PLAYER INTERVIEW | Will Longbottom talks on his equaliser v Curzon and our upcoming match v Hereford
HALF-TERM REPORT – Jeremy Charnock breaks down Avenue’s 22/23 Season so far
Normally, after eleven games, the League table could be expected to give a fair indication of how good a side is. Avenue will be hoping this season is different and they have good reason. Having already played five teams in the top six and only one in the bottom six, as the table stood last weekend, means Avenue’s position is almost certainly lower than it would otherwise be. Couple this with a series of costly refereeing decisions which have gone against them and a place in the bottom four might be difficult to avoid.
However, since the opening ten games, Avenue’s star appears to be on the rise. An exhilarating 2 – 1 success against Curzon Ashton at Horsfall has got the season properly underway and, with 35 games left to play, Avenue can still realistically aim for a mid-table spot come the end of the season.
Looking at the successes so far, one can point to a generally quite reliable defence and also a competitiveness which has enabled Avenue to stay in the game until the closing minutes in most of their fixtures to date. There are still three other sides who have scored goals in single-figures and seven teams have currently conceded at least as many goals as Avenue, including Gloucester who are as high as sixth, so in the circumstances there is nothing really to be too concerned about there.
Of all the games so far, the one to be regretted most is probably that at Scarborough where questionable decisions by the referee really began to bite. Deservedly leading 2 – 0 with only five minutes remaining, the team contrived to concede two late goals and had to settle for a draw. A win here would have put Avenue in pretty good shape for the challenges ahead. Scarborough have since moved up to fifth place while Avenue have gone in the other direction, but there’s no point in crying over spilt milk.
After this game, of course, the goals dried up and this clearly became Avenue’s Achilles’ heel. A satisfactory explanation is hard to find. While it doesn’t really matter where the goals come from so long as the ball goes in the net, the first five goals scored came from a substitute – Adam Nowakowski, a midfielder (Jamie Spencer, with two), a defender, Luca Havern, and the loan player now back at Sheffield United, Andre Brooks. This pattern began to change with Brad Dockerty’s first goal since re-signing for the club, quickly followed by Will Longbottom and Oli Johnson’s goals against Curzon, as the chances created are now beginning to be put away and impressively, too. We can hopefully expect this to have a positive effect on the other forwards which will help Avenue continue their improvement.
So far, Eddie Church has been among those unlucky with refereeing decisions and Jacob Blyth has also been unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet. Jacob could easily have had a couple of goals but has not had the necessary luck on his side and, after two games as substitute, he came back into the team to play a big part in the welcome victory over Curzon by providing assists for the two goals.
It was this game when Avenue put all the trials and tribulations of the previous two months behind them. Losing Brad Dockerty to injury after barely five minutes play and turning round 1 – 0 down following an unstoppable long-range shot, the game had at this point a very familiar look to it. The introduction of the final two substitutes – Will Longbottom and Oli Johnson – was then to make all the difference.
Firstly, after 81 minutes, Reece Staunton brought the ball back on to his right foot before sending a searching cross to the far post for Jacob Blyth to head back into the goalmouth and Will Longbottom to turn goal poacher and knock the ball in for the equaliser. Then, before the visitors could react to this setback, Jacob Blyth this time headed on a long ball forward for Oli Johnson to beat off the attentions of a defender and steer the ball past the keeper from close range.
No report would be complete without reference to Jamie Spencer’s wonder goal at Scarborough, a copy of David Beckham’s extraordinary strike against Wimbledon in 1996 which got the whole of the country marvelling at his audacity. While catching the goalkeeper off his line plays an important part in the success of such an attempt at goal, the sight of the ball travelling through the air and the keeper’s dramatic effort to prevent it entering the net was a sight to behold. When interviewed later, a modest Jamie with a smile on his face simply said: ‘I won a tackle and I just thought I’d shoot’, but had it been that easy players would be trying it from half-way every week!
By doubling their points tally in only one game, Avenue can feel much more optimistic going forward. Irrespective of the result against Hereford on Saturday, they will be looking towards the game at Blyth on Tuesday and seeing it as an important six-pointer for both sides. Then, in a couple of months’ time with twice the number of games played, Avenue will hopefully have said goodbye to bottom spot for good and be playing the football we know they are capable of on a level playing field.
Check the gallery below for some of Club Photographer John Rhodes best photos from the 22/23 season so far. Click here for full albums on John Rhodes’ page.
BANBURY (A) MATCH REARRANGED
We can confirm that our postponed away fixture vs Banbury United previously scheduled for 15th October has been rearranged to 22nd November with a 7:45pm KO.
