Bradford City AFC Women has today launched a new partnership with Bradford (Park Avenue), which will see home games now hosted at the Horsfall Community Stadium.
Starting from Sunday February 27 against Norton & Stockton Ancients in the FA Women’s National League Division One North, all women’s fixtures will now be held at BPA, moving from Eccleshill United’s Mitton Group Stadium.
The move demonstrates a further step in the club’s partnership with Bradford City Women, and will provide a wider development pathway for Bradford’s female footballers, with the opportunity to gain valuable experience through dual registrations and loan arrangements.
It follows Bradford City Women being taken over in full by the Bradford City Community Foundation in December 2020.
City manager Chris Hames said: “It is a great opportunity for us now, but more importantly for the development and progression of this club going forward.
“The Horsfall is a historic ground that, in recent years, has undergone great development to become one of the primary facilities in the region.
“That mirrors our ambition. We want to reflect off the pitch the same ambitions we have on it, and take this club onwards.
“I am looking forward to setting up a base here, creating a following and commencing this new chapter in the club’s progression.”
Qasim Akhtar, Bradford City Women chairman, said: “Bradford Park Avenue is a massive part of the sporting community in Bradford, and I am thrilled with today's announcement.
“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes at Bradford City AFC Women for us to continue the development of the club, and moving to the Horsfall Stadium - one of the best stadiums in the district - undoubtedly helps us do this.
“The partnership between the two clubs extends beyond the use of the ground, and I am really excited to work on the continued growth of women’s football in Bradford over the weeks and months ahead.
“I would also like to place on record our thanks to Eccleshill United Football Club. Sally, Adrian, Nick, Liam, Pam and the rest of the team up there have been absolutely amazing for a number of years.
“Their service to Bradford City AFC Women has been immense, and I wish Eccleshill United and everyone associated with the club all the best with the rest of their season and beyond.”
Bradford (Park Avenue)’s operations manager, Calum Cullen, added: “We are absolutely delighted to partner up with Bradford City AFC Women.
“It is a fantastic club, and the partnership will help both of us progress in the future.”
City will be running a ‘pay-what-you-want’ scheme for the Norton & Stockton match a week on Sunday, which will also see the final opportunity to buy tickets for the club’s fundraising raffle - with the first prize being a signed City Women’s shirt.