21 May 2019

Garry Thompson joins Bradford (Park Avenue) as Player Manager

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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.

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21 May 2019

Mark Bower Departs Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Bradford (Park Avenue) have agreed by mutual consent that Mark Bower will leave his role as First-Team Manager with immediate effect.

The club would like to place on record its gratitude to Mark, for his hard work and dedication in his management of the team during three exciting seasons.

Mark Bower said of his departure :

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bradford (Park Avenue) over the past three seasons and I’m proud of what we have achieved together as a club in that time.

I would like to thank everybody who has contributed to our success, in particular Gareth Roberts as, without his support, the incredible moments and memories we have from the past three years, would not have been possible.

I wish everyone at Bradford (Park Avenue) the best of luck for the new season and beyond.”

Assistant-manager Danny Boshell also departs his role and the club also thanks Danny for his contribution and commitment to The Avenue on and off the pitch in recent seasons.

The club will be making a further announcement regarding the Management and Coaching staff for 2019/2020 and beyond at 7pm this evening (May 21st)

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16 May 2019

Bradford (Park Avenue) and the University of Bradford announce landmark partnership

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The University of Bradford has agreed to be the new shirt sponsor of Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC.

The move sees the University joining the club as shirt sponsor in a two year deal starting in the 2019-2020 season.

The wide-ranging partnership will see the two organisations link closely in a number of areas. Training and playing facilities will be shared, and intern and learning programmes will see physiotherapy, sport performance, analytics, and media students gain valuable experience with the club.

The University’s Football Association is one of its largest student union groups, and the partnership will see members welcomed to Bradford (Park Avenue) with ticket initiatives, while also accessing coaching and first team pathways for the University’s British Universities League squad.

Bradford (Park Avenue)’s academy students will be a focus of the partnership. Horsfall College students will benefit from training facilities at the University’s campus along with mentoring and academic pathway assistance. Both organisations are committed to working together to encourage a higher number of south Bradford 16-year-olds into further education through Horsfall College and on to the University.

Mark Garratt, Director of External Affairs at the University of Bradford, said:

“We are pleased to be sponsoring Bradford (Park Avenue) and are committed to working together to create fantastic opportunities for both our staff and students. It is also our hope that through activities like this, we can make a real difference and see increased opportunities for young people in the region.”

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

“This is significant step forward for our football club in many ways. The University of Bradford is doing tremendous work for our city both locally and internationally. With this partnership we can encourage and provide aspiration and ambition for our local youth, who may not otherwise have considered a relationship with a University as being remotely obtainable.

“We will work together on the training pitch with mutual benefit, and off the pitch we want to provide students who choose Bradford as their home during their education with a football club they can be a huge part of during their studies and hopefully for life.“

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30 Apr 2019

Coach Travel: Spennymoor Town – UPDATED 14:00 30/04/19

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Please note, the coach to Spennymoor is now full, however the club is taking names for a reserve list and may look to book a 2nd

A fantastic response from the Green Army sees the coach to Spennymoor booked to full capacity.

The club is still taking names as a reserve should any bookings be cancelled, however should enough names be taken the club will look to book a second coach.

Make sure to get your name down as soon as possible so that a decision can be made in good time.

Contact: Info@bpafc.com to secure your place.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The Avenue will make the journey up the A1 on Wednesday to face playoff rivals, Spennymoor Town.

With the travelling Green Army spurring the squad on all season, the team needs you now more than ever to make some noise and be that 12th man at The Brewery Field.

The coach will leave the Horsfall Stadium at 4pm on Wednesday, and will leave Cedar Court Hotel at 4:15pm.

Tickets cost just £15 for an adult, or £10 for under 16’s.

Spaces are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Contact: Info@bpafc.com to secure your place.

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29 Apr 2019

Vanarama National League Players Of The Year Announced

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VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE- PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Danny Rowe – AFC Fylde

The warning signs are pretty ominous for National League defences. Danny Rowe is only getting better as he gets older.

If he carries on like this, he could go on to be a legend of this level. But maybe the good news for goalkeepers is his desire to make a name for himself in the EFL burns bright.

