We are happy to announce that a Fans Forum will take place on Friday 10th February in the Clubhouse, from 6pm.
Supporters are invited to ask questions, with a number of Club personnel in attendance.
Please note that there are limited spaces available, please email bee.calam@bpafc.com to reserve your space.
The clubhouse bar will also be open on the night.
Home form could be key against promotion hopefuls.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will welcome promotion-chasing Chorley to the Horsfall Community Stadium this Saturday following back-to-back away games in the Vanarama National League North.
The Avenue will be entertaining the Lancashire-based side buoyed by a hard-earned point away to Kidderminster Harriers last time out.
The fixture was one of only a handful of National League North games to get the go ahead during Saturday’s cold snap, and despite the heavy fog, the Green Army gave an impressive account of themselves against professional opposition to bring a point back to West Yorkshire, denied all three only by a wonder goal from the hosts.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hoping to make home advantage count against Chorley. Despite losing their first four games at the Horsfall this season, the Avenue have settled well and are currently unbeaten in four on home turf.
A win this Saturday would be the first in six games, and could see Bradford climb a place to 16th. More importantly, with only three points separating the club from the relegation zone, a win would be essential in taking another step closer to safety as the season enters its final months.
Like Avenue, Chorley also made a slow start to the season with just two wins from their opening eight games, but have since recovered and now find themselves on the brink of the league’s promotion places. However, one win in four appears to have halted the Magpie’s progress. Fortunately for Chorley, the teams sitting above them have also struggled for consistency since the turn of the year, meaning the promotion places are still in reach for this weekend’s visitors.
Chorley manager Andy Preece will be counting on attacker Connor Hall to continue his fine goal scoring form away at Bradford (Park Avenue) this Saturday. The former Sheffield United youth forward has netted 14 goals in 26 appearances this season, averaging 0.57 goals per game. The Avenue defence will need to keep a watchful eye on the Magpies talisman who has scored five times in his last six games in all competitions.
The reverse fixture back in August saw Bradford (Park Avenue) secure a valuable point at Victory Park by holding their hosts to a goalless draw, a result made even more impressive considering the Green Army had to play the entirety of the second half with ten men. Incidentally this was the same score line as when the Avenue hosted the Magpies last season.
There has been little to separate both of these sides in recent contests, with the last four meetings all resulting in draws. Still, Bradford (Park Avenue) should take inspiration from Chorley’s wretched record at the Horsfall, with the Magpies managing just one win in their last eight visits. This weekend’s opposition have failed to score in each of their last four trips to Bradford, a record that the Green Army will be hoping to maintain beyond this season.
Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)
Where To Find Us:
Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG
Directions By Car:
Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.
Directions By Train:
Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.
From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):
Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).
From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.
Directions By Bus:
From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.
These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.
Turnstiles: PAY ON GATE
The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:
Adult – £14
Concession – £10
Student – £5
Youth (12-17) – £3
Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1
Bradford (Park Avenue) picked up a hard-fought point on the road at a foggy Kidderminster on Saturday afternoon.
The cold January snap meant an anxious wait for football fans all across the country on Saturday morning, as announcements flooded in of multiple postponements up and down the English football ladder. However, at the Aggborough Stadium in Kidderminster concerns were eased as the referee deemed the pitch playable.
The Avenue were keen to atone their defeat last time out at the hands of Spennymoor Town, their first loss in seven games, and had to deal with plenty of pressure in the opening half an hour from the Harriers. Nonetheless, some determined Bradford defending combined with a string of Sykes-Kenworthy saves managed to keep the home side at bay.
The resolute defending paid off just past the half hour mark as Avenue forward Jordan Preston produced a calm finish beyond the Harriers goalkeeper Thomas Palmer to give the Green Army the lead, the perfect way to celebrate the news of his loan extension from Spennymoor Town earlier in the week.
Buoyed by the opener, Bradford (Park Avenue) soon went in search of a second as the fog began to worsen, with Jacob Blyth’s dangerous cross narrowly dealt with by the Kidderminster defence. The Avenue continued to manage the game well as the first half came to a close, with a dangerous Will Longbottom free-kick once again causing problems for the home side.
As the second half progressed, the Kidderminster attack began to turn the screw in their search for an equaliser, with Shane Byrne’s long-range effort sailing just over the crossbar and more fine goalkeeping from George Sykes-Kenworthy, this time denying the Harrier’s Ashley Hemmings.
As the fog worsened and the view from the stands became more obscure, it was clear that it was going to take something special to beat the in-form Avenue stopper. Sadly for Sykes-Kenworthy this proved to be the case, as the Kidderminster equaliser came from a stunning overhead kick courtesy of Amari Morgan-Smith, the Harriers striker following up on a deflected Joe McGlynn effort in spectacular fashion.
With sixteen minutes of normal time remaining, both sides pressed through the thick fog to try to find a winner, but the two sets of defences remained firm as clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
The Avenue faithful will no doubt be delighted with the resilience shown by their side to earn a point on the road at Kidderminster, but such is the ambition of manager Mark Bower that he felt a tinge of regret over the result. When asked if he was pleased with the point, Bower reflected: “overall pleased with the performance, just a little bit disappointed that we’ve not managed to hold out to get three points.” Bower was also full of praise for the travelling fans, adding “credit to our supporters, great support for us, we couldn’t actually see them from where we were when the fog came down, but they made themselves heard”.
