10 Dec 2019

Successful Avenue Book Launch At Horsfall Stadium

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Former Bradford (Park Avenue) players attended the successful launch of a new book at Horsfall stadium on Friday evening.

In attendance were Bill Barnes, Terry Dolan, Peter Brannan, Colin Penrose, Allan Ham and Kevin Hudson, as subscribers to the book turned out in force to receive their copies of ‘Diary Of A Lost Cause – Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC 1966-1970’.

In an evening high on nostalgia, with many a memory shared as supporters also looked to the future with optimism for the current club, a notable highlight was the showing of archive footage from the Avenue versus Doncaster Rovers match at the former Park Avenue ground in 1968.

Anyone missing out on the evening will be pleased to know that copies of the book, which charts the club’s relegation from the Football League almost fifty years ago, will be available from the Supporters Information Desk and Club Shop at the FA Trophy game on Saturday.

Early comments by subscribers include from Stephen Tordoff:

“Enjoying the book immensely”

This line-up of Avenue personalities from fifty years ago shows (left to right):

Bill Barnes, Colin Penrose, Roger Banks, Kevin Hudson, Terry Dolan, Peter Brannan and Allan Ham

Roger Banks is the only non-player, Roger being a member of the appeal committee in 1968. Kevin Hudson (brother of Gary Hudson) and Allan Ham (brother of Bobby Ham) were reserve team players who didn’t actually make the Football League side, though Allan did play for Avenue in the Northern Premier League.

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9 Dec 2019

Vanarama National League North – November Manager & Player Of The Month

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National League North Manager of the Month

Ian Culverhouse (King’s Lynn Town)

You’re coming into a new league and every away game feels like a million miles away.

King’s Lynn Town’s fans and players surely had modest ambitions when they clambered into the National League North at the end of last season.

Some supporters were just focused on staying in the league for a second season.
Now there’s a real chance they may only be around for one year – and leaving via the right end!

Ian Culverhouse has guided the club to the top of the table with five wins out of six last month – and they can’t stop scoring.

There’s nothing quite like keeping the home fans happy – Lynn now haven’t lost a game at The Walks for nearly 15 months.

These Linnets aren’t just here to make up the numbers!

National League North Player of the Month

Adam Marriott (King’s Lynn Town)

Add up the goals Mohammed Salah, Sergio Aguero and Alexandre Lacazette have got this season and what do you get?

The answer? Still not as many goals as King’s Lynn Town forward Adam Marriott!

In fact, the prolific Linnets man has outscored every other player in England’s top seven leagues.

What’s more, without his goals, King’s Lynn would be seven points lighter and down in fourth place in the National League North.

Marriott’s nine goals in November helped his side to wins against Kidderminster Harriers, Bradford (Park Avenue), Leamington, Southport and Gateshead after starting the month with a draw against Altrincham.

This month’s haul took his personal goal tally for the season to 20. To put that into perspective, last season’s Golden Boot winner Glen Taylor only hit 21 all season.

National League North Volunteer of the Month

Mark Walton (Gateshead)

As any National League volunteer will tell you, you usually have your fingers in plenty of pies throughout the week.

And that’s no different for Gateshead’s marvellous Mark Walton.
Mark has been a regular helper behind the scenes at his hometown team for over 20 years.

As well as aiding the kit man and making sure the players have everything they need on matchday, Mark also helps the club’s ball boys and operates the electronic scoreboard.

It’s not just the players that Mark helps out either. He also lends a helping hand away from the field to ensure things run like clockwork on a matchday for the club’s hospitality guests.

Like many teams below the Football League, it’s a team effort at Gateshead – and with the club pinning their hopes on a play-off push this season, people like Mark really make all the difference.

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7 Dec 2019

MATCH REPORT | Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-0 Altrincham FC

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Match Report by George Cliff

Bradford (Park Avenue) secured a vital 3 points at the Horsfall stadium on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 victory over Altrincham. 

