The bus will depart from Horsfall at 9:30 am on Saturday 28th of September.
If you are interested in travelling please book on before 5pm Thursday 26th of September.
To book your place please email info@bpafc.com or call 01274 674 584.
Places on the coach will cost £15 per adult and £10 per under 18.
Bradford (Park Avenue) crashed out of the FA Cup with a frustrating home defeat to Morpeth Town.
Riccardo Calder had equalised after Joe Walton opened the scoring, but new signing Dan Sweeney missed a crucial chance, with Sean Reid firing the visitors in front moments later.
Josh Heaton was sent off for two yellow cards just after the hour, and Reid fired his second from the resulting free-kick to sink Bradford. Walton added his second late on before Brad Dockerty – who twice struck the woodwork – added a consolation, his third goal in three games.
Avenue were afforded a great chance to open the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock, as the referee adjudged Morpeth to have played a backpass, but from the indirect free-kick Calder could only fire the ball over the bar.
And with their first foray into Bradford’s third, the visitors took the lead through Sean Reid.
Captain Wayne Phillips played in Liam Henderson, who controlled the ball and managed to hold off both Mitch Lund and Rhys Taylor, before finding Joe Walton who finished confidently into the bottom corner.
Calder was causing a lot of problems down the left, and he got on the end of a long ball, his near post effort well saved by Dan Lowson.
Moments later, Avenue struck the woodwork through the in-form Brad Dockerty. He picked up a pass from Marcus Wood and worked some space in the area, his low, left-footed strike cannoning off the foot of the post.
And finally all Avenue’s possession and pressure paid off as Calder levelled the scores on the end of a fantastic move.
Bradford advanced down the left and the full-back played a brilliant one-two with Sweeney before finishing brilliantly into the bottom corner with a powerful finish.
Sweeney should have doubled the advantage with Avenue on top, Alex Hurst doing brilliantly down the left before cutting back for the Solihull loanee, but he planted his first time finish wide of the post from just six yards out.
Just three minutes later, Bradford were made to pay as Morpeth regained the lead. Sean Taylor picked up a loose ball on the right and delivered a teasing cross to the back post which Reid powered into the net with his head.
Avenue had the first sniff of a second half which started much scrappier than the first, Lewis Knight latching on to Hurst’s ball over the top, but a good tackle from Chris Reid denied the shooting opportunity.
And from the resulting free kick, Reid brilliantly fired the ball into the top corner, giving Taylor absolutely no chance.
The goal and sending off killed off Avenue’s hopes of a comeback, with quality dropping as Marcus Law threw players on chasing a goal.
Dockerty struck the post for the second time with just over five minutes to play, getting in on the right with his shot across goal tipped onto the woodwork, before Ryan Cresswell completely fluffed the rebound.
The visitors then struck the frame of the goal themselves, as Taylor beat away Shabz Mohammed’s free kick, with Jack Foalle heading the loose ball onto the bar.
Walton added his second and his side’s fourth with two minutes to play, taking aim from range with his shot possibly taking a deflection which wrong-footed Taylor and saw the ball nestle in the bottom corner.
Pretty much straight from kick-off, Avenue pulled one back, Dockerty doing well on the left before angling a shot into the corner across the goal with his weaker foot, but it was a mere consolation.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c, Holmes 67), Lund, Heaton, Knight (Cresswell 74), Marriott (Johnson 69), Sweeney, Hurst, Dockerty
Subs not used: Gibbons, Bennett, Moran
Goals: Calder (25), Dockerty (89)
Booked: Heaton (55), Lund (86), Hurst (90+1)
Sent off: Heaton (63)
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, C.Reid (Mohammed 55), Phillips (c), J.Henderson, Turner, Taylor, Hodgson, L.Henderson (Foalle 72), S.Reid (McKeown 78), Walton
Subs not used: Harmison, Potter, Giles, Wilson
Goals: Walton (9, 88), S.Reid (35, 65)
Referee: Matt Scholes
Attendance: 217
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) have completed the signing of Dan Sweeney on loan from Solihull Moors.
Sweeney, who can operate either as a striker or a winger, joins on an initial one-month loan deal from the National League side.
The 21-year-old joined Solihull last summer, scoring just four minutes into his debut for the Moors.
He spent time on loan at Hednesford Town and Leamington, after graduating from the Kidderminster Harriers academy.
