Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Joe Ackroyd ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Ackroyd joins the Avenue after a season with Guiseley, where he made 39 appearances and netted two goals during the 2024/25 season. The tenacious and creative midfielder now links up with Craig Elliott’s squad as preparations continue for the new campaign.

Joe brings with him a wealth of experience despite still being in the early stages of his career. A product of the Barnsley FC Academy, Ackroyd spent a decade at Oakwell, coming through the ranks before making his senior debut for the Tykes in the Emirates FA Cup during the 2020/21 season – a tie against Barrow played at Oakwell.

His early potential earned him a loan spell with MFK Vyškov in the Czech Republic, where he gained valuable first-team experience, making 13 appearances and scoring once in the Czech National Football League.

Ackroyd joined Guiseley on a one-month loan from Barnsley in September 2022, a deal which was extended before he was recalled in December after making 13 appearances in all competitions.

In January 2023, he joined up with Craig Elliott after joining Buxton in the National League North on loan. He impressed during his time at Silverlands, making 23 appearances and scoring 3 goals across the remainder of the 2022/23 season. That loan spell was later extended, and following its conclusion, Ackroyd penned a new one-year deal with Barnsley.

He returned to Buxton for a second loan stint during the 2023/24 season, adding a further 15 appearances to his name before leaving Barnsley at the end of the campaign. He then signed permanently for Guiseley ahead of the 2024/25 season., before a brief stint on loan with Warrington Town in the National League North, where he made six appearances in early 2025.

Manager Craig Elliott shared his thoughts on the signing:

“I’m delighted, after a lot of hard work, to bring Joe to Bradford (Park Avenue). He’s a young, hungry player who will bring real energy and enthusiasm to the team. He had two very successful loan spells with me in the National League North at Buxton, and I’ve no doubt he’s a player who will continue to improve. He already knows my staff and a lot of the squad, so it’s a brilliant signing for us.”

Avenue supporters can look forward to watching a dynamic midfielder who’s hungry to make his mark at Horsfall.

Welcome to Bradford (Park Avenue), Joe Ackroyd!

Bradford (Park Avenue) are pleased to confirm the signing of Rico Kilbourn ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The left winger joins from Golcar United, where he made 18 appearances, scored one goal, and assisted in over eight others during the 2024/25 campaign.

Rico previously spent time on the college programme at FC Halifax Town, where he progressed through the youth setup and even trained with the first team in 2024. However, after not being offered a professional contract, he made the move into senior football to continue his development.

Now stepping up to join Avenue, Rico adds another wide option to the squad as preparations continue for the upcoming season.

Welcome to the club, Rico.

BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE) AFC 🟢⚪️
vs Bradford City XI 🔴🟡
📅 Tues 29th July | 🕢 7:30PM KO
📍 Horsfall Community Stadium
🎟️ £5 18+ | £1 U18s
🎫 Get tickets: https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=11807

#Bradford #ParkAvenue #GreenArmy

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Jak McCourt, who joins the club permanently following his departure from Ashton United.

McCourt, 29, returns to the Horsfall Community Stadium after a loan spell with Avenue last season, during which he made eight appearances and scored once. As part of his new deal, he will also take on a player-coach role, adding experience and leadership both on the pitch and within the coaching setup.

Originally a product of Leicester City’s academy, McCourt has made over 100 appearances in the Football League, featuring for Chesterfield, Northampton Town, Swindon Town, and Barnsley. He was signed by Sol Campbell at then-League Two side Macclesfield Town, before returning to Chesterfield for a second spell in the National League.

Following that, McCourt featured for Warrington Rylands and later Buxton, where he worked under current Avenue manager Craig Elliott.

On his signing, Jak had this to say:

“I’m delighted to sign for this club. I really enjoyed my time here last season — even though I picked up an injury, it gave me a great opportunity to get stuck into the coaching side of things. I’m thankful to Craig for giving me the chance to do that.

I’m really looking forward to the new season starting and hopefully having a successful one both on and off the pitch.”

Please join us in welcoming Jak back to Bradford (Park Avenue)!

Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to announce the signing of 22-year-old winger Louie Chorlton, who returns to the Horsfall Community Stadium following a standout season with Pontefract Collieries.

A dynamic wing-back who enjoys getting forward and supporting the attack, Louie made an impressive 44 appearances for Pontefract Collieries during the 2024/25 campaign, scoring 5 goals and showcasing his ability at both ends of the pitch. In 2023/24 season Louie made 27 appearances for the Colls, scoring 5 goals.

Louie previously spent a month-long loan spell with Avenue during our 2022/23 National League North season, making six appearances.

He began his career at Rochdale, where he was part of the side that won the 2020/21 EFL Youth Alliance Cup, contributing to the team’s goal tally from defence. Louie’s development also included time at Bradford City (U18s) and Hull City (U21s), gaining valuable experience before making his mark in senior football.

This signing would not have been possible without the generous backing of the Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund.

If you’d like to contribute and help us strengthen the squad further, please consider making a donation today.

Development Fund Donation Details:
Sort Code: 05-02-00
Account Number: 29955993
Reference: Donation

Join us in wishing Louie a warm welcome back!

Bradford (Park Avenue) are thrilled to confirm the signing of 26-year-old forward George Doyle, who joins the club following a remarkable goal-scoring season with Golcar United.

Doyle netted an incredible 35 goals during the 2024/25 campaign, having joined Golcar in October 2023. His clinical finishing and intelligent movement in and around the box made him one of the most feared strikers in the division.