He arrived from the National League North in 2017 with a fearsome reputation. Just the 47 goals – unsurprisingly a competition record – made him a marked man after AFC Fylde’s promotion.

Two years on, teams are still struggling to get the hang of it.

The free-scoring frontman took the division by storm last season, scoring 24 goals in what he calls his first proper campaign in the league.

That goalscoring record and his all-round performance earned him the Player of the Year award.

He just missed out on the Golden Boot award to Tranmere’s Andy Cook, but this time there was no stopping him.

Rowe has plundered 27 goals and is in better shape than ever as the Coasters’ play-off campaign begins on Wednesday against Harrogate Town.

The former Stockport County and Fleetwood Town forward is more determined than ever to walk out in the Football League.

He may be 30, but he’s only improving as the years go by. Now, he has another accolade to sit on a rather populated mantelpiece.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH- PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Glen Taylor- Spennymoor Town

Spennymoor Town supporters and their Manager are well aware that if things were different, they would be saying goodbye to their legendary leading scorer in a few weeks’ time.

School teacher Glen Taylor has been handing out lessons to defenders for years.

“Make no bones about it,” his manager Jason Ainsley said after convincing his striker to sign a new two-year deal in January.

his manager Jason Ainsley said after convincing his striker to sign a new two-year deal in January.

“If Glen didn’t have a great job and a baby, we would be losing him this summer.

“There has been plenty of interest from National League and Football League clubs so we’re lucky his life has a great balance.”

We’ve all seen players’ form dip once they get a new deal, but Taylor was never going to tail off.

After 19 goals last year in this division, he has 25 to his well-respected name this time around.

He says: “Happiness comes before the status of being able to say you are a professional footballer”, and Spennymoor fans will drink to that.

Taylor has it made after securing the National League North Player of the Year. Now he wants promotion to go alongside it.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH- PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jamie Reid- Torquay United

It’s been a season which has seen the records tumble at Torquay United.

First, of course, incredibly the Club won their first ever championship as they got their hands on the National League South title.

Then on Saturday’s final day the Gulls notched the quickest goal in their history – straight from kick-off against St Albans City.

Now, for the first time in many moons, one of their Club’s heroes has his hands on a Player of the Year award.

Torquay and their striker Jamie Reid didn’t know what to expect when they found themselves in a place the Club never thought they would be.

They went into the unknown but, sometimes, a surprise in football isn’t such a bad thing!

The forward found the net no fewer than 29 times in the National League South alone, it came at a rate of a goal every 115 minutes and handed him the Golden Boot accolade too.

His partnership with on-loan Saikou Janneh brought about a joint tally of 46 goals.

With a forward-line like that, it’s no shock fingers are on prizes down in deepest Devon in what was a season to remember for Gary Johnson’s Gulls.

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29 Apr 2019

Playoff Preview: Spennymoor Town vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

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After a roller coaster season that saw Bradford top the league at Christmas before hitting a bad run of form in early 2019, the Avenue has secured the final playoff spot in a nail biting season finale.

The next challenge for Bradford awaits this Wednesday at The Brewery Field, home of Spennymoor Town.

The hosts come into the game confidently and on a strong vein of form, with a 5-0 win at Curzon Ashton on Saturday sealing a 4th consecutive win.

Avenue will be raring to go, having defied the bookies odds yet again to secure a playoff spot. Bradford narrowly lost to Chorley on Saturday, but will be buoyed by the superb performance that saw them briefly take the lead against the title contenders.

Bower’s men have already proven they can best the Moors home and away, haven taken all 6 points from the last two fixtures.

With yet another shot at promotion to the National League, the squad needs you, the 12th man, to be heard at The Brewery Field this Wednesday.

#UpTheAvenue #ProperFootball #ProperBradford

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28 Apr 2019

Chorley FC Vs Bradford (Park Avenue) Match report

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Despite it being a dreary day at Victory Park the game was far from it with a 3-2 thriller which saw both sides confirm their spots in the playoff places.

