Emley and Bradford (Park Avenue) meet in an all West Yorkshire affair in the Northern Premier League Division One East promotion play off final at the Fantastic Media Welfare on Saturday (3pm).

It's a local derby with a difference, promotion to the NPL Premier Division is at stake, Bradford will be looking to get back to the league they dropped out of 2 seasons ago following successive relegations from the National League North, Emley will be looking to get to step 3 for the first time in 25 years. The recent movements of both clubs is a startling one and shows what can happen in football at both ends of the spectrum.

For Emley, who went into the play offs as underdogs after the form deserted them at the end of the regular season, it would be a fantastic achievement against teams who are willing and able to spend big budgets on players and staff, 2 successive wins over Newton Aycliffe and Dunston in Tuesday's semi final has seen The Pewits unbeaten in the last 3 games, something they'd not done since February.

Avenue had spent the best part of a decade at National League North level following promotion from the NPL Premier in 2012 where they generally held their own in mid table and up towards the top of the table, never quite making it to the National League itself though but then successive relegations mainly due to the owners' cutting budgets has seen them drop down to step 4 for the first time since 2008.

Emley have the upper hand in terms of recent meetings, in the last 2 seasons since the sides were reunited after a gap of 20 years, Emley have won 2 and drawn 2 of the 4 meetings and have won both the games at The Welfare Ground, a third home win in this series of meetings would ensure Emley earn a third promotion in 6 years!

Just 6 seasons ago, Emley were gaining promotion from the Northern Counties East Division 1, while BPA were playing the likes of York City, Hereford and Chester in National League North, but that counts for nothing on Saturday in a West Yorkshire derby with a difference.

While Emley struggled for end of season form, winning just 2 of our final 10 games, the second of those came in the final league game, Bradford came into the play offs with just 1 defeat from their last 7, that was against Dunston, Emley's semi final victims, a run which included an 8-0 thumping of neighbours Brighouse Town.

However, this is a one off, winners takes all game and form will most likely go straight out of the window and both sides will have a clean slate for this massive clash!

WHO ARE THEY?
Bradford (Park Avenue)'s history is a long and interesting one, as is football in Bradford generally, founded in 1907 after Bradford FC abandoned rugby to play Association football, the remaining minority of the rugby side then formed Bradford Northern, now known as Bradford Bulls. the Park Avenue suffix was added to avoid confusion with Bradford City (who also switched from Rugby).

They were members of the football league, (originally taking Fulham's place in the Southern league), until 1970, where they dropped down to the NPL before disbanding in 1974, they were then reincarnated in 1987, playing in the Central Midlands and North West Counties leagues before rejoining the NPL in 1996, they played at National league level for 10 seasons before 2 relegations in 22/23 and 23/24 saw them back in the NPL last season for the first time since 2008 where they finished 10th in 2024/25.

Photo by Sean Doyle, Huddersfield Hub

LAST TIME WE MET:
19th December 2025, NPL D1 East
Emley 1-0 Bradford PA (Johnson), Att- 488

LAST TIME OUT:
Emley 1-0 Dunston (Sorhaindo), NPL D1 E, POSF, Att- 909
Matlock Town 1-2 Bradford PA (Carver, Andreucci), NPL D1 E, POSF, Att- 1,268.

HEAD TO HEAD:

Previous 5 meetings:
12th August 2025, NPL D1 East
Bradford PA1-1 Emley (Sorhaindo) Att- 494

8th February 2025, NPL D1 E
EML 3-1 BPA (Lindley, B.Rodrigues, Sorhaindo), Att- 564

22nd October 2024, NPL D1 E
BPA 0-0 EML, Att- 486

3rd April 2004, NPL PREM * (as Wakefield-Emley)
BPA 1-2 EML (Washington, Pell), Att- 326

6th December 2003, NPL PREM * (as Wakefield-Emley)
EML 0-1 BPA, Att- 319.

(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
EML: L, L, D, W, W
BPA: W, W, W, W, W
FINAL LEAGUE POSITION:
EML: 3/22
BPA: 5/22
GOALS SCORED:
EML: 75
BPA: 84
GOALS CONCEDED:
EML: 43
BPA: 45
TOP SCORER:
EML: Bailey Thompson / Gabriel Johnson (10)
BPA: Marcus Carver (21)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
EML: 444 (444 league)
BPA: 392 ( 441 league)

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN? Saturday 2nd May 2026, 3.00pm
Gates open 1pm

WHERE?
The Fantastic Media Welfare Ground
Off Upper Lane, Emley, Huddersfield, HD8 9RE

View the Emley AFC Visitors' guide

OWW MUCH?

(ALL PAY- SEASON TICKETS NOT VALID!!)
£10 Adults
£8 Concessions
£1 ages 5-11
U5's FREE
Programmes £2

NON LEAGUE DOGS ALLOWED: Yes, on a lead - see visitor's guide for restrictions

Please respect local residents and park safely and responsibly around the village!!