For any home supporters needing to purchase a ticket for the upcoming Stockport game on Friday 30th March 2018, the clubhouse will be open on the follow dates:
Wednesday 21st March 13:00-20:00
Monday 26th March 14:00 – 22:00 (AFC Telford Game)
Usual match day prices apply and season ticket holders will not need to purchase a ticket.
The club will be opening the clubhouse and bar 12:30-16:00 this afternoon (Saturday 17th March) for Supporters to call in for a drink and to purchase tickets for the upcoming Stockport game.
Due to snow fall overnight today’s game against AFC Telford has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
Once a new date is arranged it will be published on the website and social media.
Bradford Park Avenue vs. AFC Telford United – Match Preview Sat 17th March 15.00 KO
Avenue will be looking to bring an end to a winless run that stretched to five games after last week’s draw with Alfreton Town. Mark Bower, however, will be optimistic after describing the draw with the Reds as the least that his side deserved.
AFC Telford find themselves in the midst of an even sticker patch, after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Southport meant that The Bucks have picked up just two wins from their last twelve league outings.
Rob Edwards’ are currently languishing in the relegation zone, level on points with 21st-placed Gainsborough Trinity but 21 points clear of rock-bottom North Ferriby United.
GUIDE TO OUR OPPONENTS:
The Gaffer:
Rob Edwards
Shropshire-born Edwards is currently cutting his teeth in full-time senior management with the Bucks after a spell in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ under-18 side and a brief stint as interim manager of the first-team. He hung up his boots aged 30 after a successful career earnt the centre-back 15 caps for the Wales national team. He began his career with Aston Villa before making the switch to Molineux in 2004 after loan spells with Crystal Palace and Derby County. The former defender spent four years with Wolves before signing for Blackpool where he tasted Premier League football following the Tangerines’ promotion in 2010. Edwards was part of a promotion-winning side the following season, helping Norwich City reach the promised land after joining on loan in March 2011. Barnsley swooped to sign Edwards following his release from Bloomfield Road, but he found first-team opportunities limited and spent time on loan at Fleetwood Town and Shrewsbury Town in 2013 before retiring.
Key Players:
Ellis Deeney
The brother of Watford striker Troy joined the Bucks in January, making the switch from league rivals Tamworth. The combative midfielder has already faced Avenue on two occasions this season after starring in Tamworth’s 4-3 win at the Horsfall Stadium in December and featuring in the Lambs’ defeat to Mark Bower’s side on the opening day of the season. He boasts vast experience of the division thanks to his time as captain of Worcester City, who he joined following spells with Kettering Town and Hinckley. Deeney, who can also operate in defence, captained Aston Villa’s under-18s before dropping into non-league football.
Amari Morgan-Smith
Tricky winger Amari Morgan-Smith joined the Bucks in February after spending the first half of the season with York City. In one of his final appearances for the Minstermen, he doubled York’s lead against Avenue during our defeat at Bootham Crescent back in January. A product of Crewe Alexandra’s academy, he established himself as a promising talent at Ilkeston Town and helped them achieve promotion to the Conference North in 2009. He trained with Championship side Derby County during his time with Ilkeston as a reward for a string of impressive displays and eventually left the club in 2010 to join Luton Town. He continued to impress at Kenilworth Road, earning a trial with Doncaster Rovers in 2012 despite concerns over his fitness that led to his departure from the Hatters. Morgan-Smith continued to establish himself as one of the most exciting talents in non-league football and represented Macclesfield Town and Kidderminster Harrier before sealing a move to League One after agreeing a deal with Oldham Athletic. He returned to the National League with Cheltenham Town in 2015 and helped them earn promotion to League Two but returned to non-league football when he joined York on loan in January 2017. He featured in the Minstermen’s FA Trophy final victory over his former club Macclesfield and signed a permanent deal with the club in June 2017.
The action will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday but will only go ahead if the Horsfall pitch passes a pitch inspection that has been scheduled for 9:30am.
Admission prices:
Adults – £10
Concessions – £7
Students – £5
Under-18s – £2
Due to the adverse weather conditions. There will be a pitch inspection at 09.30am at the Horsfall Stadium in the morning
We will keep you updated here: & our social media.
Gaffers preview: Bradford Park Avenue V Telford United. Sat 17th March 2018 15.00 KO
We welcome Rob Edwards and everybody connected with Telford on Saturday. Given the tight nature of the league this season with Telford currently in the bottom three, a couple of good results from their games in hand could see them up in mid table.
