The Development Fund are running a supporters coach to the upcoming Alfreton game on Saturday 12th November, with seats costing £17 for Adults and Under 16’s for £10
Pick up time will be 11:30 from The Horsfall Stadium and 11:45 from Cedar Court Hotel.
Seats are selling fast, so if you would like to reserve a seat please contact Dave Stordy in the Programme Shop of visit the Development Fund Desk in the Clubhouse.
LIVE FROM 2:50PM! BPAFC vs Brackley Town commentary will be streamed live today on our YouTube channel. Click the link below to listen LIVE!
#UTA #BPAFC
During the 2021/22 season, due to the fantastic support of many fans, the BPA Development Fund were able to make a significant donation to the club which was used to secure the initial signings of Simon Richman, Sam Fielding and Harrison Hopper.
Pre-season conversations with Gareth Roberts and the management team confirmed that the costs of maintaining a competitive team at this level continue to rise. Mark and Danny did a brilliant job retaining the core of the team from last season and are always looking for new players to come in and strengthen the team where finances allow.
With your support through donations and our other fundraising activities, we can continue to assist with increasing the initial budget which does make a difference in bringing in the quality of player required at our level.
The BPA Development Fund initially paid £2k into the fund at the start of this season, and has committed several thousand more towards additions made since the season commenced. This is an ongoing process, and any further donations would be made available to the club as/if felt further team strengthening was necessary. Several supporters have recently enquired as to how to they can do this, especially as our squad is low on numbers currently.
Donations are administered by the BPA Development Fund, with funds being donated to the club when agreed between both parties. At no stage do any of the Development Fund Group have any say in players being considered etc. Should any funds remain at the end of the season, such funds would be carried forward to the following season.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
Bank Transfer:
BPA Development Fund
Sort Code 05-06-81
Account Number 33569976
Please quote “BTB” as the payment reference.
Cheque:
Made payable to BPA Development Fund, and send to BPA Development Fund, Horsfall Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford BD6 2NG.
Cash Donations:
Please visit the Programme Shop or the BPA Development Fund desk in the clubhouse on match days.
Thank you for your support to date, we now look forward to more of the same!
The BPA Development Fund
Bradford (Park Avenue) moved level on points with safety after securing their third win in a row away to Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night, courtesy of a fourteenth minute goal from the in-form Jacob Blyth.
The Avenue headed into the game against fellow strugglers Blyth Spartans with the confidence of back-to-back wins for the first time since January, and it didn’t take long to settle in front of the 683 in attendance under the lights at Croft Park. In the fourteenth minute, Jacob Blyth struck through a crowded penalty area to give Bradford a deserved early lead, netting his second goal in as many games.
As the first half wore on, the Avenue sensed the hosts were there for the taking and pressed to double their lead. Jacob Blyth came close to netting a second after firing narrowly wide, while Eddie Church remained a constant threat with his pace and determination.
Blyth Spartans appeared rejuvenated following their half-time team talk from manager Graham Fenton and quickly pushed for an equaliser in the opening minutes of the second half, with repeated dangerous crosses flashing across the Avenue goalmouth and goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy producing a fine save to keep out a goal-bound flick from Blyth’s Jordan Hickey.
Worryingly for the Avenue in amongst the Blyth pressure early in the second half, captain Gianluca Havern was forced off with a knock and replaced by Will Longbottom. Manager Mark Bower will be hoping the injury is nothing serious with two home fixtures on the horizon within the next week.
As the second half wore on the hosts continued to dominate possession and create chances but were unable to breach Sykes-Kenworthy’s goal due to a combination of wasteful finishing and resolute defending. Blyth’s dangerous young winger Corey McKeown twice came close with efforts drifting just wide of the post. One final clear-cut opportunity came in added time when a Nicky Deverdics close-range effort was well held by the impressive Avenue goalkeeper.
The final whistle brought a sigh of relief for the Avenue manager Mark Bower, who reflected on the challenge posed by the midweek trip to Blyth. “Coming away to Blyth on a Tuesday night is always a tough one and we saw how good they were against Wrexham in the FA Cup last week. They’re very good at keeping the ball and pulling you around so you have to be very disciplined out of possession”. Bower was also full of praise for the way his side defended their lead: “You know the lads have kept going and for their effort, work rate, desire and commitment tonight, I’ll happily take three points”.
