BRADFORD (Park Avenue) are celebrating at the moment, and not just because of a last-gasp equaliser in their relegation battle at the weekend.
On the field, Jordan Preston's strike in the 95th minute at home to 10-man Kettering Town on Saturday kept Avenue three points clear of the drop zone in National League North, leaving their opponents stuck in the bottom four in the process.
But that 1-1 draw is not the only reason for Avenue to be cheerful, with the club doing the business off the pitch too.
Avenue won the prize of ‘Excellence Award in Youth Sports Development 2022’ at the Northern Enterprise Awards, with their ever-growing academy nurturing hundreds of youngsters from Under-7s level through to their scholarship sides.
The club's academy technical director, Thomas McStravick, said: "We are extremely happy to receive this award.
"This award is recognition of, not just the staff’s hard work over the last year, but also the players.
"Their passion to be the best they can be has really shone throughout our player pathway and I am so happy for them.
"I would also like to pay thanks to our volunteer coaches, who give up their time to help our youth players be the best version of themselves.
"Well done everybody."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here