Bradford Park Avenue v Darlington
Monday 12th September 2022, 7.45pm
Vanarama National League North
| Bradford Park Avenue FC: Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG Tel: 0791 2271498; Tweet: @BPAFCOfficial History: A famous club from the lower echelons of the Football League who had their moments in the first half of the 20th century. After a rebirth following extinction, Avenue have in the last 30 years developed into a stable club in the non-league. Formed in 1907 after attempts to start a club in the 1890s by a local rugby club, the football team was named Park Avenue after the ground. The club's first game was in the North Eastern League against Newcastle United reserves in front of 6,000, while they also competed in the Southern League before being elected into the Football League. They won promotion to Division One and also reached the FA Cup quarter finals in the seasons before World War One. After two relegations, the 1920s saw the club setting records and were back in Division Two during the 1930s. Notable Avenue players were Len Shackleton - scoring 171 goals - and Ron Greenwood. FA Cup landmarks included defeating Arsenal at Highbury in 1948. But decline set in and the club had to apply for re-election in 1956. In the mid 1960s, young striker Kevin Hector notched 100 goals before being transferred to Derby. After this, Avenue finished bottom of Division Four for three successive seasons and were finally demoted and replaced by Cambridge. The club in 1974 announced it would wind up with the final match in front of only 698 fans. But supporters kept the name alive in the Sunday league before the old club was reformed in 1987. The club also now plays at the Horsfall Stadium just a mile from the old Park Avenue ground. In 2001, Avenue won the Unibond Division One by 10 points.
Record attendance: 32,800 v Blackpool (1944) Click here for streetmap of the Bradford PA's ground
Admission prices (2022/23) Adults £14; concessions £10; students £5; youths (12-17) – £3; juniors (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) £1 |
Distance from Darlington 80 miles (1hr 30 mins) From the North: Directions, take the M1 and then M62 to junction 26. Join M606 leave at second junction. At the roundabout take 2nd exit (A6036 signposted Halifax) and pass Odsal Stadium on the left hand side. At next roundabout take the 3rd exit (A6036 Halifax, Horsfall Stadium is signposted). After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Childrens Nursery. Ground is 150 yards on the left Parking: The club carpark or the street outside should be sufficient.
Darlington
FC Supporters' Club Metro 01274 733733
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Use either Bradford Foster Square or Bradford Interchange. The ground is 2.5 miles from the city centre, to the south west.
Bradford Forster Square - there is a free city bus to Bradford Interchange or you can walk to it.
Bradford Interchange Head for the coach/bus area and catch the 681 (682 evening matches) bus service which passes the stadium, and takes around 10 minutes. From Halifax Road, get off at the stop just before the Kinderhaven Children's Nursery on the end of Cemetery Road. Head down Cemetery Road and Horsfall Stadium is on your left. The turnstiles are to the left of the green gates.
The official site is pretty good with some useful travel information, while there is also a website dedicated to the club's history. |
At the ground:
There is a clubhouse and visiting fans are welcome.
Near the ground and city centre: Bradford has lots of pubs too and there are some good recommendations for pubs on the Bradford CAMRA site
Monkey, 931 Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 4AQ The Hooper micropub,209 High Street, Wibsey, Bradford BD6 1JU
The Drop Kick, 204 Huddersfield Road, Bradford BD12 0AD
Jacob's Beer House, 14 Kent Street, Bradford BD1 5RL
The Corn Dolly, 110 Bolton Road
Sparrow Bar Bier Café, 32 North Parade, Bradford BD1 3HZ.
The Fighting Cock, 21-23 Preston Street |
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