Easter double-header set for spirited Avenue.

Bradford (Park Avenue) face a nervous Easter weekend, knowing that they could be relegated from the Vanarama National League North on Monday if results don’t go their way.

First up for the Avenue on Good Friday is the visit of Southport to the Horsfall Community Stadium. The Green Army will be hosting the Sandgrounders fresh from earning a hard-fought point in a goalless draw at Curzon Ashton last Saturday, a performance that left manager Mark Bower proud of his side’s effort despite the desperate need for a win.

Southport will be making the trip to Bradford whilst occupying 15^th place in the National League North, knowing that despite their eight-point cushion from the relegation places, there is still work to do to ensure their survival in the division for another year. With only one win in their previous six matches, and having lost their last two, the Sandgrounders will be keen to get back to winning ways and avoid a nervous finish to the season.

Southport manager Liam Watson will be hoping to have top scorer Jordan Archer fit for the season’s climax. The centre-forward took his league tally into double-figures in Tuesday’s loss at home to Banbury United, and has averaged 0.38 goals per game in this campaign.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be eager to avenge the drubbing they received away to Southport earlier in the season. The Green Army went down 4-1 at Haig Avenue back in October in what was their tenth consecutive league game without a win at the start of the season. However, the loss at Southport did spark a revival in Avenue’s campaign and was followed by three wins on the bounce. The Avenue faithful will also feel that their side are long overdue a win over Friday’s opponents. Eight encounters have passed since their last victory against Southport, a 4-0 away thrashing back in December 2017.

There will be little time for rest and recuperation as Bradford (Park Avenue) will then travel to promotion-chasing Darlington on Easter Monday. The Quakers had been flying high earlier in the season but a recent run of four games without a victory has seen them slip to sixth in the league table, two points into the play-off positions albeit with a game in hand over the chasing pack.

Darlington have been particularly impressive in front of goal this season, their 68 goals scored bettered only by the league’s top two sides, AFC Fylde and Kings Lynn Town. Striker Jacob Hazel has proven to be an impressive signing after joining from Whitby Town last summer. The forward has netted 18 league goals this campaign and continues to be instrumental to Darlington’s promotion push. No doubt the Bradford-born Hazel will want to impress against a side from his hometown as he looks to become the National League North’s outright top scorer this season.  

The reverse fixture between the two sides saw Darlington emerge victorious despite the Avenue taking an early lead courtesy of Jamie Spencer. The Quakers hero on that day was striker Mark Beck with a second half double. Beck’s 15 league goals in the first half of the season led to National League side Solihull Moors meeting his release clause in January. The loss of the influential Beck was surely a consideration for Darlington when securing a loan move for Avenue’s Jacob Blyth last month.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be encouraged by their impressive record in recent years at Blackwell Meadows. The Green Army have been victorious on each of their previous three visits to Darlington, the most recent being a 2-1 victory in September 2021. The Avenue faithful will understand that it is vital for this record to continue if they are to maintain their survival bid into the final weeks of the season.

Match Previews by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter and Instagram)

Friday 7^th April – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Southport

Kick off: 15:00

Where To Find Us:

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG

Directions By Car:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.

Directions By Train:

Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the  Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.

From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):

Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).

From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.

Directions By Bus:

From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.

These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.

Turnstiles:

The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:

Adult – £14

Concession – £10

Student – £5 (with Valid ID)

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1

Monday 10^th April – Darlington vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)

Kick off: 15:00

Getting there (taken from the Darlington club website):

ADDRESS

Darlington Football Club, Blackwell Meadows, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NR

PARKING ON SITE

Matchday car parking at Blackwell Meadows is available on a first-come-first-served basis, at £5.00 per car. Please allow a little additional time ahead of the match and at full time to exit the car park.

There are also a number of Blue Badges spaces available, please email dave.watson@darlingtonfc.org ahead of the match to reserve a Blue Badge space.

