Bradford (Park Avenue) have today welcomed the signing of Matty Clarke.

An athletic left midfielder, Clarke spent last season at Penrith FC attracting interest from League 2 clubs and is a highly rated young prospect.

Manager Garry Thompson was pleased to secure Clarkes signature saying:

“Shaun (Gardner, assistant manager) and I have known of Matty for a while now, he is highly regarded up in his local area and has demonstrated he is ready for the next level. He has a very professional attitude and has shown a great attitude to commit to Bradford (Park Avenue) where he will work hard to prove himself at the level”

Matty Clarke spoke to BPAFC.COM about the move :

“I’m really excited to be joining Bradford (Park Avenue). I had a few offers to go into League 2 but speaking with Garry and Shaun and the Bradford Directors about what they are about and what they are doing made the decision easy for me”

Clarke Continued :

“I know Shaun from Penrith and I know he and Gary want a successful and hard working squad and a positive place to play football, so that suits me and the way I try and approach my football. I want to prove myself and can’t wait to meet everyone at the club and start the pre-season”

Bradford (Park Avenue) have today announced the signing of Ben Hedley from Morecambe as the first signing of Garry Thompson’s tenure as manager.

Hedley joins The Avenue from League 2 Morecambe where he was named Reserve Team Player of the year last season .

A physical midfielder, 20 year old Hedley impressed Thompson during their time together at The Globe Arena.

Thompson said :

“Ben was excellent last season at League 2 standard but lacked opportunities. When he was provided the chance to show his ability he excelled. Ben’s character and attitude fit exactly what we are looking for and for him to show his commitment to the club to drop back and prove himself, is exactly the ethic and focus we admire and respect.

Thompson continued :

“I said when I started a few weeks ago that supporters of Bradford (Park Avenue) who support the club with a season ticket purchase and their time and commitment week in week out, should expect us to build a team that reflects their level of commitment. Ben will work hard and leave nothing on the pitch for the supporters who come to Horsfall to watch us and he has quality and youth on his side which makes him a really pleasing first signing for us”

Ben Hedley explained what attracted him to Bradford (Park Avenue) over rival options:

“I am really excited about joining Bradford (Park Avenue) and can’t wait to start working with Gary who I know well from my time at Morecambe and know how professional he is.”

Hedley continued :

“I had a few options higher up but after discussing the clubs plans with Gary and Shaun I am really interested in what they’re building here and I’m really excited about the upcoming season and can’t wait to get going. It is a great opportunity and I plan to help the club challenge for promotion this season”

Bradford (Park Avenue) continue to offer one of the leagues most affordable football packages with their #Properbradford season ticket campaign providing incredibly affordable football for families and supporters of all ages.

Season tickets can be purchased here:

Bradford (Park Avenue) can today confirm the pre-season schedule for Garry Thompson and his squad for the month of July

An exciting mix of local non-league opponents and EFL clubs has been put together to provide Bradford (Park Avenue) with a robust pre-season in preparation for Thompsons first season at the helm.

Opening with an away visit to Hemsworth Miners on July 6^th, Horsfall Stadium will then host League 2 Mansfield Town on July 11^th.

The Avenue will then travel to nearby Brighouse Town for what will be an enjoyable fixture for local supporters of both clubs on July 13^th as Thompson intends to use the pre season to finalise his squad ready for the August 3^rd season opener.

A visit to Horsfall by Rotherham United on Wednesday 17^th July will be highly anticipated, followed by Sheffield Wednesday’s under 23s on Saturday 20^th July.

The annual battle for the “Tom Banks Memorial Trophy” against neighbours Bradford City will take place on Tuesday 23^rd July with a bumper crowd expected as both managers look to put the final touches on their squads late in the pre-season.

Finally Bradford (Park Avenue) will complete their pre-season preparation against a Huddersfield XI on Tuesday July 30^th.

Garry Thompson spoke about the pre-season schedule :-

“It’s a great schedule and one I hope the fans enjoy as much as we will. It’s important to get game time for our squad and any lads on trial early in the pre-season and we need time to have a good look at a number of players.”

Thompson Continued :-

“I spoke earlier in the week about the great relationships the club has with some fantastic development clubs, and to have Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield town bring their best young talent over to Horsfall is extremely beneficial for us. They are big clubs and a pleasure to work with.”

CEO Damian Irvine added :

“A meaningful and strong pre-season was one of the areas that supporters have suggested the club could be doing better. With a new manager in place and many fresh faces, this pre-season schedule will allow supporters to see plenty of football before the season starts and build into a very exciting period for the club “

Irvine Added :

“Our relationships with local non-league clubs and larger EFL clubs are both very important to us and we’re delighted to deliver a pre-season program that contains a great blend of levels whilst giving Garry and Shaun (Gardner) ample time to get to know and build their squad”

Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to welcome Garry Thompson to his first managerial position as he arrives at Horsfall Stadium to take the reigns as Player Manager ahead of the 2019/2020 season.

Thompson is no stranger to the city of Bradford and is remembered fondly for his committed heroics across town at Bradford City during the 2012 League Cup run, scoring against Arsenal before featuring in The Bantams successful promotion push later that season.

Successful spells at Morecombe, Scunthorpe Utd, Notts County and Wycombe Wanderers saw Thompson earn over 650 appearances at league level, finishing with his home club of Morecombe last December.

The experienced attacker will bring experience, excitement and quality alongside exciting prospects Lewis Knight and Alex Hurst who, along with last season’s Player of the Year Conor Branson, will form the core of Thompsons new squad.

Thompson’s appointment comes after Bradford (Park Avenue) announced a new major partnership with the University of Bradford last week in an exciting period of new impetus for the historic club.

Of his new role , Garry Thompson said :-

“I’m incredibly excited and can’t wait to get started. I’ve been working on coaching and looking towards my career after I finish playing. This is such a great opportunity at a fantastic club. I was attracted to the values and positivity of the Directors and we agree on what a strong club requires in terms of attitude and culture.”

Thompson Continued :-

“It’s fantastic to come back to Bradford, a city I’ve such great memories of. Bradford (Park Avenue) have been doing some really hard work and the contacts and support they have made available to us is impressive. I’ll be using every resource they’ve made available to me to achieve the best for the club.”

Damian Irvine, CEO of Bradford (Park Avenue) said: ]

“It’s been an extremely busy 2019 for the club as we’ve focused on taking a fresh perspective and approach to every facet of our operation and structure. We have plenty of experience in seeing what successful and sustainable clubs look and feel like and it’s genuinely exciting to deliver positive change and a culture of progress to Horsfall Stadium.”

Irvine Continued :-

“The club has made its presence felt on the pitch over the past few years and that’s a credit to everyone involved, but if we keep doing what we have always done hoping for a vast improvement in performance on, or off the pitch, we wouldn’t be doing the right thing by our supporters and our owners.”

Striker Shaun Gardner joins Thompson at Horsfall as Playing Assistant Manager.

Gardner has earned over 300 starts at clubs such as AFC Liverpool, Kendal Town, and most recently Penrith AFC

Attackers Thompson and Gardner join The Avenue, who retain highly regarded Conor Branson, Lewis Knight and Alex Hurst on contract for the 2019/2020, with Thompson announcing further additions in coming weeks.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be releasing their pre-season schedule later this week along with further major sponsorship news.

On the back of a week landmark announcements, the clubs push for a record number of season tickets continues with their #Properbradford season ticket campaign providing incredibly affordable football for families and supporters of all ages.