Park Avenue

Where’s the final at?

 

Whatever their budget is this year it has forced them to be sold back into private ownership who has put someone in charge of cutting the budgets for next year to keep the club going

 

Doing it again next year after having their budget slashed, that hasn’t happened yet as the takeover has just happened, would be incredible.

 

Why?

 

The Wembley of the South.

 

Could be Avenue v Harrogate Town in the final with a bit of luck

 

Final is at the ground of whoever finished in the highest league position. The other semi final is between Harrogate and chorley so avenue would be away at one of them.
Brackley away up next, who have the fa trophy final at Wembley the week after so hopefully their minds will be fixed on that. Conspiracy theories abound about Brackley, with rumours they don't want to go up as they will struggle financially, on crowds of a couple of hundred (very similar to avenue) . Brackley were asked to move back to the southern section but asked not to as they benefit from being up in the North league with crowds from fc United, Darlington, Stockport, York etc filing the coffers.
My old man was amongst the 70 or so at Kidderminster last night, believe it or not both players and fans coaches were bricked upon leaving the ground

 

Good for him, many stopped watching BPA when they fell down the leagues buy some I assume as your dad stayed loyal.
With regards you coaches comment, me and the grandson attended the Avenue V Barrow game a couple of seasons ago and it very much reminded me of the bad old days, luckily the vast majority of Avenue fans on that day were older fans but if they'd had a few more young un's it could have got out of hand, the stewarding was very poor and there was no police presence that afternoon.
I hope they go all the way and get promoted.

 

Yeah he has pretty much followed them as long as I can remember. He didn't do the rivalry though he took me to city until I was old enough to go alone then left me to it whilst he did his avenue thing. Home and away for last few years you could count one one hand the games he has missed, pretty made up for him to be honest, he doesn't think they will go much further but you never know. In their last three games they beat 2nd 3rd and 4th just to make the play offs then returned to beat the 4th again so they are doing something right.
As for the "trouble" it's something he has mentioned alot. He actually prefers the old "non league" way when you could walk around the ground and mingle similar to up at avenue, but now he says with the bigger sides coming down that segregation is needed, and that segregation actually breeds an us and them mentality with some fans. York and Stockport have actually invaded the pitch at avenue this year and they have had bother away last couple of years. He was amongst a group of older fans who were attacked by Halifax fans in a pub near the shay last year.

 

To be honest I didn't realise how well Avenues were doing, Mark Bower has done a great job since he was appointed.

So what's the format now with regards the remaining play off games I only live down the road from Horsfall if their at home any time I'll go and watch the game.

 

All away, all straight knock out. Winners went straight up and teams 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 Played off with games at the highest placed so side.

So 4 v 7 winners away at 3
5 v 6 winners away at 2

Then same again who ever wins that 2nd lot of games play off in the final at the ground of the team who finished highest. So by virtue of finishing last in the play offs, all avenues games are away.

 

Been keeping an eye on this league what with living not far from Harrogate, they've been challenging Salford to win the league until the last couple of weeks of the season whereas Avenue had a slump not too dissimilar to our own but have now won 6 games in a row so have hit form at a good time. Harrogate also went professional this season I think and it seems to have paid off. Would love to see either go up in all honesty, a few ex City links in both teams as well

 

Peel park

 

Bower seems to be doing a great job, as he did at Guiseley. Hope they do it, and I'd be interested too see if their gates took a big leap with the league being national, also would they need to go full time? A lot down there seem to be now. Could also benefit us with a conference team to loan players to in the same city.

 

Another bonus could be that we would be called "Bradford CITY" again in the media.......

 

Feck em!