Adam Nowakowski agrees £1-a-week deal

Nowakowski spent just over a year with Quakers after joining from Harrogate Town in the summer of 2015, but an initial loan spell at Bradford PA turned into a permanent move in December 2016.

The Bradford-born 32-year-old has been with his local club ever since, but like most non-league sides Park Avenue are feeling the pinch after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the footballing calendar.

In response to the mounting financial crisis, Nowakowski has agreed to play for a nominal £1 weekly fee during the 2020-21 campaign and has turned down much more lucrative offers from other clubs in order to stay with Park Avenue.

The utility player, who has another job as a sales rep for a food and beverage company, admits he does not need the money, but wanted to help out the club that means so much to him.

“I had quite a lot of clubs that contacted me about contracts, but Bradford have been great for me over the years, and so has non-league,” said Nowakowski. “I have played at Harrogate and Darlington, some really good clubs, so I feel fortunate that I have managed to play semi-pro.

“I thought, ‘What better time to give something back to football and support them with a £1-a-week contract’? It gives something back to Bradford as a club.

“I am from the Bradford area. My grandad, Trevor Foster, played a lot of sport in Bradford, captained Wales at rugby league, played for Great Britain, did a lot of work for Bradford in the community. I have a real affinity with Bradford, going back to a club that is quite close to my family was really important. It was my idea, I came up with it. I approached the club and they said it was a great idea.”

Nowakowski is not wanting to be a trendsetter and insists he is not expecting any of his team-mates to follow suit. He is expecting some banter, though, when the new campaign gets under way.

“It’s not for other people to do it because a lot of people need the wage, I’m fortunate enough I can afford to do this at this moment,” he added.