L2 v Cheltenham (a) W 5-4 Aug 22nd 2009

Coca-Cola League Two
Cheltenham (3) 4 Hammond 4, Townsend 12, Richards 43, 89.
Bradford C (3) 5 O'Brien 2, Evans 7, Hanson 20, Williams 50, Townsend og 71
Att: 3,073

Ref: Grant Hegley
Yellow cards: None

Stats: Cheltenham - Bradford C
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 4 - 7
Shots off target: 4 - 6
Fouls: 10 - 11
Corners: 7 - 5

Cheltenham: 1. Scott P Brown, 6. Drissa Diallo, 4. Shane Duff (14), 5.
Michael Townsend, 3. Lee Ridley, 10. David Hutton, 2. David Bird, 8. Andy
Gallinagh, 16. Oliver Bozanic (15), 11. Elvis Hammond (45), 9. Justin
Richards.
Subs: 40. Barry Richardson (GK), 12. Kyle Haynes (15), 14. Marley Watkins,
17. Joshua Low, 19. Tom Denton, 38. Barry Hayles (14), 39. Julian Alsop
(45).

Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 2. Simon Ramsden, 5. Zesh Rehman, 12. Steve
Williams, 3. Luke O'Brien, 15. Joe Colbeck, 19. James O'Brien, 8. Lee
Bullock, 4. Michael Flynn, 9. Gareth Evans, 17. James Hanson.
Subs: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 6. Matthew Clarke, 10. Peter Thorne, 11.
Chris Brandon, 14. Michael Boulding, 24. Louis Horne.




Next match: (H) Torquay Saturday August 29, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM

Photos
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1765615,00.html





***
Also in this issue:


***

Away from VP?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/360/version2_valley_parade.shtml

Fixtures



===========================

It's raining goals as City drought ends
6:40am Monday 24th August 2009

By Simon Parker

Cheltenham 4 City 5

Referee Grant Hegley was probably the only man in Cheltenham who could have seen this one coming.

City's whackiest result for five years since they won by the same score at Tranmere.

And the official in charge that day? The same Mr Hegley of Northamptonshire.

No wonder he kept his cards in his pocket all afternoon. He was enjoying the score-fest too much to risk spoiling the fun.

It was almost inevitable that City should end their four-game goal drought by suddenly blasting them in at will. It's afternoons like Saturday's that make football worth watching.

Amazingly, City went goal-crazy minus their two leading strikers. Peter Thorne joined Michael Boulding on the bench – along with Chris Brandon, their best player in the last two games.

Brandon had missed training ill but McCall hinted afterwards that he would probably not have played anyway.

Easier to say in hindsight, maybe, but a bold decision nonetheless.

McCall put his trust in youth – and a side that contained only three players who had scored for the club, Joe Colbeck, Lee Bullock and Luke O'Brien.

At 28, Bullock and Michael Flynn were the grand old men in a team with an average age of five years younger.

A complete contrast from the days of Paul Jewell's Dad's Army. The cost of assembling those players was very different too.

McCall, quite pointedly, remarked that this was probably the cheapest City side in recent memory.

James Hanson was promoted to the frontline with keen support on both flanks from Gareth Evans and Colbeck.

Brandon's absence in midfield created an opening for James O'Brien, the cocksure Irish youngster who had made quite an impression in pre-season.

He didn't need long to make his mark on Saturday – less than two minutes.

Evans roasted right back Drissa Diallo, for the first of many occasions, and though his cross was knocked clear of the waiting Colbeck, it fell perfectly for O'Brien to lash home. His first touch of his first start and his first goal.

But that was a mere starter for the frolics that followed. Every time City scored, Cheltenham would quickly respond.

Elvis Hammond notched the first reply straight from the kick-off with the visitors still celebrating breaking that scoring duck.

But the lead was instantly restored as Evans left Diallo for dead from Luke O'Brien's pass, cutting inside with menace before firing into the bottom corner.

This time the advantage held for three minutes before Michael Townsend outjumped Zesh Rehman to nod Cheltenham's second. Ten minutes gone, four goals already.

It was like a human version of an X-box game; strikers using their LT/RT buttons to outwit stumbling markers. There were clearly more goals on the way.

Joe Colbeck's dangerous cross was shuffled behind for the game's opening corner. James O'Brien put it just where he'd been told on the training ground and Hanson's head did the rest.

City threatened with every attack; Cheltenham with every set-piece. The long throw-ins, a trademark of a Martin Allen side, were proving a handful as well as David Hutton's free-kicks.

The pressure brought a third equaliser three minutes before half-time, Justin Richards netting with a clever overhead after City were penned in by another throw.

A level scoreline at the break was harsh on City. Given previous results, it presented a real test of character.

"The lads were a little bit down as they would be," said McCall. "But we stayed positive because we knew that if we kept going forward, we would create chances."

So it proved. Within five minutes, Hanson peeled off the back to knock back Simon Ramsden's free-kick and Steve Williams rammed home the header to become the fourth "new" City scorer.

Surely City couldn't let it slip again?

Cheltenham had a shout for a fourth ruled out for a barge on Simon Eastwood before Ramsden nicked the fifth with a header that was diverted home via the unwitting Townsend.

Now it looked a question of just how many the visitors could rack up. James O'Brien was inches away from another following more awful defending and keeper Scott Brown needed a quick recovery to deny Colbeck after miscontrolling a back pass.

But it wouldn't be City without a late scare or two and Richards kept it interesting when he forced home his second goal with time ticking away.

The three minutes added on provided a few further palpitations but City hung on for their memorable victory.

A drained McCall laughed: "It was the game I predicted all along – a tight 1-0!

"It's no good for the heart – or our kitman – but this was a huge result.

"But that was the youngest, and certainly cheapest, team Bradford have put out for a long time and I'm really proud of them. There were a lot of young kids playing but they stuck together.

"You might get wrong decision-making with younger lads but you get that extra pace and energy.

"There was a determination in training on Thursday and Friday to get back on track and we've done that.

"There's a lot of work still to do in certain areas but I'm absolutely delighted for the players."

Cheap and very cheerful.



===========================

Bradford City: Boss Stuart McCall's happy with high five on the road

Stuart McCall will focus on the positives after his Bradford side finally claimed their first victory of the season in a nine-goal thriller at Cheltenham.
The Bantams led three times in the first half but allowed the home side to hit back as a breathless opening period finished all-square.

They then took the lead for the fourth time five minutes after the restart and opened a two-goal advantage for the first time after 71 minutes, but the hosts hit back again to set up a tense finale.

But McCall said: "We will go away and study the dvd to look at the goals we conceded. We have a lot to work on, especially with defensive free-kicks, but we're a young side and we have to take the positives out of it. There were a lot of good performances and the best thing was that we scored a goal then we scored four more."

The first goal arrived in the second minute when Gareth Evans raced down the left and his cross was half-cleared to James O'Brien, who slammed home from the edge of the area.

Cheltenham responded when Oliver Bozanic's cross reached Elvis Hammond at the far post and his delicate finish crossed the line.

Evans then left Drissa Diallo and Michael Townsend trailing before finishing clinically to make it 2-1 after seven minutes, but three minutes later Town equalised again, Townsend heading in David Hutton's free-kick.

O'Brien's corner was headed in by James Hanson on 20 minutes – his first goal for City – but Justin Richards opened his account for Cheltenham with an overhead kick to make it 3-3.

