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GOALKEEPER CRAIG ELLISON AND ACCRINGTON STANLEY WINGER HARLEY LAWTON JOIN THE AVENUE! 

Bradford (Park Avenue) can today confirm the signing of Goalkeeper Craig Ellison, who joins the club on a deal that will see him at the Horsfall until the end of the 23/24 season.
We can also confirm the signing of winger Harley Lawton, who joins until the end of the season, on a work experience loan from Accrington Stanley. We’d like to say a huge thanks to Accrington for their help in getting this deal over the line. Ellison started his career at Crewe Alexandra, and has experience in National League North with Vauxhall Motors and Stalybridge Celtic. He also had a short spell with North Ferriby in the National League.
He has also been on the books at FC Halifax Town, Hyde United, Curzon Ashton, Colwyn Bay, and Witton Albion, as well as playing abroad for CFZ Brasilia, and having a trial at Fluminense. Across the pond he also made appearances for Miami Dade.
Goalkeeper Coach Dean Baker had this to say on the signing; “Looking forward to working with Craig, I’ve known him for a few years, and his experience and professionalism within the game will be a great addition to our team.“I’ve worked with him in both coaching and playing, and I know he’s got a good drive and is always looking to improve himself and those around him. “We knew it was a great opportunity to get him involved, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Craig can offer to the team”



Both are available for selection immediately, stay tuned to our socials for the latest team news!


 

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This match is much more important to Bradford than it is to us but we still want to finish the season with as many points as possible and as high as we can.  
We are currently 12th and have 44 points with 7 games left.
Gainsborough are 11th with 3 points more than us
Lancaster are currently 10th with 6 points more than us  
Realistically 10th is as high as we could finish
Most of us would have been happy with that before the season started.

 

Last edited by Matchman (29/3/2024 3:01 PM)

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EX-CITY STRIKER JAMES HANSON LEAVES RETIREMENT TO JOIN AVENUE! 
Bradford (Park Avenue) can today announce the signing of ex-Bradford City striker James Hanson, confirming an exciting return from his previously announced retirement.
Hanson is available for selection immediately, following agreements on a deal that will see him at the Horsfall until the end of the season.
Hanson is well known by fans at our neighbours Bradford City, where he made over 300 appearances, and scored at least 91 goals over an 8-year career with the Bantams.
His playing career has already spanned over 17 years, and along with City, he has been on the books at Eccleshill, Guiseley, Sheffield United, Bury, AFC Wimbledon, Grimsby Town, Farsley Celtic, Boston United, and most recently at Worksop Town.
Hanson’s stats show over 142 goals in over 536 appearances, from Non-League to the EFL, bringing a wealth of experience into Danny Whitakers squad.
James had this to say on his signing; “Really happy to come and help my local team in their bid to avoid relegation, it’s on my doorstep and a team full of young lads so my experience will definitely help them”

You can watch just a few of his best goals on our announcement video below.

https://youtu.be/v83HhaCKVEY

 

Last edited by Matchman (29/3/2024 5:27 PM)

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Here are today's fixtures:

Atherton Colls v Basford                -     pitch  passed fit for the big relegation battle               
Bamber Bridge v Gainsborough       
Guiseley v Lancaster                     
Ilkeston v Bradford PA                   -      big game for Bradford  in their relegation fight                         
Macclesfield v FC United              
Matlock v Marine                                       
Morpeth v Warrington Rylands    
Stafford Rangers v Workington       -     big game for Stafford in their relegation fight
Worksop v Hyde United                  


Second half score updates from these matches here on Whiteball





 

Ilkeston Town
1 Yates, 2 King, 3 Koby Eratt-Thompson, 4 Declan Eratt-Thompson 5 Tom Marshall, 6 Minkley, 7 White, 8 Meikle, 9 Alex Marshall, 10 Loughlan 11 Cursons.
Bench: 12 Dixon, 14 Wafula, 15 Walker, 17 Hutchinson, 19 Leivers.

Bradford Park Avenue
1 Flavell, 2 Odunston, 3 O'Malley, 4 Lancaster, 5 Young, 6 D'Sena, 7 Maieco, 8 Lavelle. 9 Thibaut, 10 Preston, 11 Daniels.
Bench: 12 Whiting, 14 Hanson, 15 Hopper, 16 Colville, 17 Lawton.



 

It's a slow start .  Good save by Flavell  then a couple of Ilkeston corners which are defended.    0-0.     7 minutes

Yates still hasn't had to make a save. All the play is at the end Bradford are defending but without much goalmouth action.     0-0     18 mins

Corner to Bradford causes problems but eventually it's cleared. What a save by Yates from a point blank header from Thibaut. He must have thought he'd scored when he connected with the cross. Bradford are starting to play now.    0-0.      32 mins

Last edited by Matchman (30/3/2024 3:35 PM)

Turn and shot by Thibaut goes over the bar then near miss at the other end but it's only a corner.  Ilkeston header glances the top of the crossbar.       0-0.    41 mins

I'm missing the action . Its now  2-0 to Bradford

2 corners to Bradford,  Yates collects and Ilkeston break but its over the bar. 
Coursons header saved .   Goal. Tom Cursons makes no mistake with a header this time.      1-2.       70 mins

Great effort by Cursons after beating his opponent  but Flavell is equal to it. Cursons tripped on the run.
Ilkeston pressing now.  Dec scores direct from the corner.   I knew it was going in from when he kicked it 
2-2   

UPDATES 30th March 2024 16:43
 
Northern Premier League Premier Division
 
Atherton Collieries 1 Basford United 2
    Thornhill 55’ 0-1
    Lusiama 74’ 1-1
    Thornhill 79’ 1-2
Bamber Bridge 1 Gainsborough Trinity 1
    Howe 8’  0-1
   Baxter 32’ 1-1
Guiseley 1 Lancaster City 2
    Carroll 22’ 0-1
    Ible 40’ 1-1
    Evangelinos 75’ 1-2
Ilkeston Town 2 Bradford PA 2   
    Thibaut 44’ 0-1
    Maieco 53’ 0-2
    Cursons 68’ 1-2
    Eratt-Thompson 77’ 2-2
Macclesfield 3 FC United of Manchester 1
    Mendy 21’ 1-0
    Drummond 58’ 2-0
    Palinkos 45+1’ 2-1
    Heathcote 66’ 3-1
Matlock Town 0 Marine 1
    Solomon 30’ 0-1
Morpeth Town 1  Warrington Rylands 2
    Shenton 22’ 0-1
    Johnson 37’ 1-1
    Hardcastle 45’ 1-2
Stafford Rangers 1 Workington 0
    Cooke 29’ 1-0
Worksop Town 1 Hyde United 0
    Wilde 32’ 1-0

Bradford so close to a goal after a defensive mishap.  Ilkeston free kick on edge of area after Walker is fouled. 

4 minutes added time.        still 2-2

Last edited by Matchman (30/3/2024 4:51 PM)