The BPA Development Fund are hosting a speaker evening with ex professional footballer Terry Curran on Friday 10th March 2023.
Tickets are just £15 and include Curry or Pie & Peas supper.
The bar in the clubhouse will be open from 7pm, and the event commences at 8pm.
If you would like to purchase a ticket please see the Development Fund Desk in the Clubhouse or Dave Stordy in the Programme Shop on a match day, or he can be contacted on 01274 512989 / davestordy@hotmail.co.uk
We can confirm that Danny Benson has joined Avenue on a months loan from Barnsley FC.
A commanding centre-back, Danny has progressed through the ranks at Oakwell since joining the Reds’ youth set-up in October 2017. He signed as a first-year scholar in July 2020.
After impressive performances during the 21/22 campaign in the Professional Development League, he was rewarded with a call-up to the first team and was on the bench for Barnsley’s Emirates FA Cup third round clash with Barrow AFC.
Danny featured in Barnsley’s 22/23 pre-season under Michael Duff.
After last nights game, we spoke to Mark Bower on the signing and he said;
“Yeah he came in last minute, no prior training with the squad but he slotted in alongside Luca Havern, dealt with everything they (Scarborough) threw at us really well. Got to say a huge thank you to Barnsley for helping us get it through so quickly.”
Photo credit: Dan Berry
We can confirm that we have today had our request to postpone tonights fixture versus Scarborough Athletic denied.
Having 11 players out through injury, a suspension and a case of Covid, we asked the league to allow us to postpone the match. Having only a handful of fully fit players, and other carrying injuries we had hoped that the league would allow us to postpone based on health and safety of players.
Having explained our case to the League, we were unfortunately denied the postponement and the only way we could not play the game would be to inform the National League we could not fulfil the fixture.
On this, we were advised that we would potentially face a financial penalty, and a possible points deduction. The rule in question also states we could be expelled from the league.
As a club, we have decided to play the game tonight with the players we have available, and are pleased to announce the loan signing of Daniel Benson from Barnsley.
We have 5 academy players in the squad for tonight, and in order to make sure we had players on the bench, Assistant Manager Daniel Boshell has signed a non contract deal.
The game is on, with a 7:45 KO, we hope to see as many of the Green Army down as possible to cheer the lads on in what will undoubtedly be a very tough match.
#UTA
We can today confirm that Mark Ross has returned to the club on a short term deal.
Mark returns after briefly retiring from football to take on his hugely successful Lifestyle Lean business full time. He was a vital part of keeping the team away from relegation last season, and in total spent 4 years at Bradford (Park Avenue).
Rossy is available for selection in todays game vs Chester, so stay tuned to our socials for team news!
If you would like to sponsor a race for Saturday’s upcoming Race Night, please contact us at info@bpafc.com, there will be 8 races on the night, and its just £10 to sponsor a race. You can also sponsor the whole night for £100.
For the race night, each race will have 8 horses available, and its just £1 per horse.
Each winner will receive £5, with £3 going back to the club, any losing tickets should have your name written on the back, these will go into a box for a final winner from a loser race, with the winner receiving a free drink of their choice from the bar.
If you would like to sponsor a horse prior to the evening, please contact us on info@bpafc.com, include your custom Horse name, Owner name and Jockey. Your horse number and race will be randomly assigned.
Avenue set to host two play-off contenders as relegation threat worsens.
Bradford (Park Avenue) fans will be looking for a huge response from their side as the Green Army slipped into the relegation zone this week. Back-to-back defeats, including a disappointing 1-0 home loss to relegation rivals Blyth Spartans on Monday night opened the door for both Leamington and Boston United to take advantage of their midweek games in hand and leapfrog the Avenue in the league table.
For the second consecutive week, the Avenue will be taking part in a gruelling three-day double header, this time playing host to two sides who are currently occupying play-off spaces in the Vanarama National League North.
On Saturday, Bradford (Park Avenue) will welcome sixth-placed Chester FC to the Horsfall Community Stadium, a side who, with only five defeats to their name, have lost the joint fewest amount of games in the league this season. After what was a disappointing start to the season for this weekend’s visitors, The Seals will arrive at Bradford in impressive form, having lost just one of their previous 21 league matches.
One Chester player who has particularly thrived under the tutelage of manager Calum McIntyre is attacker Kurt Willoughby. Since signing from York City last summer, the centre forward has netted 15 times in 32 league appearances, averaging 0.48 goals per game.
Bradford (Park Avenue) have already been stung by Willoughby this term with the reverse fixture settled by his goal as the Green Army slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Deva Stadium back in November. The Avenue defence will need to keep a disciplined eye on the Seals’ talisman if they are to secure a positive result this weekend.
Instead, the Avenue faithful will prefer to look back on this fixture from last season with fonder memories. Bradford last hosted Chester in January 2022 with Brad Dockerty’s early goal enough to secure a vital 1-0 victory for the hosts. Having already netted twice this month, Dockerty will no doubt be looking for a repeat of his heroics against Chester this Saturday.
A win for Bradford (Park Avenue) would be vital in their bid to avoid relegation, especially when considering the improvement in form of those around them who have also played fewer games. With the Avenue currently level on points with four other sides, a victory could see them rise as high as 18th place, whilst a defeat could be damaging enough to leave them second bottom on Saturday afternoon.