Steve Williams powered a header past Brown to make it 4-3 early in the second half and it was 5-3 to the Bantams when O'Brien's free-kick was flicked on by Simon Ramsden and deflected in off Townsend.

And though Richards bagged his second of the game, Bradford held on.



===========================
Bantams edge nine-goal thriller

Bradford picked up their first victory of the season after winning 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at Cheltenham.

The Bantams had not scored in their opening four matches, but they ended their drought in style.

James O'Brien slammed in their first from the edge of the penalty area after good work from Gareth Evans in the second minute, but Cheltenham hit back through Elvis Hammond's third of the season two minutes later.

Evans scored a fine solo effort in the seventh minute as Bradford regained the lead, but Michael Townsend headed in David Hutton's free-kick to make it 2-2 after 10 minutes.

James Hanson leapt highest to head in O'Brien's corner after 20 minutes, but Cheltenham responded once again when Justin Richards netted a fine overhead kick before half-time.

Steve Williams made it 4-3 in the 50th minute after a flick-on from Hanson and Simon Ramsden's header from O'Brien's free-kick deflected in off Townsend to give Bradford a two-goal advantage in the 71st minute.

Richards stabbed home his second in the 89th minute, but Bradford held on to inflict Cheltenham's first league defeat of the campaign.



===========================
Cheltenham view

http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1764988,00.html








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L2 v Lincoln City (h) L0-2 Aug 18th 2009

BRADFORD: Eastwood, Ramsden, Rehman, Williams, L O'Brien, Brandon (J O'Brien 82), Flynn, Bullock (Colbeck 74), Hanson, Thorne (M Boulding 82), Evans. Subs not used: McLaughlin, Clarke, Osborne, Horne.

LINCOLN: Burch, Hughton, Kovacs, Swaibu, Brown, J Clarke (John Lewis 74), Kerr (Hutchinson 46), S Clarke, Oakes (Bennett 90), Fagan, Howe. Subs not used: Hone, Clucas, Musselwhite, Coleman-Carr.

REFEREE: David Webb (Co Durham).

ATTENDANCE: 11,242.

Game Statistics

City / Imps
16 Goal Attempts 13
7 On Target 7
6 Corners 5
13 Fouls 10
3 Yellow Cards 4
0 Red Cards 0
55 % 45


Away from VP?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/360/version2_valley_parade.shtml

Games / Stats summary
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN




===
Next game
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1761721,00.html



===========================
Match pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1761016,00.html

Video highlights
(probably UK only)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8210480.stm


===========================
Flynn thwarted from spot before Imps hit back with deadly double
11:43pm Tuesday 18th August 2009

By Simon Parker

City 0, Lincoln 2

City ensured Peter Jackson relished his latest return to Valley Parade with a self-inflicted defeat.

The home side cut their own throats to allow Jackson's Imps to pinch all three points and Stuart McCall's men are still frantically chasing that elusive first goal – even missing a penalty along the way.

Luke O'Brien, City's biggest pre-match worry, was passed fit but McCall was forced into a late change when Steve O'Leary's toe injury flared up again after the team had been named.

Lee Bullock was hurriedly recalled to the starting line-up, with Leon Osborne added to the bench.

Michael Boulding paid the price for City's paucity in the penalty area. Gareth Evans came in against the side gazumped by McCall for his services in the summer.

But City nearly embarrassed themselves inside the first 15 seconds as Steve Williams and Simon Eastwood got in a tangle when the keeper came rushing out. Williams conceded a cheap corner but Eastwood redeemed himself by punching clear Cian Hughton's inswinging kick.

Lincoln were the livelier starters and former City midfielder Scott Kerr threaded a dangerous ball through for Jamie Clarke to chase, O'Brien just recovering in time to thwart the tricky right winger in the box.

Jackson was his typically animated self on the sidelines as his side similarly refused to let City settle.

Rene Howe, who scored a blinding goal for Morecambe against City last season, was denied another thumping effort by Zesh Rehman's sliding block.

It took the home side 15 minutes to get into the game, when Williams pushed up to head straight at Rob Burch and James Hanson nodded across goal.

But City nearly stole the lead when Janos Kovacs casually tried to chest a Simon Ramsden cross back to his keeper. Hanson anticipated well to nip in between but right back Hughton, son of Newcastle caretaker-boss Chris, just did enough to deny him a first senior goal.

Rehman needed treatment on his right eye after a clash of heads with Howe. Both players returned with a change of shirts – Howe's with a new name on the back of it.

Kerr's name was the first in referee David Webb's book for a foul on Michael Flynn. The midfielder got a shot off from the half-cleared free-kick but it lacked any power.

Striker Chris Fagan then angered the Kop for going in late on Ramsden as the ball went out of play and collected Lincoln's second yellow card.

Another foul from Moses Swaibu on Peter Thorne gave O'Brien the chance to line up his sights from 25 yards but a disappointing drive was smothered by the wall.

But it was better from City after their sluggish opening and Chris Brandon wriggled away from three opponents to set off on a forceful 40-yard run which lifted the crowd.

Burch, who almost joined City last year, then thwarted Evans, who almost joined Lincoln this summer, with a decent save. The keeper was swiftly back in action to bale out a sloppy back-pass from Swaibu.

City were looking to break their duck and almost did so with a fantastic strike from Flynn.

The former Huddersfield midfielder was given a golden chance to get City off the mark from the penalty spot nine minutes before half-time.

Shane Clarke handled in the box as Thorne controlled the ball from City's first corner but, with Valley Parade ready to salute the long-overdue first goal of the campaign, Flynn's powerful penalty was turned away by Burch plunging to his right.

Lincoln's goal continued to lead a charmed life as they somehow survived a mighty scramble. Burch foiled Brandon at the near post, Thorne was unable to reach the rebound, Hughton then appeared to handle before Hanson scooped the loose ball agonisingly wide.

It was a breathless way to finish a half which had taken a long while to get going. The fans had also warmed up as the TL Dallas Stand tried to suck the ball into the net.

But Aaron Brown had other ideas as he lifted the ball off Brandon's toes on the edge of the penalty area as the busy midfielder burst through on Thorne's pass in stoppage time. City left the field shaking their heads at how they were not in front.

Kerr's Valley Parade return was cut short at half-time as Lincoln brought on Andy Hutchinson – on the ground where he had scored his first-ever goal on Easter Monday.

The youngster was brought down 30 yards from City's goal and the home side were almost caught napping by Stefan Oakes, whose blast from distance had Eastwood stretching as it flew over.

Lincoln were showing far more attacking intent than before and Fagan twice came within a whisker of scoring from defensive dithering.

Fagan cashed in on a lapse from Rehman to nudge the ball over Eastwood and towards goal but Rehman and Williams both scrambled back and Williams just managed to hook it off the line.

But City did not heed the warning and Fagan was in again a minute later. Williams' back header did not make it and Fagan rounded Eastwood – only for O'Brien to dive in the way and block his goal-bound blast.

They were two big escapes for the home side – but they still hadn't learned.

The ball deflected off O'Brien's heel across the box and was picked up by Jamie Clarke, who got there fractionally ahead of Ramsden. He went down in the challenge, the game's second spot-kick was awarded and Howe made no mistake by sending Eastwood the wrong way.

The momentum had shifted totally – and things went from bad to worse with Lincoln's next attack.

Fagan was allowed to keep running through unchallenged towards the edge of the box and he beat Eastwood inside his bottom right corner.

