With a renewed focus on player development and progression, Bradford (Park Avenue) are proud to reintroduce our Reserves squad for the 2025/26 season. Managed by Owen Murphy, the side will compete in the West Yorkshire League Division 2, playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between the Academy and Craig Elliott’s first team. We caught up with Owen to talk about his plans, philosophy, and hopes for the season ahead.

Building the Squad

Can you talk us through the process of identifying and selecting players for the reserves?
“Identifying players for the reserves has been fairly straightforward so far. I’ve mainly looked at our current academy players who had strong seasons last year—those capable of stepping into men’s football, and some already have. Recruiting from outside the club has been a little more challenging, but we’ve managed to bring in some exciting additions too.”

How much of the squad is made up of returning players versus new signings or academy graduates?
“The majority of the squad will be made up of academy graduates. Some will play big roles, others will be involved more gradually, but they’ll all be part of what we’re building. We’ve also welcomed back a few players who’ve been with us in previous seasons. That says a lot—they want to be part of this journey again.”

Style, Structure & Development

What style of play are you aiming to implement with the reserves this season?
“Style of play is always a debated topic in football. I want us to press from the front and be aggressive. We’ve got the players to play out from the back and be attacking, but adaptability is key. Not every pitch or opponent will allow for pretty football. These lads need to learn to win in all sorts of conditions.”

How closely will the reserves mirror the tactics and training of Craig Elliott’s first team?
“They have to be similar, otherwise having a reserves squad doesn’t make sense. Both Craig and I want to build winning teams that play attractive football but can grind out results when needed.”

How important is the reserves squad in bridging the gap between youth football and the senior side?
“It’s absolutely vital. It’s something we’ve missed over the past few seasons. Before, we’d send our academy players out to other clubs. That worked at times, but now we can keep them in-house and track their development more closely.”

How do you plan to support players who are on the verge of first-team football?
“I’ll support them by building on their strengths. If they want to break into the first team, they need to outperform the players currently holding those shirts. They’re hungry for the opportunity—I’ll mentor them through the season and use my own experiences to guide them.”

Goals & Expectations

What are your main objectives for the reserves this year—development, results, or both?
“Development is the standout aim. The objective is to prepare players so Craig has quality options from within the reserves and academy when needed. That said, we’re in this to win. I’m not going to naively say we’ll win the league, but we’ll aim to beat everyone we face. That winning mentality is key.”

How will you measure success at the end of the season?
“Success will be both collective and individual. As a squad, we’ll look at what we’ve achieved together. Individually, players will have their own goals. I’ll be sitting down with them soon to set those targets and we’ll review them throughout the season.”

Are there plans for joint training or tactical sessions with the first team?
“Hopefully, yes. That would be a great step forward. It would give Craig a chance to directly implement his style with the players on the brink of stepping up. It’s something we’d like to build on as part of the club’s wider vision.”

A Personal Mission

What excites you the most about leading the reserves at Bradford (Park Avenue)?
“The size and stature of the club is always a draw. But for me, I’ve been here nearly three years and have progressed as a coach every season. This is the perfect opportunity to test myself in men’s football as a coach and manager. I love the challenge, I love the game—and the chance to win and develop talent at the same time really excites me.”

Want to Get Involved?

Any interested players who would like to trial for our Reserves squad are encouraged to get in touch directly with the Manager at Owen.Murphy@bpafc.com.

You can also study alongside your football. We offer HNC/HND courses through our education programme. If you’re interested in combining football with further education, please contact John.Sanderson@bpafc.com.

Pre-Season Schedule (All Home Fixtures)

🔜 Bradford (Park Avenue) Reserves – Pre-Season Fixtures 🟢

📍 All games at Horsfall Stadium:

📅 Fri 11 July – Wyke, 7:30pm KO

📅 Tue 15 July – Huddersfield Amateurs, 8:00pm KO

📅 Sat 19 July – Horsforth St Margarets, 4:00pm KO

📅 Fri 25 July – South Leeds, 7:30pm KO

📅 Fri 1 Aug – Gomersal & Cleckheaton, 7:30pm KO