Bradford (Park Avenue) is proud to announce the appointment of Mathew Everett as the new Community Director for the Bradford (Park Avenue) Sports Foundation, formerly known as the Horsfall Community Trust. The Foundation has been renamed to better align with the club’s long-term vision of using the power of sport to create a lasting impact in the community.
Mathew joins the club with extensive experience in community sports leadership, including close to seven years with The Leeds United Foundation as Primary Education & School Partnership Lead. During his time there, he played a pivotal role in building educational programs, developing school partnerships, and using football as a tool to inspire positive outcomes for young people across the region.
In his first interview as Community Director, Mathew expressed his passion for community initiatives and his excitement for the role:
“I’ve been involved with football in a voluntary capacity under community trusts prior to coming to Bradford (Park Avenue). I have a real passion for supporting community initiatives and working to provide positive outcomes using the power of sport and football.
“What really drew me here was getting to know the passionate members of staff involved at the club, who shared their vision for the community work at BPA. It’s inspiring to be part of a team driven to make a difference.”
Mathew highlighted his immediate priorities, which includes supporting the excellent work already underway with existing programs while seeking new opportunities to expand the Foundation’s reach:
“My first focus will be to embrace and support the great work already being delivered. I want to work alongside staff, stakeholders, and most importantly, the beneficiaries, to share the impact of our projects and explore new avenues to better serve the local community. That means listening to people, understanding local challenges, and tailoring our projects to meet those needs.”
Mathew also shared his excitement about Bradford being named the UK City of Culture for 2025 and how the Foundation can play a role in the celebrations:
“With Bradford being named City of Culture 2025, it’s such a fantastic opportunity to be part of something special. Football can be a powerful tool to bring people together, and we want to make sure Bradford (Park Avenue) is right at the heart of that celebration. By using our platform, we can support cultural initiatives, inspire positive change, and showcase everything that makes this city great.”
Watch Mathew’s full interview here – https://youtu.be/ZbTwS3-YiI8
As part of this exciting new chapter, Bradford (Park Avenue) will also be revealing a brand-new logo for the Bradford (Park Avenue) Sports Foundation in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to our social media channels for the latest updates and news on this launch and how you can get involved with the Foundation’s community projects.