His journey to Avenue has been anything but ordinary. Doyle began making a name for himself at Emley AFC between 2020 and 2022, rising through the U23 ranks to the first team and scoring 19 goals across his time there. His standout performances earned him the Non League Yorkshire Player of the Month award in February 2022, securing over 1,000 votes.

In 2022, he made the bold move to Australia to play for Buderim Wanderers, where he continued his fine form, scoring 16 goals during the 2022/23 season.

A return to West Yorkshire followed in 2023, signing with Golcar United. After a strong start, Doyle exploded into life during the 2024/25 campaign with a phenomenal 35-goal haul, underlining his reputation as a natural goalscorer.

Born and raised in Salendine Nook, Doyle began his football journey locally before earning a scholarship opportunity in Kentucky, USA, through the ProSoccer agency while at Huddersfield New College. Though his time in the States was cut short, it instilled a strong sense of independence and resilience that continues to drive his footballing career.

Manager Craig Elliott is confident Doyle has what it takes to succeed at the next level:

“George is a player that our scouts have been monitoring closely and we’ve had nothing but positive reports. I’m really excited to see how he develops and steps up to the league.

“He scored a lot of goals last season and I’ve no doubt he’s capable of making the step up. While it’s important we bring in experienced players from higher up the pyramid, it’s just as vital to strike a balance by signing hungry players who want to develop and improve – and George fits that perfectly.”

Doyle now links up with Craig Elliott’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 season, bringing with him an outstanding track record and a hunger to prove himself once again.

Welcome to Bradford (Park Avenue), George!

Bradford (Park Avenue) are pleased to announce the signing of experienced central defender Conor Qualter ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The 31-year-old arrives from Ossett United, where he made 38 appearances last season and scored once. His no-nonsense style and consistent performances were a key part of Ossett’s impressive turnaround in the second half of the campaign — something that caught the eye of Avenue’s management team.

Manager Craig Elliott spoke highly of his latest addition:

“Conor is a player I know very well. He has a great winning mentality. He’s a big, strong lad and will give us lots of aggression, plus he’s very versatile in a few positions. He played a big part in Ossett United’s revival in the second part of the season. Me and Danny (Ellis) both liked his no-nonsense style and he is the type of player we need for next season.”

Qualter started his career at Leeds United before moving to FC Halifax Town, gaining senior experience through loans at Northwich Victoria, Kendal Town, and Ossett Town. In more recent years, he’s represented Selby Town and Tadcaster Albion, before making his mark at Ossett.

He also brings international pedigree, having featured in the Republic of Ireland Under-19 setup earlier in his career.

A tough, experienced presence at the back, Qualter adds depth, character, and leadership as Bradford (Park Avenue) build towards a strong 2025/26 campaign.

Welcome to the Horsfall, Conor

Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Prince Ekpolo, who joins the club on a deal running through to the end of the 2025/26 season. The 31-year-old becomes the latest new addition to Craig Elliott’s squad ahead of the upcoming campaign in the Northern Premier League East Division.

Now aged 31, Ekpolo joins Avenue following an impressive spell with Guiseley, where he made 48 appearances last season. During the 2023/24 campaign, he featured 37 times and found the net five times, underlining his consistency and importance in midfield over the past two years.

Ekpolo brings a wealth of experience and a strong pedigree to the club, having built a solid career across both Spanish and English football. He began his footballing journey in Spain with Nàstic U19s, before moving to Pobla de Mafumet CF, the farm team of Gimnàstic de Tarragona. He later played for CE Morell and Reus B, continuing his development before making the switch to English non-league football.

Since arriving in England, Prince has gone on to represent Glossop North End, Guiseley, and AFC Telford United, gaining a reputation as a commanding and reliable presence in midfield.

Manager Craig Elliott was full of praise for the new arrival:

“Prince is such a superb signing for us. He brings much-needed physicality and endless energy in midfield. He has good experience of playing at big clubs at a much higher level and only last season played a big part in helping Guiseley narrowly lose out on promotion.

To attract a player of this pedigree to BPA shows a real intent and I have to thank our chief scout and everyone at the club for helping and working hard to make this happen.”

Everyone at the club is excited to welcome Prince to the Horsfall for the first time, and we look forward to seeing him in green and white this season.

Welcome to Avenue, Prince! 👑💚

Watch his first interview for the club below

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC are delighted to announce that forward Myles La Bastide has committed his future to the club, signing a new deal that will keep him at the Horsfall Community Stadium until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Myles’ journey is a testament to the club’s development pathway, having come through the Football Education Programme before earning a professional contract in 2023. Since then, he has continued to make his mark in green and white.

In his debut First Team season (2023/24), Myles made 18 appearances, scoring 4 goals, while also gaining vital experience through loan spells with Frickley Athletic and Pontefract Collieries.

The 2024/25 season has seen Myles continue to grow in influence, contributing 6 goals in 23 appearances and becoming a consistent presence in the attacking line.

Speaking after signing his new contract, Myles said:

“I’m really happy to be staying at Bradford (Park Avenue) until the end of the 2025/26 season. This club means a lot to me – it’s where I’ve developed as a player and a person. I’ve had some great experiences here, and I’m focused on giving everything I can to help the team finish the season strongly.”

Interested in Following in Myles’ Footsteps?

Myles’ progression from our Football Education Programme into the First Team highlights the opportunities available for young players at Bradford (Park Avenue).

If you’re passionate about football and want to develop your game while continuing your education, our programme could be your next step.

📅 Sign up now to be notified about our next trial dates:
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