#UTA #BPAFC
MATCH PREVIEW – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford
Match Preview – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford FC – The Green Army play host to the Bulls in the Vanarama National League North.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hoping to build on their vital 2-1 home win against Curzon Ashton last time out as they welcome Hereford to the Horsfall Community Stadium on Saturday. That win gives Avenue a much-welcomed confidence boost, as they head into their second home game in a row, having displayed great character to come from behind and pick up their first three points of the season. The result may not have moved Avenue off the bottom, but it doubled their points tally and brought the club to within three points of safety.
The visitors this weekend sit in 13th place in National League North and are enjoying something of a revival, having picked up seven points from a possible nine in their last three games. Hereford fans will be hoping the inconsistency shown in the early part of the season is behind them.
One potential headache for Avenue boss Mark Bower is the question whether to stick with the eleven players who started the victory over Curzon Ashton. One player who will certainly be arguing his case for selection is super-sub, Will Longbottom who, not for the first time this season, came off the bench late on to grab a vital goal for his side.
Hereford have enjoyed a rich vein of form in front of goal this season. They have the joint sixth highest tally in National League North and their seventeen goals have been scored by ten different players. Experienced dangerman and joint-top scorer Tyrone Barnett will be hoping to be on the scoresheet again after netting in the Bulls’ 4-2 thrashing of Boston United last time out. The 36-year-old struck in the league for the first time since his double against Spennymoor Town on the opening day of the season and will be aiming to become the club’s outright top-scorer.
Avenue will look to take confidence from their excellent head-to-head record over Hereford FC since the formation of the latter as a phoenix club for Hereford United in 2014. Of the seven official meetings between the two sides, Avenue have won four, drawn two and lost one, remaining unbeaten against the Bulls in all fixtures at the Horsfall Community Stadium. The Green Army will be hoping to continue this impressive record beyond the upcoming fixture this weekend.
PLAYER INTERVIEW | Oli Johnson talks on his 85th minute winner vs Curzon Ashton
MATCH REPORT – Bradford (PA) 2 – 1 Curzon Ashton
Bradford (Park Avenue) bag their first win of the season, giving them a platform to build on.
(Attendance – 464)
The long wait for Bradford’s first win of season is finally over, as they had to come from behind against mid tabled side Curzon Ashton.
(Park Avenue) came out all guns blazing as their hunt for the first win of the season grows ever desperate and as they piled men forward came up against a Curzon brick wall with chance after chance going begging.
Bradford did have the ball in the back of the net from a corner, but the referee deemed there an unfair challenge and ruled out the goal much to the (Park Avenue’s) frustration, and then with 4 minutes from half time Curzon Ashton opened the scoring with pretty much their first meaningful chance, Mahon cut inside from the wing, creating some space for himself before he curled his effort into the top corner.
(Park Avenue) didn’t let their heads drop after the opening goal went against them, as they went into the second half with Church having chance after chance, Sykes-Kenworthy did have to keep his concentration and made some crucial saves to keep the score line at 1-0 going into the latter stages of the game.
10 minutes from time Bradford’s hard work throughout the game finally paid off through super sub -Will Longbottom, wo latched onto a Staunton cross to level the game, and then just a minute later Oli Johnson put the Avenue in front for the first time of the game.
But (Park Avenue) had to bear down the hatches for the remaining 9 minutes as the referee added 4 minutes on at the end of the 90, but with some dogged defending and more excellent last ditched saves from Kenworthy Bradford were able to hold on to their first home win of the season.
Mark Bower praised his side for their diligence and relentlessness as he told the Park Avenue media.
“I thought we deserved to win the game, I thought after the first half that we were the better side, but having a goal disallowed, a penalty decision that didn’t go our way and then their right backfires it in from 25 yards, it felt as though it was going to be one of those days.”
“But the lads dug deep and didn’t give up, the lads showed great character, and everyone goes home happy, and its nice to close that gap with teams above us.”
You can watch the full match highlights by clicking here, or by pressing play below.
Team: Sykes-Kenworthy, Lucas Odunston, Reece Staunton, Jamie Spencer (Longbottom 77′), Luca Havern (C), Sam Fielding, Harrison Hopper, Simon Richman, Jacob Blyth, Brad Dockerty (Church 5′), Thomas Angell (Johnson 66′).
Subs: Will Longbottom – Goal 84′, Eddie Church, Lloyd Smith, Oli Johnson – Goal 85′, Adam Nowakowski.
MATCHDAY COMMENTARY – LIVE ON YOUTUBE
Today’s match will have LIVE Commentary with Jayson Boocker over on our YouTube Channel. We will be live from around 2:50pm!