PARKING NEARBY

Alternatively, you may wish to us the numerous town centre car parks. Situated within 20-25 minutes stroll of Blackwell Meadows, charges will apply. Visit www.darlington.gov.uk for further information on locations and charges for parking.

We would like to urge all supporters who park their vehicles away from Blackwell Meadows, to park with respect and consideration for residents in the vicinity of the ground, to respect areas around the ground and not to park on verges.

FINDING US BY CAR

DIRECTIONS FROM THE SOUTH

• From the A1(M), take the junction 57 exit, A66 (M) towards Darlington and Durham Tees Valley Airport. Two miles on, at the roundabout at the end of motorway, take the first exit A66.
• Follow this for approx 400 yards to another roundabout. Take the 2nd exit.
• Exit A167 to Darlington. Blackwell Meadows is on your right after approx. 400 yards.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE WEST

• From the M6 North, take the A685 (junction 38) at Tebay, and then follow this road through Kirkby Stephen to the junction of the A66 at Brough.
• Turn right, and follow the A66 to Scotch Corner and the junction of the A1 (M)
• From the A1(M), take the junction 57 exit, A66 (M) towards Darlington and Durham Tees Valley Airport.
• At the roundabout at the end of motorway, take the first exit A66.
• Follow this for approx 400 yards to another roundabout. Take the 2nd exit A167 to Darlington. Blackwell Meadows is on your right after approx. 400 yards.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE NORTH

• From A1(M) junction 59, take the A167 towards the town centre.
• Follow the A167 for five miles along the ring road. After you have passed Sainsbury’s on your left hand side, you are now on Grange Road.
• The ground is approx three quarters of a mile after Sainsbury’s on your left hand side.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST

• From the A19 in Middlesbrough, take the A66 signposted Darlington, and follow this road for approx 15 miles until you reach the junction with the A167.
• Take the fourth exit at the roundabout (signposted Darlington A167) and the ground is 400 yards on your right.

LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT

There are six buses leaving Stand M outside the Town Hall in the hour leading up to kick-off on Saturday, three of which will call at Bank Top Station on the way. See the timetable below*. The standard adult fare is £1.70 and is free for those with a bus pass. The No. 12 is a through service from Middleton St. George – ideal for anyone living in the Yarm Road area.

The X26/X27 services run between Darlington and Catterick Garrison via Barton, Scotch Corner, Skeeby and Richmond, so this is also a useful service for our fans who live along this route. For a full timetable for these services please click here.

TAXI

Private hire taxis are available from anywhere in the town for only £4 each way. So for four sharing that is only £2 each to the match and back.

Some companies can provide mini-buses. Typical fares for an 8-seater across town is £8 and £12 for a 16-seater. This is ideal for groups of fans that choose to meet at their local pub in advance of the game. You should allow an additional £2 for each additional pre-arranged pick-up point along the way. You are advised to book your taxi or mini-bus in advance and to agree the fare at that time.

Also please be aware that all drop-offs and collections will be on Grange Road. Only vehicles destined for the car parks will be allowed into the access to Blackwell Meadows.

WALKING

Blackwell Meadows is within a 30 minute stroll for a significant proportion of Darlington residents.

A 1½ mile walking cordon from Blackwell Meadows extends as far west as Salutation Road, as far north as the junction between Carmel Road North and Abbey Road, part of Milbank Road, Woodland Road and across to Gladstone Street. The eastern boundary includes the whole of Park Lane, Neasham Road/Geneva Crescent area and the whole of Skerne Park.

If you’re planning to stop-off in town on the way for a drink, you need to be seeing those pints off by 2pm to ensure that you arrive at Blackwell Meadows in good time to avoid the queues at the turnstiles.

CYCLING

Blackwell Meadows is easily accessible by bike from southern and western parts of the town.

TICKETS

Match tickets can be purchased either in advance by clicking here or on the day at the turnstiles using either contactless debit/credit card or cash.

