Signings / BPA game

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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

Commercial manager
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1723646,00.html










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  McCall beaten by clock in move for Jones

City did make a last-ditch bid to bring back Steve Jones but ran out
of time.

Frustrated Stuart McCall had kept tabs on Jones all summer in the hope
of turning last season's loan into a permanent move.

But he was powerless to do anything until another of the club's high
earners had followed Graeme Lee out the door.

Paul McLaren's departure on Thursday finally gave McCall the green light
to go for Jones – but by then the winger had already agreed a two-year
deal to join Walsall in League One.

McCall admitted: "We had a chance with him but I had to get rid of
either Macca, Michael Boulding or Chris Brandon first. Unfortunately
when Macca ended up going, it was too late.

"Jonah really wanted to come here and I'm disappointed that we couldn't
afford to do it earlier than we tried. But we had to be careful because
of the budget.

"And by the time we could do something, he'd already had a medical down
there (at Walsall).

"I knew deep down that Dean Furman and Nicky Law would go but I thought
we'd have a good chance of getting him.

"It's gone now but I am frustrated because I would love to have had him
back. He could have played on the left, right or down the middle."

City kicked off pre-season with a morale-boosting win over Burnley but
McCall knows the clock is ticking to replenish squad numbers in time for
the August 8 kick-off.

He said: "I've basically lost a whole team from last season and only
brought in three. Obviously Zesh Rehman was already here and Jon
(Bateson) is coming in as cover.

"I do need to strengthen and I'll be sitting down this week with the two
chairmen to see what can be done."

McCall fielded two different sides and was pleased with the overall
energy levels.

"The result in pre-season doesn't matter but you don't want to get
turned over by four or five. So you're always a bit fearful.

"I'm not getting carried away but I felt there were a lot of good
performances and some decent football now and again.

"I'm still hurting from last season that we under- performed with the
quality squad that we had. This year we might not have the quality of
players but the endeavour and energy has got to be there every game.

"Even if you're suffering in confidence, there's no excuse for not
giving everything on that football pitch that you've got."


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Williams chases Bradford contract  
 
Bradford City trialist Steve Williams will know after Wednesday night's game at Bradford Park Avenue if he has earned a full-time deal at the club.

The centre-half, 22, has been training with City for almost two weeks and impressed in a 2-1 win over Burnley.

He told the Telegraph and Argus newspaper: "The manager wants to see me again in the Bradford game. Then he'll make a decision.

"The situation is do or die for me," the former Bamber Bridge man added.

The hairdresser, who played for the Unibond League club last season, played the first 45 minutes in Bradford's victory over Premier League new boys Burnley.

Manager Stuart McCall needs more back-up at centre-half after releasing Mark Bower and Simon Ainge at the end of last season.

Williams added: "You can't put it in to words how good it feels. Saturday was brilliant.

 It's hard to judge someone on 45 minutes but it's looking good

Steve Williams
"I've been training with the team for a week and a half and we've been doing games, so I knew what to expect.

"I was well prepared and luckily just took it in my stride."

Last summer Williams was on trial at League One outfit Oldham.

However he tore ankle ligaments in his first appearance, a pre-season game against Barrow, which kept him out for three months.

"The problem of going on a trial is that there's no security when something like that happens," he said.

"But luckily I came through fine on Saturday and hopefully I can do well again.

"It's hard to judge someone on 45 minutes but it's looking good."

 

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McCall to give the Man a chance against Avenue
7:20am Wednesday 15th July 2009

Stuart McCall will keep a close eye on keeper Alan Mannus tonight – as he warned City fans to get real over transfer targets.

The Northern Ireland international played the second half against Burnley but did not have a shot to save.

So McCall intends to give him the bulk of the friendly at Bradford Park Avenue to show what he can do.

Mannus, 26, is chasing a pro contract after 11 years with Linfield. He went on trial to Falkirk before linking up with the Bantams on Friday.

McCall said: "At first look, he's certainly got the presence and physique. We saw the other day that he's a good kicker of the ball.

"He comes well recommended but we need to have a good look at him so he'll be getting the majority of the game."

McCall, who will give Peter Thorne his first outing, intends to use tonight's Bradford derby to run the rule over his crop of trialists.

"It will be the same scenario as Saturday, with two teams playing 45 minutes before we push it up to 65 or 70 against York.

"It's a balancing act. We want to give the squad we've already got enough fitness work but giving trialists just half an hour isn't enough to judge them.

"We will start making decisions after the game but might have one or two more coming in for York."

The double departure of Graeme Lee and Paul McLaren has eased the wage-bill concerns but McCall still has little leeway as he targets a senior keeper, back-up centre half and at least one more midfielder.

The City chief added: "With the budget as it is, we've got to look for value for money. Some supporters throw names at me, and we would all love X, Y or Z to sign, but there's got to be a bit of realism about it.

"You hear names like Lee Hughes being bandied about because he's been linked with Notts County. But that won't be happening here.

