Boulding, Hanson / Man City + York games

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League Fixtures

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1690612,00.html

CFML editors note - generally many fixtures are redated by Clubs so a summary of changes will be compiled in the

upcoming weeks.

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Official news

BRADFORD CITY SQUAD NUMBERS 2009-2010

2 Simon Ramsden
3 Luke O'Brien
5 Zesh Rehman
6 Matthew Clarke
7 Omar Daley
8 Lee Bullock
9 Gareth Evans
10 Peter Thorne
11 Chris Brandon
12 Steve Williams
13 Jon McLaughlin
14 Michael Boulding
15 Joe Colbeck
16 Jonathan Bateson
17 James Hanson
18 Rory Boulding
20 Leon Osborne
21 Luke Sharry
22 Rory Carson
23 Luke Dean
24 Louis Horne
30 Matthew Convey









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Found highlights from yesterdays friendly 2-0 win against york on City message board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_x8kRiiiOQ


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McCall hails Boulding's 'terrific gesture'

By Simon Parker »

Michael Boulding has been praised for his decision to take a hefty pay cut this season.

The City striker was one of the high earners targeted when the club announced the wage bill was going to be slashed.

Graeme Lee and Paul McLaren both moved on but Boulding was so keen to stay put that he offered to take a drop in his income – which he has now done.

Boss Stuart McCall has been delighted with the hitman's attitude towards the cost-cutting approach.

He said: "Micky took a sizeable cut, which he didn't need to do. It's a terrific gesture and just shows how much he wants to be here.

"Micky rang me the week before we came back training and explained how much he wanted to stay.

"He knew the situation with the club needing to get some of the big earners off the wage bill and was happy to come in and sort something out.

"Lots of clubs had rung him up in the summer but he feels as though he's got a point to prove here. He feels he can do better next season, as we all can."

Boulding scored 13 goals in his first year at Valley Parade, four behind Peter Thorne. But he admitted himself his performance was "very average".

He has come back to pre-season looking sharp and hungry and McCall is confident the striker will take that form into the new campaign.

"Micky did all right last season in fits and starts but we know we can do more for him in certain areas and vice versa.

"I'm really pleased to have him, Thorney and Evo (Gareth Evans) up front.

"We're all disappointed with how it finished last season. But that's gone and you can see from his mental approach how Boulders is really focused on wanting to do well."

Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes said: "Michael has agreed to have his wage reduced by a considerable amount. Couple that with the attitude he has shown from the word go and he's been terrific."




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City host coaching camps

By Sports Desk »

City are running four-day coaching camps throughout the summer holidays.

All start on Monday and finish on Thursday, with the first next week at Ben Rhydding Sports Club and Ilkley and Thornton Grammar School in Bradford.

Courses are from 10am-3pm and each child will need trainers, shin-pads, a towel, packed lunch and drinks, a change of kit and extra clothes.

Further information and application forms are available on 01274-706850 or by visiting www.bradfordcityfitc.org.

Other venues – July 27-30: Sandylands Sports Centre, Skipton; Sandal Primary School, Baildon.
August 3-6: Parkside School, Cullingworth; Tong School, Bradford.
August 10-13: Marley Activities & Coaching Centre, Keighley; Whitcliffe Mount School, Cleckheaton.
August 17-20: GOALS Soccer Centre, Hanson; Ben Rhydding Sports Club, Ilkley.
August 24-27: Thornton Grammar School; Sandylands Sports Centre, Skipton.





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Holdsworth keen to hear what City have to offer
7:30am Monday 20th July 2009

Andy Holdsworth today dropped a broad hint that his future could lay at Valley Parade.

The former Huddersfield skipper, who has played in the last two City friendlies, wants to get himself fixed up for the new season by the end of the week.

The 25-year-old recently rejected a deal from Millwall and other clubs are said to be interested.

But Holdsworth has opened the door for City to make their move by revealing how much he is enjoying his time with Stuart McCall.

He is also relishing the chance to play in midfield again after spending the bulk of his time with the Terriers at right back.

Holdsworth said: "Stuart seems to really like the way I play so hopefully the club can offer something that suits me.

"I wanted to get away from Huddersfield. I've been there since I was ten and was looking to try something new.

"I also wanted to get back playing in midfield. I've always been a right back since Peter Jackson put me there at a young age but I want to get on the ball again and be in there passing it."

Holdsworth, who has also been linked with Leeds, played for just over an hour in Saturday's 2-0 win at York and his corner set up Steve Williams for the opening goal – his second assist from a set-piece.

