170 days after their last competitive game, Bradford (Park Avenue) returned to action with a 1-1 draw against Campion AFC in the first pre-season fixture of the 2021-22 season.

The hosts took the lead from the penalty spot, sending the Avenue trialist goalkeeper the wrong way. Mark Bower used two different teams for each half, and in the final 45 minutes, Bradford played some good football, rewarded with an equaliser. After great work from Isaac Marriott to dribble past two players, he set up Jordan Windass who fired a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

The Avenue fans returned to watch their team on a sunny evening in Bradford, and saw new signing Rob Guilfoyle for the first time too. The former York City striker looked lively, linking up with Oli Johnson in the final third but, they couldn’t a way past a stubborn Campion AFC defence. The home side caused problems for the National League North outfit and were awarded a penalty following a foul from the Avenue’s trialist left back inside the box. From the penalty spot, Aidan Kirby stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give his side the lead. Bower decided to keep his players on the pitch for his half-time team talk and named a different team for the rest of the evening.

The Avenue started with a quick tempo and looked sharp, with Marriott creating plenty of opportunities, playing just behind the trialist striker. It was the young midfielder who got his first assist of the season, spotting the unmarked Windass inside the area. The right-back struck a first-time effort past the goalkeeper from 12 yards. Five minutes, Bradford came close to extending the lead. Despite a lovely turn from Brad Dockerty, the winger’s low shot was well saved and pushed around the post from 14 yards. With the game approaching its end, Campion AFC were denied a late winner. A deep cross from the winger fell to the feet of their substitute striker, who struck a powerful half-volley towards the roof of the net. But, young Avenue goalkeeper Jacob Fawcett produced a stunning acrobatic save to tip the ball over the bar, prompting applause from around Scotchman Road.

Bradford (Park Avenue) First half: Trialist A, Ross, Nowakowski, Trialist B, Hibbs, Clee, Sanyang, Trialist C, Guilfoyle, Johnson, Trialist D

Second half: Trialist (Fawcett 60), Toulson, Trialist E, Lund, Downing, Trialist F, Trialist G, Marriott, Trialist H, Dockerty Goal: Windass (52)

We can confirm our fixtures for the 2021/22 season are now out!

Mark and the boys travel to Kettering in the opening game of the season, with the first home game coming a week later against Hereford.

The Christmas period throws up the usual local derbies, as we entertain York on Boxing Day before the return fixture on the 2nd Jan. Guiseley away is sandwiched in between.

The final away game sees us travel to Chester on the 2nd May and the season is rounded off with a game at home against Southport on the 7th May!

Full List below!

BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE) – Vanarama National League North
Sat Aug 14 Kettering Town A
Sat Aug 21 Hereford H
Sat Aug 28 Chorley A
Mon Aug 30 Boston United H
Sat Sep 4 Darlington A
Sat Sep 11 AFC Fylde H
Sat Sep 18 Emirates FA Cup 2Q
Sat Sep 25 Curzon Ashton A
Sat Oct 2 Emirates FA Cup 3Q
Sat Oct 9 Gloucester City A
Sat Oct 16 Gateshead H Emirates FA Cup 4Q
Sat Oct 23 Kidderminster Harriers A
Mon Oct 25 Blyth Spartans H
Sat Oct 30 Alfreton Town A
Sat Nov 6 AFC Telford United H Emirates FA Cup 1
Sat Nov 13 Spennymoor Town H
Sat Nov 20 Farsley Celtic A
Sat Nov 27 Buildbase FA Trophy 2
Sat Dec 4 Brackley Town H Emirates FA Cup 2
Sat Dec 11 Leamington A
Sat Dec 18 Buildbase FA Trophy 3
Sun Dec 26 York City H
Tue Dec 28 Guiseley A
Sun Jan 2 York City A
Sat Jan 8 Chester H Emirates FA Cup 3
Sat Jan 15 Southport A Buildbase FA Trophy 4
Sat Jan 22 Kettering Town H
Sat Jan 29 AFC Telford United A
Sat Feb 5 Alfreton Town H Emirates FA Cup 4
Sat Feb 12 Spennymoor Town A Buildbase FA Trophy 5
Sat Feb 19 Farsley Celtic H
Mon Feb 21 Leamington H
Sat Feb 26 Brackley Town A
Wed Mar 2 Emirates FA Cup 5
Sat Mar 5 AFC Fylde A
Sat Mar 12 Curzon Ashton H Buildbase FA Trophy 6
Sat Mar 19 Gloucester City H Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final
Tue Mar 22 Blyth Spartans A
Sat Mar 26 Gateshead A
Sat Apr 2 Kidderminster Harriers H Buildbase FA Trophy Semi-Final
Sat Apr 9 Chorley H
Fri Apr 15 Boston United A
Sat Apr 16 Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final
Mon Apr 18 Guiseley H
Sat Apr 23 Hereford A
Sat Apr 30 Darlington H
Mon May 2 Chester A
Sat May 7 Southport H
Sat May 14 Emirates FA Cup Final
Sun May 22 Buildbase FA Trophy Final

