Curbing now finished and further pitch levelling complete.
Horsfall Pitch Update – Day 10 & 11
Further hardcore arrived on site to help level the pitch along with the addition of the pitch edging curbs.
Clee signs on for another season, determined to give the fans something to shout about!!
In what we hope will a hugely successful 4th year at the Avenue, we are really excited to announce that the man, the myth, the legend and fan favourite Nicky Clee has decided to extend his stay at the Horsfall. After two hugely successful seasons, Nicky briefly left the Avenue in the 19/20 season, but returned to join up once again with Mark and Danny. His return saw him put in a series of man of the match performances and score a few great goals, before the suspension of matches, which eventually culminated in our great escape (albeit not the way we would’ve like to have done it).
Regarded as ‘the best player in non-league football’ by his team mates, it should be fantastic to see him strutting his stuff on our new 3G pitch, where his technical ability will be given an even better stage on which to shine.
Nicky Clee –
‘I’m delighted to commit to Bradford (Park Avenue)for another season and be able to work with Mark, Danny, Ryan and Tally again. They are a really good group to play for and hopefully we can put last season behind us and kick on this season. This is a brilliant football club to be involved with and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Horsfall as soon as we possibly can. I enjoy an excellent relationship with the supporters and in my 3 years at the club they have followed us through thick and thin. These supporters deserve success and will be doing my best to give them something to shout about.’
Mark Bower –
‘Nicky’s signing I’m sure will be as pleasing for the supporters as it is for myself and the staff. There is no doubting his quality as a player and since taking up a position as a central midfielder, he has put in a string of man of the match performances to cement himself as one of our key players. He is also a great pro to have around the dressing room and he shares his experiences with our younger players to help their development. Despite reaching the latter years of his career, I see Nicky having a good few years left as a central midfielder and we are delighted he has committed another year to us.’
#UTA
Horsfall Pitch Update – Day 8 & 9
Drainage work all now complete and over 50 wagons of hardcore moved on site.
Horsfall Pitch Update – Day 7
With the weather back on our side work is back on track, with the drainage work now half complete.
Horsfall Pitch Update – Day 6
Contractors back on site today levelling the pitch and making a start on the new drainage.
Bradford (Park Avenue) sign talented young left back from Leeds United
The Avenue today confirm the signing of former Leeds United player Matty Downing. The talented left back joins us after spending over 15 years with Leeds. Downing came through the Leeds academy after joining them at 5 years old. A powerful, technically gifted player he will give us options up and down the left flank in both the defensive and attacking thirds. We hope to see the natural ability of Matty as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg whilst out on loan, after having fought off competition to sign him this summer.
Matty Downing –
‘I’m buzzing to have been given the opportunity to join BPA for the next season. After speaking to people at the club, family and friends, the chance to get on board with the club’s plans is one that really excites me. I have played with and against a few of the players previously and heard great things about working with Mark and Danny. I’m looking forward to getting started with lads and hopefully making a good impression.’
Mark Bower –
‘Matty is a player who was highly regarded throughout his many years at Leeds United and we are delighted he has signed for The Avenue. Being naturally left sided, Matty gives balance to the squad. When speaking with Matty it was clear he has the determination and ambition to be an asset to us. As we have done so many times in the past with players who have had setbacks, we will work with him and give him the platform to showcase his abilities.’
Andy Gray – former Coach at Leeds United, and footballer
‘Matty is a modern day full back as he is equally adept going forward as he defensively, he has fantastic energy and desire to get up and down the pitch and he produces quality delivery in the final third.’
Welcome Matty and #UTA
Don’t forget The Development Funds player sponsorship scheme is now up and running. It costs just £60 to sponsor a player either home or away so get in quick before he gets snatched up, a number of players have already gone!! To sponsor a player signed for the club for next season please click here and fill out the player sponsorship form.
David Bruce Makes Sizeable Donation For Horsfall Stadium Development
Bradford (Park Avenue) FC and The Horsfall Community Stadium would like to thank long serving fan David Bruce for his sizeable donation that has funded and part funded some developments in the stadium.
David Bruce (pictured) said, “I am delighted to have funded the white pitch side perimeter fence at Bradford (Park Avenue) FC and also to have part funded the new security fence that is going into the stadium this Summer. As a supporter of the club for over 50 years it’s great that Gareth has finally been able to obtain the new Lease, 3G pitch and commission the new Stadium Security Fence. Up the Avenue!”.