He added: "Football is my life but I've got to be wary of where I go and what I do. Obviously it's got to be the right move for me and progress my future.

"I went down to Millwall and Kenny Jackett wanted to sign me but the deal wasn't right to move myself and my girlfriend. It would be better to stay up north.

"I've got other options at this moment in time and I'm just weighing them up. Hopefully by next week I'll have signed, if not here then somewhere else.

"But if I do drop down a league, this is probably the club I'd go to. It's the biggest club in this division, fighting for promotion, and they've got a good set of lads and management staff.

"Stuart invited me to come down and do a bit of training and play a couple of games. I've been here a week now and I'm really impressed.

"I know most of the lads from playing against them and I know Bully really well, who's obviously already in there in midfield. Hopefully if I do sign we can be a good pairing."





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Bradford City 1 Manchester City 3
      
      Tuesday 21 July 2009
Pre-Season FriendlyBradford City 1 (Thorne 34)Manchester City 3 (Poole 13, Nimley 60, Ball 85)
Kick Off: 1.00pmat the Coral Windows Stadium

 Bradford City entertained a youthful looking Manchester City outfit at a damp and chilly Coral Windows Stadium in a behind closed doors fixture.

 The fixture gives Bantams manager Stuart McCall another chance to cast his eye over some of the many trialists currently at Valley Parade, including Estonian international Jevgeni Novikov, Guiseley forward James Hanson as well as Grant Smith and Jordan Hadfield.

 Smith was in fact playing in his third different position in as many matches. After starting in centre midfield against Burnely and central defence against Bradford (Park Avenue), McCall chose to look at Smith in the role of left back.

 Also in the City line up today was goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who is gaining his first taste of pre-season action since returning from the World Student Games,

 Manchester City's line up was predominantly made up of current members of their famed academy system, but did include Kasper Schmeichal in goal. Schmeichal, the son of former Manchester United great Peter Schmeichal, had been a regular in the City line up at the start of the Eriksson era at Eastlands a couple of season ago..

 The game started  in an even fashion with both sides having spells of decent possession, but not producing many efforts to trouble either goalkeeper.

 As can happen sometimes in football, the first real effort on target  of any danger resulted in the matches opening goal.

 Manchester City's lively number 10 Alex Nimley had his efforted blocked, but the rebound fell kindly to winger James Poole, who poked home despite the best attempts of McLaughlin.

 Nimley nearly made it 2 - 0 moments later when he capitalised on some hesitant Bantams defending. Nimley robbed City defender Louis Horne on the edge of the Bantams area and drove into the box. Nimley was forced wide by the recovering Horne and resulted in pulling his effort narrowly wide from a tight angle.

 The lead Poole had given City seemed to lift the away side as their forward line of Nimley and Ball continued to look lively. At the other end, the Bantams were getting little change from the Manchester City defence, which was being marshalled by skipper Clayton McDonald.

 Despite the competence of the Manchester City defence, the Bantams forward pair of Peter Thorne and James Hanson had looked always willing to try and get things moving in the right direction for their side. On the 34th minute the pair combined, albeit in slightly strange circumstances, to draw the Bantams level.

 A cross from City full back Jonathan Bateson was met by Hanson, who connected with a firm header. The attempt from Hanson was heading wide until it deflected off City defender Dedryck Boyata into the path of Thorne, who could not miss from a few yards out.

 Manchester City's David Ball had two bites of the cherry to re-hand his side the lead a few minutes before half time. A superb turn by Ball gave him the space to engineer a strike that whistled across goal. Team mate Poole collected the ball on the far side and picked out Ball with a far post cross. Ball had just enough time to fire in on goal, but saw his effort turned away by Bantams goalkeeper McLaughlin.

 Manchester City made two substitutes at half time, including Slovakian Robert Mak. Mak was part of the Slovakia side that faced Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Coral Windows Stadium in the recent UEFA Under 19's Elite Tournament.
 Just before the hour mark Novikov and Thorne were replaced by Luke Dean and Rory Boulding.
 Dean's first involvement in the game was to give away a free kick on the very edge of the area for a foul on Manchester City forward Nimley. The resulting free kick from Paul Marshall was cleared and danger appeared to be over. Moments later though, the ball was fed to the tricky sub Karl Moore, who crossed for Nimley to head home from close range past McLaughlin.

 There was a nasty looking moment a few minutes later when Manchester City forward Mak and Bantams defender Horne both slid in for the ball on the byline. Both ended up in the advertising boards, no doubt not helped by the slippery pitch conditions the constant drizzle had brought, both though were able to continue after a small period of treatment time.