All the available tickets for the upcoming Bradford City friendly on Jutly 13th have officially sold out.

The club will be running a streaming service again, with details announced this week.

The club shop will also be closed on Thursday 8th July, reopening at 9am on Friday.

Tickets for our friendly against near neighbours Bradford City AFC are on sale now!

With a restricted Covid capacity of 828, tickets are at a premium, so we have restricted each purchase to 5 tickets maximum.

Admission prices for the friendly are £10.00 Adults, £8.00 concessions (16 and under and 65 and over)

Tickets are on sale on a first come first served basis, and are available ONLINE ONLY

Ticket Link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bradford-park-avenue-afc/t-xnomem

A reminder, that those who donated their season ticket money back in March will gain FREE entry to the game, with your name on our guestlist. There are 46 of you, please let us know if you are intending to come, on calum.cullen@bpafc.com

Bradford (Park Avenue) can today announce details of Colin Barker’s funeral and the friendly match against Campion.

Colin’s Funeral will take place at 12:45 on Thursday 8th July at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland HX5 9HZ. Given the restrictions in place around Covid-19, 28 people are able to attend. The family have kindly invited one official from the club to attend.

A funeral tea will take place from 14:30 Northcliffe Golf Club, Shipley, BD18 4LJ on the same day. Here, the number is restricted to 80 people only.

Colin’s wish was for no flowers, however there will be a nominated charity for people to make any donations should they wish.

July 8th is also the day of the Campion friendly at Manningham Mills, the club have made the decision to play this friendly, as Colin would have wanted. Kick off for that game is 19:45.

Statement from the chairman.

The club has decided that our game at Campion on July 8 should proceed even though the funeral for Colin Barker will take place earlier on that day.

This decision has been made after consultations with Colin’s family who have agreed that it would be appropriate to play. Colin loved football and would not want us to miss a game on his behalf.

We will be paying our respects before and during the game to this man who gave so much of his time to the club. Furthermore, our game with Bradford City, at the Horsfall on July 13, will provide us with the opportunity to remember fondly our longtime club secretary and we would encourage all of our BPA family to attend.

Gareth Roberts

CEO

Jack Pearce has been appointed as the new Chairman of The National League.

A vice-chair of The FA since 2015 and divisional representative on the FA Council since 2001, Pearce has served on The National League Board for more than a decade.

Pearce replaces outgoing Brian Barwick, who officially stood down from the position following Sunday’s Promotion Final.

Pearce was formerly a player and manager of Bognor Regis Town and continues to serve the club as its general manager and vice-chairman. He also represents Sussex County FA and is a trustee of the Football Foundation.

“I’m honoured to accept this opportunity to lead the Board and National League team in addressing the challenges the League and its Member Clubs have faced over the last 18 months,” Pearce commented.

