BRADFORD (Park Avenue)’s ladies have a new coaching trio at the helm, but they need to work hard for a successful future.

The desire is to grow into a more professional outfit under former Bradford City Women coaches Anthony Joyce, Marcus Matthews and Stephen Rushforth.

Joyce told the T&A: “We’re on a recruitment drive for players, as our league season has just started.

“Unfortunately, we were knocked out of the FA Cup last Sunday at Oughtibridge.

“We have the core of a squad who want to be successful but probably need to add a few more players to help the team achieve our goals for the season.”

Joyce knows this is challenge, saying: “We want to put it out there that myself, Marcus and Stephen have taken over and we’re just trying to take the club in a different direction and make it more professional, bringing a fresh start.

“We’re currently holding ongoing recruitment sessions at Horsfall every Thursday from 7:45pm to 9pm for anyone that wants to join the club.”

But there are reasons to be positive already, with Joyce saying: “Marcus and I were at Bradford City for eight years, and we coached the women’s Under-21s, while Stephen was in charge of the Under-23s.

“We got this great opportunity to come to Avenue and coach their firsts, help them grow and get the word out there, because the majority of the focus in Bradford is on City.

“We have all our games and training sessions at Horsfall, with its great facilities, and we’re waiting for talks with coaches for the men’s side, as it would be great to align and have one philosophy running through the whole club.”