Mark Bower made one change from Monday’s starting eleven following on from a 1-3 defeat against York City with Danny East dropping to the bench in place of Jamie Spencer. Chorley on the other hand made a couple of changes to their starting eleven with both Teague and Challoner both dropping out for Jordan and Anson respectively as they aimed for the National League North title.

Chorley started off the stronger side, fashioning themselves some early half-chances including an early long range drive in the 2nd minute by Chorley centre back Meppen-Walters which was easily held by ‘keeper Charlie Andrew. 

After weathering an early storm Bradford then grew into the game with some good combination play by Knight and Ross down the Bradford right, which was ultimately comfortably dealt with by the Chorley defence. Avenue’s best chance of the match up to that point then fell Lewis Knight who found himself free at the back post, however he was unable to get his header on target. A trio of Bradford corners followed but they were unable to make the most of the opportunities presented to them.

It was then heart-in-mouths moment for the Avenue supporters when some good play by the Chorley attackers saw them get in behind and get the ball in the back of the net, thankfully however the linesman had flagged for offside. It then got even better as just a few minutes later in the 34th minute Knight was brought down in the box by ‘keeper Matt Urwin after being played in behind by Jake Beesley. It was of course Beesley who took the resultant penalty, giving Bradford the lead and taking Beesley’s tally to twenty for the season. Bradford then would have been through again in the 37th minute had it not have been for Johnson slipping on the edge of the area.

For the rest of the half Chorley regained control having a couple of chances which again were easily dealt with by Andrew, up until the 43rd minute when a good ball in from Bradford’s left hand side was superbly held up by Almond who thumped it into the roof of the net to level up the game. Chorley then came close again through a Carver header which was brilliantly saved by last weeks man of the match Charlie Andrew.

After the break, both sides came racing out the blocks with Andrew again being forced into making a couple of saves in the 46th and 47th minute. Bradford then created a chance of their own when following a brilliant bit of play by Knight he forced Urwin into making a save. 

In the 54th minute a long ball down field from a Chorley goal kick was misjudged by Andrew, allowing Louis Almond through again and seeing him put the ball into the back of the empty net, giving him his second of the match. A minute later however, Bradford immediately fired back when a cross in by Knight was bundled home by Oli Johnson at the back post. 

Chorley came close again in the 57th minute with a free kick which hit the post and eventually ended up being dealt with by the Bradford defence. 

For then on the game appeared to be fizzling out with neither side really being able to create any clear-cut chances as they had done earlier in the half. This continued until the 87th minute when yet another long ball by Urwin wasn’t dealt with by Bradford’s defence allowing Almond to slot away, in off the post, rounding off his hat trick. For the remainder of the match, Bradford struggled for possession however Chorley rarely did enough to truly threaten scoring again.

Despite the 3-2 defeat, Bradford qualified for the playoffs on goal difference as Telford fell to a 1-0 defeat to previous games opponents York City. This now means that Bradford will travel to Spennymoor Town on Wednesday for the start of their playoff campaign.

TEAMS

Bradford (Park Avenue) F.C

  • C. Andrew
  • M. Ross
  • D. Lowe
  • A. Nowakowski (East 70’)
  • S. Killock ©
  • G. Havern
  • D. East
  • C. Branson
  • J. Beesley
  • O. Johnson (Clee 57’)
  • L. Knight (Lewis-Potter 88’)

Unused substitutes; Chrichlow-Noble, Hurst.

Chorley F.C

  • M. Urwin
  • A. Anson
  • A. Blakeman 
  • S. Jordan ©
  • S. Leather (O’Keefe 59’)
  • C. Meppen-Walters
  • A. Newby
  • J. Cottrell (Hooper 78’)
  • M. Carver (Tuton 67’)
  • L. Almond 
  • E. Newby

Unused substitutes; Hanley, Eccles.

Cards 

34’ Yellow – Matt Urwin (Chorley)

56’ Yellow – Conor Branson (BPA)

65’ Yellow – Stephen Jordan (Chorley)

Referee: James Bell

Attendance: 1575

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24 Apr 2019

Match Preview: Chorley FC vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

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It’s all to play for on the final day of the season in what should be an exhilarating fixture for both sets of fans.

With just one point separating Chorley from top of the league Stockport, the Magpies have to better Stockport’s result in order to be crowned champions.

