Our home match against Hereford was a successful day on the pitch as well as off it, with the launch of Bradford (Park Avenue)’s new charitable campaign in association with the Horsfall Trust.
The campaign features a nominated charity every home game and aims to raise funds as well as awareness of the charity. The chosen charity for last Saturday’s fixture against Southport is Beyond Bea and was nominated by Ryan Burston.
At the game we ran a bucket collection and we are pleased to announce that we received £42.38 in donations. The donations will be equally split between the Horsfall Community Trust and Beyond Bea.
We would like to thank supporters for their generosity and especially the volunteers who gave up their time to help a fantastic cause.

Nominated Charity Information:

Beyond Bea is a charity based in Manchester, it was established by Steph, who is a Midwife. Steph has always had a keen interest in bereavement care since she started her midwifery training and since qualifying. In 2017, Steph’s daughter Bea was born and sadly died due to a severe brain abnormality. Combining her existing passion and her desire to create a legacy for Bea, Beyond Bea was established and now provides bereavement training throughout the UK for free. This year alone Beyond Bea will have training over 2000 students and health professionals.
Speaking about why he chose the charity, Ryan said:
“Beyond Bea offer free baby loss and bereavement training to healthcare professionals. The study days they provide help ensure people are looked after in the right way following the devastating loss of a child.
After losing my Daughter Adriana in April 2018 this charity has become one that is very close to my heart and the demand for their services is increasing, so every penny raised for them really does help.”
You can also support Beyond Bea online by following these links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondbeacharity
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beyondbea1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondbeacharity/
Website: https://www.beyondbea.co.uk

As a club we are asking for supporters to get involved with the scheme by suggesting charities. If you would like to nominate a charity, please email info@bpafc.com with the name of the charity you would like to nominate and a brief explanation of the type of work the charity does and why you feel the charity deserves support.
We would also be very grateful for any volunteers to help with the collection of donations at our forthcoming home games. This is a vital aspect of the scheme and we really appreciate any support and truly makes a difference in the local community.

For a second successive season, The National League has once again changed its competition name on a temporary basis in support of official charity partners Prostate Cancer UK.

The League’s sponsors and long-time supporters of Prostate Cancer UK, Vanarama, have again agreed to use their sponsorship in support of the leading men’s health charity until November 9th. 

Last year, the MANarama campaign raised over £150,000 to help stop prostate cancer being a killer and earned a host of industry awards.

The rebranding to MANarama features a change of competition logo for each division and will help draw attention to the fact that every forty-five minutes a man dies from prostate cancer.

Vinnie Jones, renowned football hardman and former Wealdstone midfielder, has also been signed up by Vanarama to support the campaign as an ambassador this year.

Jones met Prostate Cancer UK ambassadors Kevin Webber and Errol McKellar on Tuesday afternoon, two men affected by the disease, who will play a key role in the campaign.

Saturday’s clash between Dover Athletic and FC Halifax Town on BT Sport will be the featured match of the MANarama opening weekend. 

Starting today, Webber will be walking from Bromley FC to Saturday’s match at Crabble. Webber will be a familiar face to BT Sport viewers after delivering the match ball on the final day of the MANarama campaign in October 2018, at Halifax.

Commenting on the rebrand, The National League’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Tattersall, said: “We were extremely pleased with the reaction to our temporary – and historic – rebranding to the MANarama National League during the 2018/19 campaign. It was fantastic to see so much money and awareness raised to aid the fight against prostate cancer.

“We are proud this will be taking place over a 45-day period for a second season.

“Prostate Cancer UK are our official charity partners and we couldn’t think of a charity that better reflects our football values.

“This deadly disease has no boundaries, so it’s been incredibly inspiring to see Kevin Webber raise so much awareness. He’s a remarkable man doing remarkable things and we will continue to stand alongside him, and everyone affected by prostate cancer.”

MANarama ambassador Vinnie Jones said: “I am beyond proud to back this MANarama campaign. It combines two things which are so important to me; grassroots football and fighting cancer. 

“I started playing football in Non-League so I know that these clubs are at the heart of local communities. I don’t need to explain why the fight against cancer is so important for me.

“Non-League football is proper football and I’d urge all Non-League clubs and all the proper supporters out there to raise some proper money for this brilliant cause.”

Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive, Angela Culhane, added: “Last year’s brilliant MANarama campaign really caught the imagination and we’re delighted to strengthen our long-standing relationship with Vanarama ahead of another exciting few months.

“Money raised will help us fund more ground-breaking research and find the tools needed for a screening programme, in order to catch more prostate cancers early and save more lives.”

Donate now: justgiving.com/fundraising/bradford-park-avenue

After two initial meetings, the representatives of the newly formed independent BPA Development Fund have been selected.

The fund will be represented by:

Dave Stordy (chairman)
Pete Sowden (treasurer)
Sharon Burnett (secretary)
Trevor Haylings
Alan Ham
Roger Banks
Alan Dolby
Neil Fawcett
Dave Rawling

The aim of the body is to bring in much needed funds via variety of methods including social events, raffles, sponsorships and others, which will be highlighted in the coming months.

Starting from this Saturday’s home match against Southport we will have a designated desk in the club house both before, after and during half-time giving further information as well as selling event tickets.

We would like to start this week by having a push to sell more ‘pitch squares’ which are available at just £10 each which gets your name into the programme for the remainder of the season.

If you have not already purchased a square we would ask you to consider buying one or if you know of any small businesses that might want to advertise by this method in the programme please see those on duty at the desk.

This week will also see us selling tickets for our up and coming ‘Comedy & Curry’ night, with top class comedian Nini Gillian on Friday 29 November.

We will also be handing out tickets for our New Year raffle, if every home fan could take 2 books of tickets (5 x £1 tickets per book) we will make a few thousand pounds.

We will be holding our annual football programme fair in the club house on Sunday 8 December 10am till 1pm, more details to follow.

If any fans wish to join the committee please speak with a committee person named above, likewise if anyone one has any fund raising ideas please pass these on to the committee.

Thanks Dave Stordy (chairman)