End of day 3 and not a blade of grass in sight. Next up levelling and rolling.
Horsfall Pitch Update – Days 1 & 2
Following the recent news that the club has finally secured a 35 year lease on the Horsfall Stadium. The club can officially confirm that work has started on replacing the playing surface with a state of the art 3G pitch ahead of next season.
The Horsfall is officially a construction site with contractors and machinery making light work of removing the turf from the pitch in preparation of drainage work commencing.
The club will continue to provide a daily update so supporters can keep updated on progress on the long awaited redevelopment of the Horsfall Stadium.
INTERVIEW: Marriott And Knight Speak to BCB
Isaac Marriott & Lewis Knight spoke to BCB Radio last week about their time with Avenue and the clubs plans for the future.
Check out the full interview here:
Flying winger with an eye for goal, returns to the Avenue with a point to prove
Brad Dockerty has put pen to paper on a new one year deal with the Avenue, with an option for a second year. Brad originally joined The Avenue at the beginning of last season, Mark Bower had originally set up the deal with Hemsworth prior to his summer departure on the back of two incredible seasons for The Wells scoring 40 goals and making 34 assists from the wing.
Dockerty started his Bradford (Park Avenue) career strongly with 3 goals from 5 starts, with a further 9 appearances from the bench, and all that during the difficult start to last season. Unfortunately as the club stabilised with the re-appointment of the man (Mark Bower) responsible for his recruitment in the first place, there was a large change in working circumstances that meant it would be difficult for Brad to play and train with us. A Loan to Pontefract for what remained of the 19/20 season brought another 3 goals in 16 games.
After some discussions with his family and Mark, Brad wants to return to the Horsfall and commit fully for the season and see where his talent can take him and the club.
Brad Dockerty –
‘I’m really excited to be back at BPA, due to my work commitments last year cutting my spell short, I’m delighted to be given another chance to play at this level under Mark and Bosh. I enjoyed the time here last year and when Mark phoned me, it was a no brainer, to return and test myself. Hopefully I can impress, score a few goals and help the club back to where it wants to be.’
Mark Bower –
‘It is a real positive that Brad has agreed to extend his stay with us. Brad showed his potential early last season with his quality, pace and eye for goal. Unfortunately work commitments limited Brad’s involvement later in the season, however he is now in a position to fully commit to the training and travel required and we look forward to working with him, with the aim of helping him reach his full potential with us.’
#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.
Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC completes 35-year Lease for The Horsfall Community Stadium Development in South Bradford.
Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC CIC football club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, has today completed a deal with the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to take a 35-year Lease to the Council property, the Horsfall Stadium in South Bradford. The Club has been based at Horsfall Stadium for some years, but now this provides a permanent home for the Club. It enables the Club to maintain, repair and develop the facilities to create an increasingly improving experience for users. It is hoped that West Bowling ARLFC will soon also relocate to the Stadium, while retaining their current access to Emsley Recreation Ground. The Stadium will continue to be the base for Bradford Airedale Athletics Club and there are plans to invest in the athletics facilities too.
The Horsfall Community Stadium Development Project has long been a dream of Director, Gareth Roberts, who continues to invest heavily in the Club. The completion of the Lease enables work to start on the long-awaited new 3G artificial grass pitch and new site boundary security fencing around the Stadium area. The new security fence and gating system will help protect the new infrastructure. The fencing is being in part grant-aided by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF). As sister organisation of the Football Foundation, the FSIF are the largest funders of non-league football in the country.
Once work gets under way, this opens the door to potential further developments in months to come. These depend on all partners being happy with the additional plans and funding arrangements.
The immediate developments will enable greater community use of the Stadium from the public and from organisations in many sports. It will also allow more opportunity for the football club to accommodate and develop its academy, junior and ladies’ teams at the stadium itself. All our club affiliated teams have had to play away from Horsfall Stadium over the years due to insufficient facilities. This much-needed investment will enable the football club to develop the whole playing pyramid from grass-roots to senior football at the club and provide a better experience for users and public.
Gareth Roberts, the Club’s owner and long-time benefactor, said:
“We would like to thank the FSIF and the Premier League for their assistance in helping us create an improved venue. It is part of our broader plan to create a sporting hub at Horsfall Stadium that will be of benefit for years to come with a focus on improving both the Club and grassroots sport in the community, within the Bradford area. We hope to have further developments in due course.”
Bower excited by ‘National League stand out player’ signing
Bradford (Park Avenue) can confirm the signing of Jake Hibbs on a one year deal with the option for a second. After starting his career with Manchester City U18’s, Jake eventually found himself at Halifax Town, where he played 57 times for them in the National League. He capped his time there by helping them win the FA trophy at Wembley, with a dominating display in a 1-0 win over Grimsby Town.
Jake left Halifax for Spennymoor in 18/19 season, the move was unfortunately dogged by injury and playing in his less favoured role of Right Back. This led to him taking loan spells at Buxton and latterly with the Avenue last season where he started 9 times in his preferred role.
A dynamic box to box midfielder with strong technical skill, Jake is the perfect blend of talent, experience and potential. We look forward to Jake showing us exactly what made him hot property during his time at Halifax with an extended run in the Avenue engine room.
Mark Bower –
‘We are delighted to secure the signing of Jake Hibbs on a permanent basis following his loan spell with us. Jake put in some strong performances for us last season and we are looking forward to helping him push on and fulfil his undoubted potential.
