After a positive start to the season, Avro look to continue an unbeaten start, although with a change of competition as we play our first FA Cup fixture in a first competitive meeting with Bradford Park Avenue. It’s set to be an intriguing tie as The Ro look to go on a cup run while Bradford PA are looking to return to form and get their name back across in a positive aspect.
Thanks to our league position last season, The Ro avoided having a tie in the Extra Preliminary Round so enter the competition this season at The Preliminary Round, the same stage at which Avro exited the competition last season after a 2-1 defeat at home to Bury.
It was Bury who Avro entertained last time out as The Ro hosted their first home league fixture of the campaign. The game lived up to the expectation as both sides played high quality football in a 1-1 draw at The Vestacare. Tawab Djankpata put Avro ahead on the half hour mark after Bury failed to clear from a corner and the clearance struck Tawab and flew into the top corner, it wasn’t how he would’ve been expecting to open the scoring but they all count! Bury levelled just before the interval thanks to a header from recent signing, Louis Isherwood.
Bradford Park Avenue:
Playing at Horsfall Community Stadium, Bradford Park Avenue are competing this season in the Northern Premier League East. The club have a rich history in the FA Cup after reaching the Quarter-Final in the 1945/46 season. As recent as 2023, Bradford Park Avenue were competing in the National League North but a disappointing couple of seasons has seen the hosts fall two divisions in as many seasons. After relegation from the National League North, they were relegated from the Northern Premier League the season after. They currently sit 14th in the league after two draws in their opening two league fixtures against Emley and Matlock Town. The FA Cup always provides a positive distraction away from any league worries so the hosts will be hoping this is the case this time around after a narrow 1-0 victory over Mossley last time out.
Head to Head:
The sides meet tomorrow for a first competitive fixture and The Ro travel to the Horsfall Community Stadium looking to make it a positive first meeting with Bradford Park Avenue. Doing so would see Avro progress to the first qualifying round. It marks a contrasting difference in how the sides have enjoyed the last couple of seasons as, despite being levels apart as recent as three seasons ago, they’re both just a lateral division away.
Details:
Bradford Park Avenue v Avro
Saturday 16th August
Kick Off 15:00
Horsfall Community Stadium, BD6 2NG
Emirates FA Cup
£10 Adults, £5 Students, £3 Youth (12-17), £1 U12s