Jackson danced with his players on the edge of the pitch, while City continued to lose their composure with Brandon booked for a foul on Brown.

All the noise was coming from the section of Lincoln fans who mercilessly taunted McCall with a chant of "You're getting sacked in the morning".

The Bantams boss must have wondered where it had all gone wrong so suddenly after the bright finish to the first half.

There was a worrying absence of composure about the home defence every time the ball came their way.

Evans nearly pulled one back late on with a double strike. His first shot was blocked by Burch and the follow-up was cleared off the line by Shane Clarke.

Flynn whipped another drive inches over the angle before Evans did everything right when clear – except score as the ball flew agonisingly wide of the far post.

Attendance: 11,242





===========================

Former McCall target inspires Imps with key penalty save
7:30am Wednesday 19th August 2009

By Simon Parker

Rueful Stuart McCall surveyed the latest blow in City's sticky start and admitted: We'll play a lot worse and win.

Peter Jackson's Lincoln clinched a 2-0 victory at Valley Parade last night with two second-half goals in the space of a minute.

Michael Flynn earlier had a penalty saved by former City target Rob Burch as a host of scoring chances went begging.

McCall said: "If we'd taken our chances, we'd have been sat in the dressing room 3-0 up at half-time and the game would have been dead and buried.

"We created enough in little pockets of the game to win two or three games. Their keeper was outstanding in the first half.

"We've had a poor start to the season and it gets tougher when you lose two goals like that when you should have been two or three up.

"But not one of the players let their heads go down and how we never scored in the last ten minutes I don't know. It just seemed to sum it up.

"We kept at it and it's hugely disappointing not to have taken anything from the game."

The second loss in three league games leaves McCall's side already eight points behind early pace-setters Dagenham and Bournemouth – and still without a goal this season.

The City chief is bracing himself for the challenge ahead and said: "I was under no illusions before the season began but we obviously needed a better start.

"We've got a lot of young lads out there and we've got to pick them up. We've got to believe we can go to Cheltenham now and get something.

"But I would have been really worried if we'd come in and played poorly. The opportunities were there in black and white and we just haven't taken them."

McCall refused to blame Flynn after the midfielder insisted on taking the spot-kick rather than strikers Peter Thorne or Gareth Evans.

He said: "Flynny held his hand up afterwards but he struck it really well. It wasn't a Dean Windass one where he rolled the ball, the keeper has just made a fantastic save.

"Everyone says you should score from 12 yards out but Rob Burch has come back to haunt us."

Jackson, who celebrated his first Valley Parade victory as Lincoln boss at the third attempt, said: "Burch is one of the best keepers outside the Premier League and it was a fantastic penalty save.

"We knew that it would be decisive whoever scored the first goal and psychologically saving Bradford's penalty was a big thing."





===========================

Happy Valley for chief Jacko



« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 19 August 2009
By Leon Wobschall
Peter Jackson heaped more misery on his old club as a second-half double inside 60 seconds continued Bradford's X-rated start.
City paid the price for two moments of poor defending with a 62nd-minute penalty from Rene Howe and a Chris Fagan strike moments later sealing matters.

It leaves the Bantams looking for their first win in 2009-10 – and first goal.

Having enjoyADVERTISEMENTed a goal feast at the start of last season, City are now experiencing the famine, although they failed to cash in on a harvest of chances in the final 15 minutes of the first-half – criminally missing a 36th-minute penalty.

The culprit was Michael Flynn, with his rising effort beaten away by Rob Burch after Shane Clarke was penalised for handball.

The keeper also denied Peter Thorne and Chris Brandon, while James Hanson steered an effort wide.

Profligate City were punished on the restart, with the alarm bells ringing after two comedy moments at the back.

A misjudgement by Zesh Rehman allowed Fagan to steer the ball over Simon Eastwood, but a last-ditch clearance from Steve Williams saved the day.

More defensive dithering set up the same player, but his effort was blocked by Eastwood.

Lincoln took the wind out of Bradford's sails with their double blast, Howe tucking away a penalty after Simon Ramsden brought down Jamie Clarke.

Then straight away, Fagan was allowed the space to fire in a deflected low shot.

BRADFORD: Eastwood, Ramsden, Rehman, Williams, L O'Brien, Brandon (J O'Brien 82), Flynn, Bullock (Colbeck 74), Hanson, Thorne (M Boulding 82), Evans. Subs not used: McLaughlin, Clarke, Osborne, Horne.

LINCOLN: Burch, Hughton, Kovacs, Swaibu, Brown, J Clarke (John Lewis 74), Kerr (Hutchinson 46), S Clarke, Oakes (Bennett 90), Fagan, Howe. Subs not used: Hone, Clucas, Musselwhite, Coleman-Carr.

REFEREE: David Webb (Co Durham).

ATTENDANCE: 11,242.




===========================

Referee watch
http://www.bradford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=166476
http://www.refworld.com/referee/186/1






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CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***

L2 v Port Vale (h) D0-0 Aug 15 2009

BRADFORD CITY 0
PORT VALE 0

Bradford: Eastwood ,Ramsden ,Rehman ,Williams ,Luke O'Brien ,Brandon (Colbeck ,86 ) ,Flynn ,O'Neill (James O'Brien ,84 ) ,Hanson ,Thorne ,Michael Boulding (Evans ,59)
Subs not used: McLaughlin,Bullock,Horne,

Port Vale: Martin ,Owen ,McCombe ,Collins ,Stockley ,Kris Taylor ,Loft (Dodds ,84 ) ,Griffith (Jorgensen ,70 ) ,Fraser ,Richards ,Robert Taylor (Horsfield ,69)
Subs not used Lloyd-Weston,Yates,Lawrie,

Bookings: Brandon (Bradford) Griffith (Port Vale)

Attendance: 11333


Referee: D Whitestone (Northampton)

Game Statistics

Bantams / Valiants
11 Goal Attempts 4
6 On Target 1
5 Corners 9
9 Fouls 9
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
53 % 47


Next game (h) v Lincoln City ko 7.45pm



===========================
Match pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1756854,00.html




===========================
Home-town boy delivers eye-catching display in preferred role
1:28pm Sunday 16th August 2009

By Simon Parker

City 0, Port Vale 0

When the story of this season is written, a goalless opening home game will have been long forgotten.

It was no end-to-end classic to live long in the memory. Port Vale effectively came for a point – and, after a bit of huffing and puffing, they got it.

You could count the number of chances on one hand. For visiting shots on target, you didn't even need one finger.

But there was one significant factor which should not be glossed over. Saturday was the afternoon when City fans finally got a glimpse of the real Chris Brandon.

Remember him? The local lad desperate to cut the mustard with the club he had supported as a boy.

Unfortunately the only Brandon that the Bantams had seen since he finally got here from Huddersfield was the frustrated figure with a season-ticket in sick bay.

And when the injuries finally abated late last season, his City career suffered an instant false start, coming into a team devoid of confidence with their promotion hopes falling apart at the seams.

Then a summer of turmoil followed with the will he, won't he saga over whether Brandon would still be around for the new campaign.

Well, he definitely is – and if this game was anything to go by, Stuart McCall will be very grateful for that fact.

If the most common question asked about Brandon has been "when will he be fit again", the second is always "what's his best position?"

Left midfield, where he lined up against Notts County, is not it because of his natural tendency to come inside all the time.