AVENUE SIGN YOUNG PROSPECT ON LOAN FROM SHEFFIELD UNITED!
The club are delighted to announce the loan signing of Thomas Angell from Sheffield United.
He follows in the footsteps of previous loan players from the Blades, such as Oli Arblaster, Harry Boyes, Frankie Maguire, Nickseon Gomis and most recently Andre Brooks.
Angell joins on a youth loan from the Championship side, and is available for selection in tomorrows match v Curzon Ashton. Stay tuned to our twitter @BPAFCOfficial for match updates!
PLAYER INTERVIEW | Lucas Odunston on the 22/23 Season so far and his first year with Avenue
Premier League announces £12.6m support for National League clubs and communities
The Premier League has announced an increased investment package of £12.6m to support the National League over the next three years.
A sum of £9m is available to support the 72 National League Clubs with running costs and sustainability. A further £3.6m will be available via the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association’s partnership to support the National League Trust and the network of club community organisations like the Maidenhead United FC Community Trust.
Marking the news, the Premier League Trophy visited Maidenhead United as local schoolchildren participated in a special Premier League Primary Stars training session on the pitch at York Road Stadium.
Players from the club’s 52 junior teams, launched in 2019 with support from the National League Trust, also assembled at the ground for photographs with the Trophy.
The new Premier League investment is in addition to the Premier League’s Stadium Fund which has made £33m available over the next three years to help clubs across the football pyramid to transform matchday experiences and improve sustainability.
Funding for maintenance and new infrastructure is available to clubs playing in steps 1 to 6 of the National League, including those promoted into the English Football League, as well as for the Women’s football pyramid.
Maidenhead United have received more than £300,000 in funding for stadium improvements from the Premier League since 2003, with grants contributing to the construction of covered seating areas, a new accessibility entrance and updated turnstiles and floodlights.
The club’s historic York Road Stadium has been home to The Magpies since 1871, the oldest ground used continuously by the same club.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “The continued success of Premier League football over the past thirty years enables us to provide unprecedented investment in communities and wider football. As we look to the future, we are committed to investing more than ever, to help develop the game and provide opportunities to people of all ages.”
“We are pleased to increase the financial support offered to clubs playing in the National League and to support the fantastic work they deliver in their communities alongside the National League Trust.”
Mark Ives, General Manager of the National League, added: “We welcome the ongoing support of the Premier League and this new investment will provide a timely boost of vital funding to our clubs. This is brilliant news for our competition and its future.
“Fans and communities are at the heart of everything we do. The Premier League’s increased funding package for the National League Trust means even more resource for our club foundations to continue and expand their roles in local communities.”
Last season, the Premier League supported National League clubs with £5m to help them with their continued recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Community Captain recognition for Nick Bradshaw
During the Premier League Trophy’s visit to York Road, lifelong fan of the club Nick Bradshaw was named as Maidenhead United FC’s Community Captain in recognition of his work as a volunteer combatting loneliness and providing support to vulnerable residents in the local community.
The club have commended Nick in particular recognition of his support of the late Levi Niemann, a remarkable resident of Maidenhead, who first became known to the club through the Magpies Community Care Helpline operated during the pandemic.
Nick formed a friendship with Levi, who was registered as blind in 2012, helping him to live more independently and even to achieve a lifetime ambition to skydive to raise funds for Guide Dogs UK.
Nick was presented with a Premier League pennant and special captain’s armband by Maidenhead United captain Alan Massey.
“A captain is someone who shows leadership and commitment and uses their ability to help others, which means Nick is a more than deserving recipient of this prestigious Premier League award,” said Massey.
“Nick is an incredible example of the relationship the club is proud to have within the community and it is testament to the hard work of everyone at the Community Trust.”
The Community Captain accolade is being given to more than 100 members of the public who have made an outstanding contribution to their club and local community, as part of the Premier League’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Jon Adams, Chief Executive, Maidenhead United said: “We are thrilled that Maidenhead United FC has been included within the Premier League Trophy Tour. The club has been the beneficiary of funding from the Premier League through the National League over several years. This funding has been vital to the development of our extensive community programme, enabling us to support the development of grassroots football and extend the range of activities available in the local area to support those most in need within our community.”
Across England and Wales, Premier League investment supports the community organisations of all 92 Premier League and English Football League clubs, plus the 68 National League clubs.
Over the next three years, the League will continue its world-leading levels of support by contributing £1.6 billion to communities and the wider game. During the Trophy Tour, the League will be announcing new financial commitments to benefit fans and communities.