Until recently, The Cherries have spent the majority of their time bouncing between the third and fourth tiers of English football, but 2015-16 saw them grace the top flight for the first time in their history, and they have remained there ever since.

Before changing their name to AFC Bournemouth in 1972, the side went by the name of Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. It’s during their time under this moniker that they faced Bradford in the third tier and the FA Cup.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS AFC Bournemouth

Whilst Watford’s trophy cabinet doesn’t hold a candle (in the wind) to other premiership clubs, they’re still standing thanks to the support of a world famous musician.

Lifelong Watford supporter and international super star Elton John became club chairman in 1976 and declared an ambition to take the team into the First Division.

Soaring through the leagues like a rocket man, Watford climbed from bottom place in the lowest division of The Football League to top position in the highest division in just 7 years. They then started the 1982–83 season with four league wins from the opening five fixtures but were unable to maintain a title challenge, eventually finishing the season second behind Liverpool, which ensured UEFA Cup qualification for the following season.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Watford

Amongst the first to face Avenue in the Southern League, The Hammers have gone on to become a household name of English football.

Originally founded as Thames Ironworks in 1895, West Ham’s success has varied over the years. From winning the FA Cup three times in three sequential decades, to yo-yoing between the top flight and second tier. Despite this, they have never dropped below tier two since joining the football league after World War 1.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS West Ham United

Soaring back into the top flight after coming close to liquidation and relegation from the football league, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Seagulls were in fact a phoenix.

In the late 1990s, Brighton was in the fourth tier of English football and struggled with financial difficulties. After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Football League to the Conference in 1997, a boardroom takeover saved the club from liquidation. Successive promotions in 2001 and 2002 brought Brighton back to the second tier. In the 2016–17 season, Brighton gained promotion again to the Premier League, ending a 34-year absence from the top flight.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Brighton And Hove Albion

Nicknamed “The Saints” due to their formation as a church team, Southampton was originally called St. Mary’s Y.M.A. and was founded in 1885 by the St. Mary’s C.o.E. Young Men’s Association.

Despite this link to the divine, Southampton’s trophy cabinet will look a little bare, holding just four major trophies. Although, their honour roll does show a number of times they came close as runners up – and as you will see from the stats below, they come in a strong second place when pitted against the Avenue.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Southampton

The Magpies hold the ninth highest total of trophies won by an English club and, as it stands, are the 17th-highest revenue producing club in the world in terms of annual revenue.

Newcastle United has been a member of the Premier League for all but three years of the competition’s history, spending 87 seasons in the top flight as of May 2019. Additionally, since joining the Football League in 1893, they have never dropped below English football’s second tier.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Newcastle United

A founding member of the football league, The Toffees hold the record for the highest number of seasons in the top flight.

Despite their longevity, Everton is often overshadowed by their neighbours, Liverpool, a team they in-fact played a large part in creating. In 1892, Everton left their then home of Anfield due to a dispute over increasing rents. The owner of Anfield then went on to try taking over Everton by setting up a company in their name, but was denied by the football association. As such a new club was formed, and the fierce Merseyside rivalry ensued.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Everton

The Glaziers joined the Football League in 1920, and have spent the majority of their league history competing in the top two tiers of English football.

Palace became one of the original founding members of the Premier League, but quickly went on to set two unwanted Premier League records for relegation. In 1992–93 they were relegated on 49 points, which is still a record number of points for a relegated Premier League club. They are also the only club ever to be relegated from the Premier League when finishing fourth from bottom in 1994–95, as it had been decided that the league would be reduced from 22 to 20 clubs for the following season.

Bradford (Park Avenue) VS Crystal Palace