"Notts County and Rotherham have got some big investment in there. Our budget has almost been halved and we've all got to cut our cloth accordingly.

"We are seen as a big club and we've got championship support in a championship ground – but not championship finances coming in.

"We will do the best with what we've got and be as competitive as we can."



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Holdsworth gets City run-out
7:43pm Wednesday 15th July 2009

By Simon Parker »

Former Huddersfield captain Andy Holdsworth is on trial with City.

The 25-year-old was on the team sheet to play the second half against Avenue tonight.

Holdsworth was expected to slot into central midfield. He has recently been training with Millwall and Lincoln and was linked with a move to Leeds.



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Boulding and Hanson on target in derby victory
9:49pm Wednesday 15th July 2009

Bradford Park Avenue 0, Bradford City 2

Former Huddersfield skipper Andy Holdsworth was the latest to hop on board City's trialist bandwagon tonight.

The 25-year-old, who played over 250 games with the Terriers, rejected a new deal after being told by Lee Clarke he would only be a squad member.

Holdsworth had featured most recently as a right back but plays in midfield - the area that Stuart McCall needs to beef up.

McCall said: "He's got a good energy about him and can play on the centre and right side as well, like Nicky Law."

Whether Holdsworth, who crossed for the second goal, could be squeezed into City's tight budget is debatable but McCall has to keep looking.

At the other end of the scale, bleach-haired Joe Keehan from Blue Square Premier wooden-spoonists Lewes also got 45 second-half minutes in midfield after a recommendation from Michael Standing.

McCall again fielded everyone available but there were a couple of notable absentees.

Paul Arnison is training with Colin Todd's Darlington as he looks to get back up to the north-east, while Chris Brandon, whose future remains up in the air, took a knock in training but should be okay for Saturday.

Trialist Jamie O'Brien also hopes to feature at York after sitting it out with a bruised calf.

Peter Thorne was back, though looking understandably rusty as he wasted a close-range header - the best chance of the opening half.

The bobbly pitch proved a hindrance to both sides but it did not seem to bother Joe Colbeck, who embarked on several darting runs and was by far the pick of the first-half bunch.

Keeper Alan Mannus almost gifted Avenue an opener when he was stranded in no-man's land, one-time Oldham frontman Chris Hall nearly capitalising from distance.

Mannus was hoping for more action after seeing little of the ball against Burnley. But the Northern Ireland international was not too convincing dealing with crosses.

Colbeck aside, there were few lively moments in the opening half for a good-sized crowd.

But the City majority only had to wait 30 seconds for the newly-arrived line-up to strike. Big James Hanson flicked on and then it was all about Michael Boulding with a classy individual finish at the near post.

Hanson the provider then became the scorer for number two with a sweet header from Holdsworth's corner after 52 minutes.

Hanson, who bagged two at Avenue for Guiseley last season, almost doubled his tally from a Luke Sharry cross as City mark two turned the screw.

Boulding has come bursting out the pre-season blocks so far and forced a flying save from Steve Dickinson after letting rip from 25 yards. Then another shot on the turn whistled narrowly wide.

His partnership with Hanson was causing loads of trouble for Lee Sinnott's part-timers, who threw on one-time City loanee Harpal Singh on the left side.

At the back, first-choice pairing Matt Clarke and Zesh Rehman were seeing their first action together.

They kept the door shut pretty tight, although Matt James was not far away with a low drive past the left post.

Mannus could have had an assist with an enormous clearance which Dickinson headed straight out to Luke Sharry from the edge of the penalty area. But the youngster opted to take a touch and the opportunity was gone.

Avenue right back Steve Downes then embarrassed his keeper by chesting the ball past him and towards his own goal, just recovering in the nick of time to avoid presenting Rory Boulding with a tap-in.

There was a late scare for City when Clarke bashed heads with Jamie Bairstow. The centre half needed treatment and came off with a huge lump of skin hanging over his left eye.

He then had to go to hospital for stitching up the wound, which will definitely prevent him from playing against York.

However, despite Clarke's absence, City remained on the front foot and Dickinson was called into action again to hang on to another well-struck Boulding effort.

CITY first half): Mannus, Ramsden, Williams, Smith, O'Brien, Colbeck, Hadfield, Bullock, Osborne, Thorne, Evans.

Second half: Mannus, Bateson, Clarke (Dean 85), Rehman, Horne, Sharry, Holdsworth, Keehan, R Boulding, M Boulding, Hanson.



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WILLIAMS SIGNS FOR BANTAMS
3:30pm Friday 17th July 2009
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Steve Williams has signed a deal with the Bantams after his impressive
performances on trial.

The 22-year-old centre-half, who played last season with Bamber Bridge in
the UniBond League, has joined on a one-year deal with the option of a
further season.

Williams will act as cover for centre halves Zesh Rehmann and Matt Clarke.

He has played in both pre-season friendlies so far, against Burnley and
Bradford Park Avenue, slotting in comfortably.




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