Bradford (Park Avenue) Hosts Ramadan Community Event at Horsfall

Last Monday (9th March), Bradford (Park Avenue) was proud to host a special Ramadan community gathering at Horsfall, delivered in partnership with the BPA Sports Foundation, ISSE Ltd and Sported.

Titled “Connect, Collaborate and Inspire,” the evening brought together community leaders, grassroots sports organisations, faith representatives and local partners from across Bradford. The event created a welcoming space for people to connect, reflect and strengthen relationships with others who share a passion for creating positive opportunities across the city.

Ramadan is a time centred around community, generosity and reflection, making it a fitting moment to bring together organisations working towards the same goal — helping to build a stronger, more inclusive Bradford.

Throughout the evening, guests heard from a number of speakers who highlighted the role sport can play in strengthening communities and breaking down barriers. Contributions included Matt Everett, Community Director at the BPA Sports Foundation, and Dr Ikram Butt from Sported.

A panel discussion also explored the role of sport in promoting inclusion and community cohesion. Panellists included Reverend Nathan A Javed, Matt Everett, Nalette Tucker from Sunnah Sports and Verity from Sported, who shared their experiences of using sport as a platform for positive social change and bringing communities together.

The evening concluded with the opening of the fast, led by an Imam, before guests came together to share an Iftar meal. The gathering provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to continue conversations, exchange ideas and build partnerships that can help deliver lasting impact within communities across Bradford.

At Bradford (Park Avenue), belonging sits at the heart of everything we do. Hosting events like this demonstrates the power of sport and community spaces to bring people together, celebrate different cultures and backgrounds, and create opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

This sponsored sporting community event was the first of its kind held at Horsfall during Ramadan, and we hope it will be the beginning of many more opportunities to connect communities through sport and shared experiences.

Bradford (Park Avenue) would like to thank the BPA Sports Foundation, ISSE Ltd and Sported for their partnership, and everyone who attended for helping make the evening such a positive and inspiring occasion.

To continue supporting the Foundation’s aims of bringing sport, opportunity and community to Bradford donate here https://localgiving.org/charity/bpasportsfoundation

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Next Home Match – Redcar Athletic – Saturday 21st March 2026

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Our next home match at the Horsfall Community Stadium sees Bradford (Park Avenue) host Redcar, and there will be plenty happening both on and off the pitch as we encourage supporters to make their plans early and join us for a full afternoon at the ground, with gates opening at 1pm.

Supporters arriving early can enjoy live music from Sub Rosa, performing from 1:00pm through to around 3:00pm, helping to build the atmosphere ahead of kick-off.

There will also be a pre-match drink offer of £2.50 on any pint, giving fans even more reason to get down early and enjoy the build-up.

Alongside the football, supporters will be able to visit a number of local stalls around the ground, bringing a mix of food, activities and local businesses to the matchday experience.

These will include:

Bake My Day – Bake Stall

Diamond Melts & Aromas – Home Fragrance

Sarah Binns Creationz – Face Painting, Glitter Tattoos, Hair Braiding & Pocket Money Toys

The match will also see the launch of new matchday food, including the BPA Banger — a proper hot dog made with a proper sausage — alongside proper butchers burgers with all the trimmings, supplied by Taplins Butchers.

We would also like to thank our Match Sponsor, Dennison Group, for their support.

Dennison Group is trusted by leading manufacturers shaping the future of the printing industry. As printing technology continues to evolve, their experienced team stays ahead of developments to deliver the highest level of service and support.

Their direct technical support services work alongside, and often beyond, manufacturer cover to ensure equipment is returned to optimal performance as quickly as possible.

With a nationwide team of highly skilled engineers, Dennison Group provides reliable technical expertise across:

• Remote Technical Support
• Installations
• Break / Fix Call Outs
• Preventative Maintenance
• Equipment Relocation
• Equipment Refurbishments
• Consultancy Services

Dennison Group – supporting the print industry with expertise you can rely on.

With live music, new matchday food, local stalls and family activities around the ground, it promises to be a great afternoon at the Horsfall.

Make your plans now and join us for our next home game.

