Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C.

Bradford A.F.C. (almost always referred to as Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C.) is a football (soccer) team based in Bradford, England. They currently play in the Conference North.

History

Although the roots of the club go back to the 19th century it was formed as an Association Football club in 1907. In 1908, they joined The Football League and spent many years in the first and second divisions before starting a steady decline after the second world war. They left the League in 1970 after failing to be re-elected. The club were accepted into the Northern Premier League. The original club went bankrupt in 1978 and was immediately re-formed as a Sunday league club. In 1988, they returned to regular football, this time in the Central Midlands League Supreme Division. Since then, Bradford have climbed up the league system and are currently members of Nationwide Conference North.

• 1907-08 – Joined Southern League, straight into Division One
• 1908-09 – Elected to Football League Division Two
• 1913-14 – Football League Division Two runner-up; promoted to Division One
• 1921 – Relegated to Division Two
• 1922 – Relegated to Division Three North
• 1922-23 – Football League Division Three North runner-up
• 1925-26 – Football League Division Three North runner-up
• 1927-28 – Football League Division Three North Champions; promoted to Division Two
• 1950 – Relegated to Division Three North
• 1958-59 – Placed in Division Four on League reorganisation
• 1960-61 – Promoted to Division Three
• 1963 – Relegated to Division Four
• 1970 – Failed to be re-elected to Football League
• 1970-71 – Joined Northern Premier League
• 1974 – Folded
• 1977 – New Bradford Park Avenue club formed
• 1989-90 – Joined Central Midlands League Supreme Division
• 1990-91 – Joined North West Counties League Division Two; promoted to Division One
• 1992 – Escaped relegation by goal difference
• 1994-95 – North West Counties League Champions
• 1995-96 – Joined Northern Premier League Division One
• 2000-01 – Northern Premier League Division One Champions; promoted to Premier Division
• 2004-05 – Joined Conference in newly-formed Northern Division

• Best league position: 9th in Football League Division One (then level 1), [1914]]-15 (since re-forming: 7th in Northern Premier League (then level 6) in 2002-03)
• Best FA Cup performance: Quarter finals, 1912-13, 1919-20, and 1945-46 (since re-forming: 1st round, 2003-04))
• Best Football League Cup performance: 3rd round replay, 1962-63 (not played since re-forming)
• Best FA Trophy performance: 4th round, 1998-99 (Never played before re-forming)
• Best FA Vase performance: 2nd round, 1994-95. (Never played before re-forming)

Source: Football Club History Database

Name note

Though officially called Bradford A.F.C., Park Avenue (the location of the club's original stadium) is nearly always appended to their name to avoid confusion with Bradford City A.F.C..

External link

• Official site