19 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford

Match Preview – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford FC – The Green Army play host to the Bulls in the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hoping to build on their vital 2-1 home win against Curzon Ashton last time out as they welcome Hereford to the Horsfall Community Stadium on Saturday. That win gives Avenue a much-welcomed confidence boost, as they head into their second home game in a row, having displayed great character to come from behind and pick up their first three points of the season. The result may not have moved Avenue off the bottom, but it doubled their points tally and brought the club to within three points of safety.

The visitors this weekend sit in 13^th place in National League North and are enjoying something of a revival, having picked up seven points from a possible nine in their last three games. Hereford fans will be hoping the inconsistency shown in the early part of the season is behind them.

One potential headache for Avenue boss Mark Bower is the question whether to stick with the eleven players who started the victory over Curzon Ashton. One player who will certainly be arguing his case for selection is super-sub, Will Longbottom who, not for the first time this season, came off the bench late on to grab a vital goal for his side.

Hereford have enjoyed a rich vein of form in front of goal this season. They have the joint sixth highest tally in National League North and their seventeen goals have been scored by ten different players. Experienced dangerman and joint-top scorer Tyrone Barnett will be hoping to be on the scoresheet again after netting in the Bulls’ 4-2 thrashing of Boston United last time out. The 36-year-old struck in the league for the first time since his double against Spennymoor Town on the opening day of the season and will be aiming to become the club’s outright top-scorer.

Avenue will look to take confidence from their excellent head-to-head record over Hereford FC since the formation of the latter as a phoenix club for Hereford United in 2014. Of the seven official meetings between the two sides, Avenue have won four, drawn two and lost one, remaining unbeaten against the Bulls in all fixtures at the Horsfall Community Stadium. The Green Army will be hoping to continue this impressive record beyond the upcoming fixture this weekend.

4 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Bradford (Park Avenue) v Curzon Ashton

by BPAFC Officials | posted in: First Team Match Previews, First Team News, News | 0

Bradford (Park Avenue) welcome Curzon Ashton to the Horsfall Stadium this weekend as they still search for the illusive first win of the season

It’s not been the best of starts for Bradford (Park Avenue) by any stretch of the imagination and are in desperate need their first win of the season as the pressure continues to ramp up on the players and management team to perform.

The past five meetings between these two sides don’t offer for pleasant reading, losing three and drawing 2 in all competitions, but could (Park Avenue) upset the form table and finally open their account for the season.

Curzon Ashton have had an upsurge in form as of late, going on a four-game unbeaten run since their defeat to Chester FC, beating the likes of FC United of Manchester and Gloucester City and will no hoping to take advantage of Bradford’s poor start to the season and continue and extend their run to five when they make the trip to West Yorkshire.

Curzon have scored 11 goals in their last five games only conceding six in all competitions, but with their FA Cup replay in mid-week and Park Avenue not playing, Bradford could use this to their advantage having those extra days of rest.

Bradford’s attacking form has been a source of concern this season only converting four times in four games and conceding 12 remaining the only team in the league to not pick up a single win out of their opening 10 games.

As the games tick away the need and desperation of that first win grows, but playing in front of a home crowd could provide the spark that the players need.

The game kicks off at 3pm at the Horsfall Stadium and could this be the time that Bradford (Park Avenue) kick off their season with a win against Curzon Ashton.

You can also watch highlights from last seasons match v Curzon at the Horsfall below!

28 Sep 2022

Match Preview – Southport vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

by BPAFC Officials | posted in: First Team Match Previews, First Team News, News | 0

The Green Army head to the seaside for Matchday 11 of the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be heading west again for the second time in four days as they are set to take on Southport F.C. at Haig Avenue on Saturday.

Mark Bower’s men remain bottom of the National League North and are still in search their first win of the season, despite a much-improved display at the weekend in their 3-1 away loss to AFC Fylde. Avenue’s spirited performance on the Fylde Coast left the Green Army with cause for optimism, with Bower praising his side’s confidence and composure on the ball for large parts of the game.