With the Hatters away to rock bottom Nuneaton Borough, it looks to be a tall order for Chorley to gain automatic promotion, but with nothing to play for, Nuneaton may be just the banana skin the Magpies need.

Regardless of the result at Liberty way, Chorley will still need to best a determined Bradford side, who come into the game looking to secure a chance at promotion via the play offs.

Avenue supporters will be keeping a close eye on the fixtures at Bootham Crescent and Croft Park as Bradford will need to either match Telford’s result against a strong York City, or better in-form Blyth’s result against Southport.

With everything to play for, it’s not a fixture to miss. Get to Victory Park and get behind Bower and the boys on Saturday. Make The Difference. Be the 12th Man. Be #ProperBradford.

Read on to find out more about the opposition and what to expect on the day.

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23 Apr 2019

Match Report: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs York City FC

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Back to back defeats see Mark Bower’s out of form Avenue requiring a victory against Chorley on Saturday to guarantee a play-off spot.

Bower made a number of changes after Friday’s loss at Darlington in an attempt to secure a vital win, recalling Danny Lowe straight into the starting side after recovering from injury. Bower also granted starts to Nowakowski and Johnson who came into the starting 11 in place of Fridays Man of the Match Romoney Crichlow-Noble and Alex Hurst.

The few chances of note in the first half fell to York City who were invited onto the Avenue defence at times in a scrappy first half that saw neither team take the initiative to press.

The game burst to life in the second period.

Bradford ( Park Avenue) started the half brightly with Nowakowski firing over after some impressive build up play. This was then followed up by a 30 yard strike from Conor Branson which beat the York ‘keeper but hit the bar.

Bradford’s afternoon then peaked when a free-kick five minutes into the second half was expertly dispatched by Lewis Knight from 25 yards into the top left corner of the York City net, giving Avenue the lead.

The joy was short lived however as, despite some resilient defending, Bradford’s defence was opened up in the 67th minute with McLaughlin’s goal putting the teams on level terms.

Bradford’s Man of the Match Charlie Andrew then produced some smart saves to keep the sides level, however this changed when Burrow’s strike from the edge of the area found the back of the net, giving York a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute.

It got worse for Bradford and a frustrated home support, when Captain Shane Killock brought down Burrow who was through on goal, resulting in a straight red card. York then piled on the misery when, in the 91st minute Ex-Avenue loanee Macaulay Langstaff scored, which ultimately condemned Bradford to a 3-1 defeat.

As a result Bradford now require a victory against Chorley away, who they beat 1-0 at home early in the season, to guarantee a spot in the play-offs with any other result putting it out of Bradford’s hands.

Teams

Bradford (Park Avenue): Andrew, Ross, Lowe, Nowakowski (Hurst 85), Killock, Havern, East (Spencer 66), Branson, Beesley, Johnson (Lewis-Potter 87), Knight.

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Crichlow-Noble.

York City: Whitley, Griffiths, Tait, Newton, Ferguson; York (Harris 55), McLaughlin, Burgess; Kempster, Burrow, Langstaff.

Unused substitutes: Law, Moon, Dyer, Bartlett.

Attendance: 775

Referee: Sam Barratt

Bookings
Langstaff – York (Yellow)
Killock – Bradford (Red)

Goals

51’ – L.Knight (Bradford)
67′ Paddy McLaughlin (York City)
80′ Jordan Burrow (York City)
90+1′ Macaulay Langstaff (York City)

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20 Apr 2019

Pre-Match Programme: York City

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Welcome to the last Pre-Match Programme of the regular season for 2018/19.

This Easter Monday sees the Avenue play host to York city in the last home game of the season proper. The fixture comes after a close 1-0 defeat away at Darlington on Good Friday, meaning 3 points will now be vital for Bradford to clinch a much coveted playoff spot.

York come into the Bank Holiday on the back of a close 3-2 defeat to playoff placed Spennymoor town. Although the Minster Men have only pride to play for at this point in the season, York will be looking for revenge after Bradford thrashed the full time outfit 4-1 in the reverse fixture back in November.

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