Tickets are available here:
https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=16282

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Campbell Loan Extended Until the End of the Season

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Bradford (Park Avenue) can confirm that goalkeeper Maison Campbell will remain at the Horsfall Community Stadium until the end of the 2025/26 season, following the extension of his initial one-month loan from Scunthorpe United.

The 22-year-old has made a strong start during his first spell with the club, making four appearances and keeping three clean sheets since arriving in February as he worked to regain match sharpness.

Campbell originally joined the Avenue on a short-term loan after returning to full fitness following an injury sustained during a warm-up earlier in the season. The move provided the young goalkeeper with the opportunity to return to regular competitive football, and his performances during the opening month have now seen the loan extended through to the end of the campaign.

Prior to his move to Scunthorpe United, Campbell spent time with National League side York City after joining the Minstermen from Mansfield Town. His loan spell at York began in December 2023 and was later extended until the end of the season before being curtailed by a recall clause due to an injury within their goalkeeping department.

During the 2023/24 campaign, Campbell also made two appearances for Scunthorpe United, helping the Iron reach the final of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup with victories over Gainsborough Trinity and Cleethorpes Town.

Following Scunthorpe’s promotion-winning National League North season and the departure of Ross Fitzsimons, Campbell was handed the number one shirt ahead of the current National League campaign, underlining the club’s belief in the highly rated young goalkeeper.

The club would once again like to thank the Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund for their continued support throughout the season. Their backing helps the club respond when needed and support the squad across a long and demanding campaign.

We look forward to seeing Maison continue his positive start in Avenue colours over the remainder of the season.

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Match Preview: Garforth Town vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Bradford (Park Avenue) make the short trip to the Bannister Prentice Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face Garforth Town in the Northern Premier League East Division, with the playoff race continuing to tighten.

Avenue go into the weekend sitting 6th in the table on 59 points from 33 games, knocked just outside the playoff positions after midweek wins for both Dunston and Pontefract Collieries. With the margins so fine at the top end of the division, Saturday’s trip to Garforth presents an important opportunity for Craig Elliott’s side to respond and push themselves back into the top five.

Last time out, Avenue produced an impressive 3–0 home win over Newton Aycliffe, following up the previous weekend’s 2–0 victory away at Consett. Those results mean Bradford (Park Avenue) have taken 13 points from their last six matches, scoring ten goals and conceding just twice during that run. The recent form has kept Avenue firmly in the playoff conversation heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

Hosts Garforth Town currently sit 7th in the table on 49 points from 34 matches, ten points behind Avenue but still capable of influencing the playoff race. The Miners have had mixed results recently, losing 1–0 away at Heaton Stannington last weekend before bouncing back in midweek with a 2–1 win over Consett.

Despite sitting just outside the playoff places, Garforth remain a dangerous side on their day and will be looking to close the gap to the teams above them with a strong finish to the season.

With both sides battling for momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign, Saturday’s clash promises to be an important encounter in the race for the playoffs. For Avenue, a positive result on the road would not only strengthen their position but could see them climb back into the top five depending on results elsewhere.

Kick-off at the Bannister Prentice Stadium is 3:00pm on Saturday 14 March 2026.

Supporters unable to make the trip can listen to full live commentary via Avenue On Air from approximately 2:50pm at
https://avenueonair.mixlr.com

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Ashman Loan Extended Until End of the Season

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Bradford (Park Avenue) can confirm that Josh Ashman’s loan with Mickleover has been extended until the end of the 2025/26 season.

The defender returned to the Northern Premier League Midlands Division side in February after previously being recalled by Avenue in December. Since rejoining Mickleover, Ashman has continued to gain valuable first-team minutes at Step 4 while maintaining his development through regular competitive football.

The extension will see Ashman remain with Mickleover for the remainder of the campaign, providing him with the opportunity to continue playing consistently during the final stages of the season.

Josh remains an Avenue player and the club will continue to monitor his progress throughout the loan spell. Everyone at Bradford (Park Avenue) wishes him the best for the rest of the season with Mickleover.

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Match Preview: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Newton Aycliffe

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Avenue return to Horsfall this Saturday as Newton Aycliffe travel to BD6 in the Northern Premier League East Division.