The result takes Bradford (Park Avenue) above Blyth Spartans in the National League North into 21st position, level on goal difference with 20th placed Boston United. Next up for the Avenue is the tough task of hosting the in-form Brackley Town this Saturday, who are currently unbeaten in their previous five games and will arrive at the Horsfall Community Stadium occupying third place. The Green Army will be hoping their own consistency prevails, knowing that a point may be enough to finally climb out of the relegation zone.
Blyth Spartans 0 – 1 Bradford (Park Avenue) – Jacob Blyth (14’)
Attendance – 683
Writer: Stephen Grimshaw
Tomorrow evening (25th October) The Avenue could propel themselves away from the danger zone when they travel to fellow strugglers Blyth Spartans who sit just two places above Bradford (PA) in the league table.
Since The Avenue secured that first win of the season against Curzon Ashton, they have won back-to-back games after an 86-minute penalty which was dispatched calmly by Jacob Blyth, securing victory over Hereford Town and come the final whistle tomorrow it could be a hattrick of wins for Bradford (PA).
Blyth Spartans have not won in the league since the end of August when they beat Buxton 2-1 away from home, since then they have only managed three points out of their last five games all of which have come at home.
The last five meetings between these two sides have predominantly seen the Avenue come out on top beating them three times and drawing twice, with the last away win against Blyth ending in a 3-1 victory for the Avenue at the end of last season.
A win tomorrow could see the Avenue climb as high as 18th in the league depending on the score line and other results going in their favour and could set them in good stead when they host high flying Brackley Town at the weekend.
(Park Avenue) have had a torrid start to the season losing seven of their opening league games and it looked as though that first win would never come as they lingered above the trap door, but if Bradford (Park Avenue) could go on a little run, it would give their survival chances a huge boost.
Writer: James Fletcher
Standing Tickets are priced online at £12 for Adults, £7 for Concessions, £5 for 11-16s and Students, and £3 for under 10s.
Seated tickets are priced online at £14 for Adults, £9 for Concessions, £7 for 11-16s and Students, and £2 for under 10s.
You can purchase tickets to the match on the Blyth Spartan’s website by clicking here.
1-0 win at home against Hereford FC means back-to-back wins.
The home team Bradford (Park Avenue) came into the game on the back of their first win of the season against Curzon. Their aim was to build on that and ensure it wasn’t a false dawn.
Their opposition Hereford came into the fixture in fine form having not lost in their last 6 matches and coming off a 2-1 win in the FA Cup and a 4-2 demolition of Boston United.
The game started slowly with chances coming few and far between, Avenue looking to create through crosses from Reece Staunton into the target man Jacob Blyth.
This led to a near chance for joint top scorer Jamie Spencer whose shot from the edge of the box was blocked by a Hereford center back.
Hereford’s first clear cut chance came in the form of an Evans cross dropping to right-winger Mclean who scuffed his shot into Sykes-Kenworthy’s gloves.
Both teams looked to build up quickly, Hereford with their midfield double pivot and Bradford using the height of Blyth with Dockerty making runs off him.
The last chance off the half came in the 32nd minute when Hereford’s Tyler failed to claim a Staunton free-kick, the ball falling nicely to Hopper whose attempt was cleared just in front of the 6 yard box with the keeper in no man’s land.
Hereford began the second half lively, building up on the left then creating a chance for Hanson just on the edge of the box. His shot was collected calmly by Avenue’s keeper.
A long period of possession for Bradford lead to Thomas Angell having a great chance in the 57th minute, as he faked onto his weaker right foot and shot into a Hereford defender.
Clever footwork from Reece Staunton who drifted over to the right wing gave him space to get a shot off which was saved comfortably by Hereford’s Cian Tyler.
In the 84th minute the pressure paid off. Hopper was slotted in behind on the right and was bundled over winning a penalty for the home side.
Jacob Blyth Bradford’s number 9 then blasted the penalty into the top left corner making it 1-0 with 5 minutes to go.
From that point onwards, Avenue’s only aim was to run down the clock as much as possible. They did this successfully not allowing Hereford any late chances with game finishing 1-0.
Bradford (PA) now see themselves off the bottom of the table. This puts them in a great position going into their next game against Blyth Spartans on Tuesday.
