Up next it’s the 1RQ of @EmiratesFACup, where we face @ConsettAFC on Saturday 2nd September, at the Belle View Stadium.

Kick Off is set for 3pm.

Admission is priced at £10 for Adults, £7 for Concessions (65+) and £4 Juniors (u16).

Please note that it is CASH ONLY on the turnstiles, however card can be used inside the ground for food & drinks.

Programmes will be available at the turnstiles for £2.

Information taken from https://consettafc.com/about-us/

CONSETT AFC, Belle View Stadium, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham DH8 7BF

Belle View Stadium is a purpose-built community sports facility which has been home to Consett AFC and Consett AFC Juniors since November 2013.

How To Find Us

We’re about half a mile from Consett town centre, on Delves Lane on the A692 road. If you’re coming from Consett we’re on the left, just before B&M Bargains.

What’s the Capacity?

The certified capacity is 3,770, and the stadium is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art 3G playing surface.

Is there seating?

Belle View is fully enclosed, and has covered seating accommodation for 250 spectators.

Clubhouse

The stadium has a large clubhouse, showing Sky Sports and BT Sport on several screens, including a giant drop-down.

Food & Drink

Belle View has its own licensed bar and snack facilities, and they are all on one level, so access is ideal for disabled supporters.

Car Parking

There is ample car parking, plus dedicated space for visiting supporters’ coaches.

Ownership

Consett AFC is a community football club 100% owned by Frank and Dianne Bell.

For our own fans, there has been an understandable degree of negativity expressed due to early results and performances and I will try to answer some of that in today’s notes. If it appears to be a bit of a rant, then so be it.

I’ve been a fan since the 1959/60 season up to 1974, picking up again in the 90s with frequent funding, as some will know. Helping out Gareth is my main interest these days and I thank my late father for giving me a passion for this football club. He told me there were few clubs with the initials PA in their name, so I should be a fan.

As a fan I share the pain, as all of us do, of not winning enough games. It is frustrating to have retained good players, found new players and had a decent response pre- season to recruitment from many quarters, but to have had a relatively poor start.

Mark and Martin deal with all footballing matters; recruitment, retention and coaching, and I know they are working hard to make things click into place. According to Andre Onana, MUFC’s new keeper, they have the same problems – good half or bad half, it’s about scoring goals.

Many of us older fans have been through sequences of poor seasons, never mind a couple of poor matches, and we look forward to the few good seasons, but it is early days and still all to play for. Hopefully we can register a win today and set off on a run of wins. I was lucky enough to be there for the Scoular and Hector years, so I know how good winning and scoring goals feels.

It’s good to see young Liam Hall getting a big break and moving to Wrexham. Good for Danny King’s Academy reputation, for GSK’s work with Liam and hopefully for our future finances.

Many of us remember being fleeced on Paddy Kenny’s move from Bury so we are hopeful we have secured a percentage of Liam’s future good fortune.

I mention Liam because celebrating his opportunity and move is where we are as a football club. The strategy of growing our own, signing and developing potentially good youngsters, helping bigger clubs through their loanees and hoping to benefit from our own onward moves, fills the gap of not having several big investors beating a path to our club yet, so needs must when there are bills to pay.

Moving lads onwards and upwards means we may not always have to rely on Gareth’s munificence. Apart from anything else, it inspires local youngsters to get involved with us. The more the merrier.

If you believe in the value of good management of the Academy, you must know that it is Tom Mc Stravick’s work and his standards that improve it year on year. His hard work has attracted the Steven Gerrard Academy, along with the improving stadium facilities, and they will cover large amounts of our Academy costs from now on.

Danny King is fully part of this process and Brad’s physio work is now recognised at first team levels too. Jordan and OJ are afforded as part of this development and do lots of unseen work setting standards and engaging with local schools (and will also be part of the first team’s successes this season.) It is top class teamwork and a clear strategy.

Strategies like this play a part in long-term planning and creating future profitability.

Having managers in support of this is important, as lack of support usually kills off academies.

Tom has also created time to get back to running training sessions and he walks the walk more now whilst talking the talk. He and his coaches work to very high standards in all they do.

They also attract grant support that develops our facilities and they run holiday fun days for kids and parents who need support to look after the youngsters. They also get support from other charitable funds to feed kids on holiday days.

Their work with others creates opportunities for our young footballers to travel around the UK and Europe to learn new disciplines and see a wider world.

