Our original home game v Gateshead was previously cancelled due to their involvement in the FA Cup. This game has been rescheduled for 7:45pm on the 15th of November! See you there! #bpaGAT #UTA #BPAFC #vanaramanorth
Club Shop Halloween Sale!
REMINDER – Our HALLOW££N sale is on until the 31st October! Use code HALLOW££N for 15% off everything in the club shop! #uta #bpafc #sale #Halloween
Luca Havern completes the Manchester Half Marathon!
This Sunday just gone, first team player Luca Havern ran his half marathon in Manchester! He is currently raising money for Melanoma UK, after previously being diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma. After 6 weeks of appointments and surgery, the cancer was successfully removed.
He is raising awareness to encourage people to check their skin and moles for any changes, as not everyone catches these things as early.
You can donate to his Just Giving page and read Luca’s full story using the link below, everything donated will go straight to Melanoma UK, who support patients and carers across the UK.
#UTA #BPAFC #MCRHalf
“Thrilled” Bower scores Simon Richman as midfielder.
We are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Simon Richman!
Simon previously played at Altrincham FC and has a brilliant track record, winning awards at Port Vale, and signing on with Worcester City and then Altrincham in 2011 where he helped them win promotion out of the Conference North via playoffs in 2014 and winning the NPL title in 2017-18.
We spoke with gaffer Mark Bower about the appointment who had this to say:
“We are excited to get Simon in, with the injuries we have had in the centre of the park, we knew we had to act. Getting someone of Simon’s calibre in, with his experience and know how is a massive signing for us.“
We are all thrilled to see what Simon can bring to the club. Stay updated on our twitter to see if he’ll be making his debut at the Gloucester City game today!
Bradford Blemish Chorley’s Record
Chorley were condemned to their first defeat to the season by a spirited Bradford (Park Avenue).
The two sides cancelled each other out in the first-half, failing to showcase the attacking flair that both promotion-chasers possess.
Chorley did, however, demonstrate the defensive steel that allowed them to head into the game with an unblemished record.
The best opportunity of an otherwise uneventful first-half fell to Bradford’s Oli Johnson, but Matt Urwin was on-hand to deny the forward from close-range.
The hosts are also renowned for being resolute in their defending and frustrated the Magpies’ array of attacking talent. Luca Havern shepherded Marcus Carver wide to force the shot to come from an acute angle and Steven Drench produced an impressive to stop to thwart Josh O’Keefe.
Bradford were given a scare when Elliot Newby advanced at an alarmingly quick pace but his attempted through ball to Marcus Carver rolled through to a grateful Drench.
As the half-time break approached, both sides began to knock on the door and set the wheels in motion for an entertaining second-half.
HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-0 Chorley
Chorley had a golden opportunity to take the lead after the break when Louis Almond connected with Adam Blakeman’s cross, but the Magpies defender nodded over the crossbar from 3-yards out.
Almond then latched on to a pass from Challoner but Drench produced a vital save when the forward poked towards the bottom right-hand corner.
The early Chorley chances seemed to rally Bradford, who began attacking with an increased sense of urgency.
Lewis Knight found Oli Johnson in the box and Urwin had to react swiftly in order to push the forward’s flick wide.
Knight then clipped into the box from the byline and found Jamie Spencer, whose header looped into the grateful clutches of the Chorley stopper.
Urwin then had to be alert to deny Nicky Wroe and Knight but Bradford eventually found a way through.
The hosts protested fiercely to the referee after Conor Branson was felled and the referee judged the incident to have taken place outside of the box. Mark Bower’s side, however, made the most of the opportunity. Knight’s free-kick delivery found the head of an on-rushing Beesley, who steered past the Magpies goalkeeper to edge Bradford ahead and silence the travelling supporters.
Minutes later, Chorley were denied an immediate reply when Courtney Meppen-Walter saw a header hooked off the line by Jamie Spencer in dramatic fashion after meeting a delivery from the left.
With just three minutes remaining on the clock, Drench performed heroics to retain Bradford’s lead as he tipped Josh Wilson’s header over the woodwork.
FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-0 Chorley
Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe, Wroe, Killock (c), Havern, Spencer (Nowakowski 86′), Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 71′), Knight (Clee 90+5′).
Unused substitutes: Toulson, Hurst.
Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague (c), Leather, Meppen-Walter (Wilson 82′), A. Newby (Glynn 66′), O’Keefe, Carver, Almond, E. Newby.
Unused substitutes: Whitham, Cottrell, Anson.
Referee: Paul Brown
Attendance: 554
Match Preview: Bradford (Park Avenue) Vs Chorley
Bradford (Park Avenue) will face what is likely to be their sternest test of the season on Saturday when they host table-toppers Chorley.
The league leaders have been unassailable thus far, conceding just five goals in twelve National League North games and accumulating thirty points.
