BRADFORD (Park Avenue) will be able to play the first match on their new 3G Horsfall pitch on September 12, pending the surface passes an inspection two days prior.

Mark Bower's men have only been able to train at their home thus far, meaning all friendlies have had to be played away.

Lower league Silsden, Ossett United and today's opponents Thackley have all stepped in to provide his team with vital minutes as the countdown to the FA Cup opener on October 3 has truly begun.

Director of football Martin Knight is confident Avenue will be able to don their new facilities next week against Grantham Town.

He said: "They (FA and FIFA) are supposed to do the sign off on the 10th.

"I think they are still working on it. When we had that bad rain it is about letting the pitch settle because we had just put down the crust which is the little rubber balls.

"The rain helped us see if there were any areas where water is standing, so we could make sure the drainage is ok.

"The first team have been training on it Tuesdays and Thursdays these last few weeks. The academy started on Tuesday and the first junior session on Wednesday.

"We are putting miles on the clock but we can’t hire it out to anybody else or play a competitive match from an insurance point of view. As soon as we get it signed off we become insured."

Earlier this week, the National League announced that Avenue's fixtures will be released on Tuesday with their campaign starting on October 5 and ending on May 29.

To start the season the club also confirmed that, after talks with the council, Horsfall's capacity will be 522, 38 down from last year's average attendance.

Knight explained the challenges Avenue may have with this limit and what measures the club will be forced to implement on matchday.

Knight added: "This will be our maximum capacity until the regulation changes. It is all based on how the stadium is designed.

"We have done the safe ground assessment. We thought we might be able to get up to around 820 but the council said 522.

"We are going to run a first come first serve system with season ticket holders.

"It is not ideal but every club is in the same boat. We will probably one of the least effected. Although, certain fixtures like Chester, York and Boston, we might struggle.

"One team will have to get changed in what is the hospitality room and one in the pavilion. They will each come through different gates.

"We are classed as elite (by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) so there is going to be areas of the ground that you can’t go in.

"The referees will go in the pavilion with the away team. The National League have said that the away team should get the ‘better facilities’.

"We will also have to get more stewards in. It is all quite complexed."