BRADFORD (Park Avenue) have announced the sad news that club stalwart Colin Barker has passed away.

In a statement, the club said: “Colin was a great person first and foremost, a fantastic football man, and an unbelievable servant to our football club.”

Avenue owner Gareth Roberts said: "'Colin was the glue that held the club together through some difficult and turbulent times.

"Without him, the football club would not exist and because of that, we owe him a great debt of gratitude, that sadly now we wont be able to deliver in person.

"I know that Colin would have wanted the club to keep pushing forward, and we are determined to do so as we honour his memory.'

And manager Mark Bower said: "'We are all absolutely devastated by the news that Colin has died.

" Over a majority of the past five years I have worked with Colin and consider him a friend as well as a colleague. "His knowledge and professionalism have been invaluable to myself and Danny during our time at the club and we will miss him greatly.

"The way Colin worked for the club, the amount of time and expertise he put in to his various roles, predominantly as club secretary and as a scout, made it hard for me to believe he was working voluntarily.

"He was Bradford (Park Avenue) to the core.

"I spoke with him only hours before he passed away and his concerns were not for himself, but for his wife Sue and he also wanted to make sure I had his scouting reports on players we have been looking at over the Summer.

"He was a football man, but more importantly, a really great person."

Meanwhile, Bradford (Park Avenue) have concluded their pre-season schedule by announcing their final two fixtures.

They will host League 2 side Bradford City on Tuesday July 13, Kick off at 19:45, in the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy.

They will also play Scarborough Athletic on Friday August 6. The ground hasn't been announced.

Kick off will be at 19:45.