Bradford Park Avenue (again)

Yes Mick Booker lived near me, down Measbrough Dyke if I recall correctly. He never made it as a first teamer at Oakwell but was a regular the Central League side. He left on a free transfer to join Bradford PA.

 

Went to sunday league cricket match there back in the 80s and you could walk through into the football ground. The grass on the pitch was almost waist height. The floodlight towers had been cut down but otherwise it all looked intact. Very sad.

 

I was there the year after that 7-2 mauling, inspired by Kevin Hector's five-goal performance. The home fans couldn't help reminding us that "Hector got five" etc but they were soon shut up as the Reds avenged that defeat with a good 3-1 win. It was an evening match as I recall.

 

My first away match was at Bradford Park Avenue. My dad took me in the early 60s. The thing that stuck in my mind was the double-sided stand, one facing the football pitch and the opposite side facing the cricket ground. We entered through the cricket stand and I remember thinking that this must be the only ground in the country with such a stand. Sheff United, Northampton and Darlington all featured cricket/football but none of them had a stand like that one. Oh and I think we drew 1-1

 

Went to Donny Rd school with Mick both played in school team. i think he went to Grove St and i went to Broadway. He was a milkman for years.

 

There are some recent pics on that group of the stadium dying a slow death. Heartbreaking.

(Bradford) Park Avenue Remembered is the group I follow. They are dedicated. I was going to introduce them to @Dyson and Daydream believers when they were looking to create a documentary / film.

One day

 

Thanks for the replies chaps. Heartwarming.

That pic though...... ❤️❤️

 

At the time it was a much better stadium than Valley Parade shame they couldn't share.

 

Like most clubs that died at least they rose again. I saw them play Harrogate in a conference match a couple of years ago

 

Jim Fryatt?

 

Yes, me too.

It was my first year of watching, and it coincided with our first ever year in Division 4. Your are right, Hector did score 5, and the other 2 were scored by Bobby Ham.

 

Went on to play for Stockport County didn’t he?

 

Bobby Ham went on to play for Bradford City. Nasty little bugger.

 

Remember talking to Barry Wood as he ran out of the tunnel to warm up ,he came over laughing after my mate shouted ‘ where’s your pads ’ to him

 

He was the big number nine for Southport when we played them in an FA Cup First Round tie in1966. They were flying high at the top of the league but we had new signings Barrie Thomas and Johnny Evans starring up front. Over 11,000 turned up to see us beat them 3-1 with Thomas bagging a brace. This was the start of the Buckle/Dennis era and crowds that had barely breached the 2,000 mark rapidly improved.

 

Second round tie against Port Vale was supposed to be my first game. Foggy as hell, old man convinced it would be off so didn’t get to go.

Made my league and cup debut for the third round tie with Cardiff. And was immediately hooked on the drug that is our wonderful football club. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

https://www.11v11.com/teams/barnsley/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Bradford Park Avenue/

 

If ever a player should have signed for the Massives.

 

You are spot on , I had the pleasure of enduring 90 minutes of torture , although I do believe we scored first , it was a night match & it was thoroughly miserable night .

 

I was at that Cardiff game as well. The first of a long series of disappointing results against the Bluebirds since then. The revolution was in full swing now and that match attracted 21,000. Unbelievable turnaround after almost going to the wall only a short time before. I know that we all complain about business men investing money in football clubs but without the input from Messrs Buckle and Dennis the club would have probably ceased to exist, such were the heavy dark clouds over Oakwell just after that England World Cup win.

The difference though, of course was that these two chaps were Barnsley men through and through and their investment was the £10,000 it cost to buy Barrie Thomas from Scunthorpe and Johnny Evans from Exeter. Peanuts you might say, but a significant amount back then. We fans should be forever grateful that two local men cared enough to save our football club, because that is exactly what they did.