But stick him right side with a view to linking up as a three-man central force and watch the difference.

That was the brief Brandon was given on Saturday. With Vale employing three in the middle, McCall opted for Brandon over natural winger Joe Colbeck to allow him that freedom to rove.

Brandon responded with easily his most influential display in the claret colours, delivering one of several high spots for his manager.

McCall said: "You've got to give your good players a bit of freedom. Brando's work ethic is very good and he gave everything.

"We didn't put him wide on the right but got him tucking in to release the likes of Simon Ramsden. We wanted him to find those little holes to go at people."

Sadly there was no win at the end of a horrible first week. Nor was there even a goal for the Valley Parade faithful to celebrate.

But while City came up against unflinching Vale resistance, there was an opportunity for certain individuals to catch the eye.

Alongside Brandon, Steve O'Leary replaced Lee Bullock in McCall's "horses for courses" thinking and instantly looked at home. James Hanson, who deserved to keep his place on the left, ruled the air once again and always seemed the best bet to break the deadlock.

And at the back, Steve Williams – like Hanson, still cutting his teeth as a professional – made a solid partner for Zesh Rehman.

Right back Ramsden again looked the part as he and Luke O'Brien tried to push forward at every opportunity to stretch Vale's wing-back shape.

The only real concern for McCall will be the lack of productivity from his front men.

At Notts County, the ball was always up the other end. Against Forest, the lone striker system McCall employed meant scoring chances would be few and far between. Saturday should have been the launchpad to get the goal tally up and running.

Even against the blanket defence of black shirts, you would have fancied at least one juicy opening falling for Peter Thorne or Michael Boulding.

Skipper Thorne did have a couple of half-chances, one notably early on after the first of Hanson's many flick-ons momentarily unlocked the Vale ranks.

But Boulding is the worry right now. For the second week in a row, he could not get into the game at all.

With Vale's back three sitting a bit deeper, there wasn't the space for him to press the last defender and sit on their shoulder to force a mistake.

But it is still surprising that a striker who looked so razor sharp right through pre-season – and has declared himself so desperate to right the wrongs of last year – should suddenly become so anonymous. It is surely only a blip but one that cannot drag on a moment too long for City.

Their most likely route to goal on Saturday came via the Ian Ormondroyd-esque Hanson.

It was his header that Brandon hustled into Thorne's path for the first effort on target; and his delicious cross that whizzed across the six-yard box before Gareth Owen could toe it away from the in-rushing Thorne.

Those were the few notable City attacks of a first half which saw McCall encroaching on to the pitch at one stage to voice his frustration.

Vale had the better of the 45 minutes and were always a danger at set-pieces but, apart from Owen's glance over from a corner, City stood up to the test – a confidence-lifting exercise for the backline after the previous outings.

But if City were to fashion a breakthrough, they needed to move the ball quicker and stretch the visitors.

The tempo duly picked up after the break and another Hanson header dropped invitingly into the danger zone without any end product.

Vale brought on Claus Jorgensen, whose popularity from his time at Valley Parade was reflected with the generous ovation from the home fans. Geoff Horsfield, a former Guiseley striker like Hanson, was also thrown on to give them a more aerial focal point.

But City kept pressing for that elusive opening as substitute Gareth Evans took an excellent pass from Ramsden in his stride before drilling over.

Vale keeper Chris Martin had still been hardly stretched until the closing stages when he denied O'Brien and then, a minute into stoppage time, Hanson.

McCall said: "We knew it would be a game of patience and might take until the 92nd minute to score. That was nearly the case with the shot from big James."

Attendance: 11,333





===========================
Port Vale View

MATCH RATING
Entertainment 6
MARTIN: Wasn't tested on too many occasions, but handled competently when called upon 7
STOCKLEY: Seems to relish his duel defensive and attacking roles and barely put a foot wrong 7
McCOMBE: Always willing to put his body on the line and has benefited greatly from being deployed in a back three 7
COLLINS: His agility was required to contain the presence of strikers Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding, with the latter enduring a quiet afternoon 7
OWEN: Made a crucial first-half interception to deny Thorne a free shot on goal and looked his usual solid self 7
K TAYLOR: His experience of winning two league promotions is obvious as he continues to add composure both in attack and defence 7
LOFT: Vale need to engineer more attacking scenarios for the midfielder, who worked hard to create openings 6
GRIFFITH: Refused to back down against his midfield rivals and must continue to do so as the competition for places intensifies 6
FRASER: Produced a dynamic first-half display, but understandably tired during the second period as he continues to build up his match fitness 7
R TAYLOR: Still at his most dangerous when driving forward from deep positions 6
RICHARDS: A quieter afternoon in front of goal for the striker due to a distinct lack of service 6
SUBSTITUTES
DODDS (for Loft, 84): Yet to start a match this season and had little time to prove his worth 5
HORSFIELD (for Taylor, 69): Starved of a decent chance, but his introduction will always lift his team-mates 5
JORGENSEN (for Griffith, 70): Produced some tidy touches and could be a real find in the short term at least 5
Not used: Lloyd-Weston, Lawrie, Yates.
BRADFORD: Eastwood, Ramsden, L O'Brien, Rehman, Williams, Brandon (Colbeck, 86), Flynn, O'Leary (J O'Brien, 84), Hanson, Boulding (Evans, 59), Thorne.
Not used: McLaughlin, Bullock, Horne.



===========================

O'Brien out for Tuesday?

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1757718,00.html





===========================
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v Forest L 0-3 / Vale Preview

From the Official BCFC Website...

ROGER OWEN IMPRESSED WITH MANAGEMENT SET-UP
Posted on: Tue 11 Aug 2009

To nick a phrase from the supermarket competition, every little helps.

That is the motto driving City's new commercial director Roger Owen.

The former Morrison's property chief is into his fourth week at Valley
Parade; the place he has frequented as a season-ticket holder for the past
quarter of a century.

Owen admits the switch from "the man on the terraces who complains about
everything" to becoming a non-executive member on the board has been an
eye-opening experience - but not in a bad way.

Talking to the Telegraph & Argus he said: "Coming from a big PLC, I did not
expect to see such budgetary control and I've really been taken aback. It's
a huge positive.

"Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes were equally surprised that I was surprised.

"But the senior management team here have got this screwed down behind the
scenes. The control they exercise over everything is super.

"We are probably the least indebted club in the entire Football League and
we're now trying to build a solid financial platform so we can go forward.

"This club should be in the Championship, no doubt about that. What we want
to do is get back there but to do it without the downside of what's happened
over the last ten years.

"But if we want to have the foundations to go forward, we have to get it
right now. That's the view we are all taking."

After 34 years with Morrison's, Owen is relishing his new labour of love. He
will take a significant chunk of the workload off director of operations
David Baldwin, targeting further areas where costs can be cut - and income
raised.

Owen said: "We are working to some very tight budgets but haven't got any
cash. When Fabian Delph went to Aston Villa, the fans may have been thinking
'who we were going to buy' but that money will go against previous events.
This year the budget aims to break even.

"I come from a background of working for a company where the chairman used
to be head first in the meat waste container to see what we were throwing
away.

"Every penny counts. It's easy to dismiss that these days but it's a reality
- and it's a reality here.

"We've got an IT system that takes ten minutes to warm up and a telephone
system that needs a serious going over. The ticket office has to be massaged
into life.

"We've even got the situation where we are paying the council to provide
flowers for the fire memorial. That shouldn't be the case.