Attendance:561
Referee: Helen Conley
Writer: Ethan Illingworth
Normally, after eleven games, the League table could be expected to give a fair indication of how good a side is. Avenue will be hoping this season is different and they have good reason. Having already played five teams in the top six and only one in the bottom six, as the table stood last weekend, means Avenue’s position is almost certainly lower than it would otherwise be. Couple this with a series of costly refereeing decisions which have gone against them and a place in the bottom four might be difficult to avoid.
However, since the opening ten games, Avenue’s star appears to be on the rise. An exhilarating 2 – 1 success against Curzon Ashton at Horsfall has got the season properly underway and, with 35 games left to play, Avenue can still realistically aim for a mid-table spot come the end of the season.
Looking at the successes so far, one can point to a generally quite reliable defence and also a competitiveness which has enabled Avenue to stay in the game until the closing minutes in most of their fixtures to date. There are still three other sides who have scored goals in single-figures and seven teams have currently conceded at least as many goals as Avenue, including Gloucester who are as high as sixth, so in the circumstances there is nothing really to be too concerned about there.
Of all the games so far, the one to be regretted most is probably that at Scarborough where questionable decisions by the referee really began to bite. Deservedly leading 2 – 0 with only five minutes remaining, the team contrived to concede two late goals and had to settle for a draw. A win here would have put Avenue in pretty good shape for the challenges ahead. Scarborough have since moved up to fifth place while Avenue have gone in the other direction, but there’s no point in crying over spilt milk.
After this game, of course, the goals dried up and this clearly became Avenue’s Achilles’ heel. A satisfactory explanation is hard to find. While it doesn’t really matter where the goals come from so long as the ball goes in the net, the first five goals scored came from a substitute – Adam Nowakowski, a midfielder (Jamie Spencer, with two), a defender, Luca Havern, and the loan player now back at Sheffield United, Andre Brooks. This pattern began to change with Brad Dockerty’s first goal since re-signing for the club, quickly followed by Will Longbottom and Oli Johnson’s goals against Curzon, as the chances created are now beginning to be put away and impressively, too. We can hopefully expect this to have a positive effect on the other forwards which will help Avenue continue their improvement.
So far, Eddie Church has been among those unlucky with refereeing decisions and Jacob Blyth has also been unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet. Jacob could easily have had a couple of goals but has not had the necessary luck on his side and, after two games as substitute, he came back into the team to play a big part in the welcome victory over Curzon by providing assists for the two goals.
It was this game when Avenue put all the trials and tribulations of the previous two months behind them. Losing Brad Dockerty to injury after barely five minutes play and turning round 1 – 0 down following an unstoppable long-range shot, the game had at this point a very familiar look to it. The introduction of the final two substitutes – Will Longbottom and Oli Johnson – was then to make all the difference.
Firstly, after 81 minutes, Reece Staunton brought the ball back on to his right foot before sending a searching cross to the far post for Jacob Blyth to head back into the goalmouth and Will Longbottom to turn goal poacher and knock the ball in for the equaliser. Then, before the visitors could react to this setback, Jacob Blyth this time headed on a long ball forward for Oli Johnson to beat off the attentions of a defender and steer the ball past the keeper from close range.
No report would be complete without reference to Jamie Spencer’s wonder goal at Scarborough, a copy of David Beckham’s extraordinary strike against Wimbledon in 1996 which got the whole of the country marvelling at his audacity. While catching the goalkeeper off his line plays an important part in the success of such an attempt at goal, the sight of the ball travelling through the air and the keeper’s dramatic effort to prevent it entering the net was a sight to behold. When interviewed later, a modest Jamie with a smile on his face simply said: ‘I won a tackle and I just thought I’d shoot’, but had it been that easy players would be trying it from half-way every week!
By doubling their points tally in only one game, Avenue can feel much more optimistic going forward. Irrespective of the result against Hereford on Saturday, they will be looking towards the game at Blyth on Tuesday and seeing it as an important six-pointer for both sides. Then, in a couple of months’ time with twice the number of games played, Avenue will hopefully have said goodbye to bottom spot for good and be playing the football we know they are capable of on a level playing field.
Check the gallery below for some of Club Photographer John Rhodes best photos from the 22/23 season so far. Click here for full albums on John Rhodes’ page.