Dan goes straight into Marcus Law’s squad for Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Morpeth Town at the Horsfall Stadium.
Meanwhile, central defender Nelson Digbeu has left the club. We would like to place on record our thanks to Nelson for all his efforts in an Avenue shirt, and wish him all the best for the future.
This Tuesday sees Napoli take on Liverpool in the Champions League, and you can watch it with an offer tough to turn down.
The game will be shown in Avenue’s clubhouse, with a selection of beers available for just £1 per pint.
Bradford held their annual beer festival over the weekend, so this is your last chance to taste the wide selection of ales on offer for a bargain price.
The clubhouse will be open from 7pm, and all are welcome.
A late equaliser from Adam Boyes denied Bradford (Park Avenue) a second win of the season against Spennymoor Town.
Former Bradford striker Boyes netted in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time to cancel out Brad Dockerty’s opener – his second in two games.
Avenue were left to rue missed chances as Lewis Knight could have had a hat-trick, but visiting goalkeeper Matthew Gould was in fine form.
Josh Heaton was brought straight into a line-up which also included a returning Rhys Taylor and Dockerty, following his goal off the bench last time out at Boston.
Avenue started quickly, winning a corner within 13 seconds, but it was the visitors who had the first attempt at goal, Andrew Johnson cutting inside, but his curled effort flashed past the post.
Law’s side were picking up a lot of loose balls and sloppy moments from the Spennymoor midfield, and one of those allowed them to grab the opener.
Marcus Wood picked up a loose ball and drove forward, waiting for the perfect moment to draw the defender out and slip in Dockerty, who just about managed to squeeze his shot under Gould and into the back of the net.
New signing Heaton was making a clear difference at the back, and he was called upon to make a key block as Johnson latched onto a long throw, with the ball looking destined to ripple the back of the net.
Then it was Taylor, returning after sitting out two games with a calf injury, who needed to be at his best, doing brilliantly to tip over as James Roberts struck powerfully towards the top corner from a tight angle.
Spennymoor started to see more of the ball but couldn’t get through a stern Avenue formation, and it was actually the hosts who should have extended their lead just before the break.
The hosts got a corner cleared and Wood played a brilliant ball over the top to Lewis Knight. His touch was excellent to take him through one-on-one with Gould, but his low finish was weak and was denied by the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.
And Gould foiled Knight once more just after the interval. Avenue broke in numbers, led again by Wood, and he slipped in the winger whose powerful strike was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the visiting goalkeeper.
Knight was left disappointed though when he finally beat Gould, latching onto a brilliant Alex Hurst pass, and an excellent first touch saw him get past the goalkeeper, but he could only find the side netting with his finish from a tight angle.
Moments later the visitors came oh so close to drawing level, as Andrew Johnson met a corner with a thumping header which rattled the crossbar.
Taylor then had to be alert to tip away Johnson’s effort and the ball almost fell for Boyes, but it got stuck under his feet and Avenue scrambled it away.
The goalkeeper made a good double save denying Roberts and Johnson, before the pick of the bunch with 10 minutes left on the clock.
A shot had come in from Johnson and substitute Gavin Cogdon flicked it on from inside the six yard box, but Taylor reacted phenomenally to tip the ball over the bar.
Bradford were clinging on as Spennymoor had a huge number of late corners, Taylor tipping over from Nathan Buddle, and the sickening equaliser eventually came in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
A high ball in was headed down by Robert Ramshaw, and Boyes was unmarked six yards from goal, free to prod the ball past a helpless Taylor and rescue a point for the visitors.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Heaton, Knight (Holmes 65), Marriott, Dockerty (Johnson 62), Hurst, Headley (Cresswell 73)
Subs not used: Gibbons, Bennett
Goal: Dockerty (11)
Booked: Bazeley (30), Johnson (83)
Spennymoor Town: Gould, Williams (Hibbs 50), Brogan, Chandler, Buddle, Curtis (c), McKenna, Ramshaw, Boyes, Roberts (Cogdon 76), Johnson
Subs not used: Mason, Atkinson, Webb
Goal: Boyes (90+5)
Referee: Andy Sykes
Attendance: 402
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) have moved to add defender Josh Heaton and striker Andre Johnson to their squad.
Central defender Heaton joins from National League North rivals Darlington, while Johnson last featured for Boston United last season.
