BRADFORD (Park Avenue) have confirmed that they have agreed to take out a 35-year lease with the council for the Horsfall Stadium.

The lease will mean the club can go-ahead with their plans to put down a 3G pitch and form a base with the likes of West Bowling ARLFC and Bradford Airedale Athletics Club at the stadium, based on Cemetery Road.

It also opens the door to further development which will enable greater community use of the stadium from the public.

Another addition will be a new security fence which is part grant-aided by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), a sister organisation to the Football Foundation.

In recent years, Avenue's academy, juniors and ladies teams have been forced to play away from Horsfall, but now this will no longer be the case.

This much-needed investment will enable the club to develop the whole playing pyramid from grass-roots to senior football and provide a better experience for users and public.

Avenue owner Gareth Roberts told the club's website: “We would like to thank the FSIF and the Premier League for their assistance in helping us create an improved venue.

"It is part of our broader plan to create a sporting hub at Horsfall Stadium that will be of benefit for years to come with a focus on improving both the club and grassroots sport in the community, within the Bradford area.

"We hope to have further developments in due course.”