It was a cagey opening 10 minutes with neither side being able to create much, although Altrincham enjoyed the better of the possession. However, on the 11th minute, seemingly out of nothing the Avenue were able to break away on the far left with Oli Johnson playing a superb cross to Nicky Clee who then placed a fine ball across goal which fell to Tom Clare to tap into the net on his home debut to give Bradford a 1-0 lead. 

Nothing much happened afterwards leading into half time. Altricham continued to dominate the majority of the possession, but it was the Avenue who had the better of the chances. Oli Johnson had a decent shot saved by keeper Anthony Thompson, while Thompson again made a fine save from Lewis Knight’s header minutes later to keep the score at 1-0. 

Altrincham’s best chance of the half came through Thomas Peers, who was able to race through into a one-on-one battle with Joe Green, however, after trying to round the Avenue goalkeeper, his shot hit the bar. 

Coming out of the half, Bradford looked more comfortable to sit back to try and hold on to the lead. A big chance fell to Jon Royle who’s shot was brilliantly saved by Thompson to keep Altrincham in the game. 

It was a fabulous performance from the Altrincham goalkeeper who managed to keep them in the game – that was, until, the 88th minute when Oli Johnson was able to secure the victory for the Avenue after a wonderfully taken goal in which he was able to round Thompson after a burst of pace left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and then slot into the empty net. 

The victory earns a much needed three points for the Avenue who next week are in cup action at home against Halesowen Town in the first round of the FA Trophy. 

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7 Dec 2019

MATCH PREVIEW: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Altrincham

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The Avenue play host to Altrincham in the National League North today in what is a big game for both sides.

Avenue, without a win in their last six league games, are desperate to start putting points on the board in order to avoid the drop just a season after making the playoffs. Altrincham, meanwhile, sit in mid table, but have multiple games in hand on the teams above and are looking to stake their claim in the playoff picture.

Bradford are coming off a tough but promising 2-1 loss against third place Chester FC last weekend. Although the end-result culminated in zero points, the performance will be sure to have atleast pleased manager Mark Bower a little bit against one of the league’s top sides and show that the Avenue are once again capable of competing against the very best teams in the league.

Altrincham, meanwhile, sit in the 17th place in the table but they enter the clash on decent form without a loss in their last four games in the league with two wins and two draws. The Manchester-based club have several games in hand on the teams above and a few more wins could put them straight into contention for promotion.

The two sides met last season, with Altrincham winning 3-2 at the Horsfall Stadium, while Bradford grabbed a 1-1 draw away from home in the return fixture.

Avenue could be in line to welcome back Ryan Toulson and Danny Boshell to the Horsfall stadium after they both re-signed with the club in recent weeks. Reece Staunton could also be in line to make his home debut, while newest signing Tom Clare could make his full debut.

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7 Dec 2019

Programme & Badge Fair – Sunday 8th December

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Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund will be hosting their annual programme and badge fair on Sunday 8th December 2019.

Entry will be £1 for adults and free for children, with the fair open from 10am until 1pm in the Clubhouse and refreshments will be available.

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6 Dec 2019

Fan Favourite Clee Returns To The Avenue

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Fan favourite Nicky Clee has put pen to paper to return to the club following his release from Ashton United.

The tricky winger, who can also operate in central midfield or at left-back, initially joined from Altrincham in May 2017 and became a favourite amongst Avenue supporters due to his technical ability and work ethic.

Clee who worked his way up through the non-league pyramid featuring for Ossett Albion, Ashton and Hyde United before joining Altrincham in 2009. After seven years at Altrincham he left to join Guiseley and also had a spell at Harrogate Town before re-joining Altrincham.

Nicky is available to go straight in to the team for tomorrows home game against his former club Altrincham.

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6 Dec 2019

New Avenue Book To Be Launched At Horsfall Tonight

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The launch of the new book ‘Diary of a Lost Cause – Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC 1966-1970’ will take place in the clubroom at Horsfall stadium on the evening of Friday 6th December.