Jake was a stand out player in The National League a few years ago whilst at Halifax, but has had a frustrating time more recently. We believe Jake has the potential to reach and surpass the standards he has set in the past and the key for him joining us was our determination to help him achieve this by playing him regularly in his strongest position in a style of play that suits his attributes.‘
Jake Hibbs –
‘When the opportunity came up to sign for BPA it was a no brainer for me really, having worked with Mark and Danny before. I’ve always enjoyed my time playing for them and feel that they can bring the best out of me by having a full season with them. Obviously last season was a bit of a strange one, both personally and for football in general, but the time I spent on loan at Bradford has made my decision really easy to join for the upcoming season. Looking at the players we have already signed it looks like its going to be an exciting season on the pitch, so I’m really looking forward to getting started and meeting the lads again.’
#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.
Toulson looking forward to some hard work and giving fans something to shout about
Ryan Toulson has put pen to paper on a new Deal at Bradford (Park Avenue) extending his stay with the club. Ryan forms part of a formidable management team with Mark and Danny having worked with them over the last 3 years.
The experienced, solid and hard working right sided defender becomes the clubs 6th signing ahead of the new season. Ryan is the ideal signing for the club being able to coach and develop some of our younger players both on and off the pitch.
After leaving the club in the summer of 2019, Ryan re-joined last season as one of Marks first signings and went on to make 15 appearances in league and cup.
We hope you are looking forward to seeing Ryan maraud up and down our right flank next season!
Ryan Toulson –
‘I am delighted to be joining Mark and Danny as part of the management team for another season. They have shown trust in me to join an already successful management team at this level and they have both helped me gain knowledge and understanding in different areas of management/coaching, so long may that continue.
As the club looks to the future on developing younger players I hope my experience on the pitch compliments the work that we do off it.
I’m looking forward to getting started as soon as it’s safe to do so and we will be working hard to give you the committed fans something to shout about.’
Mark Bower –
‘It is great news that Ryan has extended his stay at the club. He has proved to be a trusted and knowledgeable member of the staff and also provides an experienced head on the pitch which will be important as we place a greater emphasis on developing more younger players over the coming seasons.
Ryan’s style and personality compliments our management team well and we look forward to him continuing his good work with us.’
#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.
Generous donation from the development fund see club make significant investment in GPS player trackers
The club have been able to take a major step forward with their players thanks to the generous donation from the Development Fund Committee. The state of the art Playertek GPS tracking system supplied by market leader Catapult will see the 1st team and the academy using the system next season. This will be the first time that the club will have used and owned their own GPS system.
The Playertek system will allow the managers, coaches and physio teams at the club to measure and monitor player performance in games and also in practice during the week. Working closely with Catapult it will enable us to personalise training plans to optimise match performance and keep fatigue injuries to a minimum. This could prove crucial come the run in to the season and over the busy Christmas schedules. Whilst it remains to be seen if that is relevant this year the equipment has a life span of four years+
Dave Stordy – Development Fund
‘The Development Fund are delighted to assist with the purchase of the Playertek GPS tracking system, this will not only help with player performances next season but for several seasons which will hopefully help the club unearth some youth players both from signings and our own academy. Watch out for further investments from the Development Fund as we aim to support, with your help, the club in these difficult times’
Martin Knight – Director Of Football
‘After a few discussions with the committee about the future of the club and how the development fund can support these aims, I was delighted when they agreed and approved my request for them to fund completely our purchase of the Catapult Playertek system. It is a major step forward for us on the playing side, bringing us up to EFL technological standards and, we hope, in the long term development the club. It will help us on the field in match day performances and off the field in player recruitment, development and re-sale. We look forward to working with the development fund on other long term capital investments for the club and I would like to take this opportunity to say many heartfelt thanks to them for this major investment’
Tally Clayton – Head Physio
‘It is a fantastic opportunity for the club to be able to take full advantage of the Playertek equipment. Playertek provides us with data on player loading. Load is a key measure in training and performance as well as being able to help in the prevention of injury. Overall the data can assist us at Park Avenue to keep players fitter and optimise performance come match day’
#UTA
If you want to help support the fund raising efforts of The Development Fund, why not get involved in our player sponsorship scheme. It costs just £60 to sponsor a player either home or away. Any player already signed for the club for next season can be sponsored by clicking here and filling out the player sponsorship form.
Talented young player signs Pre-Contract agreement with the Avenue
Isaac Marriott has agreed a pre-contract agreement to join the Avenue for next season when his current deal with Huddersfield Town expires. The dynamic and energetic midfielder has been part of the Huddersfield elite academy set up since he was 9 years old, and benefits from the strong work ethic and technical skills developed and instilled in him by Huddersfield. The next step in Isaacs development sees him join the Avenue, under the expert tutelage of Mark and Danny, on a permanent basis after his loan spell with us last season.
Danny Boshell –
‘Fantastic news that Isaac has agreed to sign for us next season. Having worked with Isaac for a spell last season we know he’s a great kid with a top class attitude, and has a willingness and determination to learn which is a real positive in any player. The challenge for Isaac now is for him to establish himself at this level, then to hopefully kick on and fulfil his potential and get back into the EFL. Its great that he sees us as a platform to that and having played the odd game or two in Isaac’s position myself, I’m sure I can give him one or two pointers in the right direction to try help him meet his ambitions.’
Isaac Marriott –
‘I’m thrilled to be joining BPA from next season. A massive part of my decision was the chance to work again under Mark and his assistant Danny, and I was also inspired by the ambitious plans the club have moving forward. I also felt that during my loan spell the fans took a liking to me which is a big factor in me joining. They’re a great set of fans and I can’t wait to get started.’
Nick Bianchi (BKM Sports Management) –
‘It’s fabulous to see a club in such a strong position despite these truly unprecedented times, and the ambition of the manager Mark is matched by the Director of Football Operations, Martin Knight, and his long term plan to make BPA such a progessive and exciting club for players to go to. Isaac is looking forward to returning to the Horsfall’
#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, Lewis Knight has already gone!! To sponsor a player signed for the club for next season please click here and fill out the player sponsorship form.
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