Modern-day Bradford (Park Avenue) legend Nicky Clee is celebrating after marking an incredible career milestone in style a few days ago.

Clee is now 40, and was already well into his thirties when he joined Avenue in 2017.

But the midfielder was absolutely vital to the team for half-a-decade under Mark Bower, proving to be a driving force in their shock runs to the National League North play-offs in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

He left briefly at the end of the latter season, which also saw Bower depart.

But when the Bantams defender returned to the Horsfall hotseat in the September of that year, Clee soon followed him back to the club, leaving Ashton United to return to BD6 that December.

His experience proved vital in keeping a then-struggling side in the division, especially during a gruelling 2021/22 campaign that saw the side finish with a flourish.

Citing travel difficulties, Clee left the club in May 2022 to join Mossley, and it was little surprise that Avenue were relegated the following season without their talisman pulling the strings in midfield.

In a long career that saw him turn out for Hyde United, Altrincham and Guiseley, Clee looks to be winding his career down now at Golcar United.

He made an incredible 800th career appearance last Friday night for the West Yorkshire side, but not only that, he scored a wonderful free kick, which proved to be a winner in a 3-2 victory over Garforth Town.

It is a result that keeps Golcar in the play-off mix in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, with six games of their season left to go.

They had their midweek game at home to Barton Town postponed due to bad weather.

That means Clee’s next chance to shine will come back in Bradford, when he and his team-mates travel to face struggling Eccleshill United this Saturday.