"There must be a florist out there preparing to come along before every home
game and put a couple of bunches down. We need support because we are short
of numbers."

Owen aims to establish better links with the Bradford Chamber of Commerce
and is currently firing out sponsorship packs to firms in the area.

He even tried to involve city-centre developers Westfield with sponsoring
the Midland Road Stand. A fax to the chairman in Australia has so far gone
unanswered.

Owen said: "Everything is up for sponsorship. We're sending a pack out to
people basically asking to 'give us your money'. Anything that comes in will
go towards Stuart McCall's playing budget.

"Throughout my business life, I've been involved in a number of battles, at
Morrison's in particular. There's nothing I like better than being
shoulder-to-shoulder with your mates fighting a cause.

"I'm not quite their mate yet here but I've got that feeling around this
place. I've been to two management meetings and one board meeting and you
can see this grasp of what's what.

"But we do need more bodies about the place and that's why we're looking for
more volunteers; people to help sweep the stands or have a go on the phones
ringing round for sponsorship. That's the way we're going to get the money
coming in."

Owen can be contacted at rogerowen@the-bantams.co.uk

===========================

From the Official BCFC website...

PETER THORNE ALARMED AT PLAYERS REACTION

Peter Thorne has called on City to stop caving in when games go against
them.

The Bantams fell apart at Notts County to crash to their biggest-ever loss
on the opening day.

Thorne was alarmed at the way City's heads quickly dropped as the goals
rattled in.

And he admitted that urgent work was needed on the training ground to
toughen the team's resolve ahead of Wednesday night's Carling Cup trip to
Nottingham Forest.

"We didn't react very well to conceding the goals and that's something we've
got to look at," said the new City skipper while talking to the Telegraph &
Argus.

"For the first 20 minutes, I really believed we could get something out the
game. We had a couple of decent chances and were matching them.

"But we didn't react very well when they scored and that's something we've
got to sort out pretty sharpish.

"The same thing happened in the last friendly against Carlisle. We were 2-0
up and then before you know it we'd let it three.
"It's a worrying sign. We're giving goals away and we have to react better.
It seemed that every time Notts County went forward they were going to
score."

Stuart McCall plans to alter his side for City's visit to the other side of
the Trent. But whichever line-up he fields against their Championship
opponents will be expected to put up far stiffer resistance than at the
weekend.

Thorne said: "We don't know whether the gaffer is going to rest a few
players but we need another game quickly without a doubt.

"We know it's going to be very difficult against a higher-level team but
it's about how we react to what's happened. We need to get ourselves back on
track and forget about it."

McCall was angry at the way City subsided after Zesh Rehman's blunder gifted
County their second goal just before half-time.

The City chief said: "If we'd gone in at 1-0 down, we would have had the
chance to regroup and go again. But we never got that opportunity.

"We were competitive up to the second goal but then we made a crucial error
and the heads went down."

McCall did not make the players sit through a repeat of Saturday's horror
show when they returned to training on Monday but he made it clear that
reputations are on the line at the City Ground.

He said: "There's no hiding from it. It was the worst possible start we
could have made.

"It's about character now. We know Forest is going to be a tough proposition
but let's stand up and be counted.

"There were going to be a few changes in the team regardless of Saturday's
result. There might be more than a few now."


===========================

Nottingham Forest v Bradford City: Character can see Bantams through


By Ian Appleyard
BRADFORD CITY manager Stuart McCall has called on his players to 'stand up and be counted' in tonight's Carling Cup trip to Nottingham Forest.

The Bantams go back to Nottingham just four days after suffering a 5-0 humiliation against Notts County in the opening League Two game of the season.

Forest are one of the clubs tipped to push for promotion in this season's Championship and McCall accepts that it will be a tough challenge for his side.

"We know Forest are going to be a tough proposition but let's stand up and be counted," he said.

"It's about character now. We need to regain a bit of credit and we will have to defend far better than we did against County."

The defeat at Meadow Lane was the club's worst ever on an opening day of a new season.

It has increased the pressure on McCall, has already slashed his wage bill this summer by off-loading a number of high earners.

Midfielder Chris Brandon is fit again after a long-term ankle injury but may still be rested, while strikers Gareth Evans and James Hanson are pushing for starts.

Forest manager Billy Davies has a shortage of defenders and was hoping to persuade Wales manager John Toshack to release full-back Chris Gunter from international duty as well as striker Rob Earnshaw.



===========================

Bateson sent off late on as McCall's men keep it tight before Forest Friar
11:02pm Wednesday 12th August 2009

By Simon Parker

Nottm Forest 3, City 0

Don't try treating Stuart McCall to a trip to the Robin Hood Experience. The Bantams boss has suffered more than enough in Nottingham over the past few days.

Once again there was no case of robbing the rich to feed the poor as Championship hosts Forest followed mega-bucks County's lead by piling on the first-week misery for City.

McCall's men made more of a game of it at the City Ground and were still on level terms at half-time.

But once the deadlock was broken, there was no way back as Forest ran out comfortable winners. And rookie defender Jonathan Bateson soured the evening with a straight red card for a wild lunge on Nathan Tyson.

You had to go right back to 1934 for City's last win at the City Ground and few gave them a chance of ending that hoodoo after Saturday's thrashing.

McCall tightened things up following the Meadow Lane mauling, with four changes and a different system.

Luke O'Brien and Bateson lined up as wing backs with Simon Ramsden making the third centre half. James Hanson came in at left midfield with instructions to link up with lone striker Gareth Evans.

Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding were the insurance policy on the bench but it gave them both a breather ahead of Port Vale's visit at the weekend.

Forest had their own problems with injuries, suspension and international calls. Their makeshift back four contained two midfielders and a left back playing centre half and immediately came under pressure from the hard-running Evans.

The striker set up Lee Bullock for a header wide and then hurried goalkeeper Paul Smith into a panicky clearance.

Forest, as expected, enjoyed the lion's share of the early possession and forced a flurry of corners. Lewis McGugan warmed Simon Eastwood's hands with a fierce 30-yard free-kick, while Polish international Radoslaw Majewski saw another long-range blast deflected away from goal.

Steve Williams picked up his first booking as a professional after tugging back Tyson but the City back line had a sturdier look than previously and was containing the Forest threat.

There was a worrying moment when Garath McCleary jinked his way into the box but Ramsden blocked his progress and completed the clearance with a sliding tackle on McGugan.

Then Paul Anderson flicked Forest's fifth corner of the first half across the goalmouth, where it just eluded the outstretched boot of Tyson.

Bullock followed Williams into referee Oliver Langford's book for an ice hockey-style body check on McGugan as City continued to make life tough for the Championship side.

The brick wall of black shirts stood firm as half-time approached and Dexter Blackstock's looping header from Arron Davies' cross failed to trouble Eastwood.

The only crowd noise was coming from the City end, demonstrating how well they had done the job of frustrating their hosts over the first 45 minutes.

The cynics, of course, would recall that it was also 0-0 at Huddersfield this time last year and then everything fell apart – but it still represented a huge improvement on the first half at Notts County.

Unfortunately the good work was promptly undone within two minutes of the restart. McCleary pushed the ball through for Tyson to chase and he clipped it back from the byline for Anderson to convert with a diving header.

It was the worst possible start to the half and, given the pack-of-cards response to falling behind at Notts County, City's resolve was sure to be tested.

