First Team – Squad

Sponsored By – Peter Holden Avenue GOATLIE George Sykes-Kenworthy joined the Club in December 2021, and kept 24 clean sheets in 81 appearances during our time in the National League North. He agreed a new deal in June 2022, keeping him at the Club until the end of the 2023/24 season. George was named as the First Team Captain for the 2023/24 season, taking the role from Avenue veteran Gianluca Havern.

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Danny King is Avenue’s Goalkeeper Coach and 2nd Choice Keeper, and works mostly alongside George Sykes-Kenworthy in training and pre-match warmups.

King runs his own goalkeeping Academy DKGK, which you can visit here. 

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Gianluca Havern progressed to a player/coach role in the 23/24 pre-season, and has spent the last 3 consecutive seasons at Bradford (Park Avenue).

Prior to his current spell, Havern also player for Avenue from 2017-2019, before briefly joining Ashton United in June 2019, returning to Bradford during the 2020/21 campaign.

Born in Manchester, Luca came through the club youth system at Stockport County where he was captain of the Under-18 side.

He had spells on loan at Northern Premier League Premier Division clubs Radcliffe Borough and at Ashton United in 2007.

Havern made his Stockport County debut against Brentford in May 2008 and scored the winning goal. With Stockport citing financial trouble, Havern was one of several staff released in January 2009.

He left County having made only one appearance for the first team and was immediately taken on as trialist at Conference National outfit Mansfield Town, where he was soon offered a six-month contract.

After this spell, Havern returned to Stockport County on non-contract terms before signing another contract deal. On 31 August 2010 it was announced by Stockport that an agreement had been made regarding early settlements of player’s contracts and as a result he had left the club.

In his following seasons, Havern would play for Mossley in 2010, Ashton United from 2010-11, Hyde from 2011-12, Altrincham from 2012-16, and Telford United from 2016-17 before joining the Green Army in 2017.

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‘Lundy’ is well known to the fans here, and will be entering his 5^th season with club (as of pre-season 23/24). Over that time he has formed a brilliant understanding and partnership with new player-coach Luca Havern having amassed over 90 appearances in that time.

Still only 27, Mitch has a wealth of experience behind him, which will be crucial in this upcoming season.

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Odunston’s journey with Bradford (Park Avenue) began two years ago when he made the move from Hull u21s. Since then, he has demonstrated tremendous growth and dedication on the field, making 29 appearances in his first season (21/22), followed by 38 in the 22/23 Season 

Prior to his time with Hull, Lucas showcased his talents as a promising young player at Leeds u18s side, where he honed his skills and developed a strong footballing foundation.

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A left back by trade, Jak spent the back end of last season training with our first team alongside his studies with Doncaster’s Academy.

Jak was captain of DRFC U18s last season (22/23) and made one used-substitute appearance in the EFL Trophy during the 22/23 season against Newcastle United U21s.

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Equally adept at playing at full-back or on the wing, Will joined Barnsley’s Academy in January 2014 and signed as a first-year scholar in July 2018. Comfortable in possession and tenacious in the tackle, he has the ability to seamlessly link defence to attack and is also composed in front of goal.

Will was rewarded for his fine performances with a couple of appearances for the U23s at the end of the 2018/19 Professional Development League campaign.

He kick-started his first full season at U23s level by scoring on the opening day of the 20/21 campaign in a 2-1 defeat at champions Nottingham Forest.

After his contract expired with Barnsley, Will joined NWCFL Div 1 South Side Stockport Town in the 21/22 Season.

Will joined Avenue in 2023/24 pre-season, after impressing the management and scoring a penalty against Bradford City.

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Mason O’Malley agreed terms with the Club in July 2023, after impressing in our 2023/24 pre-season campaign playing as Trialist K.

Born in Leeds, O’Malley signed for Huddersfield Town’s Academy from Hunslet Boys at u14s level, and was later released by Huddersfield in 2019, joining Scunthorpe United’s u23s squad in July 2019.

Mason made his professional debut with Scunthorpe in a 1-1 (4-2 pens) EFL Trophy game against Lincoln City. He signed a contract extension in December 2020, keeping him at the club until Summer 2023. 

He made 31 appearances in his first season with Scunthorpe United in 2020/21, followed by 28 in 2021/22, and 21 in 2022/23. 

In February 2023, O’Malley signed for Ilkeston Town on a one-month loan deal alongside teammate Jordan Hallam. 

O’Malley is of Irish descent, training with Republic of Ireland u16s in 2016, and made his debut for Republic of Ireland u21s in a friendly vs Wales u21s in March 2021. 

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Ex-Avenue Defender and Founder of Lifestyle Lean Mark Ross has agreed terms on a new deal with the Club. Mark Ross briefly joined the squad last season, and this will be his 6th season at the Club. Ross can play either in central defense or at right-back and will add extra experience and solidity to the Avenue back line.

In the 2021/22 Season, Mark Ross made 40 appearances for the Avenue in the National League North, and has previously played for Chorley, Stockport County and Leigh Genesis.

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Will Lancaster made over 24 appearances for Avenue last season, scoring once in the FA Trophy against Farsley Celtic. 

He became an integral part of the squad going into the later stages of the season, impressing fans with his strong defensive play and fast attacking techniques, showing improvement every game. 