Just two days after the visit of Chester, Bradford (Park Avenue) will be welcoming Yorkshire rivals Scarborough Athletic to the Horsfall Community Stadium, a twice-rearranged fixture that originally fell foul to the cold weather in both mid-December and mid-January.
Despite occupying one of the playoff positions, Scarborough have struggled to string together a run of victories since the turn of the year, managing just three wins from their previous ten games. Bradford (Park Avenue) will also be looking to exploit the visitors’ leaky defence, with the Seadogs having conceded 50 goals in 33 games this season, the joint-fifth highest total in the National League North.
However, despite struggling to plug the gaps in defence, Scarborough have certainly not been shy in front of the opposition goal, their tally of 57 goals scored being second only behind fourth-placed Darlington. Scarborough manager Jonathan Greening (famously part of Manchester United’s treble winning squad in 1999) will look to call upon experienced forward Michael Coulson, who has averaged 0.49 goals per game this season with 13 in 31 appearances for the North Yorkshire side.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will still be wondering how they did not win the reverse fixture between these sides back in August. The Green Army were leading 2-0 at The Flamingo Land Stadium and looked set to secure what would have been their first win of the season, only for former Halifax Town forward Dom Tear to net two goals in the final five minutes to share the spoils.
Instead, Avenue fans of a certain age may choose to look back fondly on some of the other other competitive encounters between the two sides. In November 1959, Fourth Division Bradford (Park Avenue) thumped non-league Scarborough FC 6-1 in the FA Cup first round, and later met in the NPL between 1970 and 1974 on several occasions, they were eventually replaced by phoenix club Scarborough Athletic following dissolution in 2007.
Match Previews by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)
Saturday 25th February – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Chester FC
Kick off: 3pm
Monday 27th February – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Scarborough Athletic
Kick off: 7:45pm
Where To Find Us:
Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG
Directions By Car:
Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.
Directions By Train:
Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.
From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):
Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).
From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.
Directions By Bus:
From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.
These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.
Turnstiles:
The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:
Adult – £14
Concession – £10
Student – £5
Youth (12-17) – £3
Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1
Our win against Leamington saw us scoring three excellent goals and playing confidently and we hope to continue the trend. Much as I try to stay away from football team comments I thought the two lads up front worked their socks off as they replaced our two injured big lads and that Will Lancaster looked as good in midfield as he does in the back line, but the team effort was excellent across the board and the crowd support was extremely loud and pleasing for the lads too.
At that last game we paid tribute to the late David Bruce who spent a long lifetime supporting Avenue home and away as well as supporting the club with his time and money too. A kind gentleman whose presence will be sorely missed. Farewell and thank you David.
We held a Fans Forum prior to the last home game and heard from Martin Knight and Gareth Roberts about plans for the first team’s development and the football club’s future. Gareth has been able to spend a week in the area and has held many meetings that aim to progress the club’s financial fortunes. Given that Mark and Danny also spend time after games to talk with fans we have a very well-informed set of supporters.
Our double header with our West Bowling rugby league club colleagues saw two victories on the same day and West Bowling now take on Lock Lane in the next round of the RL Challenge Cup. We also had a record day on ancilliary income as we had a function in the evening as well as the two sporting matches. It was a good test of the versatility of the stadium and thanks must go to all the staff and volunteers who made it a success.
Away from Horsfall we see the Premier League offering a show of strength against Man City to try and demonstrate that they can regulate football without the need of an independent regulator. Time will tell, but I think we know that the financial fortunes for any clubs outside of the PL lays with an independent regime for all football leagues.
At Horsfall imminent work is scheduled to upgrade the gents’ toilet next to the programme shop, which is long overdue, though we have improved the Pavilion toilets and have new ones in the Hospitality Suite as well as facilities in the clubhouse. It’s all a bit of a change from the old Canterbury Avenue brick wall pissoir some of us may recall.
We are still working with installers to get the lux level from the new floodlights more evenly spread across the pitch, but the improvement is giving us more effective lighting and with LED lights, cheaper running costs.
David Bruce’s funeral will take place at Scholemoor cemetery on Tuesday 7th March, 11.30am followed by a wake in the Horsfall hospitality suite.
We are delighted to announce that, we have secured the services of defender Louie Chorlton and Forward Josh Hinds on loan from Hull City.
Louie is no stranger to Bradford, having cut his teeth at neighbours Bradford City. In his single season with Bradford City, the right-back won the EFL Youth Alliance North East title with their respected Under-19s side before joining Hull.
Josh joined Hull from West Ham, and in August 2021, and made his senior debut for the Tigers, coming off the bench in the 81st minute for Tyler Smith in a goalless draw against AFC Bournemouth at the MKM Stadium. More recently, Hinds was on loan at Boston this season so knows the division very well.
Both loan deals run until March 18th.
Welcome aboard Louie and Josh
We can confirm tonight that Eddie Church has left the club to join Marske United for an undisclosed fee.
Everyone at the club would like to wish Eddie all the very best at his new club and thank him for his efforts whilst with Bradford (Park Avenue)