Of course, that may count for little if the first team can’t win more games, but our fans always get the benefit of direct contact after matches with our managers, coaches and players, in the club house, to share their views and similarly when our owner or football director visit. I’ve rarely seen an after-match time in the club house when Mark, Danny, Luca and others haven’t been chatting with supporters and chatting about the game. I have spent plenty of time in my programme notes trying to inform our supporters of systems and events relating to the stadium, its activities, plans or issues.

Every one of us ‘behind the scenes’ (and it’s a small, but patient band of followers) counts ourselves as fans. We have no prawn sandwiches, no comfy Director seats or private boxes. We queue up and pay for chips and pay our way in the shop, buying kit as well as Mars bars and teas. From emptying rubbish bins to fixing the wifi, there’s little glamour for being ‘the club’.

Many fans have direct contact numbers or e mail links for club officials and have many ways to offer their views or ask questions. The local paper and local radio spots have welcomed Mark and Martin when they open up about club footballing matters and it is galling to see comments about a lack of communication. Just ask the questions you want answering and there will be a response, but please don’t think there are easy answers. Most ‘solutions’ require money, lots of it. Change for changes sake is directionless and wasteful. Ask MUFC and check out how many managers they have been through, and at what cost in salaries and transfers. Our figures are published each year, so no secret funding – our benefactor has foregone £1.8m of debt, hardly the Glazer approach, and this was communicated as it happened, just like every new signing, the moment the papers are accepted.

The locally run Forum has recently expressed to us a desire to offer more constructive criticisms rather than negativity, which is very welcome, along with extra funds. Calum is another highly evident presence on matchdays and many weekdays if you have thoughts to share or Stadium queries.

Think on – the new look club shop was Calum’s handiwork, giving up a week’s holiday, putting up the walls, fixtures and fittings, cataloguing programmes with Tom Ogden and others, so that we have a very smart, and income-making outlet for the club. He is also working on creating an improved online connection for easy payments and more items on offer. That’s true support in every sense.

Newspaper-type shouts of ‘sack the board’ or ‘sack the manager’ will make no financial sense because the board members receive no money from the club and sacking managers costs money and creates disruption.

The only thing that must change is scoring goals and winning games. The squad is aware of that and spends all their time and work on that. Supporters can help by supporting the efforts of the team, players and club.

Check out Liversedge’s fate, champions, heavy goal scorers and winners one season, relegated the next, and already struggling and that’s apparently with John Deacey, Ryan Toulson and Ross McCormack helping out. Bet your life they’d like more money to help out, not a revolving manager door. And goals!

Is it really a surprise that Macclesfield, with over 3000 at home games does well?

If I could understand why VP get 18000 crowds to home games and we get 400, with a similar record of success this season, it might help, but that ‘missing generation’, when the club didn’t exist and the then council gave up the old stadium is probably why we struggle to get better gates or appreciation for what we do and who we are.

Remember that success has many friends, but failure is a much-abused orphan. Your support is very highly valued, it’s the lifeblood of any football club, but please, cheer the lads on and help us make more friends and score more goals! Two against Morpeth is a start! As someone once said – there is no alternative.

@PitchingIn_ @NorthernPremLge

UTA #GreenArmy #Bradford #Avenue

This Saturday we host @ilkestontown_fc at the Horsfall Community Stadium, followed by our visit to @GuiseleyAFC on Monday!

Both games Kick Off at 3pm, see you there #greenarmy

SATURDAY 26TH VS ILKESTON TOWN – HORSFALL COMMUNITY STADIUM

Bradford (Park Avenue) look forward to welcoming all supporters to the Horsfall Community Stadium and we hope everyone’s experience is an enjoyable one.

Where To Find Us

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC
Horsfall Community Stadium
Cemetery Road
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD6 2NG

Stadium Manager Calum Cullen – 07458103516 or calum.cullen@bpafc.com

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 – £13

Concession – £10

Student – £5 (Student ID Required)

Youth (12-17) – £3

Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – Free

The Horsfall Community Stadium is not segregated unless otherwise stated.

Refreshments: 

The Clubhouse will be open before and after the game which has a fully-licensed bar offering a range of beers, real ales and spirits. The Avenue Café is located next to the Clubhouse and serves a range of hot food and drinks.

The Tuck Shop is located to the right when standing in the main stand, and serves a range of hot drinks, confectionary, cold bottled/canned drinks, canned beer & cider, and a small range of hot food.

