The owners of two of Bradford’s iconic professional sporting clubs have today announced an innovative strategic partnership. Gareth Roberts, owner of Vanarama National League North club Bradford Park Avenue, and Andrew Chalmers, owner of Betfred Championship Rugby League Club The Bradford Bulls were excited to announce the Partnership:
“We’ve been in positive dialogue for a number of months regarding our respective clubs and how best to serve our supporters and the community in future,” said Gareth Roberts who has provided substantial financial support to Bradford Park Avenue over the past few years.
He continued, “Our management team and players have done a tremendous job to reach deep into the playoffs last season and have begun the 2018/2019 season strongly again. Like many National League clubs, however, we have required constant underwriting financially to fund our endeavours and that is not a sustainable model in perpetuity. By utilising the expertise of the Bulls management we can get a best practice evaluation of our off-field and front office operations and access their wider resources and experience in raising our game commercially and operationally”
Andrew Chalmers added “There is a wonderful synergy in returning to a partnership which was in place from 1863 to 1907. Our two clubs are traditionally family, and with both on a strong growth and performance trajectory there is so much common sense in sharing our services and resources to reduce costs and improve performance”
In 1863 Bradford Football Club was formed and in 1907 the club split when the Bradford Northern was formed in order to continue playing Rugby League whilst the slight majority of members chose to pursue Association Football forming Bradford Park Avenue AFC.
Both Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford Bulls have enjoyed long and proud histories in their respective sports since taking separate paths 1907 and are proud and important pillars of the decorated Bradford sporting culture. The concept of multi-sport shared management and services models, and the associated cost and efficiency benefits it brings is something that both Club Chairmen are interested in exploring further.
The Partnership will see Damian Irvine from The Bulls take on the wider remit of overseeing the Day to Day operational and strategic management of Bradford Park Avenue. Irvine, who is a vastly experienced Football and Rugby Chief Executive, led the financial turnaround of top-tier Cronulla Sharks in his native Australia before delivering commercial success and award-winning engagement and marketing campaigns at EFL clubs Notts County and Wycombe Wanderers.
All Bradford Bulls season ticket holders are being offered entry to tomorrows Bradford Park Avenue Fixture against Kidderminster for just £5 as part of the Non-league football focus weekend as the international break sees an absence of Premier League and Championship Football nationwide.
For further information, comments or interviews please contact Damian Irvine on 07724 502702 or info@bpafc.com