3 Nov 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Chester FC (A)

Match Preview – Chester FC vs Bradford (Park Avenue) – The Green Army are back on the road as they travel to the English-Welsh border this weekend in the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking for consecutive away wins for the first time since March 2019 when they take on Chester FC at The Deva Stadium on Saturday.

Mark Bower’s men head to Chester in fine form following a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home to high-flying Gloucester City on a wet Monday evening under the lights of the Horsfall Community Stadium, a result which saw them bag a fourth win in five games. The three points meant Avenue climbed out of the relegation zone and into 19^th, however, Tuesday’s National League North results elsewhere were less than favourable as points gained for Kettering Town and Boston United pushed the Avenue back down to 21^st.

Regardless of this, the picture remains optimistic for Avenue who are currently one of the in-form teams in the National League North. Only last weekend’s opponents Brackley Town, who sit joint-top of the table, have gained more points in the last five games. Bower will also be hoping he can call on in-form striker Jacob Blyth for the trip to Chester. The number nine was withdrawn early in the second half on Monday after scoring the opener and has netted three goals in his last four games for the Avenue.

This weekend’s hosts are also enjoying a good run of form themselves, having picked up ten points out of a possible twelve on their current four-game unbeaten run. However, the Avenue will be looking to take advantage of Chester’s inconsistent home form, as The Seals are yet to register back-to-back wins this season.

Avenue’s defence will be keen to shackle Chester’s top scorer Kurt Willoughby. The 25-year-old, who joined Chester in the summer from last season’s play-off winners York City, has netted six goals in fifteen appearances this season, averaging 0.41 goals per game.

The head-to-head table shows Avenue and Chester all square. Since the formation of Chester FC as a phoenix club to the former Chester City FC in 2010, the sides have met on nine occasions in the National League North, sharing three wins apiece and three draws. The most recent meeting came in the penultimate game of last season, with Chester emerging 4-0 winners over an Avenue side that had already secured National League North football for another season. The Green Army will be hoping to swing the head-to-head table in their favour this Saturday with the prospect of once again climbing out of the league’s relegation places.

Kick off: Saturday 5^th November 2022, 3pm

Stadium address: Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester, CH1 4LT – Directions to the Deva Stadium can be found here

Tickets: In advance online purchased here – Adults £17.00, Concessions £14.00, 18-21yo £12.00, 12-17yo £3.00, Under 12s FREE.

Please note there will be a £1 increase on these prices when buying online, paying at the turnstile or purchasing from the ticket office on the day of a game.

Writer – Stephen Grimshaw

24 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Blyth Spartans v Bradford (Park Avenue)

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

Avenue could launch themselves away from danger tomorrow night with a third win on the bounce.

Tomorrow evening (25^th October) The Avenue could propel themselves away from the danger zone when they travel to fellow strugglers Blyth Spartans who sit just two places above Bradford (PA) in the league table.

Since The Avenue secured that first win of the season against Curzon Ashton, they have won back-to-back games after an 86-minute penalty which was dispatched calmly by Jacob Blyth, securing victory over Hereford Town and come the final whistle tomorrow it could be a hattrick of wins for Bradford (PA).

Blyth Spartans have not won in the league since the end of August when they beat Buxton 2-1 away from home, since then they have only managed three points out of their last five games all of which have come at home.

The last five meetings between these two sides have predominantly seen the Avenue come out on top beating them three times and drawing twice, with the last away win against Blyth ending in a 3-1 victory for the Avenue at the end of last season.

A win tomorrow could see the Avenue climb as high as 18^th in the league depending on the score line and other results going in their favour and could set them in good stead when they host high flying Brackley Town at the weekend.

(Park Avenue) have had a torrid start to the season losing seven of their opening league games and it looked as though that first win would never come as they lingered above the trap door, but if Bradford (Park Avenue) could go on a little run, it would give their survival chances a huge boost.

Writer: James Fletcher

Standing Tickets are priced online at £12 for Adults, £7 for Concessions, £5 for 11-16s and Students, and £3 for under 10s.

Seated tickets are priced online at £14 for Adults, £9 for Concessions, £7 for 11-16s and Students, and £2 for under 10s.

You can purchase tickets to the match on the Blyth Spartan’s website by clicking here.

For travel details, follow the map below or click here to visit footballgroundguide.com for more details on Croft Park.

NE24 3JE

19 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford

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

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