Forest won another corner and Eastwood got the slightest of touches from McGugan's kick to take it away from the lurking Blackstock at the back post.

For a while, every player bar Smith was camped in the City half.

Zesh Rehman bundled over McGugan 25 yards out and when his free-kick cannoned off the wall, Majewski met the rebound with an over-ambitious volley that hurtled into the top section of the stand.

But Forest's increased pressure told again on the hour with a second goal. Tyson was the provider once more, this time from the left side, and Blackstock bundled the cross in from four yards with his knee.

There looked no way back for City, who had offered little attacking threat since the early exchanges. When Hanson had tried to burst clear, he was pulled up for offside.

McCall made his first substitution at the midway point of the half, giving Jamie O'Brien his first senior outing in place of Bullock.

The former Birmingham midfielder prompted a bit of momentum straight away, finding Evans, who was blocked off in the Forest penalty area.

Forest went back on the attack where substitute Joe Garner sliced his shot so badly it turned into a great square pass for the unmarked Anderson. The winger, though, lacked any composure with a wild first-time thrash.

Tyson's aim was far better with a stinging effort that Eastwood did well to palm behind as the Forest corner count reached double figures.

Boulding came on for Evans, who had run himself into the ground with nothing to show for it.

At least City mustered a decent shot through O'Brien, though he could not keep it down to worry the under-employed Smith.

But that only succeeded in stirring up Forest, who responded with a rapier-like counter. Anderson was fed the ball on the right flank and his low cross was swept in by McGugan for the goal his non-stop display had deserved.

The City fans responded with a cheeky chorus of "You're not as good as County" – and in goal terms against the Bantams, maybe they're not.

But the mood around the ground darkened three minutes from time when Bateson's frustration got the better of him and he went clattering through the back of Tyson in front of the Forest box.

The young defender was surrounded by angry Forest players before he was shown a red card on his debut. The impressive Tyson had to be stretchered off and, with Forest already using three subs, both sides finished the game with ten men.


Nottm Forest: Smith ,McCleary ,Morgan ,Lynch ,Cohen ,Davies (Garner ,66 ) ,Majewski (McKenna ,77 ) ,McGugan ,Anderson ,Tyson ,Blackstock (McGoldrick ,78)
Subs not used: Camp,Adebola,Mitchell,Fairclough,

Bradford: Eastwood ,Bateson (sent off 88),Williams ,Rehman ,Ramsden ,Luke O'Brien ,Colbeck ,Bullock (James O'Brien ,69 ) ,Flynn ,Hanson ,Evans (Michael Boulding ,79)
Subs not used McLaughlin,Thorne,Brandon,Horne,

Bookings: Garner (Nottm Forest) Bullock ,Williams (Bradford)

Attendance: 4639



===========================

City still sore about Vale defeat
6:40am Friday 14th August 2009

By Simon Parker

City will have two scores to settle in their home curtain-raiser against Port Vale tomorrow.

Stuart McCall's men are desperate to wipe away the painful memories of the thrashing at Notts County on opening day.

And they are also looking to avenge the loss to Vale in March – one of only two home defeats City suffered all season.

McCall said: "We owe Port Vale for last year, that's for sure. They've got a different manager now and different personnel but we're still sore about the result.

"It was one of those quirky games. They only got in our box once, had one attempt at goal from a breakaway and we lost."

City's main target is to get their campaign up and running after the double disappointment of Nottingham. With back-to-back home games against Vale and then Lincoln, McCall wants to build some momentum.

"It's been a long and difficult week but I'm upbeat and just looking forward to playing at Valley Parade for the first time," he said.

"There's no doom and gloom around the place. We had a reasonable reaction to the bad opening day on Wednesday and we're excited for tomorrow now.

"I sense a real determination among the lads that we want to get off the mark. Everybody wants to go out there and play at Valley Parade.

"Quite a few have not played there before with a decent crowd behind them and want to get that opportunity."

Following the two fruitless trips to Nottingham, City are still searching for their first goal. But McCall, who will bring back strike pair Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding, has no concerns on that front.

He said: "We had two very tough away games and with the way we lined up at Forest, we knew scoring chances were going to be at a premium. But remember the week before the season when we played Carlisle here and scored three.

"It won't bother me if we have to wait until the 93rd minute and Easty (Simon Eastwood) has to come up for a corner to knock it in. We will take as long as we have to."

McCall watched Vale pull off the biggest shock of the Carling Cup first round when they dumped Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane.

Marc Richards netted twice but the real hero was teenage goalkeeper Chris Martin, who pulled off a string of crucial saves.

The City chief said: "Port Vale will be coming here full of confidence and we know they will be a tough nut to crack.

"They set up against Sheffield United with three big centre halves and were well organised and difficult to break down.

"We know they may come here to try to frustrate us. Look at the scenario at Forest and if we could have kept it tight for a little longer then you could sense the crowd getting twitchy.

"Micky Adams may be hoping to do the same. It might be a case not so much of us being patient but the crowd.

"We want to put on a great performance for everyone and be as positive as we can but the thing that matters is that we get the right result."

Injured duo Matt Clarke (thigh) and Stephen O'Leary (toe) were expected to be back in training today and will rejoin the squad.

Jonathan Bateson is the only player unavailable for McCall as he starts the three-match ban for his midweek red card.

McCall said: "I've got a lot of decisions to make but I'm sure that we can go out there and get the best result with the backing of the supporters.

"Our home form last season was much better and we want that to continue."

Vale are likely to recall veteran player-coach Geoff Horsfield, who was rested on Tuesday. Young striker Jamie Lawrie is also back from under-21 international duty with Northern Ireland.




===========================
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L2 : v Notts County (a) L0-5 Aug 8th

Coca-Cola League Two
Notts County (3) 5 Davies 17, Hughes 39 , 43, pen 55, Moloney 86
Bradford City (0) 0
Att: 9,396

Stats: Notts C - Bradford C
Possession: 58 - 42%
Shots on target: 11 - 3
Shots off target: 7 - 4
Fouls: 15 - 12
Corners: 4 - 5

Ref: Phil Gibbs
Yellow cards:
Notts C: Roger (66 min)
Bradford C: Bullock (16 min)
Both for unsporting behaviour.

Notts C: 1. Russell Hoult, 2. Brendan Moloney, 5. Graeme Lee, 6. John
Thompson, 18. Stephen Hunt, 20. Craig Westcarr (77), 8. Richard Ravenhill,
10. Neal Bishop, 11. Ben Davies (46), 9. Lee Hughes (63), 19. Luke Rodgers.
Subs: 12. Kevin Pilkington (GK), 4. Mike Edwards, 7. Matthew Hamshaw (77),
14. Sean Canham, 15. Karl Hawley (63), 17. Jamie Clapham (46), 22. Delroy
Facey.

Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 2. Simon Ramsden, 5. Zesh Rehman, 6. Matthew
Clarke (58), 3. Luke O'Brien, 11. Chris Brandon (69), 4. Michael Flynn, 8.
Lee Bullock, 15. Joe Colbeck (58), 10. Peter Thorne, 14. Michael Boulding.
Subs: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 9. Gareth Evans (69), 12. Steve Williams
(58), 16. Jonathan Bateson, 17. James Hanson (58), 20. Leon Osborne, 25.
Steve O'Neill.


Next match: League Cup Round 1
(A) Nott'm Forest, Wed 12 August, 2009. K.O. 7:45PM.

