From Dennyfield to Horsfall: My Third Game of the Season

After two matches down in the depths of tier 9, I took a step up in quality on Tuesday night, heading to Horsfall Stadium to watch Bradford Park Avenue take on Brighouse Town in the Northern Premier League East Division, the dizzying heaights of tier 8 in the football pyramid. This was my first evening game of the season, and the weather didn’t disappoint—it was a mixed bag of wind, rain, sunshine, and even a rainbow.

Horsfall is an interesting ground, complete with a running track around the pitch, which gives it a different feel compared to the more intimate grounds like Thackley’s Dennyfield. Despite the gap between the action and the stands, I managed to settle in with a pint of Worthington’s to keep me company. Nothing like a midweek pint at the football, is there?

The game kicked off at a brisk pace with plenty of early chances. Bradford Park Avenue (BPA) looked sharp, especially in the opening ten minutes, but the fake pitch added a weird dynamic, with the ball bouncing around like it was a beach ball at times. One thing I noticed quickly was the standard—definitely a notch above Thackley’s level. The pace was quicker, the passing was crisper, and the players generally looked a bit more polished. There were a number of players in the Park Avenue side that had league experience, many having turned out for City in the past.

That said, my favourite player on the night was Avenue's Number 7, who had his socks down around his ankles like he didn’t care. It’s the kind of swagger you don’t see in Tier 9, and I was all for it. For that alone, he gets my vote for Man of the Match.

After BPA’s bright start, Brighouse worked their way back into the game, and against the run of play, they took the lead around the 30-minute mark. It was a fantastic strike, the kind that makes you momentarily forget you’re watching eighth-tier football. Brighouse had soaked up the pressure and struck back. Solid defending saw them take that 1-0 lead into halftime.

By this point, it was time for the all-important halftime burger and chips. I’ve got to say, the food game at these non-league grounds has been strong this season. The burger was solid, and it kept me going for the second half.

Brighouse started the second half brightly, earning a penalty not long after the restart. But just when you thought they might extend their lead, BPA’s keeper pulled off a great save. That felt like a turning point, and sure enough, Bradford Park Avenue found an equaliser about 20 minutes into the half. A deep cross from the right found Dan Francis at the far post, and he headed the ball down into the bottom corner. Simple, effective football, and the crowd of 385 appreciated it.

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The game fizzled out a bit after that, though there was still some late drama. BPA had a goal disallowed, and you could sense that both teams were looking for the winner. Despite a bit of rain and some late pressure from BPA, it ended 1-1. Brighouse were dangerous throughout, but BPA probably edged it on balance. Still, a draw felt fair.

One observation from the game—there weren’t many chants, which got me thinking: at what tier do fans start belting out the chants more regularly? There were a few late on, but it was mostly quiet in the stands, save for the odd bit of advice shouted to the players. Maybe chanting is something that kicks in higher up the pyramid. I’ll find out as I move up the levels, I suppose.

So that’s three games, three different tiers, and three very different experiences. My next stop? The Premier League. I’m heading to Goodison Park for Everton vs. Bournemouth. It’s a big step up from Tier 8 football, and it’s going to be an odd one for me. Born in Bournemouth, but an Everton supporter—so who do I cheer for? Either way, it’ll be a far cry from the Worthington’s and cheeseburgers at Horsfall Stadium.