Bradford Park Avenue are taking a step into the unknown this weekend as they host Worcester City in their first Conference North fixture for seven years.

The division was known as the Nationwide North when Carl Shutt’s Avenue were relegated at the end of their first season. Now it is the Blue Square Bet North and the constitution has changed a lot.

Bradford boss John Deacey has suffered heartbreak in his quest to get the club back to step two of the non-league ladder but is looking forward to the new season.

Deacey was at the helm when Avenue were beaten in the play-off final by Boston United and had returned for a second spell when his side went out at home to FC United of Manchester in the semi-finals 12 months later.

They met FC United at Horsfall Stadium again last May, and this time Deacey led his side to glory after Tom Greaves had netted the game’s only goal deep into stoppage time.

The boss is ready and he feels his players are also as they finally get to test themselves in the Conference North.

Deacey said: “We have got a strong squad, there are no big names in there but that is how we got here. It is a young group of players but youth is the way forward these days.”

Their last two friendlies, a 3-1 win at home to Football League neighbours Bradford City followed by a 3-0 defeat at Whitby Town, were chalk and cheese but neither game saw Deacey allowed the luxury of selecting from his full complement of players.

The boss added, “We didn’t have our top two forwards (new signings Danny Holland and Jamie Jackson) against City and we only had four substitutes that travelled with us to Whitby, and one of them (Greaves) was injured.

“We also had Adam Clayton out for the last few friendly matches and we had let a couple of players go from the big squad we had in pre-season. It has been all preparation for the last week and I can’t wait for us all to get going against Worcester.

“It is a higher level than last season and it won’t be easy but if we can hold our own in this league, and I do hope we can for our supporters, then I’ll be happy this season.

“The boys have to get used to it (the higher level) and see it as a new challenge. As manager I just want us to keep playing the football that we did last season because I like watching this side play.

“It’s also good that Guiseley, Halifax and Harrogate Town are all at the same level. We have two local derbies in our first four fixtures, which is decent because it is good for the club and the crowd and we need our supporters behind us more than ever now."