A local junior football team has secured their most important victory yet by finally finding a place they can call home.

Bradford Hornets under-12s have ended their ten-month search for a ground after being allowed to play their home matches at Northcliffe Park, just a long goal-kick away from Valley Parade on Bradford Road.

Coach and chairman Stewart Statham said he was happy that the lengthy pursuit for a pitch is now over, with the club able to join The Huddersfield League now that their facilities meet their criteria.

“It was a process of elimination really. My dad rang Bradford Council and enquired about Northcliffe Park and they said it was fine, we could use it.

“We’re very relieved, although we would have carried on and on and on until we found somewhere. It’s got changing rooms and a pitch so it’s just what we were looking for.”

Statham, who runs the club with his father Phillip, said the team, made up of local ten and 11-year-olds, were ecstatic when they heard the good news, and can now look forward to their first competitive game as a club since forming last summer.

“They were absolutely over the moon, highly, highly delighted. We promised them that we’d never give up on them and that we’d join a league this season. They deserve it because they really enjoy it.

“We’ve had the kids since June last year and all they’ve been able to do in that time is train because, when we formed, we were too late to join a league. We’ve played a few friendlies but they’ve really just been training all year.”

Statham said he and his dad now have big plans for the club, which they have built up from scratch using their own money.

“My son played for another junior team but it kind of fell apart so my dad and I started one ourselves. We’ve put all our own money in, around £2,000 in total, which has paid for kits and tracksuits.

“We’ve got a plan to form two or three different age groups, and we have a couple of other parents that are interested in coaching them. It’s something we’ve always wanted to do, but we need to walk before we can run.”