They have had a big turnover in players during the season so far, so the team that we beat impressively in the reverse fixture back in August will be much changed. But given our recent games against Salford and North Ferriby, we know that current league positions mean little. If we can play in the manner we did against Alfreton last week, we give ourselves a good chance of winning the game.
Enjoy the match
Mark
The JAMES project are delighted to announce that the National League Trust have approved a further year of funding for a part- time community sports coach. Over the last 3 years the James project , a charity based in Frizzinghall, Bradford successfully secured funding to deliver a range of community projects in South Braford and the wider community. The partnership has seen the delivery of a range of community projects, that includes, school breakfast & after school clubs, football tournaments, hostel football, holiday camps and outreach youth engagement programmes.
Mandy Lakes , Operations Manager said ‘We are extremely proud that our partnership with Bradford Park Avenue Community Football club has been a tremendous success and to secure further funding will see more projects to be delivered which will make a difference to many residents and young people.’
Jayne Spencer , Community & Operations Manager said ‘ We are absolutely thrilled that the National League Trust recognises the difference the club are making within our community. This funding will allow us to recruit a new member of the team and continue to work in partnership with JAMES.
Please see below further details on the Community Sports Coach vacancy:
Community Sports Coach – Job Advert
Community Sports Coach – Job Description
Community Sports Coach – Personal Specification
Community Sports Coach – Job Application Form
This is an informal notice to inform members that the Community Benefit Society will hold a Special General Meeting on Thursday 29th March 2018 at 18:30 in the Clubhouse.
Formal notice was sent to all CBS members Monday 12th March 2018 by either post or email. Apologies and proxy votes can be sent to bpafc@outlook.com
This meeting follows on from the AGM in February and recent announcement that it is proposed the Community Benefits Society is to transfer the club back into the sole ownership of Gareth Roberts under a newly created private limited company.
Below is the official announcement issued by the club following the AGM:
At the AGM of Bradford Park Avenue Community Benefit Society on Thursday 15th February 2018, it was announced that the directors are proposing a change in the ownership structure of the club.
The club’s first team currently plays in National League North, just two divisions below the Football League. The cost of surviving at this level has escalated to a level which the club cannot afford beyond the short term, under its current ownership structure. Operational costs are eating up capital which had been earmarked for off-the-field development, and new investment is needed.
Two years ago the club became a Community Benefit Society (a “CBS”), intending that its ownership should be spread amongst the local and regional community. However, very few new members have joined. As a CBS the club is entitled to issue Community Shares to potential investors, but the law provides for a maximum of £100,000 in community shares for any individual, which is not enough to make a crucial difference. In addition the CBS is heavily indebted to its current benefactor, and as an investment opportunity the club in its current form is unattractive.
The directors have decided to face reality, and they propose to change the structure of the club so that it becomes a privately owned enterprise, from which investors can potentially earn dividends or at least look to recover their investment at some point in time.
Any change in structure is subject to the approval of the current members of the CBS, the FA and also to the approval of the Financial Conduct Authority, whose advice has already been sought. A further meeting of members will be held in the near future at which specific proposals will be put forward.
The proposed change indicates the determination of the directors to find new sources of investment so as to maintain the club at its present level and possibly above.
The Board
The club are running a supporters coach to FC United of Manchester Saturday 24th March 2018 and Chorley Monday 2nd April 2018, with seats costing £12 for adults and £8 for under 18’s.
Only a few seats are remaining on each bus so to book your seat please see Neil Fawcett at the Supporters Information Desk on match day or call him on 07811 959003
Last Saturday’s home game against Alfreton must have been a great game for the neutral with two teams playing an old fashioned 442 and having a really good go at each other. For us however it was a frustrating afternoon and two points dropped after creating more than enough chances to win comfortably. We certainly didn’t have much luck in the game, but we need to be more clinical with the chances we’re creating to get ourselves winning games again.
I felt particularly sorry for Ed Hall, who came back in to the team and conceded three goals despite doing little wrong. He made two smart saves in the first half, but had no chance with their two long range first half goals. In the second half only a deflected free kick could beat him and it summed up the way it has been going for us recently. With Steven Drench likely to be out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, Ed has the opportunity to keep his shirt after waiting patiently for his chance in the team.
There have been a lot of postponements in our league in recent weeks and credit must go to our ground staff and volunteers who have not only got games on, but got the pitch in decent condition. Many clubs with much greater resources than us have pitches that are looking a real mess at the moment and this has led to several postponements.
Bring on Saturday
Mark