Adult (25-64) – £15 standing, £17 seating

Concession (18-24, 65+, registered disabled, student) – £11 standing, £13 seating

Junior (12-17) – £5 standing, £7 seating

Child (U12 + paying adult) – FREE

Avenue aim to end winless run at Curzon Ashton.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be aiming to turn around their torrid form as they travel across the Pennines to take on Curzon Ashton on Saturday. A disappointing home defeat at the hands of Buxton last weekend means the Avenue are now eight games without a win, and, more crucially, nine points adrift of safety. With only seven games to go, their chances of survival in the Vanarama National League North are looking slimmer by the week.

A positive run of results is therefore essential for the Green Army to give themselves the best possible chance of pulling off the great escape, and they will look to kick-start this against The Nash at The Tameside Stadium. This weekend’s hosts occupy 11^th place in the league, and a current four-match unbeaten streak has made them hopeful of a late push for the playoffs.

One player the Avenue will need to keep quiet this weekend is Curzon Ashton striker Tom Peers, with the attacker notching 15 goals in 37 league appearances this season, including two in his previous three games. Peers’ impressive tally is the joint-fourth highest in the National League North this season.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will look to take inspiration from their 2-1 home victory in the reverse fixture with Curzon Ashton back in October, a result which holds particular significance in the Green Army’s season. Trailing with less than ten minutes of normal time remaining, quick fire goals from Will Longbottom and Oli Johnson turned the game on its head and gave the Avenue their first win of the campaign, ending a run of ten games without a victory at the start of the season. The result triggered a sequence of three successive wins, something that the Avenue will need to do again if they are to save themselves from the drop.

On the topic of Longbottom, the Avenue attacker came in for particular praise from manager Mark Bower in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat to Buxton. A first half injury to Brad Dockerty led to Longbottom being tasked with leading the line, and Bower said: “I thought he was our best player by a country mile. I thought he did really well, looked a threat, and like he always does, he ran his socks off.” The Yorkshireman’s display was rewarded with a goal from the penalty spot, and Bower will no doubt be counting on Longbottom to build on his impressive display away to Curzon Ashton this weekend.

The Green Army will be hoping October’s victory over Curzon Ashton has changed their fortunes in this fixture, as prior to this season The Nash had won their previous five encounters against the Avenue. The Avenue faithful would have to look back to February 2017 for their most recent victory at The Tameside Stadium, with goals from James Knowles and current assistant manager Danny Boshell securing a 2-1 win for the visitors. Interestingly, Curzon Ashton were on a four-match unbeaten run on that occasion too, as the visitors brought the three points back to Bradford and took a big step towards safety. The Avenue will be hoping history can repeat itself in more ways than one this weekend.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter and Instagram)

Kick off: Saturday 1 April 2023, 15:00.

Getting there:

The Tameside Stadium, Richmond Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 9HG

Directions:

M60 (from Stockport) Junction 23 turn left off slip road, then get into the second from left lane to go through the lights onto the A6140 sign-posted Ashton. Keep on the A6140 until you come to a set of traffic lights with a cinema on your right, turn left at these lights, follow road over a bridge then over a mini-roundabout then turn left after the mini-roundabout. Ground is at the bottom. ALL VEHICLES MUST PARK IN THE CAR PARK ON THE RIGHT. COACH PARK ON LEFT

Parking:

Free car parking is available with six disabled spaces. There is also a large ‘Over-Spill’ car park located on the left at the beginning of the approach road to the stadium.

Tickets:
All tickets can be purchased on Match Days at the turnstiles using either cash or card.

Adults: £15.00

Concessions: £10.00 (Over 65)

Students: £10.00 (ID must be shown on entry)

16’s to 18’s: £5.00

Under 16’s free (Must be with Full paying Adult)

Avenue set to host in-form Buxton as clock ticks on survival hopes.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will host one of the league’s in-form sides on Non-League Day this Saturday as 10^th placed Buxton visit the Horsfall Community Stadium.

