The club are running a supporters coach to the upcoming Halesowen Town on Tuesday evening, with seats costing £15 for adults and £10 for under 16’s.
Pick up time will be 14:00 from The Horsfall Stadium and 14:15 from Cedar Court Hotel.
Seats are selling fast so if you would like to reserve a seat please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003
To keep up to date with all future away travel run in connection with the clubs travel partner J&B Travel, please see the clubs away travel page by clicking here
A replay will have to be played to see who advances to the second round of the FA Trophy after Bradford and Halesowen played out a 2-2 draw at the Horsfall Stadium.
It was a very cagey affair to begin, both teams seemingly having to get accustomed to the weather, which was at its winter worst.
Not much was created in the opening 15 minutes. Both teams enjoyed their fair share of possession but couldn’t break through the back line. The biggest chance fell to Lewis Knight — a very daring ball was sent over the top which took the Halesowen defence by surprise, Knight was able to race through but was beaten to the ball by goalkeeper Brendan Burr who was able to clear.
Just minutes later, however, it was that man Lewis Knight who broke the deadlock to give the Avenue the lead. A mistake from the Halesowen defender who mistimed the ball allowed Lewis Knight to slot the ball into the bottom left corner of the net – it was a wonderful finish from the team’s top scorer, who had his back turned to goal, and had to turn quickly to stop the on-rushing goalkeeper from being able to gather the ball.
The lead didn’t last long, though, as Halesowen equalised just minutes later through wing back Robert Evans – a burst of pace from the number 2 saw him race through on goal, and with only Joe Green to beat, he smashed the ball into the Avenue net to bring the teams level.
After a slow second half, it picked up in the final 20 minutes. Halesowen awarded a penalty which Ashley Sammons smashed into the top right corner of the Avenue net.
Halesowen then looked to cling onto the lead, but in the 83rd minute captain Keith Lowe equalised for the Avenue, headering the ball into the net after the ball was played in to give the hosts hope of an unlikely comeback.
Avenue then had a chance to steal the win, but Andre Johnson’s late effort struck the post as the game finished 2-2.
The sides will now meet in a replay at Halesowen this Tuesday (17th December) to see who advances to the 2nd round.
A local referee has assessed the pitch this morning and has confirmed due no arrival of snow and the forecast of less rain, as it stands the game will take place.
With heavy rain and possible snow forecast through the night, there will be a precautionary pitch inspection ahead of Avenue’s home match with Halesowen.
Halesowen make the journey to the Horsfall tomorrow and there will be a check of the playing surface at 08:00 in the morning ahead of their departure.
Please refer to the website tomorrow for a further update.
The Avenue play host to Halesowen Town in the first round of the FA Trophy this weekend in what is an important game for both sides.
Bradford are coming into the fixture off the back of an important victory last weekend against Altrincham, winning 2-0 at home against one of the league’s in form sides and return home to the Horsfall Stadium this weekend to play hosts once again.
Halesowen, meanwhile, are on a brilliant run of form — being awarded club of the month for the Southern League Central — due to their streak of seven wins out of seven in which they scored 23 goals and conceded just one.
Halesowen come into the cup tie sitting third in their respective division despite the fact that they have played multiple games less than the teams around them and occupy games in hand which, if won, could push them to the top of the table.
Coming into last weekend, the Avenue were without a win in their last six league games, but that bad run of form was put to an end with a 2-0 victory over Altrincham at home courtesy of goals from home debutant Tom Clare and Oli Johnson, and despite the results – are starting to show the performances, that got them into the playoffs last season. Halesowen, meanwhile, are also trending in a very positive direction, without a loss in twelve, with their last three victories combining for a score of 13-0.
Both teams secured qualification into the FA Trophy with hard fought victories – Avenue winning their final qualification game 2-0 away at Gloucester City, while Halesowen secured their qualification with a 1-0 win at home to Gateshead and will be hoping to extend their stay in the competition with a victory here.
It all makes for what should be a very fun and entertaining game at the Horsfall Stadium.
Season tickets do not apply as this is a cup game. No ticket required just pay on the turnstiles.
Match day prices are as follows: Adults – £10
Concessions/Students – £8
Under 17’s – £1
Due to the club struggling to attract new players on the current budget, we have decided to launch the 2019/20 players fund which once again asks you, the fans, to make a monetary contribution to enable the current management to improve the playing squad in the attempt to retain our membership of the Vanarama National League North.
We realise that last year’s fund was not handled in the best way with not enough acknowledgement as to how these funds had been used with regards the costs of playing staff. This will not be the case this time round!
Donations are this time to be administered by the newly formed BPA Development Fund, with no monies being donated to the club until we are informed which players (loan or permanent) such funds are to be used for. This information will then be passed onto you, the fans. Should any remain due to circumstances dictating otherwise, eg No longer required due to mathematical circumstances in the fight against relegation, such funds would be carried forward to the following season.
Donations can be made in the following ways:-
Cash or cheques can be made payable to BPA Development Fund and can be put into the collection buckets on match days or sent to Dave Stordy at 8 Siegfried Walk, Eldwick, Bingley BD16 3QF. Alternately you can make a direct bank transfer to the Development Fund bank account – Account Number 33569976 Sort Code 05-06-81 quoting reference ‘Players Fund’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
