BRADFORD (Park Avenue) goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy insists his full focus is on the National League North side, even if he would love a return to the Football League in the future.

The 23-year-old has been an ever-present in the Avenue goal since Mark Bower brought him to the club in December 2021, and the stopper has a deal at Horsfall that runs until the summer of 2024.

He is really enjoying his football again, having had the disappointment of being released by Bradford City in the summer of 2020 after playing just two senior games for the club, both in the 2019/20 EFL Trophy.

Sykes-Kenworthy told the T&A: "I wanted to play, and I'm grateful to Mark for giving me that opportunity at Avenue.

"I've not missed a game since joining the club, and I think I've dealt well with the physicality in this league.

"I had to leave City because of all the issues with Covid, which was a difficult time for everyone, but I can't have any regrets.

"It was just an unfortunate situation and the simple fact of the matter was that the club didn't offer me a new contract in 2020.

"It would be nice to catch the eye of some EFL teams going forward, but I've not really thought about, I've just been fully concentrating on BPA.

"You always want to play football as high as you possibly can, so if that means being back in the EFL in the future, then so be it.

"We'll just have to see what happens."

Avenue's season began disastrously, with no wins in their opening 10 league games, but seven wins and four draws since have moved them out of the four-team relegation zone.

Sykes-Kenworthy reflected: "We didn't start as well as we should have done, but we were unlucky in some matches, where we should have got something from them.

"Once we got the ball rolling (by beating Curzon Ashton 2-1 in October) our performances and results have pushed us nicely up the table."

Sykes-Kenworthy's saves have been vital to Avenue's progress this season, and the keeper said: "I'm pleased with myself.

"I had a target of 20 clean sheets for the season before it started, and while I knew that would be tough to do, we've conceded a few late goals to draw 1-1 or lose 1-0, so my record could have easily been a bit different.

"My performances have been reasonably solid, and it's been good to carry that on from last season."

Avenue's 2-2 draw on New Year's Day at Farsley Celtic was a chaotic game for Sykes-Kenworthy, as he gave away two penalties, saved one of them, conceded the other, before producing second-half heroics to help earn 10-man Avenue a point.

He said: "Farsley away was a bit of a whirlwind for me.

"The (wet and windy) conditions that day weren't ideal for helping our style of play and with my mistakes, I obviously didn't mean for them to happen.

"I just had to try and forget about them and deal with the rest of the game and I felt I did that well."

As for being a goalkeeper in a relegation battle, Sykes-Kenworthy said: "It can spur you on and make you really up for games to be honest.

"Every game I expect to be relatively busy, so I have to make sure I stay switched on the whole time."