The Avenue head into the game on the back of a narrow 1-0 loss at Boston United last time out. The Green Army had dominated proceedings in the first half and appeared to do everything but find the back of the net, only to come undone from a second half set piece as Boston’s Ben Pollock rose highest to head home from Billy Chadwick’s corner. Despite the result, it was a performance that pleased manager Mark Bower, but the Avenue boss was once again left feeling aggrieved at the match officials as his side were denied what looked a clear penalty in the closing stages.

The defeat at Jakemans Community Stadium means Bradford (Park Avenue) remain 23^rd in the National League North, still eight points from safety. However, a midweek loss for Leamington, who sit just outside the relegation places, has given the Avenue a game in hand as they look to kick-start their survival bid.

Looking ahead to the visit of Buxton this Saturday, Bower said: “You want to get back out there and I thought there were some really good signs [against Boston United]. We’ve just got to get a win”. However, the Avenue will need to be at their best, as The Bucks will travel to West Yorkshire on a 12-match unbeaten run. Their impressive streak has seen them climb to 10^th in the league table, taking points from promotion-chasers such as Kings Lynn Town and Darlington. Now just seven points from the play-offs, Buxton may have one eye on a late promotion bid, having spent the first half of the season nervously looking over their shoulders.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will hold the bragging rights over Buxton heading into this weekend’s clash, as they emerged from the reverse fixture with a 3-2 win at The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium back in early-December. Trailing 2-1 as the game came to a close, injury time goals from Oli Johnson and Jacob Blyth turned the match on its head and ensured the three points came back to Bradford. In fact, Bradford (Park Avenue) have been victorious in their previous two encounters with Buxton. However, the Green Army did succumb to a 1-0 defeat the last time The Bucks visited the Horsfall in an FA Cup replay in October 2009.

Both the team and the coaching staff will be hoping for a large crowd to get behind the Green Army this Saturday, as adults and concessions can take advantage of a reduced entry fee of just £5 to mark this year’s Non-League Day. To find out more about Non-League Day, click here.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Kick off: Saturday 25^th March, 3pm

Where To Find Us:

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG

Directions By Car:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.

Directions By Train:

Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the  Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.

From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):

Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).

From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.

Directions By Bus:

From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.

These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.

Turnstiles: PAY ON GATE

The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Our reduced matchday prices for Non-League Day are as follows:

Adult – £5

Concession – £5

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1

Crucial week for Avenue in the quest for survival.

Bradford (Park Avenue) face a potentially make-or-break week in the Vanarama National League North as the season approaches its business end.

On Tuesday night the Avenue head to Shropshire to take on AFC Telford United, a side who, with only three wins to their name this season, have found themselves cut adrift at the bottom of the National League North. Time is running out for The Bucks this season, who are winless in their previous 11 matches and are now 16 points from safety. Added to this poor run of form, Telford are without a home win since defeating Banbury United in early-December. With Tuesday’s hosts in such disarray, the Green Army will see this as a must-win game to give themselves the best possible chance of survival with just ten games to go.

Bradford (Park Avenue) head into Tuesday’s encounter having suffered a narrow loss away to Peterborough Sports last Saturday. Despite conceding in the first minute of the game, the Avenue responded well and plugged away at the Sports backline but it was not to be, denied multiple times by some fine last ditch defending.

The result, along with others elsewhere, leaves Bradford (Park Avenue) 23^rd in the table, three points from safety having still played more matches than the sides above. A win at AFC Telford United could move the Avenue as high as 21^st, but they will be relying on results elsewhere to also go in their favour. The Green Army could move level with 20^th placed Leamington but would require an 11-goal swing to climb out of the relegation zone in mid-week.

The Avenue can take confidence from the reverse fixture against AFC Telford United back in early-December. A first half strike from Jordan Preston under the lights at the Horsfall Community Stadium was enough to secure all three points in what was then a third successive league win for Bradford. The Green Army will hope another win over The Bucks can trigger a similar run of form.