However, confidence will be coursing through the veins of Mark Bower’s men after they dismantled Nuneaton Borough in their last game.
Saturday’s opponents have an Emirates FA Cup first round tie to look forward to after advancing in the competition at the expense of Barrow last week. Although a clash with Doncaster Rovers is on the horizon, the Magpies will be returning their focus to league matters as they look to maintain their unbeaten record.
GUIDE TO THE OPPONENTS:
The Gaffer:
Jamie Vermiglio
Chorley supporters were stunned by the shock departure of Matt Jansen in the summer but the man chosen to replace him has certainly stepped up to the plate. A former midfielder and coach at Victory Park, Vermiglio was already a popular figure at the club and is even more popular now after taking the club to the league summit. As a player, he also represented AFC Telford United, Scarborough and Northwich Victoria before moving into management.
One To Watch:
Marcus Carver
The 25-year-old has played a significant role in the club’s ascension to top spot. An industrious forward, he has led the line tremendously this season and notched in last week’s Emirates FA Cup win over Barrow. He began his career with Accrington Stanley and enjoyed loan spells at Marine, F.C Halifax Town, Barrow, AFC Fylde and Chorley before joining the Magpies on a permanent basis in 2016.
Match Day Drinks Offer
In honour of this clash of non-league titans, Bradford (Park Avenue) has a special drinks offer on for season ticket holders of any club (including rugby clubs) and members of our mailing list.
*Buy two bottles of Coors or Magners and get your third one free on production of any season ticket or pre-match programme e-mail.
Date Confirmed For West Riding County Cup Second Round Tie
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be in West Riding County Cup action on Monday 5th November.
The recent draw confirmed that the club will visit Brighouse Town, who play in the Northern Premier League Division One East.
The match will kick off at 7:45pm at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium and Bradford will be hoping to progress in the competition after last year’s early exit.
Here are the next six tests that Mark Bower’s side face:
20/10: Nuneaton Borough (A) – VNLN
27/10: Chorley (H) – VNLN
30/10: Darlington (H) – VNLN
03/11: York City (A) – VNLN
05/11: Brighouse Town (A) – WRCC
10/11: Curzon Ashton (A) – VNLN
Hurst Makes Horsfall Switch
Bradford (Park Avenue) have completed the signing of versatile teenager Alex Hurst from Northern Premier League Premier Division side Matlock Town.
After last week’s defeat to Kidderminster Harriers, manager Mark Bower revealed that a new arrival was imminent and a deal has been agreed for the talented 19-year-old.
Hurst joined The Gladiators at the beginning of the 2018/19 season after impressing as a trialist during pre-season.
He ascended the ranks of Crewe Alexandra’s academy, which is renowned for the high calibre of player it produces. Whilst with Crewe, he represented the club’s under-18 and under-23 sides before departing for Matlock.
Mark Bower’s squad has been plagued by injuries in recent weeks and Hurst’s versatility will be crucial as Bradford look to remain in the play-off picture. He can operate on the left-hand side of midfield or at left-back, as well as being able to play as an attacking midfielder or forward.
He starred for Matlock in pre-season fixtures against Derby County, Gresley and Chesterfield and impressed manager Dave Hoole, who has since resigned. The former boss hailed Hurst as a ‘great asset’ to his squad who ‘trained really hard and applied himself’.
He could be in line for a debut tomorrow when Bradford visit Nuneaton Borough.
Welcome to Bradford, Alex!
Jonathan Collura On His Involvement With Bradford (Park Avenue)
Yesterday, the club announced that owner Gareth Roberts has nominated Jonathan Collura for the role of Director at Bradford (Park Avenue).
The nomination came as part of a recent restructuring, which has seen a community interest company owned by Gareth Roberts become the new ownership vehicle.
Jonathan introduced himself to supporters of the club on Saturday, featuring on the panel during the open forum at the Horsfall Stadium.
Before watching Bradford take on Kidderminster Harriers, the prospective director sat down with us to discuss everything from his background to his vision for the club:
Football is a sport that clearly runs through Jonathan’s veins and he discussed how his love for the game was ignited by Crystal Palace and the introduction of the internet:
“I’m a lifelong fan of the English game. When I went to college in 1994, I was an avid Crystal Palace fan. In that year, the internet came online and my love of the game grew because of all the information that was available. While in college, I founded one of the first Crystal Palace websites, which I ran from Lincoln, Nebraska. We had international supporters, we had match reports and video clips, but when the game expanded, we were wiped out quickly! It was fun though. I actually wrote for non-league programmes as well and was published by several clubs whilst writing about my experiences as a supporter in America.”