Will joins after being released from Barnsley at the end of the 2022/23 season, he made his first-team debut for the club on 20th September 2022, coming on as half-time substitute for Nicky Cadden in a 2-0 win vs Newcastle United u21s. (EFL Trophy) 

Lanny also went out on loan to NPL side Whitby Town earlier in the 22/23 season, making 4 appearances.

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Hopper has featured prominently for Avenue over the last 2 seasons, joining first in January 2022 from York City on a 18-month deal.

In his first season, he made 20 appearances for the Green Army, and scored 3 goals.

He made 42 appearances, and scored 2 goals in the 22/23 season, and also stepped up as right wing-back in multiple occasions due to injury.

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Myles first appeared for the First Team in our County Cup match vs Brighouse Town, and made his first league appearance against Chester in February.

Since then, La Bastide has made 7 appearances for the First Team, scoring once against Southport.

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Jamie re-joined last season (22/23) from Guiseley and finished up playing over 30 games, bagging goal of the season in the process with his effort from the halfway line against Scarborough.

Right footed, Jamie is is seen as a massive part of what we are trying to build as we go into the Northern Premier League, with his attributes defensively as well as going forward key to the squad.

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Harry Colville joined Avenue in 2023/24 Pre-Season.

Harry previously played for the University of West Alabama as a Freshman, where he made 16 appearances, then graduating to Sophomore and making 11 more, scoring one goal.

Colville has been under the name Trialist E in our 2023/24 pre-season, and did enough to impress the management to sign a one-year deal with the Club.

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Zak Kersey first joined BPA through the Academy Scholarship programme, and made his first-team debut in the 2022/23 season, playing in the West Riding County Cup alongside 13 other Academy Scholars, losing out on penalties (4-1) after a 1-1 draw.

Kersey also made 5 league appearances for the First Team over the 22/23 season, impressing the management enough to earn his first professional contract in our 2023/24 pre-season. 

During his time with the Academy, he also spent time out on loan with Frickley Athletic, and earned a Man of the Match award on his debut for the club. 

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Joel joins after spending a year with the Academy scholars, playing alongside other graduates such as Liam Hall, Zak Kersey & Myles La Bastide in the u19s Alliance League.

Auty was previously part of the Academy set-up at Grimsby Town from ages 6-16 and while there, he played men’s football with NCEL Div 1 side Brigg Town to further his development. Joel made 12 appearances across all competitions for the 1st team, and also played 18 league games for the u19s in the Alliance League, scoring 3 goals and assisting 10+.

Joel also spent time out last season on loan with Thackley, Cleethorpes, for three months each, gaining vital semi-pro football experience.

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Ex-Guiseley midfielder Lewis Hey signed on dual registration terms with Silsden AFC.

Hey, 19, proved himself a prodigious talent coming through the ranks of the Lion’s Academy set up. Lewis made his debut for the Club in the 2020/21 Season before featuring several times over the following campaign, and also started in their FA Cup trip to AFC Wimbledon last season. Hey made 26 appearances for Guiseley while in the National League North, 5 in the 2020-21 Campaign, followed by 21 in the 2021-22 Season, Lewis also scored two goals in that season.

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Dockerty first joined Bradford (Park Avenue) in July 2019 from Hemsworth scored 17 goals in 64 appearances in his first stint at Avenue, before briefly joining Alfreton Town at the start of the 22/23 campaign.

He later returned to Bradford in September 2022, and in 32 appearances he scored 4 goals.

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Will first joined Bradford (Park Avenue) in the curtailed 2020/21 season, making just 4 appearances and scoring once before the league was postponed.

He spent the 21/22 season over with Farsley Celtic, playing 6 games before joining Avenue in pre-season of the 22/23 season.

Will was Avenue’s top goalscorer for the 22/23 campaign, scoring 11 goals in 42 games.

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Preston first joined Avenue on loan in November 2022 from Spennymoor Town, scoring 4 goals in 12 appearances for the Green Army. 

Jordan will be combining playing with the First Team, whilst also coaching with the Academy.

Jordan has previously had spells at Guiseley, FC Halifax Town, Gateshead, and Boston United, and kicked off his career with Blackburn Rovers, joining the u18s and progressing to the u21s in 2013. 

He later headed North of the border to play on loan for Ayr United, where he helped them win promotion in the 2015-16 season. He scored the first penalty for Ayr in the play-off finals.

 

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Oli Johnson originally joined on loan from Guiseley in November of 2016, later signing in 2017, Johnson has been a popular figure under Mark Bower, playing a key role over the last few seasons. 

In the 2022/23, he showed that on his day he can be a star player, scoring the winner against Curzon Ashton, and inspiring our first away win of the season in a 3-2 victory against Buxton, where he scored the equaliser in 90+2 after just 4 minutes on the pitch. 

OJ is signed on as Player/Coach, taking on a Strength & Conditioning coaching role in the 23/24 season.

Sponsored By – The Green Army

Chinedu joined Avenue on 12th August 2023, after spending a season with Farsley Celtic, and prior to his time with the Celts, he was involved with Banbury United in their promotion winning season to the National League North.

The striker first ventured into non-league football down South, spending time with Witham Town in Essex, as well as Hertfordshire side Bishop’s Stortford.