This weekend’s hosts are heading into the game in 18^th place on the back of a vital 1-0 win at home to Leamington, a result that brought to an end a six-game winless streak for the Sandgrounders. Southport were boosted by the return of their well-travelled star attacker Marcus Carver, on loan from Scunthorpe United, who received high praise for his role in the victory.

Despite hitting Boston United for five on the opening day of the season, Southport have only found the net on three occasions in the eight games that have followed. After a run of difficult fixtures against sides higher up the table, the Avenue will look to this game against a team who has struggled to find consistency as the perfect opportunity to record a first win of the season and get an important three points on the board.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will also be out for revenge following last season’s 5-0 home drubbing at the hands of the Sandgrounders. The Avenue additionally lost the away fixture at Southport in a narrow 1-0 defeat. Mark Bower will no doubt be hoping for stricter discipline from his side as both fixtures saw the Green Army reduced to 10 men.

Travelling fans can find the Haig Avenue stadium at Southport Football Club, Haig Avenue, Southport, PR8 6JZ. Click here for more info for travelling supporters.

Click here for directions to Haig Avenue. Or follow the map below.

PR8 6JZ

All tickets can be purchased online by clicking here, or purchased on the gate, and are priced at Adult £13.50, Concession £10.00, Junior (12-17) £5.00, Under 12’s FREE when accompanied by a full paying adult.

22 Sep 2018

Match Preview: Darlington vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)

by BPAFC Officials | posted in: First Team News, News | 0

The Emirates FA Cup journey begins today as Bradford make the trip to Blackwell Meadows to face Darlington.

The Quakers did the double over Mark Bower’s side last season but have made a slow start to the 2018/19 campaign. They sit 17th in the league, seven points adrift of 4th-placed Bradford, who remain in the play-off positions despite stuttering with two consecutive defeats in recent weeks.

Bradford were dealt a difficult hand in the prestigious competition last year but advanced into the next round with an impressive away win over National League North counterparts Southport. They faced Harrogate Town in last year’s third qualifying round but despite forcing a replay, were beaten and subsequently knocked out.

Darlington didn’t fare as well in the competition last year, suffering a 3-0 home defeat to South Shields in the second qualifying round.

Speaking after last week’s defeat to Altrincham, midfielder Nicky Clee stressed the importance of producing a response against the Quakers:

“It’s really important that we produce a response. We discussed how important it was before the Altrincham game and our performance was better but we didn’t get the result. Hopefully, we can get both next week (performance and result).”

GUIDE TO THE OPPONENTS:

The Gaffer:

Tommy Wright

Darlington’s manager, alongside assistant Alan White, was presented to Quakers supporters at Blackwell Meadows ahead of the club’s league win over Bradford in October 2017. A young boss at 33, he enjoyed two spells with Darlington as a player and plied his trade in Yorkshire with Barnsley and Harrogate Town. The former striker has also played in the Premier League, entering as a substitute in Leicester City’s 2-0 defeat to Leeds United in March 2002. His management career began in 2013 with Corby Town, where he registered as a player but also took on managerial duties. Wright made the switch to Nuneaton Town as a player-coach three years later before eventually being handed the reins. He was officially appointed as Darlington manager on 20th October 2017.

One To Watch:

Stephen Thompson

The likes of Gibraltar international Reece Styche and former Bradford man Simon Ainge may grab the headlines, but Thompson is key for the Quakers. The winner of the club’s 2017/18 Player of the Year award, Thompson can operate as a striker or on either flank and his direct running makes him one for opposition defences to look out for. He joined the club in September 2012 from Durham City, having failed to make the grade at Middlesbrough and finding first-team opportunites limited at Port Vale. Thompson also had a stint with AFC Telford United and scored against his former employers a fortnight ago.

Live updates: @BPAFCOfficial on Twitter