Ross almost played Daly on his comeback from injury (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Park Avenue's Ross almost played Daly on his comeback from injury

4:50pm Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Ross Daly’s hopes that the weather would relent enough for Bradford Park Avenue’s game last Saturday to go ahead were unfulfilled.

He was looking to get a fourth start on the trot for Avenue as he continues his comeback from a hip operation in the close season.

Not only were Bradford sidelined last weekend, their Monday night fixture was also postponed, so the midfielder and his team-mates missed another two games.

The frustrating spell with no meaningful football action since the defeat in the Conference North at Brackley Town way back on January 12 is in stark contrast to Daly’s hectic comeback schedule when he was involved in three games in four days – all for different clubs.

Daly said: “It was a difficult comeback because after getting over the op and returning to training with the boys, I was still short of match fitness after so long out.

“John (Bradford boss Deacey) said I needed games, and he knows Vinny (Thackley manager Brockie) and Pars (Farsley boss Neil Parsley) really well. He arranged for me to go on a month’s loan to Thackley and then me and Adam (Clayton) to go to Farsley.”

Brockie was assistant manager at Avenue under Deacey, and Thackley was Daly’s first club on the non-league ladder. Parsley was Deacey’s No 2 when he was in charge at Farsley Celtic.

One particular week in the middle of January, Daly played for Thackley on the Saturday, was on the bench for Avenue on the Monday, then played for Farsley in a League Cup win over Clitheroe on the Tuesday.

Daly added: “I really enjoyed going back to Thackley and it was great catching up with a lot of friends at the club - some of them supporters.

"I got a lot of game-time and I hope I helped them as much as they helped me, and Pars was great with me at Farsley.

“I knew a lot of the lads already so it was easy to fit in and I got a good 90 minutes in. I was going there for a couple of games but that didn’t work out because Avenue needed me back here.

“It was great for me and I really enjoyed getting all those games in. But after building my match fitness back up and playing in all of our (Avenue’s) last three games, the weather has brought an end to it.

"At least this time the rest of the lads will be just as rusty as me when we do get back on the pitch!”