After Tuesday’s trip to Telford, attention will then turn to Saturday Monday 13th as Bradford (Park Avenue) welcome Alfreton Town to the Horsfall. The visitors currently sit 9^th in the National League North, but still harbour hopes of securing a play-off place having a number of games in hand over most of the sides above them.

Despite a promising season so far, Alfreton have struggled for consistency in recent months, failing to secure successive victories since October. During this time, The Reds have also laboured on their travels, with just one win in their previous ten away fixtures in all competitions, a promising omen for the Avenue.

The reverse fixture saw Bradford (Park Avenue) pick up a hard-fought point in a goalless draw at North Street back in November. The Green Army will also remember with fondness the last time Alfreton Town visited the Horsfall. A stunning second-half performance from the Avenue back in February 2022 saw them run out 5-0 winners against this weekend’s visitors. In fact, Bradford (Park Avenue) hold an impressive record when hosting Alfreton, unbeaten in their previous six encounters between the pair in BD6.

Match Previews by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Tuesday 7^th March – AFC Telford United vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

Kick off: 7:45pm

Address

New Bucks Head Stadium, Watling Street, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2TU

AWAY FANS:

The following information may be helpful to supporters who will be visiting our ground for a forthcoming fixture.

If you are travelling to the match by train, leave at Wellington station and the stadium is a short walk away.

Parking facilities comprise 290 spaces at the stadium (entrance via Haybridge Road)  There is surveillance by stewards and CCTV. The fee is £3 per car, payment should be made by card at the parking meter or the ticket office (cash or card)

The following admission price policy for league games during 2022/23 season.

Adult £16

Concession £12

Youth (12-18) £5

Under 12s FREE

Away fans are housed at one end of the ground, in the covered Frank Nagington Terrace, where up to 1,300 fans can be housed. The entrance to the away area is via turnstiles I & J

The concourses also have separate licensed bars for alcoholic drinks serving Bitter, Lager and Cider….. The bar also handily opens again at half time. The Snack bar is also open on Match days for you to purchase Hot / Cold food and drinks all for a great price.

A limited number of seats will be made available for visitors in the University of Wolverhampton Stand. Spectators should again enter via gates I/J and then approach a steward for arranging a transfer to the seating area. Seats will be available on a first-come-first-served basis, and priority will be given to elderly people, those with limited mobility and to families with young children.

Anyone who has limited mobility, and who is unable to enter via a turnstile, should report to the assisted-entry gate, which is between turnstiles P and A in the north-west corner of the ground.

Saturday 11^th NOW Monday 13th March – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Alfreton Town

Kick off: 7:45pm

Where To Find Us:

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG

Directions By Car:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.

Directions By Train:

Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the  Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.

From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):

Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).

From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.

Directions By Bus:

From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.

These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.

Turnstiles:

The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:

Adult – £14

Concession – £10

Student – £5 (must show Student ID at turnstiles)

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1

Two games in three days await the Avenue in the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will look to build on their impressive home win against Leamington last Saturday as they travel to high-flying Brackley Town this weekend.

Confidence will be high amongst Avenue ranks as they made light work of their opponents last time out, emerging with a vital 3-1 victory to strengthen their survival hopes after controlling large parts of the game. However, this weekend poses a different challenge entirely against a Brackley side that has had an impressive season so far in their hunt for promotion.

With a handful of sides around Bradford (Park Avenue) having played mid-week fixtures due to their games in hand, the Avenue find themselves travelling to Brackley’s St James Park in 19^th place, three points ahead of the relegation zone. However, having still played more games than some of their rivals, every game is equally important in the fight for survival.

Brackley Town were also in action on Tuesday night, securing a narrow 2-1 victory away over Kidderminster Harriers. The Saints will entertain the Avenue on Saturday from 3^rd place in the National League North, but have struggled for consistency in recent weeks. Despite suffering only one defeat in their previous 21 league fixtures, Brackley have failed to string together successive victories since early November, a statistic which the Green Army will hope to continue beyond this weekend.

