Luca Havern is the latest piece of the jigsaw of Mark Bower’s squad for next season. The experienced 31 year old defender re-joins the Avenue after just a season away at Ashton United. This type of high profile signing demonstrates the clubs intent and the pulling power of Mark and Danny. Havern’s towering performances in our two recent play-off seasons are still fresh in the memory and this type of leadership and quality were at times missing last season. With well over 200 games experience at National League level, natural leader Havern is the ideal fit for the new squads blend of youth and experience. Welcome back Luca, looking forward to seeing you down at the Horsfall very soon.
Luca Havern –
‘I’m delighted to return to Bradford (Park Avenue) for the coming season and to be able to work with Bowes, Bosh and Tully again. Over the 2 seasons I played at the Horsfall, we had some good times and I’d love to emulate that again next season. The new pitch will be great for the club and the community and I’m looking forward to getting started and seeing everyone.’
Mark Bower –
‘It’s great to have Luca back at the club. He was a highly respected member of the squad in his previous spell and has a wealth of playing experience at National League level. Central defence is a key position, so having a player like Luca, who I know we can rely on to put in consistent performances, gives us a good foundation to build a competitive team.’
In what we hope will a hugely successful 4th year at the Avenue, we are really excited to announce that the man, the myth, the legend and fan favourite Nicky Clee has decided to extend his stay at the Horsfall. After two hugely successful seasons, Nicky briefly left the Avenue in the 19/20 season, but returned to join up once again with Mark and Danny. His return saw him put in a series of man of the match performances and score a few great goals, before the suspension of matches, which eventually culminated in our great escape (albeit not the way we would’ve like to have done it).
Regarded as ‘the best player in non-league football’ by his team mates, it should be fantastic to see him strutting his stuff on our new 3G pitch, where his technical ability will be given an even better stage on which to shine.
Nicky Clee –
‘I’m delighted to commit to Bradford (Park Avenue)for another season and be able to work with Mark, Danny, Ryan and Tally again. They are a really good group to play for and hopefully we can put last season behind us and kick on this season. This is a brilliant football club to be involved with and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Horsfall as soon as we possibly can. I enjoy an excellent relationship with the supporters and in my 3 years at the club they have followed us through thick and thin. These supporters deserve success and will be doing my best to give them something to shout about.’
Mark Bower –
‘Nicky’s signing I’m sure will be as pleasing for the supporters as it is for myself and the staff. There is no doubting his quality as a player and since taking up a position as a central midfielder, he has put in a string of man of the match performances to cement himself as one of our key players. He is also a great pro to have around the dressing room and he shares his experiences with our younger players to help their development. Despite reaching the latter years of his career, I see Nicky having a good few years left as a central midfielder and we are delighted he has committed another year to us.’
The Avenue today confirm the signing of former Leeds United player Matty Downing. The talented left back joins us after spending over 15 years with Leeds. Downing came through the Leeds academy after joining them at 5 years old. A powerful, technically gifted player he will give us options up and down the left flank in both the defensive and attacking thirds. We hope to see the natural ability of Matty as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg whilst out on loan, after having fought off competition to sign him this summer.
Matty Downing –
‘I’m buzzing to have been given the opportunity to join BPA for the next season. After speaking to people at the club, family and friends, the chance to get on board with the club’s plans is one that really excites me. I have played with and against a few of the players previously and heard great things about working with Mark and Danny. I’m looking forward to getting started with lads and hopefully making a good impression.’
Mark Bower –
‘Matty is a player who was highly regarded throughout his many years at Leeds United and we are delighted he has signed for The Avenue. Being naturally left sided, Matty gives balance to the squad. When speaking with Matty it was clear he has the determination and ambition to be an asset to us. As we have done so many times in the past with players who have had setbacks, we will work with him and give him the platform to showcase his abilities.’
Andy Gray – former Coach at Leeds United, and footballer
‘Matty is a modern day full back as he is equally adept going forward as he defensively, he has fantastic energy and desire to get up and down the pitch and he produces quality delivery in the final third.’
Welcome Matty and #UTA
Don’t forget The Development Funds player sponsorship scheme is now up and running. It costs just £60 to sponsor a player either home or away so get in quick before he gets snatched up, a number of players have already gone!! To sponsor a player signed for the club for next season please click here and fill out the player sponsorship form.
Bradford (Park Avenue) FC and The Horsfall Community Stadium would like to thank long serving fan David Bruce for his sizeable donation that has funded and part funded some developments in the stadium.
David Bruce (pictured) said, “I am delighted to have funded the white pitch side perimeter fence at Bradford (Park Avenue) FC and also to have part funded the new security fence that is going into the stadium this Summer. As a supporter of the club for over 50 years it’s great that Gareth has finally been able to obtain the new Lease, 3G pitch and commission the new Stadium Security Fence. Up the Avenue!”.
David was presented with his new season ticket by Neil Fawcett. Neil is a very well-known ambassador for Bradford (Park Avenue) FC with many years’ kind voluntary service. He continues to help with so much at the Club.
Well it’s Day 4 of the building of the new 3G pitch at the Horsfall Stadium and we are all very excited. Unfortunately the great British weather slowed progress today.
Building work started on Monday and anyone who has seen the pictures on our website will see that good progress has been made already. We hope the surface will be ready by September 1 for community use, friendlies and matches for Bradford (Park Avenue) FC, and for Rugby clubs and other community uses. You’ll have seen our hopes for West Bowling ARLFC to relocate here, and all other rugby union and rugby league clubs are welcome to book and speak with us too – just call us on the contact emails below. By the time the pitch is ready, we hope also to have agreed some improvements to the Athletics facilities which will be built by December latest.
The site is now a construction site with all associated Health and Safety requirements, so please do not try to come into the Stadium area or interrupt workers. If you wish to view progress or take pictures, this can easily be done from Park Road which sits on high ground overlooking the whole Stadium.
The work is now possible because late last Friday 12 June, Bradford Council completed a 35-year lease with Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC, and with a Licence to do these works.
There are now two major ‘sides’ to the ongoing football and wider community and stadium projects. The Stadium and Community side is run by Mark Leadbeater, the Stadium Operations Manager. Mark can be contacted at mleadbeater@live.com. The Stadium and Community side is expected shortly to be governed under a Management Agreement from BPA FC as Leaseholder, and the new Horsfall Community Stadium CIC (HCS) will manage and operate the Stadium facilities on behalf of BPAFC as the Leaseholder. HCS is a subsidiary of The Horsfall Community Trust which is Chaired by Robert Clunas.
The football club side is governed by its Directors. These are Gareth Roberts, John Dean and (subject to final ratification) David Little, who has already been Company Secretary for a couple of years. The football operations are led on the Directors’ behalf by Martin Knight, the BPA Director of Football Operations. Martin can be contacted at m.a.knight@hotmail.com.
So please direct any Stadium or Community matters to Mark, and any football-specific matters to Martin.
Our Press Release of Friday 12 June celebrates the long-awaited completion of the Lease and confirms that we are committed to the building of the pitch, and of the new Security Fence that will go around the stadium area. Gareth is putting in hundreds of thousands of pounds at present to help build a sustainable financial future for Bradford Park Avenue (the football Club) and the Horsfall community project more widely. The 3G pitch is of course an obvious example of how the income and cost balance now shifts considerably in our favour. We are also grateful for the support of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, and we hope more partners will be on board for further developments.
We look forward to serving the Bradford and Calderdale area well over the coming years and for football, rugby, athletics and many other activities to thrive here and throughout our local community. As ever, it’s “Up the Avenue!”.