Club Shop:

The Club Shop is located next to the turnstiles at the Cemetery Road end of the ground. Matchday programmes and team sheets can also be purchased from the Club Shop.

Toilets:

Toilets can be found next to the Club Shop, next to the Pavilion (changing rooms) opposite the main stand or in the Clubhouse. Please note the only disabled toilets are in the Clubhouse.

Accessibility:

Bradford (Park Avenue) are committed to welcoming everybody to enjoy football at the Horsfall Community Stadium. To support with this we offer the following:

Access to the ground for supporters unable to navigate the usual turnstiles is via the main gate next to the turnstiles at the Cemetery Road end of the ground.

Free entry for carers/assistants.

A designated viewing area for wheelchair users

2 designated parking spaces for blue badge holders

Live audio commentary available at selected games

Ground Regulations:

Entry to the Ground is expressly subject to acceptance by the visitor of the rules and regulations of FIFA, UEFA, The Football Association and The National League in respect of the relevant competition. The Ground Regulations incorporate the Club’s Customer Charter and entry to the Ground shall constitute acceptance of theses Ground Regulations.

For full details of the ground regulations please click here

As a member Club participating in The National League we have been directed to take the strongest action available against anyone found in possession of a Flare, Smoke Bomb or any other such pyrotechnic items. Spectators are warned that we and The National League apply a zero tolerance approach to anyone attempting to bring such items into the Ground/Stadium.

Due to their chemical make-up, a Flare, Smoke Bomb and all such pyrotechnic items can be highly toxic for some people. This can lead to serious health consequences for those with pre-existing medical conditions and may in certain circumstances cause life threatening injury or concern. Some can explode and could endanger your players or club staff.

In order to protect all who enter and participate in matches, please note we reserve the right to search your person and/or effects and we further reserve the right to pursue legal action, civil or criminal, against any person who contravenes current legislation or our Ground/Stadium regulations.

To further safeguard all who attend any event at this Ground/Stadium, we welcome the receipt of any information which will assist us to deter, apprehend/detain and where appropriate prosecute, anyone in possession of; or found discharging or being a party to the discharge of, such an item.

MONDAY 28TH VS GUISELEY – NETHERMOOR PARK – CLICK HERE OR ON THE LINK BELOW TO FIND INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING TO NETHERMOOR.

#UTA #BPAFC #Football #BankHolidayWeekend

Amongst our own squad we have important players aiming for match fitness after long or short term injuries and some new players aiming to nail down a place in the starting eleven through strong performances. These challenges are part of a player’s experience and are important aspects of a successful squad. It was, therefore, good to see our increased focus on fitness, health, strength and conditioning in the new hybrid plans, and a fitting role for OJ. Nice to see we are trailblazing, with Birmingham City following on with Tom Brady’s appointment!

Best wishes to Mark and Danny as we hope for a full squad to choose from as soon as possible and with making the new hybrid system work well, with extra training and conditioning for the younger lads moving to full time. Like other projects, it will take time to settle in and bring benefits, but it gives us more options for recruitment and retention.

Good to see our new residents Albion Sports get off to a winning start against a much-fancied Silsden team, and again against Goole. As the RL season draws to an end, congratulations go to our other ground-sharers, West Bowling, on their promotion to the Conference Premier League as champions.

We need to get our own season kick-started now.

There is, however, a never-ending list of repair jobs that Neil and Ben are working on around the stadium. Some help is coming from a Howden’s grant to improve the classroom’s kitchen facilities. The increased flexibility of our business units must be used to our financial advantage.

There are times when Tom wants the youngsters, students and their parents to have more comfort and a good space to enjoy and either work or relax in and work in the training room is due to complete by the end of August. It’s good that we will have more and more new people developing a strong connection and sense of belonging to the club.

Tom also had his team helping with a Community Fun Day for local kids last month and managed to get a sunny day for it. The stadium was full of kids having a great time and the local Sandale Trust was heavily involved in the event too. We need local folk having a positive feel for all our stadium activities and for the wider Bradford population to be more aware that this is home for Bradford (Park Avenue).

You will have seen that we now have a very positive connection with the Steven Gerrard Academy, delivering Sports education to our Academy students, along with continuing links to Bradford College. As well as broadening our educational options, it helps not to have all your eggs in one basket and the SGA link is likely to grow each year and to help us cover increasing Academy costs.