Press Release from Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC Please contact Paul Grayson on 07720 419279 for further information
Former Premiership player Neil Redfearn, who played at the top level of English football with Barnsley, Charlton Athletic and Bradford City, is poised to join an exclusive club. On Saturday, 4 November, the 41-year-old midfielder will make his 1,000 appearance in competitve football playing for Bradford (Park Avenue) against Solihull Borough in the FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying round.. Redfearn, who joined Park Avenue in the summer after leaving Scarborough, made his 999th appearance at the weekend in Avenue's UniBond League match with Rossendale United. His career as a Football League player took in 790 matches and he is currently 5th in the all-time list of most League appearances behind Peter Shilton (1,005), Tony Ford (938), Terry Paine (824) and Tommy Hutchinson (794). Dewsbury-born, Redfearn started out with Nottingham Forest as a youth team player, but his professional career began at Bolton in 1982. He then moved into the lower divisions with Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers before Crystal Palace paid £100,000 for him in 1987. There followed spells with Watford and Oldham Athletic before he returned north to Barnsley in 1991. It was with the Oakwell club that Redfearn spent his prime years. He was captain when they gained a place in the Premiership for the first time in 1997, his 17 goals being a key factor in the club's promotion. Barnsley were relegated in their first season in the top flight, but Redfearn's qualities had not gone unnoticed and Premiership Charlton paid £1,000,000 for his services. With a yearning to return back to Yorkshire, Redfearn jumped at the chance to join Bradford City in the Premiership during 1999 for a £250,000 fee. But his stay at Valley Parade was short and he moved over the Pennines to team up with Wigan Athletic. His next port of call was at Halifax Town where he was caretaker boss on two occasions. When he was unable to land the job on a permanent basis he left in the summer of 2002 to take up the post of player-coach with Boston United. His Football League career ended at Rochdale in 2004. Dropping into the Conference with Scarborough heralded a tough time his career. He stepped into the manager's seat when former Oldham playing colleague Nick Henry departed, but he resigned in June 2006. Avenue manager Phil Sharpe persuaded Redfearn to join Bradford (Park Avenue) in the UniBond League, the club his father Brian gave long service to during the 1950s, and recently he scored his 200th career goal. To mark the occasion of his 1,000th appearance there will be a special presentation made before Saturday's cup-tie. The presentation is timed for 14:45 in front of the main stand. _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-)