DREAM START FOR ERIKSSON
By Simon Parker (T&A)

A Lee Hughes hat-trick subjected dismal City to the first day from Hell at
Meadow Lane.

It was a dream start for Sven Goran Eriksson in his new role as Notts
County's director of football.

But while the former England boss was full of smiles in the directors' box,
the Bantams slunk away after an embarrassing beating.

Last season's 3-1 loss here was bad enough; but that was nothing compared to
the way they were sliced apart by the title favourites this afternoon.

There was little in it for a quarter of an hour. But things unravelled
quickly once Ben Davies had headed home after 17 minutes.

City's defending was wretched from that point and Zesh Rehman completely
missed a long ball allowing Hughes to go clear for his first goal.

And Notts County were 3-0 up by half-time - just like in February - when
Hughes stabbed home at the second attempt.

The debutant sealed his hat-trick soon after the break from the penalty spot
after Matt Clarke bundled over Luke Rodgers.

Clarke's personal nightmare was ended when he was subbed just before the
hour.

But the stunned 2,289 travelling fans still had another 30 minutes to suffer
before referee Phil Gibbs put them out their misery.

Rodgers and sub Karl Hawley both went close to adding to County's tally as
the fed-up away supporters streamed out.

Eighty per cent of them had disappeared by the time right back Brendan
Moloney skipped his way through the soft City defence to net the fifth three
minutes from time.



===========================

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4536806.City_left_sick_by_dose_of_Sven_flu/?ref=rss

Hughes hat-trick sinks woeful defenders
2:00pm Sunday 9th August 2009

By Simon Parker

Notts County 5, City 0

The lines of sweaty, fed-up fans stuck outside the ground were proof that Sven-mania had hit Meadow Lane.

Some supporters had to wait for nearly an hour to buy a ticket for the hottest show in town.

Little did they know at the time but the City fans among them spent far longer in the queue than their team were in

the game.

Sven Goran Eriksson's welcome bash went with a swing all right. City might as well have turned up festooned with

balloons, streamers and party poppers.

The former England boss could have been forgiven for thinking his new employers were up against San Marino, Andorra

or Liechtenstein. The resistance – after the first 15 minutes or so – was that minimal.

By the time that referee Phil Gibbs finally put an end to their misery, the Bantams had sunk to the heaviest

first-game thrashing in their history.

And the scoreline did not flatter County, who could have rattled in more but for a few decent saves from Simon

Eastwood.

So much for County wilting under the media spotlight. Instead it was City doing their best rabbit in the headlights

impression, particularly the two centre halves.

The travelling army began the game by dishing out merciless stick to Graeme Lee but it wasn't long before City's

current central pairing were facing their fury.

Without Lee's presence at the back, this was the chance for Matt Clarke and Zesh Rehman to show they could cope

with the job of muzzling arguably the division's deadliest strike force. Unfortunately, they were not up to it.

Clarke looked shaky from the start, while Rehman committed the blunder for the second goal that killed City's

afternoon stone dead.

The opening quarter of an hour gave no warning of what was to follow. True, County looked dangerous with every

attack but City were holding their own on and off the pitch, with the travelling army in their usual powerful

voice.

A Luke Rodgers effort smartly saved by Eastwood was matched at the other end by Joe Colbeck's header from a superb

angled pass by Simon Ramsden.

But Craig Westcarr was looking a bundle of tricks on County's right wing and it was his ball down the line that

sparked the opening goal. Rodgers hooked it back over Clarke and into the mix, where Ben Davies nodded home via the

post.

A presumptuous chorus of "It's just like watching Juve" broke out from the home fans; City's 2,200-strong followers

began to fear the worst.

The contest was effectively nailed six minutes before half-time on a fatal misjudgement from Rehman.

Ricky Ravenhill's long ball bounced a couple of yards in front of the City defender and carried it over his

despairing reach. Suddenly Lee Hughes was away and even with 40 yards to cover to goal, the outcome was inevitable.

Hughes is no League Two striker – and he demonstrated the prowess that was thrown away by his spell in prison,

coolly advancing on Eastwood and rounding him to slot home.

Now it felt like last season revisited. Several of the names may have been changed but the action that followed was

depressingly predictable.

As City heads crashed against chests, County made it 3-0 before the break. Westcarr again proved too much for Luke

O'Brien and whipped in an early cross which Hughes bundled in at the second attempt, despite Eastwood's best

efforts on the line.

Sven's smile radiated from the directors' box. It may not have felt quite the same as beating Argentina but it was

a great start and he milked it with every well-wisher.

For City, surely it could not get any worse. Stuart McCall, as he had done in the same dressing room last term,

demanded pride to keep the final scoreline in some kind of check. But the second half proved no different.

Hughes immediately tested Eastwood at the near post, blazing the rebound over the bar as his hat-trick beckoned.

He did not have to wait much longer for his debut milestone. County's next attack two minutes later did the trick.

Rehman failed to cut out another ball over the top and Rodgers was man-handled to the ground after slipping

goalside of Clarke, allowing Hughes to clinch his treble with a confident penalty.

Clarke was hauled off along with Colbeck as McCall switched in vain to a 4-3-3. Chris Brandon, who had spent most

of his afternoon looking to cut in from the left, was moved to the right side, while Steve Williams got his first

professional outing.

County's control was so complete that Hughes left to a standing ovation minutes later.

James Hanson was given a late run-out but City's pain was still not finished. Michael Flynn, who showed bite on

occasions, whipped a half-volley over the bar but it was no more than a pebble against the tide.

City's attacking intentions had long disappeared but County were hunting more goals through Rodgers, substitute

Karl Hawley and Lee with one of those thudding free-kicks.

The pressure predictably brought a fifth four minutes from time. Right back Brendan Moloney, no doubt bored with

the lack of activity at the other end, bolted forward to take a Rodgers pass and drifted inside Lee Bullock and

Williams before gleefully finding the roof of the net.

The vast majority of City fans had missed it. Most had drifted away disillusioned well before the closing stages.

Peter Thorne was stunned at the way his first outing as skipper had panned out and admitted: "It's an eye-opener. I

wasn't expecting to be talking about a 5-0 defeat.

"We knew that Notts County are a good team. Anyone who can bring in the sort of players they can and pay those

wages is going to be up there.

"But I really felt we'd give them a better game. We gave them goals and that's worrying."

Luckily, a first-day defeat is not terminal. Gillingham still celebrated promotion last season despite taking a 7-0

walloping at Shrewsbury early on.

But Saturday's dose of "Sven flu" was a terrifying shock to the system. The soft underbelly tendencies which cost

City dear in the run-in last term were exposed for all to see once again.

And with Nottingham Forest waiting in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, their troubles on the Trent are not over yet.

Attendance: 9,396

===========================





Super Notts humiliate Bradford 
 
By Jacob Daniel Saturday, 8th August 2009
 

Notts County 5-0 Bradford City

Notts Line-Up - Hoult, Moloney, Lee, Thompson, Hunt, Westcarr (Hamshaw), Bishop, Ravenhill, Davies (Clapham),

Hughes (Hawley), Rodgers

If the summer felt like a parallel universe to Notts fans, then there isn't a metaphor to describe today. All the

hype, all the media interest and all the pressure seemed justified as a rampant Magpies side demolished third

favourites Bradford City at Meadow Lane. Experienced forward Lee Hughes bagged an impressive hat-trick but in

truth, if anything, Notts could be disappointed not to have made it an even more painful afternoon for the visiting

Bantams. We may have shut up the likes of Stuart McCall, Gareth Evans and Michael Boulding who've been belittling

Notts in the previous week, however.