 As the half wore on, it became clear the visitors were having the lions share of possession, though the experimental Bantams side were gamely sticking to their task.

 In the 70th minute, Manchester City went agonisingly close to doubling their advantage through Mak. Winger Moore superbly picked out Mak with a low driven cross, but a combination of McLaughlin and Horne managed to somehow deflect Mak's effort wide.

 As the rain begin to intensify, substitute Moore managed to miss another golden opportunity for his side. The winger skipped inside Grant Smith and drove into the box, but only managed to curl an effort narrowly wide of McLaughlin far post.

 A quite superb flowing move from Manchester City finally opened up the dogged Bantams for a third time. A neat flick from Moore played in fellow winger Poole, who superbly created an opening for David Ball. Ball, who had re-entered the field of play for the injured Nimley, took his chance well and beat McLaughlin at his near post.


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Arnison waiting on Darlo decision
7:00am Tuesday 21st July 2009

Paul Arnison hopes to have done enough to earn a deal with City's rivals Darlington after taking on the might of Newcastle.

The Bantams right back found himself up against the likes of former Premier-ship stars Alan Smith, Damien Duff and Shola Ameobi on Saturday.

Arnison has been told by City boss Stuart McCall that he can leave Valley Parade and is currently trialing at a Darlo side managed by former Valley Parade chief Colin Todd.

They lost 7-2 in the friendly against the relegated Magpies.

"We got a bit of a hiding but they had all their stars in there," he said.

"Newcastle moved the ball really well and it was a good experience to face players like Nicky Butt and Kevin Nolan.

"I've been here now for ten days and played two matches. Nothing's been said yet about a contract but we've got a game tomorrow as well and hopefully I'll find out soon.

"They don't come out of administration until the end of next week and it's a bit difficult when they've got lads who have already signed, but not properly yet because of that situation."

Arnison, 31, has fallen down the pecking order at City and is likely to be third choice right back next season.

But he will return to the club if he doesn't secure a move elsewhere and is now just waiting for an answer.


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No Bradford contract for Mannus

Tuesday, 21 July 2009

Alan Mannus has returned home from his trial at Bradford City without being offered a contract by the League Two club.

The former Linfield goalkeeper spent a week with the Bantams and played in three games without conceding a goal.

Valley Parade boss Stuart McCall, however, has decided to explore other options rather than sign the Northern Ireland international.

Mannus — who declined the offer of a new deal at Windsor Park in order to become a free agent and give himself the best chance of a cross-channel move — remains hopeful that he will find a new club before the season starts.

He has also had a trial period with Scottish Premier League club Falkirk.



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Bradford City has further added to their striking options by completing
the permanent signing of James Hanson.

Hanson has signed a two-year deal at the Coral Windows Stadium.

The 21-year old joins from Unibond Premier side Guiseley
after performing admirably while recently on trial with the club.

Having been offered a new contract at Nethermoor, compensation will have
to be agreed between the two clubs.

Hanson joined up with the Bantams at the start of July and has featured
heavily in the pre-season programme so far. The giant striker's
performances have impressed City boss Stuart McCall enough to warrant
his contract.

He is the second player in as many weeks to take his first steps into
professional football with the Bantams, following the signing of
defender Steve Williams last Friday (17th July).

The Bantams have now added six additions to their squad this summer,
Hanson joining a list which already includes Williams, Gareth Evans,
Zesh Rehman, Simon Ramsden & Jonathan Bateson.

McCall will now hope Hanson's height and link up play will perfectly
compliment the other strikers he has at his disposal to create a potent
attacking line up for the Bantams.

The former Eccleshill United man has been a big hit during his time with
Guiseley.

He stuck 44 goals in two seasons for them, as well as netting against
the Bantams in a friendly at Guiseley's Nethermoor ground 12 months ago.

Hanson is expected to make first appearance as an official Bradford City
player in the club's pre-season fixture against Barnsley at the Coral
Windows Stadium on Saturday 25th July.

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Defender Paul Arnison has had his contract with Bradford City cancelled
by mutual consent.

The 31-year old joined the Bantams last summer from Carlisle United and
made 28 appearances.

With the arrival of Simon Ramsden and Jonathan Bateson, Arnison knew he
would be down the pecking order at Valley Parade and decided to look
elsewhere to further his career.

He has recently been training and playing for Colin Todd's Darlington
for whom he is expected to sign once the Quakers exit administration
next week.





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