One player that Bradford (Park Avenue) will need to keep a watchful eye on is Brackley’s Callum Stead. The Saints forward has netted 11 times in 30 league appearances, averaging 0.41 goals per game. His attacking prowess has complimented Brackley’s stubborn defence, with the Saints boasting the league’s best goals against tally so far this season having conceded just 23 times.

The reverse fixture between these two sides saw Brackley emerge from the Horsfall Community Stadium with a 2-1 victory back in October. The Avenue led at half time through a Will Longbottom strike on the quarter of an hour mark, only for second half goals from Martin Woods and Cosmos Matwasa to turn the game around for the Saints. In fact, Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hoping to break what has become a torrid run of form against this weekend’s opponents, having lost the last six meetings between the pair. The Avenue’s last victory at Brackley came back in April 2018, a 1-0 victory courtesy of an 80^th minute goal from Ryan Toulson.

A win at St James Park on Saturday could lift Bradford (Park Avenue) as high as 17^th place, whilst defeat could leave the Avenue 21^st and in the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere.

Just two days after the trip to Brackley, Bradford (Park Avenue) will be welcoming Blyth Spartans to the Horsfall Community Stadium in a game of huge importance at the bottom end of the league table.

At the time of writing, the Spartans sit 23^rd in the National League North, four points from safety and six points behind the Avenue. Blyth will be travelling to Bradford after hosting 18^th placed Kettering Town on Saturday and will then turn their attention to a trip to bottom of the league AFC Telford United the following weekend. Many of the Spartans faithful will therefore see the next three games against fellow strugglers as a make-or-break period for the remainder of their season.

The reverse fixture back in late October was a significant one for Bradford (Park Avenue) as the 1-0 victory at Croft Park was their first away win of the season, part of a run of games which helped propel the Avenue off the foot of the table. In fact, Bradford have come out on top in each of their last three meetings against the Spartans and are unbeaten in their previous six against Monday’s visitors. Last season’s home encounter against Blyth resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Avenue thanks to goals from Luca Havern and Luke Rawson, despite the Spartans taking the lead on the brink of half time. Bradford’s Green Army will be hoping their excellent head-to-head record holds to key to taking another giant step towards survival against a fellow struggler under the lights at the Horsfall.

Match Previews by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Saturday 18^th February – Brackley Town vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Kick off: 3pm

Address

Brackley Town F.C. St James Park, Churchill Way, Brackley, NN13 7EJ

Public Transport

Brackley doesn’t have a train station, the closest station is Banbury, which is around 10 miles away. Banbury bus station is a 5 minute walk from the train station and from there you can catch a Stagecoach No 500 bus to Brackley which takes around 30 mins.

Traveling by Bus

The nearest bus stops to St James Park are on Bridge Street or around the Market Place which are around a 5 to 10-minute walk to St James Park.

TRAVELING BY CAR

From the South (M40 & A43)

From, or crossing the M40 at Junction 10, follow the A43 towards Northampton. (The road is a dual carriageway all the way to Brackley – 9 miles). At the large roundabout at the bottom of the hill as you approach the town, take the 2nd exit signposted Brackley (South).

* After approximately 100 metres, take the 2nd exit at the mini roundabout (Tesco store on the left, Mercedes / Petronas Formula One Racing on the right), and follow the road towards the town. The New Locomotive public house is almost immediately on the left hand side and Churchill Way is the next turning on the right as you go up the hill. (Signposted Football Club). Turn into Churchill Way and follow this road which leads directly into the Club car park.

From the East (A422 Buckingham)

From Buckingham, follow the A422 to Brackley (8 miles). The A422 joins the A43 at a roundabout as you enter the town at the bottom of a hill. Take the first exit (signposted Oxford, A43 & M40) and follow this dual carriageway for approximately three quarters of a mile. At the next roundabout, take the last exit signposted Brackley (South). Then follow the directions marked * above.

