13 Oct 2023

MATCH PREVIEW – Hyde United (H)

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This weekend Avenue look for their first win since the 2nd of September when they beat Consett in the FA Cup first qualifying round. 

The Green Army return to Northern Premier League action, facing Hyde United at Horsfall Community Stadium.  Kick off is at 15:00 on Saturday. Gates open at 13:30.  

Admission prices are as follows: Adults will pay just £13 entry, Concessions are in at £10, Students with a valid ID pay just £5, Youth (12-17) is just £3, and u12s go completely free!

Bower’s green army could jump Gainsborough in the table if results go their way this weekend. Currently sitting in 18th (two points above the drop) Mark understands the importance three points will mean for the team and the fans.

Avenue lost 5-2 to Tadcaster Albion in the West Riding Cup on Monday.   Mark took the sensible decision to rest the first team squad for that match.  The academy boys who stepped up put in a commendable performance and gained valuable experience.   Before the match Mark said

“It’ll be a young team that play that game. With the squad that we’ve got and the injuries we’ve got, we’re not going to risk many first team players for that game.” 

Being well rested, we can expect the first team squad to perform to the best of its abilities this weekend.

Hyde United sit seven places above Avenue and have won their last three league games against Atherton Collieries, Stafford Rangers and Basford United. 

After losing to Avro in the Manchester Premier Cup; manager Nick Spooner stated: 

“Hopefully everyone is back (from injury) … a couple could’ve done with a rest, but momentum was strong” – responding to the interviewer’s thoughts of: “Bradford Park Avenue being a good game to bounce back in.” 

Written by Finlay Sturges  

Twitter – @FinlaysturgesSJ 

Instagram – @FinlaysturgesSJ 

FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS – Tim Clapham @Avenueite

Bradford (Park Avenue) and Hyde United first met in Floodlit League football in the 1970s when they contested five matches over three seasons. 

The North West Floodlit League comprised of clubs from the Northern Premier League and Cheshire League, and Bradford took part in the four seasons 1970-1 to 1973-4. 

The visit of Hyde to Park Avenue in October 1970 was watched by 1,894, the club’s highest-ever crowd in the competition. 

The 1973 power strikes brought an early end to the floodlit league that season and Hyde’s home game against Bradford was one of only a handful of matches played. 

Rivalries were resumed in Northern Premier League football in 2001-2 when each team won their home game. 

The following season Hyde finished bottom of the league and were relegated with Colwyn Bay. They only won five league games, one being against Bradford at Hyde at the beginning of the season. 

The clubs did not meet again until October 2011, when they were drawn to meet in the 3rd qualifying round of the F.A. Cup. With home advantage, and top of the Blue Square Bet North, Hyde were firm favourites to beat Evo-Stik NPL Bradford from the league below. 

However, in one of the shock results of the day Bradford triumphed 1-0 with Tom Greaves netting the decisive goal in the final minute. The clubs last met in 2014-15 in Conference North when Bradford completed a league double. 

That season Bradford finished 13th, but Hyde dropped back into the NPL after being relegated with Colwyn Bay and Leamington.

27 Sep 2023

Gerry Sutcliffe Joins Board

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We are very pleased to announce the addition of  Gerry Sutcliffe to our Board of Directors. That appointment has been confirmed today at Companies House. 

Gerry has also agreed to join the board of our associated charity, The Horsfall Community Trust.

For most of you, Gerry Sutcliffe will need no introduction as he was an MP for Bradford South for over twenty years and the former Minister of Sport and Tourism. He was educated locally at Cardinal Hinsley and Bradford College and was a former leader of Bradford Council.

He has been a supporter of the football club since childhood and remains a keen advocate for the development of sport in South Bradford. 

The Board is delighted to have him representing the club locally, which is an aspect of our governance that has been missing.

On joining the Board of directors of Bradford Park Avenue and becoming a trustee of the stadium trust Gerry SUTCLIFFE said

I’m delighted and proud to be asked to join the board by Gareth Roberts and his colleagues. As a child BPA played a big part in my life helping me make life long friendships and today I enjoy playing walking football at Horsfall. I share Gareth’s vision for the club and stadium and will use my experience to turn it into a reality.

26 Sep 2023

RINGO SIGNS ON | SPENNER UPDATE

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Bradford (Park Avenue) can today confirm the signing of experienced ex-Altrincham midfielder Simon Richman on a new deal which sees him at the Horsfall until the end of the 2023/24 Season. 

Avenue fans will remember Richman, who first joined Bradford (PA) in October 2021, he played a vital part in the fight against relegation that season, making 27 appearances and scoring four goals.

The following 2022/23 season, Richman played in 40 of the 46 league games, scoring 3 goals.

Richman had spent 10 years at Altrincham before leaving them in summer of 2021, and he has a brilliant track record within the game.

He broke through at Port Vale in the Football League as a teenager, picking up the club’s Young Player of the Year award in 2008/09 after establishing himself as a first team regular.

But a more difficult campaign followed, and he joined Conference North side Worcester City in the summer of 2010.

He only spent a season there, before signing for divisional rivals Altrincham in 2011.

They won promotion out of the Conference North via the play-offs in 2014 and after a sticky couple of seasons for the club, Richman helped them win the NPL Premier Division title in 2017/18.

With Richman still patrolling the midfield, Altrincham were promoted into the National League for 2020/21. 

Richman left Altrincham in summer of 2021 after playing 13 times in his final season at Altrincham.

Richman is available for selection in Tuesday’s game vs Ashton United (A), stay tuned to our socials for the latest updates.

We can also confirm that, following a scan and assessment on the injury picked up against Blyth, that Jamie Spencer will be out for the remainder of the season.

‘Spenner’ will undergo surgery later this year, after the assessment revealed an injury to his ACL. The rehab period is expected to see him out until the summer of 2024.

Everyone at the club wishes Jamie well in his recovery and he has our full support during this time.

On the news, Player/Coach Luca Havern said: Spenner will be a huge loss for us on and off the pitch, he overcame a niggling injury through pre season and had improved us coming back into the side. We are all gutted for him but knowing his character there’s no doubt he will come back stronger and continue to support the lads in the changing room this season.