With 32 matches played, Bradford (Park Avenue) sit 4th in the table on 56 points, firmly in the play-off places as the season moves into its final ten fixtures. Last weekend’s 2-0 victory away at Consett was a measured and professional response following the previous setback, restoring momentum at an important stage of the campaign.

The performance on the road was controlled from start to finish. Avenue limited Consett to very few clear opportunities, secured another clean sheet, and showed composure in both boxes. Defensively, Craig Elliott’s side remain among the strongest in the division, while recent weeks have seen improved efficiency in front of goal.

Newton Aycliffe arrive 20th in the table on 29 points from 31 games and fighting to move clear of the bottom four. Despite their league position, they are a well-coached side who look to play with intensity. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat for Avenue – a performance below the standards expected and one the squad will be determined to put right on home turf.

With the play-off race tightening and margins across the division remaining fine, maintaining consistency at Horsfall will be key in the weeks ahead. Saturday presents another opportunity to strengthen position and build momentum heading into the closing stages of the season.

Following the win at Consett, manager Craig Elliott had this to say on our upcoming home match:

“We didn’t play too well at their place, so we have to get our game plan right. We’re at home and we want to get a win.”

Goalscorer Louie Chorlton added:

“It’s another tough game. We’ll look to put it right this time and get the three points.”

Saturday 7 March 2026 | 3:00pm KO
Horsfall Community Stadium | Gates open 1:30pm

Tickets:
https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=16284

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World Book Day 2026 Competition Results Confirmed

Bradford (Park Avenue) is delighted to confirm the results of our World Book Day 2026 competition, with a fantastic response from schools across the city.

A total of 23 different schools were entered, with hundreds of comments helping make this year’s competition another great success.

After counting all entries, the top three schools are:

1. Blakehill Primary School – 21 entries
2. Chellow Heights Special School – 17 entries
3. Woodlands CE Primary – 13 entries

Thanks to the generous support of Stephen White Books, each of the top three schools will receive 100 books, as well as free tickets for our home match against Redcar on Saturday 21 March.

The top three schools will also enjoy a special visit from Ronnie The Ram.

All other schools who entered the competition will also receive free tickets for the Redcar match at the Horsfall Community Stadium.

Below is the full list of schools entered and their total number of entries:

Blakehill Primary School – 21
Chellow Heights Special School – 17
Woodlands CE Primary – 13
Reevy Hill Primary School – 12
Foxhill Primary School (Queensbury) – 8
Clayton St John C of E Primary – 3
Low Moor Primary School – 2
Woodside Academy – 2
Brighouse High School – 2
St Winefride’s Catholic Primary School – 2
St Paul’s C of E Primary School (Wibsey) – 1
Wibsey Primary School – 1
Wilsden Primary School – 1
Thornton Primary School – 1
St Michael and All Angels Primary School – 1
St William’s Catholic Primary School – 1
Park Aspire Alternative Provision Academy – 1
Calverley CofE Primary School – 1
Farfield Primary School – 1
Shibden Head Primary Academy – 1
Cullingworth Primary School – 1
Cottingley Village Primary School – 1
Russell Hall Primary School – 1

We would like to thank every school, parent, carer and supporter who got involved and helped make the competition such a success. We will be in touch with schools shortly with further details on tickets, book deliveries and visits.

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Let’s Be Avenue: The Official Bradford (Park Avenue) Podcast Launches

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Bradford (Park Avenue) are pleased to launch Let’s Be Avenue, the club’s brand new official podcast bringing supporters closer to the action both on and off the pitch.

Hosted by Liam Chew and the “Voice of BPA” Lewis Sale, the podcast offers a new platform for supporters to hear honest conversations about everything happening around the club. Each episode will feature discussion on recent matches, previews of upcoming fixtures, and insight into life at the Horsfall Community Stadium.

Alongside regular match talk and club updates, Let’s Be Avenue will also feature interviews with first team players, management staff and special guests connected to Avenue and the wider football world. The podcast will also explore stories from the club’s rich history, giving supporters a deeper look at what makes Bradford (Park Avenue) unique.

The pilot episode is now available to watch and listen to across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Supporters can watch the video version of the podcast on the club’s YouTube channel, with new episodes planned weekly throughout the season.