From the West (A422 Banbury & M40 Junction 11)

Leave Banbury at the M40 junction 11 and follow the A422 (signposted Brackley). After approximately 8 miles go straight over the first small roundabout and follow the signs for the A43. About a mile further on the road passes a Tesco store on the left and almost immediately take the first exit at the roundabout signposted Brackley (South). Then follow the directions marked * above.

From the North (A43 Northampton, M1 and the A5)

Leave the M1 at Junction 15A and follow the A43 South (signposted Oxford & M40).

After approximately 8 miles the road crosses the A5 at a roundabout just outside Towcester. Follow the A43 past Silverstone to Brackley and at the first roundabout (BP garage), take the first exit (signposted A43, Oxford & M40). At the second roundabout, take the second exit (signposted A43, Oxford & M40). At the third roundabout, take the third exit (signposted Brackley, South). Then follow the directions marked * above.

Monday 20^th February – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Blyth Spartans

Kick off: 7:45pm

Where To Find Us:

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG

Directions By Car:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.

Directions By Train:

Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the  Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.

From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):

Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).

From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.

Directions By Bus:

From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.

These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.

Turnstiles:

The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:

Adult – £14

Concession – £10

Student – £5

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1

Fight for survival hots up with Leamington visit.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will welcome fellow strugglers Leamington to the Horsfall Community Stadium this Saturday in what could well be a relegation six-pointer in the Vanarama National League North.

The Avenue will be desperate to secure all three points to steer themselves away from the relegation zone, having now gone eight league games without a win. This weekend’s fixture follows successive away defeats last week at the hands of Kings Lynn Town and Gloucester City respectively, both professional outfits chasing promotion this season.

Bradford manager Mark Bower will be sweating on the fitness of a handful of important first-team players, noting after the defeat to Gloucester City that “we lost Reece Staunton injured which is a blow, with the likes of Blythy (Blyth), OJ (Johnson), Jordan Preston out, Spenner (Spencer) and Lundy (Lund) not a hundred per cent fit yet, we are thin”. Bower will be hoping for some good news in the coming days to strengthen the cause on Saturday.

This weekend’s visitors have also struggled for form in the National League North this season and are currently enduring a thirteen-game winless run dating back to October, managing only one victory in their previous 19 league matches. Indeed, Leamington have arguably become draw specialists this term, sharing the spoils in fourteen of their 27 league fixtures. As well as this, the Brakes have failed to find the net in each of their last three fixtures. Considering these figures, the Green Army will be confident that they can extend Leamington’s poor form even further beyond this Saturday.  

Despite losing to Leamington 1-0 at the New Windmill Ground in the reverse fixture back in September, Bradford (Park Avenue) can take optimism from the Brakes’ terrible away record, with the visitors failing to win any of their twelve away matches this season. The Avenue faithful will also fondly recollect this fixture from last season, as the Green Army recorded a 2-1 victory at the Horsfall courtesy of goals from Brad Dockerty and Luca Havern.

If the form table is anything to go by, home advantage could be crucial for the Avenue this Saturday. Bradford (Park Avenue) head into the game occupying 19^th spot, one point and one place above visitors Leamington having played three games more. Following the midweek fixtures, Bradford are now just two points clear of the relegation zone with the three sides directly below holding games in hand. A win this weekend would definitely see Avenue leapfrog either Buxton or Kettering Town as both sides clash this weekend, whereas defeat could prove damaging in the race for survival.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Where To Find Us:

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG

Directions By Car:

Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.

Directions By Train:

Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the  Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.

From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):

Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).

From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.

Directions By Bus:

From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.

These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.

Turnstiles: PAY ON GATE

The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:

Adult – £14

Concession – £10

Student – £5

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1

Avenue are back on the road again this Saturday.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be on their travels again this weekend as they make the 175-mile journey to mid-table Gloucester City on Saturday. The trip to New Meadow Park will be a second successive away fixture for the Avenue, following on from Tuesday’s narrow defeat at promotion chasing Kings Lynn Town, a result that took the opposition to the summit of the Vanarama National League North.

