THREE wins on the trot have revived Bradford Park Avenue's season – and manager John Deacey never doubted the ability of his players or the resilience within the club.

Avenue progressed in the FA Trophy, banking £4,000 and booking today's first-round home tie with Kidderminster Harriers, pulled away from the Vanarama Conference North relegation zone with a win at Harrogate Town and another derby success over Farsley saw them into the West Riding County Cup semi-finals.

Deacey said: "The lads have done well – really well – and not just in the last three games. We have been up against it all season with the injuries we've had but the lads haven't let it affect them.

"They like to enjoy the games and I think they enjoy the training. Even when we were in that little bad spell and losing games, they still wanted to play the game the right way.

"I have that philosophy and try to instil it in the squad. I like to bring players to the club who want to play entertaining, attractive football – and these lads do and they are all great kids.

"Most of them are kids as well as we have a very young squad. The only two with any real experience are Joe (Colbeck) and our keeper John Danby. The rest of them are playing at this level for the first time and really enjoying themselves.

"This is the third team I've built in my time here and it's coming together nicely. I think the club will be all right. It is strong and things are on the up on the field again."

Avenue were involved in two Football Remembers Week line-ups, with Saturday's league game at Harrogate and Monday's cup tie against Farsley.

The players from both teams broke ranks and intermingled for pre-match photographs, rather than the customary line-up either side of the officials prior to the Respect handshake.

The move was to recall the centenary of the Christmas truce, when soldiers from both sides climbed out of the trenches and played an impromptu game of football in no man's land.

It was particularly poignant for Avenue as their former player Donald Bell was the only English professional footballer to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Great War of 1914-1918. Bell, who was an Avenue player when he enlisted, was killed in action in 1916.