Heaton, who has featured seven times for Darlington this term, in fact became St Mirren’s record signing last summer, following his participation in Jamie Vardy’s V9 academy.
The towering defender, now 22, never settled north of the border and spent the second half of last season on loan at Kidderminster, before returning to Darlington in the summer.
He came off the bench in the first half as Avenue picked up their only victory of the season at Darlington’s Blackwell Meadows two-and-a-half weeks ago.
Johnson, meanwhile, has been brought in to fill a big void in the attacking area, with centre-back Ryan Cresswell playing in attack for most of last weekend’s defeat at Boston.
The 23-year-old actually last lined up for the Pilgrims, making 16 appearances last season while also spending some time at Hednesford Town.
He joined Boston from Alfreton last summer, having also played in the National League North for Corby Town before that.
Both Johnson and Heaton go straight into contention for Avenue’s home match against Spennymoor Town this Saturday, with Marcus Law’s men looking to get off the mark with a first home win of the season.
Meanwhile, defender Alex Laird has left the club by mutual consent. We would like to thank Alex for his efforts with the club and wish him all the best for the future.
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) are looking to build on the positives as they return to action this Saturday against Spennymoor.
Avenue were unlucky to come away with nothing to show from last weekend’s trip to in-form Boston, a quickfire double for the hosts sinking Marcus Law’s men to a 2-1 defeat.
It was a third loss in a row, following home defeats to Telford and Farsley, which followed on from Bradford’s sole win of the season at Darlington.
Jon Moran sat out the defeat with tonsilitis, while goalkeeper Rhys Taylor was still absent as he treats an ongoing calf problem which had been affecting him during a number of matches including the win at Darlington.
His replacement Jack Bennett made up for his Farsley error with a controlled performance at Boston, and it remains to be seen whether the youngster will be called upon again this Saturday.
Law has been busy reshuffling his squad, with a number of departures last week, and is hoping to add at least one name ahead of the weekend.
A striker is high on his priority list, after Ryan Cresswell was deployed in an attacking role at Boston last week.
For Saturday’s visitors, however, they come armed with ex-Bradford striker Adam Boyes and winger Ben McKenna, with the former netting in Spennymoor’s 5-0 victory over Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night.
After work on their Brewery Field ground overran from the summer, The Moors have been playing catchup following a handful of postponements.
They actually sit just two positions above Bradford in the league table, pulling away with Tuesday night’s victory – one of their rearranged matches.
The match kicks off at 3pm at the Horsfall Stadium, with the ground open from midday for the beer festival taking place all weekend.
Recent League Form
Bradford (Park Avenue)
Boston United (A) L 1-2
Farsley Celtic (H) L 0-3
AFC Telford United (H) L 2-3
Darlington (A) W 1-0
Blyth (H) D 0-0
Spennymoor Town
Blyth Spartans (H) W 5-0
King’s Lynn (H) D 2-2
Gateshead (A) L 0-1
Chester (H) W 2-1
Curzon Ashton (A) D 1-1
Last Time Out
Bradford (Park Avenue): Bennett, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Digbeu, Knight (Headley 31), Marriott, Cresswell (Gibbons 82), Hurst, Holmes (Dockerty 61)
Spennymoor Town: Gould, Williams, Brogan, Chandler, Magnay, Curtis (Buddle 73), Ward (Johnson 8), Ramshaw, Boyes, Roberts, McKenna (Cogdan 64)
Admission Prices
Adult – £10
Concession (OAP, Student) – £8
Under-17 – £1
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes
This weekend sees Avenue’s popular annual beer festival return to the Horsfall Stadium.
The Horsfall Community Trust is hosting the annual event from Friday to Sunday, with proceeds going to Marie Curie Hospice.
There will be a range of 13 beers and one cider available, as well as food across the weekend.
On Friday (13th September), the clubhouse will be open from 5pm to 11pm, with free entry all night and live music from Josh & Mick.
Saturday (14th) sees Avenue’s first team take on Spennymoor Town, with the clubhouse open from midday.
Tickets to the match are priced as usual (just £10 adults), with entry to the festival free from 4.30pm.
On Sunday (15th), entry is once again free, and football is on offer, with a fiercely fought match between ex-players and fans.
The final day sees the clubhouse open from 11am, and after the action there is live music from Johnny & the B’s.