To watch the first episode, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FnCvBQfUkw&list=PLrmOsQW59tx_ToiDcWnQBpeoa6_j8YAqa

Supporters can also get in touch with the podcast team with questions, topics or suggestions by emailing podcast@bpafc.com.

Let’s Be Avenue is available now across all major podcast platforms.

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From Our Sporting & Executive Director – Thomas McStravick

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Our boys showed great character last week away at Consett, who had been in good form. Truth be told, we made them look bang average. Our last home game is a warning sign to us that we cannot be complacent and, no matter who we face between now and the end of the season, we must be on top of our game. Our opponents this weekend have had a rough few games. It is our job to ensure they continue on that run.

Talking about complacency, we cannot take anything in life for granted. I had originally planned to update supporters this week on some behind-the-scenes activities, but unfortunately I have been on house arrest this week on doctor’s orders! I have had a very strange week indeed. I had my dad visiting from Ireland last weekend and, after a lot of effort, managed to get him a ticket for the Leeds and Man City game. On Saturday, of course, we enjoyed three points on the road to strengthen our place in the play-off positions. On Sunday we went out for a family meal before I planned to drop my dad off at LBA for his flight back home, before doing my Sunday ritual of watching our game back from the day before.

However, what I wasn’t planning for was a blue-light taxi ride to Calderdale Hospital after having an anaphylactic shock. I was very lucky to have my family and the wonderful West Yorkshire Ambulance crew, who acted promptly to save my life. I take my hat off to our emergency services and the wonderful staff in the NHS. What they do, given very limited resources, is remarkable and I thank them sincerely for looking after me. The moral of the story is: don’t take life for granted, and don’t leave the house without my EpiPen ever again!

You may have seen that this week we launched our new official club podcast. This has been in the making for months. Credit to Tom S, Tom O, Lewis and Liam for making it happen. It’s a great watch/listen, so please help spread the word and get your friends to tune in. This platform will be used to improve our communication with supporters. It’s very much an evolving project, so please feel free to get in touch via email at podcast@bpafc.com to put forward your questions or suggestions. We are also looking for sponsors.

I read an interview last week with Paul Clement. Paul has had a fantastic career in coaching and management, working at some of the world’s biggest clubs and with the best players in world football. He mentioned how easy it is to have an opinion on things such as team selection and tactics when you aren’t the one making the final decision. He referenced his experience in management and how different it is when you are the one making the final call. I had one game in charge and, trust me, it is not easy. What helps is having good people around you and a cohesive group of people working hard towards the same goal. I think we can safely say that’s what we have here at BPA. People will have, and are entitled to, their opinions, but ultimately we all want the same thing: promotion.

One thing is for sure: between now and the end of the season there will be lots of twists and turns. Isn’t it great to be fighting for promotion and a play-off finish at this stage of the season? As the better weather comes in (hopefully), we would love to see our crowds increase and the atmosphere improve to give our team every opportunity to perform and achieve success. Bring a friend with you on Saturday to help us get the three points we are aiming for.

Enjoy the game.

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Whaite Loan Extended Until End of 2025/26 Season

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Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to confirm that Billy Whaite’s loan from Blackpool has been extended until the end of the 2025/26 season.

The forward initially joined the club on a 28-day youth loan and has since made five appearances from the bench, continuing to integrate into Craig Elliott’s squad and gain valuable senior experience in a competitive environment.

Whaite arrived at the Horsfall Community Stadium after signing a professional contract with Blackpool earlier this season, having progressed through a strong development pathway in the North West. He came through the ranks at Morecambe, where he impressed at Under-18 level and earned opportunities to train with the first team, going on to make a senior appearance in Sky Bet League Two before further involvement during pre-season.

Since making the move to Horsfall, Billy has worked hard behind the scenes and shown positive signs in his cameos from the bench, adding energy and attacking intent in the final third.

Extending the deal until the end of the current campaign provides further continuity within the squad and allows Billy to continue his development with consistent exposure to senior football.

The club would like to place on record its thanks to Blackpool for their continued cooperation in facilitating the extension and we look forward to seeing Billy continue his progress in green and white for the remainder of the season.

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