“I firmly believe that by working together with our clubs we can successfully move the League forward”.

A National League spokesperson said, “After a thorough recruitment process, which included national advertising for the position and a two-stage interview process with our shortlisted candidates, we are delighted to appoint Jack Pearce as Chairman of The National League.

“Jack’s vast knowledge and number of prestigious roles within football, in addition to a strong relationship with Member Clubs, made him the outstanding candidate”.

General manager of The National League Mark Ives said, “Having had the privilege of working with Jack, not only in the six months I’ve been with the League, but in my previous nineteen years at the Football Association, it is without doubt an excellent appointment.

“Jack brings to the role a wealth of contacts and experience at this level of the game.

“It is important there is a link between the Board and the General Manager, interweaving the day-to-day operation and strategic direction of the Competition. For me, the relationship I have with Jack will be a huge benefit to The National League”.

It is with a very heavy heart that the club are devastated to announce that Club stalwart Colin Barker has passed away peacefully overnight. Colin was a great person first and foremost, a fantastic football man, and an unbelievable servant to our football club.

Gareth Roberts

‘Colin was the glue that held the club together through some difficult and turbulent times.

Without him, the football club would not exist and because of that, we owe him a great debt of gratitude, that sadly now we wont be able to deliver in person.

I know that Colin would have wanted the club to keep pushing forward, and we are determined to do so as we honour his memory.’

Mark Bower ‘We are all absolutely devastated by the news that Colin has died. Over a majority of the past five years I have worked with Colin and consider him a friend as well as a colleague. His knowledge and professionalism have been invaluable to myself and Danny during our time at the club and we will miss him greatly.

The way Colin worked for the club, the amount of time and expertise he put in to his various roles, predominantly as club secretary and as a scout, made it hard for me to believe he was working voluntarily. He was Bradford Park Avenue to the core. I spoke with him only hours before he passed away and his concerns were not for himself, but for his wife Sue and he also wanted to make sure I had his scouting reports on players we have been looking at over the Summer.  He was a football man, but more importantly, a really great person.’

Everybody at Bradford (Park Avenue) and Horsfall Community Stadium’s thoughts are with Colin’s wife Sue and his friends and family at this sad time.

We are delighted to announce the final 2 games of our pre season schedule. On the 13 July, Mark and the team will face Bradford City in the return of the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy. It will be the first time for a few years the fixture has taken place and will be City’s first pre season game, so expect a good squad turning up!

Then our final friendly sees The Avenue face off to Scarborough on Friday 6th August. Scarborough will pose a tough test under new management in the curtain closing friendly.

Both of these games will KO at 19:45 at the Horsfall and admission details will be released ASAP

#ToTheAvenue 2021/22 season tickets will go on sale from 09.00 TODAY, as we prepare to welcome supporters back to the Horsfall Stadium for the first time in over a year!

#ToTheAvenue 2021/22 SEASON-TICKET PRICES:

Adult £140.00

Concession (65+): £125.00

Student (Proof Will Be Required): £45.00

Youth (12-16): £30.00

Junior (11-): £10.00

Our hospitality upgrade is once again available, priced at £150.00 for the upgrade, whilst if you are driving to the ground, you can have a parking season ticket for just £30.00

Football Operations Manager, Calum Cullen said: “It feels incredible to be able to launch our 2021/22 season ticket initiative. We have waited a long time to be able to welcome back fans to the Horsfall and today marks a very important milestone in that journey.

“I am looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere here with a crowd in for the first time, if the support the club has had over the last year is anything to go by, next season will be electric!”

To purchase your #ToTheAvenue 2021/22 season ticket – please CLICK HERE, or visit the Club Shop at the Horsfall Stadium. The shop will be open for season tickets Mon-Thurs 9-4.

For those fans who rolled-over their season ticket last season, please e-mail calum.cullen@bpafc.com so we can arrange for a new one to be ordered for you