The event will commence at 7.30pm with the bar open from 7 till 10pm.

While enabling subscribers to collect their copy of the book, there will also be extra copies available to purchase as Christmas approaches.

With a number of former players expected, this promises to be an evening to remember and is open to all supporters and well-wishers to attend.

Copies of the book, which chronicles the last four years of the club in the Football League to coincide with the 50th anniversary of their failure to be re-elected in May next year, will also be available from the Supporters’ Club shop at Horsfall stadium and Waterstones.

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3 Dec 2019

Supporters Encouraged To Give Something Back This Christmas

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As the festive season gets into full swing Bradford (Park Avenue) asks supporters to spare a thought for those less fortunate.

The club has held a number of collections over the years to support our local food bank at Wyke and has a permanent collection point in the clubhouse where supporters can make donations.

All donations from both home and away supporters will be gratefully received and are to be placed in the collection bin next to the supporters information desk in the clubhouse.

Please see below a list of items most needed:

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30 Nov 2019

Match Report | Chester (A)

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Despite taking and holding the lead in the first half, Bradford were unable to take anything away from the 1885 Arena as Chester hammered home twice in the second half.

Bradford went ahead through Billy Priestley in the 15th minute as a low swung corner fizzed across the goal mouth, with the centre back turning the ball into the net off the outside of his foot.

Chester then enjoyed the lions share of possession through out the half as they looked to bring the game back to a level footing, and began to find openings as the half went on. Joel Taylor took advantage of space down the left side a number of times and the home side had a chance just before the break as Taylor crossed the ball to Dudley in the area, but his header flew over the bar.

The home side came out for the second half determined to find the back of the net and earned a corner within minutes of kick off. Joel Taylor’s corner made it’s way to Simon Grand at the back post but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

The equaliser did come though as a ball forward was deflected into the path of Anthony Dudley who had the better of the one on one with Green.

It didn’t take Chester long to capitalise again on their attacking form as Asante found the top corner just minutes later.

With the blues in the lead, Bradford settled back into the game and both sides continued to create opportunities but the back line of both squads kept chances to a minimum.

Just a minute before the end of regular time, Isaac Marriot was given his marching orders, receiving a second yellow for a dangerous foul on Stopforth, thus ending any chance of Bradford earning a point.

Chester: Griffiths, Morgan, Taylor, Stopforth, Livesey, Grand (c), Jackson, Glendon, Asante (Waring 84), Ngwatala (Elliott 76), Dudley (Hughes 84).
Substitutes: Waters, Burton.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Green, Bazeley (Royle 46), Staunton, Lowe (c), Nowakowski (Hughes 70), Priestley, Knight, Toulson, O Johnson (Clare 76), Hurst, Marriot.
Substitutes: Dickinson, Hughes, Clare, A Johnson.

Goal Scorers: Chester: Dudley (49), Asante (53). Bradford: Priestley (15).
Yellow Cards: Bradford: Hurst, Priestley.
Red Cards: Bradford: Marriot
Attendance: 1,875

Referee: Adam Herczeg.
Assistant Referees: Declan Brown & James Welsh.

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30 Nov 2019

Match Preview | Chester (A)

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Bradford travel across the Pennines looking to capitalise on the form shown in last Sunday’s FA Trophy victory.

Having defeated Gloucester with a depleted squad on Sunday, Bower has bolstered his side this week with the signing of former Bradford City and Boston United striker, Tom Clare.

The squad is further strengthened by the return of two players who were unavailable last weekend. Jonathan Royle, who was unavailable for the FA Trophy tie, will be available for selection this weekend alongside Liam Hughes who has completed his suspension following an early red card against Leamington.

Chester, who sit third in the table, bolstered their midfield this week with the signing of Elton Ngwatala who had a spell with Dundee in the Scottish Premiership and will be hoping to close the five point gap between them and second placed York City today.

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