.

Altofts started strong keeping hold of the ball well with the Avenue Ladies staying disciplined and frustrating the higher opposition.

Altofts were getting frustrated and started making mistakes with no real threats at goal the Avenue Ladies nipped in stole the ball and counter attacked with purpose.

If it wasnt for the Altofts keeper it could have been 2 or 3 before have time with Kirsty Russell Nicole Chamberlain and Millie West carving out glorious oppotunities.

Avenue went into half time on the front foot and expecting Altofts pepper Avenues goal for the 1st 10 mins of the 2nd half, but that never came!

Avenue could have easily had two more great chances before Altofts broke the deadlock with at tap in at the back post when we failed to clear our lines.

10mins later it was 2-0 Altofts with the rain hammering down a long ball skidded off our defenders foot and left Altofts with a 1 on 1 with Annie Roberts.

The game was end to end in horrible conditions but as the 1st goal Altofts got the 3rd with a back post tap in from a corner.

By this point Avenue were playing 2-3-5 to try and finish the game on a high but it never came.

Full time 3-0 loss with a superb performance under the circumstance of the weather and lockdown but 1 very proud manager of the workrate and effort produced. All the players held their heads high and will feel it Monday at work.

Our next match is Farsley Celtic Juniors at Horsfall on Sunday 20th December.

Charity Friendly Streaming Details

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We are delighted to share with you the streaming details for this Friday’s Charity friendly versus near neighbours Ossett United.


The stream is free of charge, and is available on the link below.


If you can, please donate to the just giving fundraiser we are running on behalf of the Sandale trust, the link for donating can also be found below. A massive thank you to those who already have, and remember the club will match the donations, so every £1 donated buys £2 of food for the hungry this Christmas. You really will make a difference


On the night, we have the main man, Mick ‘The Game Caller’ Gledhill on commentary duties, alongside both Josh and Sam our excellent co-commentators, and who knows, maybe just one or two surprises for you!
KO is at 7:30, we will be live from 7:10 on the night

Stream link:  https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/N1pNOGxF

Donation link:  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bradford-parkavenue-sandaletrust?utm_3xEvv8eNR