City’s next visit to Park Avenue came after the war, and although two goals from Jock Dodds and one from Doug Wright on the last day of the 1948/49 season finally achieved a win on the ground for the Imps they were relegated after a single season in Division Two. A year later Bradford themselves were relegated after 16 seasons in Division Two, resulting in the two sides meeting in Division Three (North) in the 1950/51 season. But the Park Avenue hoodoo struck again, as 3rd-placed City on the back of a 9-1 win over Accrington Stanley the previous week went down 2-1, Andy Graver’s goal not being enough to prevent the only defeat in the middle of a run of 10 games which otherwise produced 9 wins. A poor end to the season saw a 5th place finish, but in March 1952 with City having been top of the table since early December and on their way to promotion a crowd of 17,468, possibly the biggest ever to see City play on the ground saw Roy Finch’s goal secure a 1-1 draw.
With Lincoln now in a higher division, their only visit to Park Avenue for a number of years came when Bradford were the opposition in City’s first ever League Cup tie in October 1960. By that time Bradford had become one of the original members of Division Four, so it was something of a giant-killing act for them to beat City 1-0 in a replay at Park Avenue after a 2-2 draw at Sincil Bank. With City suffering relegation and Bradford winning promotion the two sides met on equal terms the following season in Division Three and as usual it was another win for the home side as despite the presence of such players as Fred Middleton, Bert Linnecor, Roy Chapman and Jeff Smith the Imps went down 2-0. Both clubs fell on really hard times then as City completed their slide to the Fourth Division and Bradford joined them a year later.
What was only City’s second win at Park Avenue came as Alan Morton scored the only goal of the game two days after Boxing Day in 1963. The following October Bradford were top of the table when two goals from later Derby County and England player Kevin Hector contributed to their 3-1 win. But the Park Avenue side were unable to maintain their promotion challenge and the 1965/66 season saw another loss for City, although goal ace Barry Hutchinson’s brace in a 4-2 defeat saw him become only the third City player to score two goals at the ground. After finishing mid-table Bradford’s really dark days then began following the sale of Hector.
With the two sides occupying the bottom two places of the league by the end of the 1966/67 season Bradford were still good enough to achieve what was to be their last ever victory over the Imps on the ground in a 2-1 win. With the arrival of Ron Gray as manager City’s fortunes then took an upturn and in April 1968 a six-game run of five wins and a draw was the best for years – certainly in my time – and I was sufficiently enthused by the recent performances to make the rather convoluted train journey to Bradford for my longest away trip to date.
Over fifty years later I can’t remember whether Park Avenue was within walking distance of the city centre or if I had to get a bus – or possibly even a trolleybus to the ground – but I remember standing on the open end of the ground, Doll’s house to the left, then changing ends at half time to see big Norman Corner (pictured) complete a hat-trick of headed goals. All came from left wing crosses, the first two from winger Lewis Thom and the third from left back George Peden. The other two goals in a 5-1 win came from Peter Kearns as City achieved their best result on the ground, the only downside being an injury suffered by Roger Holmes to bring to an end his best ever season and following which he was never quite the same player again.
City built on their good end to the season and were challenging for promotion on their next visit the following September but could only manage a 1-1 draw against a 20th-placed Bradford thanks to a George Peden penalty. With City’s bid for promotion that season petering out they were back at Park Avenue for the very last time on 28th March 1970 and I was there again to see them achieve only their fourth win on the ground in 25 attempts with a 3-0 scoreline, two of the goals coming from Dave Smith and one from Gordon Hughes.
Bradford’s record of seeking re-election four seasons in a row, the last three of them in bottom place, led to Cambridge United being elected to the league in their place in 1970. The last ever Football League game at Park Avenue occurred on 4th April 1970 and was a 0-5 defeat to Scunthorpe in front of 2,563 spectators.
There was no easy way back to the Football League in those days and Bradford spent four seasons in the Northern Premier League, leaving Park Avenue in 1973 after being forced to sell it for financial reasons, and playing one season at Bradford City’s Valley Parade before going out of business in 1974.
The ground which had remained largely unchanged since 1907 fell into disrepair and Archibald Leitch’s stands and dressing rooms were finally demolished in 1980. But it wasn’t quite the end as the pitch was cleared of debris and vegetation and made playable again as the club which had been re-formed as a Sunday League side in 1975 returned to Park Avenue for the 1987/88 season. However, they were then forced to move out to accommodate an indoor cricket centre on part of the pitch. The new Bradford Park Avenue have since slowly worked their way up the football pyramid and currently play in the National League North at the Horsfall Stadium elsewhere in Bradford.
Yorkshire continued to play on the cricket ground side of Park Avenue but poor attendances and spiralling costs eventually forced them to abandon their spiritual home. The last County Championship game to be played there took place in June 1996 when Leicestershire hit 681 for 7 which is said to be a record score for the ground. It is now used by Bradford College Cricket Academy and is in the process of being upgraded with the hope of some Yorkshire fixtures taking place there once again.
The only remains now of the football ground are a perimeter wall with some bricked up terrace entrances, while the Horton Park end terracing (minus roof) still exists beneath trees and other vegetation.
Lincoln’s decidedly miserable record in the 23 league and 2 cup games they played at Park Avenue saw them manage only 4 wins and 3 draws with 18 defeats. Goals scored totalled 26 with 64 conceded.
Norman Corner’s three goals in one match made him top scorer on the ground for City, with Dave Smith’s brace in the last game there putting him level with Peter Kearns, Barry Hutchinson, Jock Dodds and Harry Havelock on two, Havelock as mentioned being the only player to score in more than one game.