BRADFORD (Park Avenue) have signed experienced central midfielder Simon Richman.

Richman had spent 10 years at Altrincham before leaving them this summer, and he has a brilliant track record within the game.

He broke through at Port Vale in the Football League as a teenager, picking up the club's Young Player of the Year award in 2008/09 after establishing himself as a first team regular.

But a more difficult campaign followed, and he joined Conference North side Worcester City in the summer of 2010.

He only spent a season there, before signing for divisional rivals Altrincham in 2011.

They won promotion out of the Conference North via the play-offs in 2014 and after a sticky couple of seasons for the club, Richman helped them win the NPL Premier Division title in 2017/18.

With Richman still patrolling the midfield, Altrincham were promoted into the National League for 2020/21.

But the Lancashire-born star found game time hard to come by in the fifth tier, playing just 13 times last season before leaving in the summer.

That meant he was available for Avenue to snap up, and his delighted new manager Mark Bower said: "We are excited to get Simon in.

"With the injuries we have had in the centre of the park, we knew we had to act.

"Getting someone of Simon’s calibre in, with his experience and know how, is a massive signing for us."

Richman made his debut for Avenue on Saturday, playing 85 minutes in their 0-0 draw at Gloucester City.

He has a free weekend coming up though, with Bradford's scheduled game against Gateshead this Saturday postponed due to the latter's continued involvement in the FA Cup.