There will be side stalls, games and a tombola throughout the weekend, so please come down and support the event in aid of a great cause.
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) will play Morpeth Town at home in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
The draw was made this Monday lunchtime for the second qualifying round, Avenue’s first involvement in the competition this season.
Marcus Law’s men will play North-Eastern side Morpeth, who defeated Avenue’s neighbours Brighouse Town in a preliminary round replay last Tuesday.
The Highwaymen then eased past Hyde United on Saturday with a 3-1 home win in the first qualifying round tie.
Northern Premier League side Morpeth, who finished top of the Evo-Stik East Division to earn promotion last term, currently sit in mid-table after two wins and two defeats from their four matches so far this season.
All second round qualifying ties will take place over the weekend of 20-22 September, with Avenue’s match against Morpeth expected to take place on Saturday 21 September, with a 3pm kick-off.
Winning clubs will receive £6,750 from The FA prize fund while losing clubs will collect £2,250.
Find the draw in full below:
1 Marine v Dunston or Sunderland RCA
2 Southport v Scarborough Athletic or Marske United
3 Chester v Altrincham
4 Curzon Ashton v Blyth Spartans
5 Bradford (Park Avenue) v Morpeth Town
6 Irlam v York City
7 Tadcaster Albion or Ashton United v Pontefract Collieries
8 South Shields or Colne v Thornaby or Ossett United
9 1874 Northwich v Whitby Town
10 FC United of Manchester or Atherton Collieries v Warrington Town or City of Liverpool
11 Trafford v Darlington
12 Gateshead v Ramsbottom United
13 Guiseley v Stockton Town
14 Lancaster City or Northwich Victoria v Spennymoor Town
15 Runcorn Town v Farsley Celtic
16 Alfreton Town v King’s Lynn Town
17 Stamford v Boston United
18 Leamington v Chasetown
19 Kettering Town v Sutton Coldfield Town or Redditch United
20 Belper Town v Witton Albion
21 Loughborough Dynamo v Tamworth
22 AFC Telford United v Nantwich Town
23 Rushall Olympic v Banbury United or Gainsborough Trinity
24 Halesowen Town v Stratford Town
25 Boston Town v Leek Town
26 Buxton v Corby Town
27 Matlock Town v Kidsgrove Athletic
28 Hednesford Town v Barwell
29 Kidderminster Harriers v Stafford Rangers
30 Coalville Town v Stourbridge
31 Beaconsfield Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
32 Corinthian Casuals v Chelmsford City
33 Kingstonian v Grays Athletic
34 Walthamstow v Abbey Rangers
35 Balham v Royston Town
36 Tonbridge Angels v Eastbourne Borough
37 Margate v Concord Rangers
38 Hendon v Deeping Rangers or AFC Sudbury
39 St Ives Town v Waltham Abbey or Canvey Island
40 Maidstone United v Cheshunt
41 Potters Bar Town v Hornchurch
42 Bishop’s Stortford v East Thurrock United or Peterborough Sports
43 Dulwich Hamlet v Bognor Regis Town
44 Sutton Athletic or Flackwell Heath v Slough Town
45 Billericay Town v Basildon United
46 Tooting & Mitcham United v Dorking Wanderers
47 Hadley v Ramsgate or Arundel
48 Leatherhead or Lewes v Bowers & Pitsea
49 Cray Wanderers v Soham Town Rangers
50 Harrow Borough v Carshalton Athletic
51 Biggleswade v Chertsey Town
52 St Neots Town or Biggleswade Town v Ware
53 Badshot Lea v Hayes & Yeading United
54 Lowestoft Town v Dereham Town or Needham Market
55 Barton Rovers v Hitchin Town
56 Enfield Town v Braintree Town
57 Maldon & Tiptree v Wingate & Finchley
58 Moneyfields v Whyteleafe
59 Hartley Wintney v Chichester City
60 Metropolitan Police or Horsham v Dartford
61 St Albans City v Hastings United or Worthing
62 Kings Langley v Folkestone Invicta
63 Haringey Borough v Staines Town
64 Farnborough v Wealdstone
65 Welling United v Chipstead
66 Chesham United v Hampton & Richmond Borough
67 Weston Super Mare v Merthyr Town
68 Sholing v Weymouth
69 Hereford v Truro City
70 Portland United v Salisbury
71 Havant & Waterlooville v Taunton Town
72 Cirencester Town v Chippenham Town
73 Tavistock or Shepton Mallet v Highworth Town
74 Tiverton Town v Bristol Manor Farm
75 Poole Town v Hungerford Town
76 Swindon Supermarine v Bath City
77 Oxford City v North Leigh
78 Kidlington v Gloucester City
79 Brackley Town v Cinderford Town
80 Blackfield & Langley v Dorchester Town
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: The FA
Bradford (Park Avenue) fell to a third successive defeat despite significant improvement away at in-form Boston.