Jonathan brings a wealth of experience to the Horsfall Stadium, having already been involved with clubs in the United States and one of Bradford’s Vanarama National League North rivals:
“In 2015, I got the opportunity to be a partner in an English football club. That club was Alfreton Town. They have a phenomenal chairman in Wayne Bradley, I learned a lot from him in the time I spent there. I eventually left to focus on doing my own things back in the US. I was a partner in a club in Napa Valley, California and then in January 2018, I launched Bugeaters Football Club. Bugeaters are based in my home community of Nebraska. Bugeaters is a nickname for native Nebraskans, when people see the name they either get it or think we’re insane!
“The team began playing in the 2018 season and we’re currently examining leagues for 2019, but it’s been a phenomenal run. We had a massive launch and sold tens of thousands dollars worth of merchandise.”
He then discussed how he came to be involved with Bradford, before outlining his plans and ambitions:
“I’ve known Gareth Roberts for some time. I spoke to Gareth about his involvement with Bradford (Park Avenue) back in 2015, when I was at Alfreton. I kept in touch and we discussed ideas together, and I visited the Horsfall in 2016. Over the last twelve months, we’ve had deeper discussions about things that I can help him with. My interest stems from my background as an entrepreneur and my success with my own companies, as well as my passion for the game and thoughts on innovation and marketing.
“I’m a director elect, pending FA approval. This is to help Gareth focus on two things. One is sustainability, and the second is the community. The club, as it stands today, is fantastic on the pitch but needs some help off it. For the club to endure the next fifty years, we need to set the path for that today. A club like this has a decent fanbase but in today’s digital era, it’s not just about the fans at the match, it’s also about the outreach that you have. Bugeaters are an example of that as not only do the club have fans in Nebraska, it has fans internationally. We have fans here in England, who actually watch live streams of our matches. Boosting the social media and digital side of things is vital in establishing the brand. Bradford (Park Avenue) have an absolutely amazing history and now it’s time to lay the foundations for the next fifty years. We need to establish a brand and an identity.
“The Horsfall College of Sport is something that I’ve worked with Gareth on and the goal there is to get to 100 students. We currently have 26 but we think we can reach 60-90 in the next season and give opportunites to people in the community. At some point, we will have a player that comes through the Horsfall College of Sport and plays league football for the first-team side. That’s going to be something very special. The goal here is to make people say that there is something special going on at Bradford (Park Avenue).
“Regarding the Bradford Bulls involvement, we realised that there is a management team down the road that has been very successful both on and off the pitch and we need some infrastructure here. We have Damian Irvine, who has been a football executive in the EFL and has very innovative ideas. I’ve spent some time getting to know him and have really enjoyed speaking with him in discussions. First and foremost, we need to improve the image of Bradford (Park Avenue). We need to give it a brand and unique identity because it has one but people in the community don’t know it exists. The Bulls will be helping us with infrastructure and ways to increase attendances and awareness. They’ll be helping with the overall function of the club so that we have a sustainable model. Prior to Gareth’s involvement, the club had financial issues and Gareth has helped to fill that gap but in a situation like this, you need to build sustainability instead of continually funding a loss.
“Mark Bower is a tremendous manager who has done amazing things for the team on the pitch. Today, we have a game between 2nd and 3rd in the league at the Horsfall and that doesn’t happen by chance. Gareth has committed to funding his budget and has done a tremendous job.
“I want to tell the Bradford (Park Avenue) story. The club has history with every single one of its fans. Let’s sit them down, let’s interview them. Let’s have those stories told in a documentary so that you’re recording the club’s history. I see a lot of pictures that celebrate the history and the club’s icons but what about the recent history? What about the fans that are here today? Why are they here? They choose to be here. They choose to be here because they have a connection with the club so let’s tell their stories. If you read anything about Bugeaters, you’ll find that I built the club on a sustainability, community model. We’re going to see ties between Bradford (Park Avenue) and other clubs. With Bugeaters, and with teams around here. I see other teams signing development deals and wonder, why aren’t we doing that? We can benefit from one another.”
Universities Back Bradford (Park Avenue) On Non-League Day
Photo: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) were supported by two of Yorkshire’s universities during yesterday’s defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.
Our friends at the University of Bradford visited the Horsfall Stadium, whilst students from the University of Huddersfield also travelled to support the club.
The University of Huddersfield are in the process of establishing a non-league society and its members supported Mark Bower’s side yesterday.
The University of Bradford are leading a campaign to provide Mark Bower’s side with more support and the university’s Director of Internal Affairs Mark Garratt told us why he is spearheading it:
“Back on the August bank holiday, myself and my son, Matt, came to watch as there were no league games on. When we visited, I was taken aback by the history of the club. Bradford City have a big fanbase of 20,000 supporters and when I spoke to a Bradford (Park Avenue) supporter, he said that the club only have 300 supporters. I couldn’t help but think that that was bonkers.
“I got in contact with the club and suggested that we should lead a campaign to get staff and students from the University of Bradford involved.
“It’s not just about getting students and staff involved, though. It’s about creating a connection on many levels. I’ve spoken to a director about getting our students involved in the community part of the club.”