The point means Bradford (Park Avenue) remain 17th in the Vanarama National League North, three points above the relegation zone. Next up for the Avenue is the visit of promotion hopefuls Chorley this Saturday. Despite only one loss in eight games, it is now no wins in five for the Green Army. Having played more games than most of the sides below, Avenue will be hoping to make the most of home advantage before back-to-back away fixtures next week.
FULL TIME: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 1-1 BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE)
(31’) GOAL – Kidderminster Harriers 0-1 Bradford (Park Avenue) – Jordan Preston
(73’) GOAL – Kidderminster Harriers 1-1 Bradford (Park Avenue) – Amari Morgan-Smith
Attendance – 2,193
Writer: Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)
We are delighted to announce the return of Will Lancaster, on loan from Barnsley until the end of the season.
Will re-joins having played 8 games for the Avenue in his previous spell and is available for selection straight away
On the deal Mark said ‘its great to get Lanny back, we are a bit short on players in that area of the pitch and we know what we are getting from him. Lanny did well for us in his previous spell and hopefully he continues that form now.
We can also confirm that following Reece Staunton’s injury we have decided to not pursue our appeal against his red card.
For the first time this season, all three of our Academy teams have won their games!
In the Live on YouTube game, Group 1 beat FC United of Manchester 5-1, whilst Group 2 travelled to Hemsworth Miners Welfare and won 3-2.
At the same time, Group 3 were away at Access Sport Sheffield, going on to win the game 1-0.
Well done to everyone in our Academy. Up the Avenue!
Six unbeaten for the Avenue after late equaliser secures vital point.
Bradford (Park Avenue) came from behind with a stoppage time equaliser from Jordan Preston to earn a 1-1 draw in what was at times an ill-tempered affair with Kettering Town on Saturday.
The Avenue came into the game on the back of a five game unbeaten run in the Vanarama National League North, but it was the visitors who struck first. Kettering made their early pressure count on 26 minutes when George Forsyth rounded off a well-worked corner as his effort looped over Avenue keeper Sykes-Kenworthy and into the goal.
Undeterred by the early setback, the Kettering opener seemed to act as a wakeup call for the Avenue with Will Longbottom’s fierce strike glancing the crossbar just minutes later.
As the first half wore on, Bradford (Park Avenue) continued to forge their way back into the game but tempers soon began to flare towards the end of the half. On the brink of halftime, the lively Longbottom found his name in the referee’s book after reacting angrily to a reckless Kettering challenge, and with seconds remaining of the first half, a melee ensued in the Kettering penalty area after a goalmouth scramble. Having consulted both of his on-field assistants, the referee adjudged Kettering goalkeeper Cameron Gregory to have lashed out at Avenue’s Jamie Spencer and brandished a red to the stopper, leaving Kettering Town to play the rest of the game with ten men and an outfield player (goal scorer George Forsyth) in goal.
However, despite their one man advantage Bradford (Park Avenue) struggled to break down the opposition’s resolute defence. Twice Avenue smashed the woodwork, and in the aftermath of the latter effort, half time substitute Harrison Hopper was brought down when challenging for the rebound. A penalty against an outfield player between the sticks seemed the perfect opportunity to net an equaliser, but Jacob Blyth’s spot kick was sent high over the crossbar, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Various stoppages of play during the second half meant that a hefty eight minutes of added time was signalled by the fourth official, although Bradford boss Mark Bower was aggrieved in his post-match interview that more time was not given. The home support were convinced that it just was not their day as the Avenue once again rattled the woodwork, but five minutes into stoppage time Bradford’s pressure paid off when Jordan Preston took aim from the edge of the penalty area and found the bottom corner of the net through a sea of red shirts.
Not content with the point, Bradford (Park Avenue) pushed on for a winner in the few minutes that remained but it was to no avail as the referee blew for full time. Bower expressed his disappointment with the draw and the missed opportunities in the second half, accepting that his side had created “numerous good openings with efforts on goal missing the target”. Reflecting on his side running out of time, Bower admitted, “we got the goal too late I think, if we get the goal ten or fifteen minutes earlier I think we go on and win it comfortably”.
The result leaves Bradford (Park Avenue) 17th in the Vanarama National League North, three points ahead of Kettering Town who still occupy the final relegation spot in 21st. Next up for the Avenue is a trip to Spennymoor Town this Saturday 14th Jan, who are currently four games without defeat. The Green Army will be hoping to stretch their own unbeaten run to seven games and avenge the 1-0 defeat inflicted upon them in the reverse fixture back in August.
Watch the highlights from the match below!