Marcus Law’s men were the better side for much of the afternoon, defending admirably and creating the best chances, but two goals in two second half minutes led to an unfortunate defeat.
Brad Abbott and Jordan Thewlis capitalised to hand Boston their third win in four, substitute Brad Dockerty giving Avenue hope by pulling one back with six minutes to play, but the visitors just couldn’t find another goal to come away with what would have been a deserved point.
Bradford had the first opening of the match as they attempted to use the breakaway against their hosts, Isaac Marriott finding Alex Hurst who drove forward, but saw his shot from range comfortably saved by Peter Crook.
Avenue then had to throw one or two bodies on the line as the ball dropped following a Boston free-kick, but managed to break once more to create a hairy moment for the hosts.
The same pair combined and Hurst’s good run ended with his powerful cross just too far ahead of Lewis Knight.
Law’s men were struggling once more with discipline, Riccardo Calder booked early on before a poor Nelson Digbeu foul nearly cost them.
The referee was ready to give Avenue’s French defender a talking to, but the home side took the free-kick quickly and Brad Abbott sent a shot crashing wide of the near post.
Avenue were dealt a blow as Knight was forced off injured on the half-hour, but they should have gone ahead moments later on the end of a great move.
Calder, who had moved forward in the formation following Knight’s departure, drove into the box and cut back for Richard Cresswell, but the defender playing in attack skewed his shot when he should have scored.
The unusual number nine then had another chance after more good play between Hurst and Marriott saw the Huddersfield loanee get a good cross in which Cresswell met on the volley, but it deflected just wide of the near post.
Boston were being kept at bay by a sturdy Avenue defence, and the free-scoring side showed their frustration late in the first half, Tom Platt and Ainge firing high and wide from range.
The visitors continued to defend admirably into the second period, Ainge firing high and wide once more, but after a double substitution led to a dangerous spell, Boston took the lead.
Bradford had cleared three crosses in succession, but a high ball came in from Karl Byrne which Dominic Knowles headed down and Abbott arrived to finish into the bottom corner.
And moments later is was two as Avenue heads went down, Thewlis, one of those substitutes, picked up a loose ball and skipped past a challenge before finding Jack Bennett’s bottom corner.
Ainge had a real chance to seal the match, as he was allowed a free header from a corner, but he planted it firmly wide of the target.
With six minutes to play, Avenue brought themselves back into it.
Calder played an excellent deceptive ball over the top which was chased by Dockerty and fellow substitute Myron Gibbons, with the former left to simply touch the ball past Peter Crook and roll it into an empty net.
The goal caused a late rally from Avenue and Boston looked nervous, the hosts having to defend for their lives as Gibbons touched down for Hurst, but his shot couldn’t get through the crowd.
Bradford’s best chance late on came through the exceptional Calder, who took down a pass with a brilliant touch, working space for a shot which he fired just wide of the top corner from 20 yards.
In the end it wasn’t to be, but there were plenty of positives for Law’s men following a handful of disappointing performances.
Boston United: Crook, Byrne, Whittle, Thanoj (Adebayo-Smith 56), Ainge, Shiels (c), Platt, Abbott, Knowles (Green 69), Walker (Thewlis 56), Rollins
Subs not used: Willis, Jackson
Goals: Abbott (64), Thewlis (66)
Booked: Thanoj (53)
Bradford (Park Avenue): Bennett, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Digbeu, Knight (Headley 31), Marriott, Cresswell (Gibbons 82), Hurst, Holmes (Dockerty 61)
Subs not used: None
Goal: Dockerty (84)
Booked: Calder (19), Cresswell (77), Marriott (78)
Referee: Scott Simpson
Attendance: 1,110 (47 visitors)
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes
