’Firstly, we wish to acknowledge the decisiveness in which the National League dealt with our concerns by supporting our request for the immediate suspension of our competitions on January 22. 

We have this evening received a letter from Nigel Huddleston MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Sport, Tourism and Heritage) inviting us to a webinar tomorrow, which will allow Sport England to set out the criteria for loans and grants (the latter of which is available only for those with no ability to repay loans).

Loans are merely an extension to our life support and therefore foolhardy.

We have yet to receive any assurances as to how we may mitigate against our inability to test our employees and volunteers for COVID, or against the government’s insistence that we trade whilst insolvent.

With no apparent end in sight, this excruciating pandemic has us all facing financial imbalances of varying degrees. 

All of this is adding to additional stress and uncertainty that could and should have been avoidable.

Having since been ordered to re-schedule our postponed games in accordance with the National League rules, we must now reiterate our stance.

Without adequate and fair funding towards COVID testing and to offset against the loss of income, we are unable to uphold the integrity of the football pyramid and insist that the season is curtailed no later than Friday, February 5, to allow all clubs to be assessed for grants.”

AFC Telford – Andy Pryce

Alfreton Town – Wayne Bradley

Bradford (Park Avenue) – Martin Knight

Concord Rangers – Antony Smith

Curzon Ashton – Wayne Salkeld

Chippenham Town – Neil Blackmore

Darlington – David Johnston

Dulwich Hamlet – Ben Clasper

Farsley Celtic – Joshua Greaves

Gateshead – Neil Pinkerton

Guiseley – Gary Douglas

Hereford – Rob Crawford

Kettering Town – David Mahoney 

Slough Town – Kay Lathey

Southport – Ian Kyle

Spennymoor Town – Tony Wilson

Following the review of the feedback from Clubs in connection to the recent Clubs meeting, a Board meeting this morning decided to halt the participation in the North/South Divisions for a two-week period, effective immediately.

As a result, tomorrow’s games are formally postponed.

The club’s executives met yesterday after attending a meeting with the National League yesterday afternoon. After due consideration of the options presented to the club we wanted address our position on several matters.

We feel it is important to first acknowledge that the club only agreed to start the current season when we were given assurances from the National League that financial aid in the form of grants would be forth coming.

At the meeting yesterday the National League presented financial aid in the form of loans. The first option is a direct loan from Sport England to the club. The second whilst dressed up as a grant is still a loan. The National League would take the loan from Sport England and then distribute this to the clubs in the form of grant; however the disbursements from the National League central funds, whilst they were repaying their loan, would be reduced to all member clubs, effectively making this an advance (loan) on future earnings for the club.

Neither of these options are healthy for the long term future of the club, as it would mean strapping the club with a 10-year loan to complete this season.

It is our greatest wish to see the exciting squad Mark and Danny have put together complete all of our remaining fixtures, so we have written to the National League requesting that they meet the original commitment of grants for the entire season. We are capable of meeting all of our financial commitments up until the end of January after such time we would need either for the National League to confirm that aid will be forthcoming as grants, or that the entire season be Null and Void, with no promotion or relegation.

It is our desire for the club to be here for future generations. As such our position and decision is not taken lightly, but we feel is the right one for the club both now and moving forward.

Please also find attached an additional joint statement from fellow National League North clubs.

Statement From National League North Clubs

#UTA

Gareth Roberts

John Dean

David Little

Martin Knight

We are delighted to announce the details of our live coverage of Saturday’s National League North fixture against Kidderminster Harriers.

We go live at 14:30, and once again, behind the mic we have Mick ‘Game Caller’ Gledhill, backed up by our co-commentators.

Andy is behind the interview camera and we hope to bring you them exclusively on the stream as well!

We hope you can join us, all this will cost just £5.00!

Follow the link below, if you are a first time user you will need to sign up, its free to create an account;

https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/Y1FXMTBw

The National League has held meetings with Member Clubs today to discuss further information regarding the Government’s Winter Survival Package.

A presentation was given to Member Clubs at today’s meetings to assess various options. The National League wishes to place on record its gratitude for the approach of Member Clubs at each meeting.

Interim General Manager of The National League, Mark Ives, has requested each Member Club to provide views on three points:

1. The operation of a Club Loan process.
2. The operation of a National League Loan.
3. A suspension to The National League 2020/21 season.

The purpose of feedback is to assist the Board in understanding views of all 66 Clubs. The Board will be meeting before the end of the week.

The away side broke the deadlock as Danny Elliott’s rebound from a penalty gave his side the lead. With half-time approaching, it was another rebound that punished Bradford as John Johnston chipped Dan Atkinson and several Avenue players from the edge of the box.

After the break, Bradford recovered well and got back to level terms with goals from Luca Havern and Lewis Knight.

With 89 minutes on the clock, Kevin Morgan scored a wonder goal from 20 yards but an own Josh Askew own goal into added time sent the Avenue into celebration.

The Avenue started brightly, playing some decent football on the quick surface due to heavy rain in the region throughout the day.

Bradford could’ve taken an early lead as Knight’s shot was saved by Chester FC goalkeeper Louis Gray inside the area. From the rebound, Brad Dockerty’s left-footed effort was deflected wide from 12 yards.

Despite enjoying more of the possession, the Avenue conceded a penalty. Jamie Morgan skipped past a couple of challenges on the right wing and went down inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot, with Mark Bower fuming at the decision from the touchline. Danny Elliott saw his shot saved by Atkinson before smashing the rebound into the corner.

In the lead and getting used to the surface, the visitors took the game to the Avenue, but it was the hosts who should’ve equalised.

Jake Hibbs, returning from suspension, won the ball from Askew and fed Knight, who was through on goal. The striker dribbled towards Gray but the in-form number ten dragged his shot wide from 14 yards.

After losing Will Longbottom to injury, Bower’s side conceded their second goal of the evening. 

Atkinson made another fine save, this time denying George Glendon from 12 yards. The ball bounced off his feet into the path of Johnston and the winger lifted the ball over the Avenue goalkeeper and into the far corner from 16 yards.

With words of Bower, Danny Boshell and Ryan Toulson ringing in their ears, the Avenue players started aggressively, pressing further up the pitch and disrupting their opponents pattern of play.

With two attempts from Nicky Clee and Brad Dockerty setting the tempo, but failing to trouble Louis Gray in the Chester FC goal, Bradford halved the deficit. 

Knight’s in-swinging corner was flicked into the path of Havern at the back post, and the defender toe-poked the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

And then, Knight scored a crucial equaliser. The striker used his pace to chase down a pass from Clee into the left wing. With some excellent footwork, the striker put the ball through the legs of a defender, carried on driving into the box, shrugging off a couple of challenges along the way before scrambling the ball home.

After getting level on the scoreboard, Bradford continued to impress and posed an attacking threat, with Clee and substitutes Luke Rawson and Oli Johnson coming close to giving their side the advantage.

With the additional minutes about to announced, the visitors thought they’d won the game with a stunning goal.

Morgan, outside the penalty area, expertly controlled the ball on his chest and then unleashed a sweet right-footed volley into the top corner past Atkinson, who was rooted to the spot.

Following celebrations on the pitch, the away side got back in position for the restart, with only a few minutes left to play.

But the character of this Avenue side never fails to amaze. This team never give up.

Into additional time, the visitors had a numerical advantage in the final third, but a superb block from substitute Adam Nowakowski kept his side in the game.

And then, deservedly, the Avenue snatched a dramatic equaliser.

Clee pushed forward on the left wing and evaded a challenge before drilling a low cross past Gray. Captain Havern was lurking at the far post but Askew put the ball into his own net from close to the delight of the players and management on the Avenue dugout to earn a draw.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Windass (Nowakowski 83), Booty, Havern (c), Hibbs, Longbottom (Johnson 38), Marriott, Dockerty, Knight (Rawson 63), Clee

Subs not used: Sanyang, Hussain.

Goals: Havern (58), Knight (62), Askew (og 90+2)

Chester FC: Gray, Morgan, Askew, Weeks, Roberts, Grand, Johnston (Waring 69), Glendon, Dudley, Elliott, (Goodwin 85), Bauress (Marsh-Hughes 85)

Subs not used: Clark, Burke

Goals: Elliott (18), Johnston (42)

Yellow cards: Askew, Glendon, Weeks, 

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

We can confirm that we have signed Luke Rawson from Chesterfield on a 5 week loan deal until the 23rd of February. The tall striker has played 8 times for Chesterfield in the National League this season scoring twice, he also enjoyed a loan at our divisional rivals Alfreton scoring once in 2 appearances. Luke will be available for selection for tonight’s game against Chester and will add some competition for places whilst adding some possible variance to our attacking style with his strength and size. Thank you to Chesterfield for helping make this possible so easily and quickly.

The club would also like to announce the non-contract signing of Liam Bennett. Liam has been training with the club for the last couple of months after returning to the UK from the USA where he studied and played for the Louisville Cardinals after his release from Leeds United, where he played alongside the likes of Lewis Cook and Kalvin Phillips. 

We would like to welcome both players to the club and wish them all the best in their time with us. 

#UTA

Following the recent heavy snow and freezing temperatures in Bradford, today’s Vanarama National League North fixture against Chester FC has been postponed.

The fixture will hopefully take place on Tuesday 19th January, with kick-off at 7.45pm, at the Horsfall Stadium.