FULL TIME: BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE) 1 – 1 KETTERING TOWN
(26’) GOAL Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-1 Kettering Town – George Forsyth
(45+3’) RED CARD – Kettering Town – Cameron Gregory
(90+5’) GOAL – Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-1 Kettering Town – Jordan Preston
Attendance – 415
Writer: Stephen Grimshaw
Our next home game is our rescheduled match vs Scarborough Athletic! The match will take place on 16th January with a 7:45pm KO.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games as they host Kettering Town on Saturday, the first side to visit the Horsfall Community Stadium in 2023.
The Avenue head into this weekend’s encounter fresh from a gruelling festive double header with local rivals Farsley Celtic, with both West Yorkshire sides proving to be inseparable across the two fixtures. A 1-1 Boxing Day draw in what appeared to be all weather conditions at the Horsfall was followed by an entertaining 2-2 at the Citadel on New Year’s Day.
Avenue’s fiery encounter away to Farsley saw them reduced to ten men after a questionable first half red card. Avenue boss Mark Bower expressed his disappointment with the referee’s decision, but conceded the unlikeliness of a successful appeal on his side’s behalf. However, Bower was delighted with his team’s resilience as they fought back to claim a vital point in their bid to continue their climb up the league table.
The visitors this weekend currently sit in 21st position, in the relegation zone only on goal difference behind Curzon Ashton. Incidentally the Northamptonshire-based side hold the second-worst goal difference in the National League North, a statistic Bradford (Park Avenue) will be aiming to exploit on Saturday afternoon. Despite this, Kettering will be arriving at the Horsfall in good spirits following an important 2-1 victory away to mid-table Peterborough Sports on Boxing Day, their first win in five games. The return fixture (originally scheduled for New Year’s Day) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Latimer Park, meaning Kettering will have had an extra week’s rest as they prepare to make the trip north.
The reverse fixture between Bradford (Park Avenue) and Kettering Town earlier in the season saw the Avenue pick up their first point of the campaign. Adam Nowakowski’s 80th minute equaliser was enough to earn a 1-1 draw at Latimer Park on matchday 2. However it was this fixture last season which is arguably more memorable in Avenue minds. After two red cards in the space of five second half minutes for Bradford’s Havern and Toulson, Kettering thought they had salvaged a point with Lamine Sherif’s 89th minute equaliser, only for Avenue’s Nicky Clee to win it with virtually the last kick of the game.
With only three points currently separating the two sides and Kettering holding a game in hand, a win on Saturday for Bradford (Park Avenue) would be vital in pulling further clear of the relegation zone.
Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw
Where To Find Us
Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC
Horsfall Community Stadium
Cemetery Road
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD6 2NG
Directions By Car:
Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.
Directions By Train:
Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.
From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below).
Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).
From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.
Directions By Bus:
From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682
These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.
Turnstiles:
The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:
Adult – £14
Concession – £10
Student – £5
Youth (12-17) – £3
Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1
We can confirm that loanees Thomas Angell from Sheffield United, and Will Lancaster from Barnsley have both returned to their parent clubs following the end of their loan deals.
Both players have played vital roles in their respective positions, so a huge thanks to Thomas and Will for their efforts at Avenue, and best of luck in their future careers.
We also send our thanks to both Sheffield United and Barnsley for their help in making these deals possible.
After a slow start to the season and early fears of falling through the NLN trapdoor, Bradford (Park Avenue) have shown resilience to drag themselves from the brink.
Avenue had one of the worst possible starts to the season, with fans spending the first two months wondering where the first win was coming from. Losing seven and drawing four left Avenue sitting at the bottom of the table with no end to their dismal run in sight.
To compound matters, they even suffered defeat in the FA Cup second qualifying round against level nine side Ashington AFC away from home.
It looked like their fortunes were not going to change in October as they went down to their heaviest defeat of the season so far, losing 4-1 to Southport but the following weekend the patient Avenue faithful were rewarded with a welcome first win. Curzon Ashton, so often our bogey team, surrendered all three points at Horsfall Stadium. This result sparked a revival with the team going on to win their next two league games and, despite a blip against high-flying Brackley Town, they rounded off the month with a well fought victory over Gloucester City. This excellent month propelled Avenue up the table and out of the drop zone for the first time in the season.
November didn’t start well. The team kicked off with back-to-back defeats. A creditable draw at Alfreton was followed by a disappointing exit from the FA Trophy at the hands of local rivals Farsley Celtic. Hope was restored at the end of the month with wins against newly promoted Banbury and long-established NLN side Boston.
This put them in good stead for December and Avenue duly went on to win their opening two games. The determination and resilience shown by the players in the match at Buxton will live long in the memories of those fortunate enough to witness it. Finding themselves a goal down in added time, Avenue conjured two great goals to snatch all three points.
At this halfway point of the season Avenue are sitting in 17th place, four points away from the drop and, for the optimists among us, ten points off the play-off places.
Avenue head into today’s Boxing Day derby against Farsley Celtic buoyed by their recent run of results and determined to take revenge for that defeat in the FA Trophy. The sides resume their rivalry at the Citadel on New Year’s Day.
You can watch all the goals from the first half of the season on our YouTube Channel below.
Our postponed match vs @safc has now been rearranged for Monday 16th January 2023 with a 7:45pm KO.
#UTA
