Bradford Park Avenue
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experience and understand the demands that will be placed on them if they are to succeed at a higher level of football .”
Community
“ We changed our club title last season to become Bradford Park Avenue Community Football Club to demonstrate our commitment to develop resources for the local Community . Just over two years ago we formed a partnership with a local charity JAMES ( Joint Activities and Motor Education Service ) and employed a worker , Ben Stead , funded through the National League Community Trust . He has developed a Homeless Football Team and made great links with local Primary Schools to organise a recent tournament .
The winners then went on to represent the Club at a Regional Tournament and only narrowly lost in the Final . The Club also gave Season tickets to all the Primary
Schools who took part in the original local tournament to encourage their teachers to nominate students who had ‘ achieved ’ within the school and they then come and act as mascots at our First-Team games . This summer has also seen our first Summer Holiday Club based at the ground .”
Challenges
“ The Club has plans to take over the Lease of the Ground from the Council and to further develop the stadium to allow for greater Community usage . There are plans to introduce Synthetic pitches at the ground which will also facilitate local football sides playing on better surfaces . All of this however will require a better infra-structure at the Club and the recruitment of more volunteers and some paid staff . Many of our current supporters and volunteers remember the Club ’ s time in the Football League and a greater influx of youthful support will be required over the coming years to continue the progress that the Club is making off the pitch . Attracting young people to support the Club when faced with the success of our neighbours at Bradford City is a big challenge .”
Ambitions
“ Currently , the ground has a running track surrounding the pitch which is a major inhibitor to attracting greater attendances but part of the plans to take over the Lease include the removal of that track . The Directors are focussing on methods that can hopefully increase attendances and this in turn will help sustain a move from the National League North to the National League itself .
You never want to limit the playing ambitions at the Club but a further promotion from our current level and the Club achieving sustainability at that level is a realistic ambition for the next five years that the majority of our supporters would be happy with . Success breeds success however so we would be then within sight of our goal of getting back into the League .
I dream of being there at our first game back in the League !”
34 Issue 74