BRADFORD (Park Avenue)’s home game against current Northern Premier League East Division leaders Emley next month will be an extra-special occasion.
Neil Redfearn will be the special guest of honour at the game on Tuesday, October 22, where he will be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.
The midfielder enjoyed a stellar career in the Football League, which began at Bolton Wanderers way back in 1982.
He scored the goal that gave Oldham the old Second Division title in 1990-91, returning them to the top-flight for the first time in 68 years.
Redfearn left that summer to join Barnsley, where he established himself as a club legend over his seven years at Oakwell.
He scored 17 goals in 1996-97, instrumental in earning the Tykes a place in the Premier League.
Redfearn was arguably their best player the following season, but he could not prevent them from being relegated, leaving in the summer of 1998 after making 338 times for the club.
He went on to play further Premier League football with Charlton Athletic and Bradford City, though he featured just 17 times in the league for the Bantams.
Redfearn slowly made his way down the leagues at the turn of the millennium, and after a spell as player-manager at Scarborough, he joined Avenue in the summer of 2006.
He famously made his 1,000th competitive appearance in football that November, when Avenue faced Solihull Borough in the FA Trophy.
Redfearn spent just under a season with the club, almost helping them to promotion from the Northern Premier League First Division.
They came fourth that season, but with the players continuing to follow the high standards set by Redfearn, they won the title the following year.
The 59-year-old has since gone on to manage Leeds United and Liverpool Women, while also heading up Newcastle’s Under-23 set-up.
Redfearn returned to Bradford City last November as their professional development phase lead coach, but left the club this summer.
To book into hospitality and see Redfearn honoured at Horsfall next month, please email secretary@bpafc.com
Ten days before that game against Emley, Avenue host Sheffield FC, where they will be welcoming popular ex-Bantams winger Mark Ellis as their guest speaker in hospitality.
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