David was presented with his new season ticket by Neil Fawcett. Neil is a very well-known ambassador for Bradford (Park Avenue) FC with many years’ kind voluntary service. He continues to help with so much at the Club.
Horsfall Pitch Update – Day 4
Well it’s Day 4 of the building of the new 3G pitch at the Horsfall Stadium and we are all very excited. Unfortunately the great British weather slowed progress today.
Building work started on Monday and anyone who has seen the pictures on our website will see that good progress has been made already. We hope the surface will be ready by September 1 for community use, friendlies and matches for Bradford (Park Avenue) FC, and for Rugby clubs and other community uses. You’ll have seen our hopes for West Bowling ARLFC to relocate here, and all other rugby union and rugby league clubs are welcome to book and speak with us too – just call us on the contact emails below. By the time the pitch is ready, we hope also to have agreed some improvements to the Athletics facilities which will be built by December latest.
The site is now a construction site with all associated Health and Safety requirements, so please do not try to come into the Stadium area or interrupt workers. If you wish to view progress or take pictures, this can easily be done from Park Road which sits on high ground overlooking the whole Stadium.
The work is now possible because late last Friday 12 June, Bradford Council completed a 35-year lease with Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC, and with a Licence to do these works.
There are now two major ‘sides’ to the ongoing football and wider community and stadium projects. The Stadium and Community side is run by Mark Leadbeater, the Stadium Operations Manager. Mark can be contacted at mleadbeater@live.com. The Stadium and Community side is expected shortly to be governed under a Management Agreement from BPA FC as Leaseholder, and the new Horsfall Community Stadium CIC (HCS) will manage and operate the Stadium facilities on behalf of BPAFC as the Leaseholder. HCS is a subsidiary of The Horsfall Community Trust which is Chaired by Robert Clunas.
The football club side is governed by its Directors. These are Gareth Roberts, John Dean and (subject to final ratification) David Little, who has already been Company Secretary for a couple of years. The football operations are led on the Directors’ behalf by Martin Knight, the BPA Director of Football Operations. Martin can be contacted at m.a.knight@hotmail.com.
So please direct any Stadium or Community matters to Mark, and any football-specific matters to Martin.
Our Press Release of Friday 12 June celebrates the long-awaited completion of the Lease and confirms that we are committed to the building of the pitch, and of the new Security Fence that will go around the stadium area. Gareth is putting in hundreds of thousands of pounds at present to help build a sustainable financial future for Bradford Park Avenue (the football Club) and the Horsfall community project more widely. The 3G pitch is of course an obvious example of how the income and cost balance now shifts considerably in our favour. We are also grateful for the support of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, and we hope more partners will be on board for further developments.
We look forward to serving the Bradford and Calderdale area well over the coming years and for football, rugby, athletics and many other activities to thrive here and throughout our local community. As ever, it’s “Up the Avenue!”.
We will update you again before the end of June.
Bradford (Park Avenue) today bolstered their off the field team with the addition of Calum Cullen as Football Operations Manager.
Cullen is joining the club as it embarks on an ambitious restructure of its entire set up, from 1st team right the way down to its under 5’s junior section. There will be a vast amount of work to get through from an operational and process perspective, something acknowledged by the clubs ownership, and demonstrated by their support of this appointment.
On a day to day basis, Cullen will be helping with the football administration, club shop, program production and supporting the club secretary and directors. He will also be part of the Academy team as we seek to deliver a multi age, fully inclusive proposition for all the people of Bradford and the surrounding area.
Cullen brings an understanding of what it takes to run an amateur football club, having set up the football group Friends of FC; a collection of teams that spreads the length and breadth of Leeds. This knowledge of grass roots, financially prudent, planning and execution will help fill some of the experience gaps to our existing management team.
Calum Cullen –
‘I am delighted to be here, and grateful for the opportunity and faith shown in me by Martin and Gareth. Even though we are still affected by Covid-19, there is lots to be getting on with and I am looking forward to the challenge’.
‘The dream has always been to work full-time within the game and when the offer came, it was an easy decision for me to come work at a club with a great history, loyal fanbase and, with the new lease, an unbelieve amount of potential’.
Martin Knight –
‘Calum will bring to the table a new set of skills having set up his own club from scratch. We will need his ‘can do’ attitude and energy as we start the journey to make the club a self sustaining, 5* experience for all of our, fans, players, students, parents and staff. He brings new ideas and perspective, something I hope will help us achieve our goals and hopes for the club on and off the field. I hope that we can all extend to Calum the same friendly Bradfordian welcome that I have received.’
#UTA