We are delighted to announce the loan signing of Will Lancaster on a 1 month deal from Barnsley FC.
Will, a midfielder by trade joins us in time for tomorrows game at Chester FC.
WILL he feature? Team news from 2pm tomorrow!
MATCH PREVIEW – Chester FC (A)
Match Preview – Chester FC vs Bradford (Park Avenue) – The Green Army are back on the road as they travel to the English-Welsh border this weekend in the Vanarama National League North.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking for consecutive away wins for the first time since March 2019 when they take on Chester FC at The Deva Stadium on Saturday.
Mark Bower’s men head to Chester in fine form following a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home to high-flying Gloucester City on a wet Monday evening under the lights of the Horsfall Community Stadium, a result which saw them bag a fourth win in five games. The three points meant Avenue climbed out of the relegation zone and into 19th, however, Tuesday’s National League North results elsewhere were less than favourable as points gained for Kettering Town and Boston United pushed the Avenue back down to 21st.
Regardless of this, the picture remains optimistic for Avenue who are currently one of the in-form teams in the National League North. Only last weekend’s opponents Brackley Town, who sit joint-top of the table, have gained more points in the last five games. Bower will also be hoping he can call on in-form striker Jacob Blyth for the trip to Chester. The number nine was withdrawn early in the second half on Monday after scoring the opener and has netted three goals in his last four games for the Avenue.
This weekend’s hosts are also enjoying a good run of form themselves, having picked up ten points out of a possible twelve on their current four-game unbeaten run. However, the Avenue will be looking to take advantage of Chester’s inconsistent home form, as The Seals are yet to register back-to-back wins this season.
Avenue’s defence will be keen to shackle Chester’s top scorer Kurt Willoughby. The 25-year-old, who joined Chester in the summer from last season’s play-off winners York City, has netted six goals in fifteen appearances this season, averaging 0.41 goals per game.
The head-to-head table shows Avenue and Chester all square. Since the formation of Chester FC as a phoenix club to the former Chester City FC in 2010, the sides have met on nine occasions in the National League North, sharing three wins apiece and three draws. The most recent meeting came in the penultimate game of last season, with Chester emerging 4-0 winners over an Avenue side that had already secured National League North football for another season. The Green Army will be hoping to swing the head-to-head table in their favour this Saturday with the prospect of once again climbing out of the league’s relegation places.
Kick off: Saturday 5th November 2022, 3pm
Stadium address: Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester, CH1 4LT – Directions to the Deva Stadium can be found here
Tickets: In advance online purchased here – Adults £17.00, Concessions £14.00, 18-21yo £12.00, 12-17yo £3.00, Under 12s FREE.
Please note there will be a £1 increase on these prices when buying online, paying at the turnstile or purchasing from the ticket office on the day of a game.
Writer – Stephen Grimshaw
MATCH REPORT – Bradford (Park Avenue) 2 – 1 Gloucester City
The Avenue’s faithful were treated to a ‘Spooktacular’ three points beating high-flying Gloucester City on Horsfall’s hallowed ground.
Mark Bower wanted a response from his side’s 1-2 defeat to Brackley Town at the weekend and he got just that.
A rain-soaked evening that could have been a nightmare turned out to be a thriller as Bradford secured an entertaining 2-1 win over a Gloucester side boasting a six-game unbeaten run.
Avenue took a seventh minute lead through the in-form Jacob Blyth. He got on the end of a low cross into the box and tapped it in from close range.
This provoked Gloucester into a response which they secured in the 35th minute through Matt McClure, taking them into the break on even terms.
Avenue weren’t disheartened by the set back and it was they who eventually found the killer blow. Bradley Dockerty hit a fabulous strike from the edge of the box ten minutes into the second half, the ball taking a deflection on its way past the helpless Gloucester keeper.
Gloucester had their chances to equalise, including a scary long-range lob which hit the top of the Avenue bar, but the home defence held firm.
The victory lifts Avenue into 21st position and makes it four wins out of five.
Avenue have now put a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom two as they go into this weekend’s game, confident they can pull off another upset against mid-table Chester FC.
Writer: James Fletcher
Buxton (a) KO Time Changed
We can confirm that our game against Buxton, on December 3rd will now KO at the earlier time of 12:30.
This is to ensure that, as is hoped, if England or Wales are involved in the World Cup round of 16, there will be no clash.
Away Travel – Alfreton
The Development Fund are running a supporters coach to the upcoming Alfreton game on Saturday 12th November, with seats costing £17 for Adults and Under 16’s for £10
Pick up time will be 11:30 from The Horsfall Stadium and 11:45 from Cedar Court Hotel.
Seats are selling fast, so if you would like to reserve a seat please contact Dave Stordy in the Programme Shop of visit the Development Fund Desk in the Clubhouse.
