Match Preview proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Date: Saturday 21st September
Venue: Horsfall Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Highlights: Highwaymen TV
Morpeth make the trip to National League North side Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday looking to make further progress in the FA Cup.
History
Bradford FC began playing association football in 1895, alternating home Saturdays at Park Avenue with the Northern Union. The club shared the West Yorkshire League championship with Hunslet in 1895–96, also winning the Leeds Workpeople’s Hospital Cup. Bradford played in the FA Amateur Cup in 1896–97, progressing to the FA Cup in 1897–98 and 1898–99. It entered the Yorkshire League in 1897–98, finishing next to last, and was banished to Birch Lane the following season, closing down at the end of the 1898–99 season due to mounting losses.
The success of cross-town neighbours Manningham after switching to association football, (where it was renamed Bradford City A.F.C.), prompted the Northern Union club to abandon rugby in 1907 and apply to join the Football League. They were not accepted, instead joining the Southern League (although the club was based in the north) and filling a gap left by Fulham (who joined the Football League). Their nearest opponents were Northampton Town, whose ground was 130 miles distant.
In 1908, Bradford FC was elected to the Second Division of the Football League. The club was promoted to the First Division in 1914 after finishing second and achieved its highest-ever league position (ninth) at the end of the 1914–15 season. In 1914 Donald Bell played four games, but at the outbreak of war asked to be released to serve. Rising to the rank of lieutenant, in 1916 he received the VC for conspicuous bravery on the Somme before being killed later that year.
After the First World War the club began a steady decline, relegated to the Second Division in 1921 and to the Third Division North in 1922. In 1928, the club were the Division 3N champions and were promoted back to the Second Division. They were relegated again in 1950, and placed in the Fourth Division after a 1958 reorganisation. Although the club won promotion to the Third Division in 1961, they were relegated back to the Fourth Division in 1963.
After several difficult seasons, in 1970 they were replaced in the Football League by Cambridge United. The club joined the Northern Premier League, selling Park Avenue in 1973 and sharing facilities with Bradford City. Bradford (Park Avenue) went into liquidation on 3 May 1974 with debts of £57,652 and immediately re-formed as a Sunday league club playing in the league club’s former colours.
After playing at Bingley Road and Hope Avenue in 1974 in Bradford Amateur Sunday League Division Four, the club moved to Avenue Road and won promotion in 1975. The next season, they were again promoted into the newly formed Bradford Sunday Alliance League.
Although the stands and other buildings at Park Avenue were demolished in 1980, the playing field and terraces remained. The stadium was renovated for amateur football during the mid-1980s, and the Sunday League club played a full season there in 1987–88. However, it was forced to move out at the end of the season to accommodate an indoor cricket school on part of the pitch.
A new club was formed to return Bradford (Park Avenue) to Saturday football for the 1988–89 season, joining the West Riding County Amateur Football League and then the Central Midlands League for 1989–90. The club moved to the North West Counties League from 1990–91, playing matches at rugby-league grounds such as McLaren Field and Mount Pleasant, Batley). The Sunday side formed in 1974 merged with the new Saturday club in 1992. In 1995 Bradford (Park Avenue) won the North West Counties League, re-joining the Northern Premier League and moving to Horsfall Stadium.
At the beginning of the 2004–05 season they were founding members of the Conference North, although they were relegated to the Northern Premier League at the end of the season (after finishing seventh) and to Northern Division North the following season. The club returned to the Northern Premier League as champions in the 2007–08 season.
The club reached the FA Cup quarterfinals in 1912–13, 1919–20 and 1945–46. Since re-forming they have reached the first round three times, in 2003–04, 2011–12 and 2012–13. Since dropping into non-league football, the club’s best FA Trophy performance has been the fourth round in 1998–99. In the FA Vase, the club reached the second round in 1994–95.
Last Match
Bradford were denied in stoppage time by Spennymoor Town as the Moors grabbed a share of the points in a 1-1 draw. Brad Dockerty had put Park Avenue ahead in the first half as he scored his second goal in 2 games. Former Avenue striker, Adam Boyes ensured the points were shared when he scored in the 95th minute.
Joe Walton was the hero for Morpeth on Saturday when he came of the bench to score a late brace as the Highwaymen defeated Buxton. His first goal was scrambled home before he converted a penalty after Liam Henderson was barged over in the box. Brad Grayson grabbed a consolation for the visitors when he converted a spot kick in added time.
Manager
Marcus Law – Appointed manager of Bradford PA in the summer, Law has experience of managing in the non-league circuit following his first appointment at Coventry Sphinx in 1999. His career has taken him to Barwell, Tamworth and two spells at Kettering Town.