Despite the loss in midweek, Bradford boss Mark Bower expressed pride in his side’s performance against a full-time team, and felt unfortunate not to take anything from the game after Will Longbottom had put the Avenue ahead early in the second half. The Green Army were boosted by the return of Reece Staunton after a recent spell on the side-lines, but now expect to be without striker Jordan Preston for the trip to Gloucester after he was forced off inside the opening fifteen minutes with a suspected hamstring injury.

Bower also made clear his desire to improve Bradford (Park Avenue)’s league position this Saturday. It is now seven games without a win for the Avenue after what was an impressive end to the calendar year. The run has left the side looking nervously over their shoulders, just three points clear of the relegation zone having played more games than the chasing pack. A win at New Meadow Park on Saturday could lift Bradford up a place into 16^th, providing results go their way elsewhere.

Gloucester City are also approaching this weekend’s fixture struggling for consistency, with only one win recorded from their previous seven games. The Tigers have struggled at the back this season, with their leaky defence conceding the second-highest amount of goals in the National League North, a statistic the Avenue attack will no doubt look to exploit. The hosts are also reeling from the loss of top goal scorers Matt McClure and Tré Mitford. McClure had netted 14 goals in 24 games before moving to National League South club Chippenham Town in January, whilst Mitford had netted eight times this season before departing to Boston United last month. The Gloucester fans may understandably be left worrying where their goals will come from in the absence of their star strikers.

The Green Army will be hoping for more of the same when reflecting on the reverse fixture between these sides. The Halloween encounter saw Bradford (Park Avenue) emerge victorious with a 2-1 win at the Horsfall Community Stadium, courtesy of goals from Jacob Blyth and Brad Dockerty. Furthermore, the Avenue are unbeaten in their previous three away matches against Gloucester City, one of which included an enthralling 4-4 draw back in November 2020. Bradford (Park Avenue) came back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3, only to be denied by a Gloucester equaliser in the second half. The Avenue faithful will be hoping for similar free-flowing attacking football this Saturday.

Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)

Getting to the ground:

TigerTurf Stadium, Sudmeadow Road, Gloucester, GL2 5HS

Public transport – The nearest train station is Gloucester, which is about a 25 minute walk away. Stagecoach buses 8 and 11 stop just a minute or two walk from the stadium and both leave from the City Centre.

​Car – There is limited space for car parking at TigerTurf Stadium, and as such parking is only available on matchdays for blue badge holders (email before matchday info@gcafc.co.uk), guests and officials.

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Local Car Parks

• 3 Hours free parking is available at Sainsbury’s on St Ann Way GL2 5SA, a 5 minute walk from the ground. 
• Castlemeads Car Park, GL1 2NH is a Pay & Display car park and is a 10 minute walk
• Gloucester Quays Car Park, Baker Street GL2 5RG offers up to 4 hours parking for £5 and is a 12 minute walk 

Directions (from the North)

Exit the M5 at junction 11 and take the A40 westbound towards Gloucester. At the roundabout take the 4th exit (A40) towards Ross. At the next roundabout go straight on (2nd exit) staying on the A40. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit left towards the city centre. Go right at the next junction towards Hempsted (A430). Straight ahead at the next set of lights and Sudmeadow Road is the third right turn just before the next set of traffic lights.

Directions (from the South)

Exit the M5 at junction 12 and head towards Gloucester. Go straight ahead at the roundabout on the A38 Quedgeley by-pass. Ahead at the next roundabout and straight ahead at the next two sets of traffic lights. onto Secunda Way (A430). Follow this road past three more sets of lights onto marina junction. Stay in the left hand lane towards Cheltenham/Ledbury/Ross. At the next lights with ‘The High Orchard’ to your right, go straight ahead and text the first left onto Sudmeadow Road.

To purchase tickets ahead of the game, click the link below

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/gloucestercityafc/840520#