Exciting New Club Partnership Announced

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC and Gomersal & Cleckheaton are coming together to provide pathways and opportunities for young players. The partnership part of the ‘Club Partnership Programme’ that the Avenue have announced recently.

Gomersal & Cleckheaton will be attending a Bradford (Park Avenue) first team fixture to enjoy a match day experience at the Horsfall Community Stadium. The partnership will also provide Gomersal & Cleckheaton players with the opportunity to access the brand new BPA Performance Centre, in partnership with Sheffield United, for u7 – u10 age groups.

The Bradford (Park Avenue) Scholarship programme which is delivered in partnership with Bradford College for 16-18 year olds will be available as a pathway for Gomersal & Cleckheaton players.

The scholarship will provide young players with the opportunity to study and train full-time. Education pathways include Sport, Business, Barbering, Plumbing, Mechanic, Joinery & Uniformed Public Services. Bradford (Park Avenue) Academy have teams that play in the u19 Alliance Youth league and the college league.

Speaking of the partnership Bradford (Park Avenue) Academy Technical Director Tom McStravick said; “We are fortunate to be able to provide a genuine pathway to our first team here at BPA. The Club Partnership Programme is the perfect way for us to be able to provide that opportunity for local talent. As a club we are keen to engage with the local football community to help. We look forward to working with Gomersal & Cleckheaton to help them progress and develop as a football club”.

Head Coach for Gomersal & Cleckheaton Shaun Hamill was equally delighted with the agreement; “Gomersal & Cleckheaton Football Club was established over 45 years ago and we are proud to have had players through our ranks that have played at the highest levels, including the Premier League.

Currently we have over 450 players registered with the club from the very youngest U6’s all the way up to our recently added 4 open age sides that include one in step 7 of the Football pyramid. We are a community club and for us it is all about our players so to be approached by the Academy Technical Director Thomas McStravick from an amazing football side like Bradford Park Ave with it’s over 100 years of professional existence to become partners in youth development is truly exciting.

Currently we at G&C have no football education pathway for our school leavers so the offer from BPA to give our players the opportunity to trial for a place in their Scholarship program is very exciting. The scholarship program is an opportunity for talented footballers to train at the highest levels whilst still studying for A levels, Btec’s or apprenticeship’s and who knows even earn a place in the BPA first side to play sides like York, Darlington, Chester, Boston etc.

For me the most exciting part of all of this is the opportunity for our players to aim to play for BPA, who knows one of our current players, whether an open age or an U18 could already be good enough but just has never had that all important opportunity. Exciting times ahead.”

Bradford (Park Avenue) Academy in partnership with The Horsfall Community Trust & Sandale Trust are excited to announce a primary schools boys 7v7 football tournament. Academy Technical Director Tom McStravick said; “We are delighted to be working in partnership with our community partners to offer primary school children the opportunity to play at our stadium and have a fun day out.”

31st March 2022

1.30pm – 3.30pm

Bradford (Park Avenue), Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Rd, Bradford, BD6 1JQ

Age: Year 6 boys Format: 7v7 – squad of 12 permitted – 8 min games, roll on roll off subs £35.00 per team. To apply please complete the form below

https://forms.gle/t2XaWmsasdLPK2pD9

Bradford (Park Avenue) are welcoming gifted and talented 16-18 year olds to trial for out September 2022 Full Time Football & Education Scholarship programme. Details below

Date: 20th December 2021

Time: 9am – 5pm

Age: 16-18 year olds

Contact: 07821579451 or email thomas.mcstravick@bpafc.com

To book: https://forms.gle/QuErjm7rVANsVspj6

Our scholarship is delivered in partnership with Bradford College who offer a range of different education pathways as part of the scholarship.

We are delighted to announce that we have a vacancy for an Academy Lead Coach (7-18s)

The role will involve coaching throughout our age groups here at the Horsfall, whilst dovetailing our work in the Community through the Horsfall Community Trust.

If you are interested, please email a CV and Covering Letter to thomas.mcstravick@bpafc.com

Today we can announce that specialist construction materials company Natural Cement, have very kindly donated a selection of water bottles to our Scholarship programme for next season.

The donation allows for each our students to have their own bottle to be used on matchdays and for training.

Academy Manager Thomas McStravick- A massive thank you to everybody at Natural Cement for these water bottles. The donation allows us to offer each student their own bottle for gamedays and training, which will be a great tool in helping keep Covid-19 away as well.

Operations Manager Calum Cullen – This is a great gesture from Natural Cement, having known Jack and Phil for some time now, I know how conscientious they are about keeping people hydrated, and this donation is testament to that. I am sure that each and everyone of our scholars next season will be grateful!

You can find out more about Natural Cement here at http://naturalcement.co.uk/

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We are absolutely delighted to announce that Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC and Bradford College are teaming up to provide a top-class football academy for aspiring 16-18 year old male and female footballers.

We have been reviewing our Academy provision since the early ending of last season. This  detailed review has been taken with input from the clubs main stakeholders and then underpinned with a clear vision of what we fundamentally believe a leading community Academy program should deliver in terms of footballing and academic education. At the centre of this is a the sense of responsibility we have to our students and their development as young adults. With the help of Robert Clunas of the Horsfall Community Trust and the input of our Academy Manager, Bradford College were identified as being the perfect partner to offer the best learning environment with the broadest range of courses to suit all learning levels and interests.

The academy will provide a full-time football training and games programme alongside full-time education from September this year.

Asa Gordon, Assistant Principal at Bradford College, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to engage young people in education and sport, combining football and study in a full-time environment.”

Players will have access to GPS data, match analysis and a potential pathway into professional football – all under the supervision and guidance from experienced UEFA qualified professional coaches.

As well as potentially becoming footballers, the academy will also offer pathways to other areas of the football profession as healthcare, sports science, management and coaching. Alongside the football training side, a range of courses at Bradford College across different curriculum areas will be available to choose from and will cater for a wide range of educational needs. 

All football activity will take place at the Horsfall Community Stadium on the state-of-the-art 4g surface while the education will be based at Bradford College campuses. 

Tom McStravick, BPA Academy Manager, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bradford College to deliver a top-quality education provision alongside a five-star football service for young males and females. This partnership will ensure we are able to provide a high-quality scholarship programme like no other for the local people. I’m looking forward to working together to ensure a long a fruitful relationship.

Beverly Fox, Head of Professional Services & Leisure at Bradford College, said: “Through this partnership, we are offering young people with a passion for the sport a unique opportunity to create exceptional careers in the field and join a new generation of football heroes.”

Anyone wishing to trial for the academy should get in touch with Tom McStravick on 07821579451 or email thomas.mcstravick@bpafc.com

Demand is high for places in the Bradford Park Avenue Academy Scholarship programme. The academy is set to host a trial day on Monday 21st December at the Horsfall Community Stadium with a limited number of spaces in our scholarship programme for 2021/22 available. Academy Manager Thomas McStravick is looking forward to the day; 

“We have been delighted with the response in our trial day. Places in our scholarship programme are set to be very competitive as we look for players with the hunger and desire to be the best that they can be.”

In attendance to run their eye over the young talent on show will be first team management duo Mark Bower and Danny Boshell. They will be joined by a host of scouts from top Premier League clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. 

The Academy will be running trials for the Women’s academy in February. If you are interested please email Academy Manager Thomas.mcstravick@bpafc.com