LIVE FROM 2:50PM! BPAFC vs Brackley Town Commentary
LIVE FROM 2:50PM! BPAFC vs Brackley Town commentary will be streamed live today on our YouTube channel. Click the link below to listen LIVE!
#UTA #BPAFC
INTERVIEW | George Sykes-Kenworthy talks on our upcoming fixtures, our recent wins, and his targets.
INTERVIEW | Jacob Blyth talks on breaking his duck, his goal vs Blyth, and our upcoming fixtures.
Boost The Budget 2022/23 (Update)
During the 2021/22 season, due to the fantastic support of many fans, the BPA Development Fund were able to make a significant donation to the club which was used to secure the initial signings of Simon Richman, Sam Fielding and Harrison Hopper.
Pre-season conversations with Gareth Roberts and the management team confirmed that the costs of maintaining a competitive team at this level continue to rise. Mark and Danny did a brilliant job retaining the core of the team from last season and are always looking for new players to come in and strengthen the team where finances allow.
With your support through donations and our other fundraising activities, we can continue to assist with increasing the initial budget which does make a difference in bringing in the quality of player required at our level.
The BPA Development Fund initially paid £2k into the fund at the start of this season, and has committed several thousand more towards additions made since the season commenced. This is an ongoing process, and any further donations would be made available to the club as/if felt further team strengthening was necessary. Several supporters have recently enquired as to how to they can do this, especially as our squad is low on numbers currently.
Donations are administered by the BPA Development Fund, with funds being donated to the club when agreed between both parties. At no stage do any of the Development Fund Group have any say in players being considered etc. Should any funds remain at the end of the season, such funds would be carried forward to the following season.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
Bank Transfer:
BPA Development Fund
Sort Code 05-06-81
Account Number 33569976
Please quote “BTB” as the payment reference.
Cheque:
Made payable to BPA Development Fund, and send to BPA Development Fund, Horsfall Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford BD6 2NG.
Cash Donations:
Please visit the Programme Shop or the BPA Development Fund desk in the clubhouse on match days.
Thank you for your support to date, we now look forward to more of the same!
The BPA Development Fund
Blyth sinks Blyth to make it three wins in a row for the Avenue.
Bradford (Park Avenue) moved level on points with safety after securing their third win in a row away to Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night, courtesy of a fourteenth minute goal from the in-form Jacob Blyth.
The Avenue headed into the game against fellow strugglers Blyth Spartans with the confidence of back-to-back wins for the first time since January, and it didn’t take long to settle in front of the 683 in attendance under the lights at Croft Park. In the fourteenth minute, Jacob Blyth struck through a crowded penalty area to give Bradford a deserved early lead, netting his second goal in as many games.
As the first half wore on, the Avenue sensed the hosts were there for the taking and pressed to double their lead. Jacob Blyth came close to netting a second after firing narrowly wide, while Eddie Church remained a constant threat with his pace and determination.
Blyth Spartans appeared rejuvenated following their half-time team talk from manager Graham Fenton and quickly pushed for an equaliser in the opening minutes of the second half, with repeated dangerous crosses flashing across the Avenue goalmouth and goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy producing a fine save to keep out a goal-bound flick from Blyth’s Jordan Hickey.
Worryingly for the Avenue in amongst the Blyth pressure early in the second half, captain Gianluca Havern was forced off with a knock and replaced by Will Longbottom. Manager Mark Bower will be hoping the injury is nothing serious with two home fixtures on the horizon within the next week.
As the second half wore on the hosts continued to dominate possession and create chances but were unable to breach Sykes-Kenworthy’s goal due to a combination of wasteful finishing and resolute defending. Blyth’s dangerous young winger Corey McKeown twice came close with efforts drifting just wide of the post. One final clear-cut opportunity came in added time when a Nicky Deverdics close-range effort was well held by the impressive Avenue goalkeeper.
The final whistle brought a sigh of relief for the Avenue manager Mark Bower, who reflected on the challenge posed by the midweek trip to Blyth. “Coming away to Blyth on a Tuesday night is always a tough one and we saw how good they were against Wrexham in the FA Cup last week. They’re very good at keeping the ball and pulling you around so you have to be very disciplined out of possession”. Bower was also full of praise for the way his side defended their lead: “You know the lads have kept going and for their effort, work rate, desire and commitment tonight, I’ll happily take three points”.
The result takes Bradford (Park Avenue) above Blyth Spartans in the National League North into 21st position, level on goal difference with 20th placed Boston United. Next up for the Avenue is the tough task of hosting the in-form Brackley Town this Saturday, who are currently unbeaten in their previous five games and will arrive at the Horsfall Community Stadium occupying third place. The Green Army will be hoping their own consistency prevails, knowing that a point may be enough to finally climb out of the relegation zone.
Blyth Spartans 0 – 1 Bradford (Park Avenue) – Jacob Blyth (14’)
Attendance – 683
Writer: Stephen Grimshaw