As over 9,000 piled into Meadow Lane there was a sense of expectation as the teams took to the pitch, but it was

the visitors who settled and had the better possession in the first ten minutes, but Notts carved out the first

chance. Luke Rodgers latched onto a lofted through ball but was forced wide and fired a shot that was comfortably

saved by Simon Eastwood in the visiting goal. Bradford created their first chance soon after, with ex-Notts full

back Simon Ramsden whipping in a cross that was met by Joe Colbeck, but his header was comfortably saved by Russell

Hoult.

Colbeck had the next effort on eleven minutes also, firing in an effort from the edge of the box that was once

again easy for Hoult. Five minutes later Notts got their first however, that sent the Meadow Lane crowd wild. A

teasing Craig Westcarr cross was flicked on by Luke Rodgers into the path of Ben Davies who planted a header into

the back of the net, via the inside of the post. Davies skidded along the Meadow Lane turf to celebrate his first

goal in black and white and from this moment the Magpies were completely in control of the match.

Brendan Moloney had the next effort for the hosts as the full back cut inside and fired a low, left-footed shot

straight at Simon Eastwood, with Luke Rodgers also heading wide from close range when offside. Notts were now

monopolising possession and looked like scoring every time they came forward and the Magpies got a deserved second

five minutes before the break. A ball forward was missed by the hilariously bad Zesh Rehman, allowing Lee Hughes to

latch onto it and calmly round the floundering Eastwood and roll the ball home. Hughes' celebration was amusing,

but not taken to heart by the visitors judging by the missile-throwing reaction.

Rodgers wasted another chance for the Magpies, firing a shot straight at Eastwood from the edge of the box, but on

the stroke of the break things got even better for the hosts, as the impressive Craig Westcarr skipped away down

the left and swung in a brilliant cross that was bundled home by Hughes from close range. The new Notts hero was

booked for his celebration but looked delighted to have opened his competitive Notts account in style with a brace.

Notts received a standing ovation as the half time whistle blew, with Notts completely in control of the match.

After the break the match continued in much the same vein, with the Magpies continuing to keep the visitors on the

rack. They got a chance to make it four within ten minutes also, with the hard working Luke Rodgers racing onto a

pass from Neal Bishop and being hauled down by Matt Clarke to give the Magpies a penalty. There was no doubt who

was to step up to take it, with Lee Hughes grabbing the ball and confidently smashing the penalty down the middle

to complete his first hat-trick for his new club.

Hughes then had a chance to get his fourth of the game but he narrowly headed a corner over the bar and Ricky

Ravenhill also tried to get in on the act, dragging a long range effort narrowly wide of the post. Hughes lasted

just over an hour before his afternoon came to the end, with the hat-trick hero leaving the field to a standing

ovation from the Meadow Lane crowd. New signing Karl Hawley entered the fray for his Magpies debut, hoping to get

in on the act and bag his first Notts goal. Matt Hamshaw also came on having missed parts of pre-season through

injury, replacing the superb Craig Westcarr.

Luke Rodgers had the next chance to get on the scoresheet, latching onto yet another ball over the top which had

terrorised the Bradford defence all afternoon. Rodgers did brilliantly to cut inside but could only dink a left

footed shot narrowly wide of the post. The fifth goal would come however for Notts, with right back Brendan Moloney

marauding forward and after a neat passing move he picked the ball up on the edge of the box, danced round three

Bradford defenders and chipped the ball over the 'keeper to bag himself the best goal of the lot.

The Bantams did manage to have a shot before the end, Gareth Evans firing a left footed long ranger miles wide of

Hoult's left post, but in the end it wasn't just a victory for the Magpies, it was the kind of beating that leaves

a side struggling to pick itself up. However, for all Bradford's hopeless defender and lack of firepower, Notts

were brilliant at the back, passed the ball with confidence in midfield and looked like scoring every time they got

near the Bradford box. More of the same would be lovely, and will possibly now be expected, but if Notts can play a

fraction as well as they did today for the majority of the season then a good campaign is in store.

Notts County 5 (Davies 17, Hughes 39, 43, 55, Moloney 86)
Bradford City 0
Attendance - 9,396 (2,289 Bradford)
 



===========================

From the Official BCFC Website...

McCALL: NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Bradford City manager Stuart McCall was left a disappointed and frustrated
man after his side made a horrific start to the new campaign.

Individual errors coupled with red hot performances from Notts County's pair
of debutant strikers Lee Hughes & Luke Rodgers meant City were on the wrong
end of a 5 - 0 scoreline.

" It was not good enough" fumed McCall.

" We had worked all week on how to cope with their (Notts County's) threats
and we just did not do as expected.

" (Lee) Hughes and (Luke) Rodgers are always going to give defences
problems, but we didn't help ourselves by some woeful defending.

" We knew coming here, we had to defend really, really well and simply put
we didn't do that.

"Overall really no one came out with any credit".

After such a defeat, McCall felt it was key to bounce back strongly.

" It is the worst possible start it could be, but we have a cup match on
Wednesday (against Nottingham Forest) and then back to the league on
Saturday and we have to bounce back.

" It is a poor start to a season, no doubt, but it is how we react from here
that is important.

" I don't expect the players to turn up with the joys of spring on Monday
morning, but we will get back to work on things and go again.

" We have to look at ourselves collectively and individually and show some
guts to take this on the chin and come back, which I am sure we will.

" It is a horrible feeling to start the season with, the only good thing to
come from today is that it is only 3 points lost and we have 45 league games
left to put things right."



===========================

Notts County manager Ian McParland hailed his side after they started the new season with a stunning 5-0 victory

over Bradford.

In their first game since the arrival of new director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson, County produced a

sensational display to leave the Meadow Lane faithful drooling.

"It was a treat to watch and the big difference for us this season is that we have more energy in midfield and

players who can put the ball in the net," said a delighted McParland.

Lee Hughes marked his debut with a hat-trick and there were also goals for fellow debutants Ben Davies and Brendan

Moloney as the hosts recorded an opening-day victory for the first time in nine years.

McParland added: "We went 11 games undefeated in the early part of last season, but drew nine of them. Hopefully,

this time, those draws will become victories and we can build on this fantastic start.

"It's good for me that all the goals came from debutants. Hopefully, that means I have made the right choices in

the players I have signed.

"Pre-season has gone very well and, if we continue to show the same commitment, honesty and togetherness, we will

be fine."




===========================
If you haven't had enough yet, some links

Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/08/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county-bradford-city


BfB
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2009/08/former-england-manager-gives-city-a-lesson/





===========================
Facebook page:

http://bcfc.gregshepherd.com/link.php?id=30
or search for
"City Forward! Mailing List"

***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas

http://www.facebook.com/greg66
***

Notts County v Bradford City: Preview

No worries for County

Defenders Stephen Hunt and Brendan Moloney have given Notts County boss Ian McParland the boost of a full strength squad to choose from for the Magpies' opening League Two fixture against Bradford at Meadow Lane.

The pair missed County's final pre-season friendly against a Liverpool XI, but both players have trained this week and are in contention.

Moloney, on loan from city rivals Nottingham Forest, could start at right-back after some impressive displays since his switch from the City Ground.

McParland faces a welcome selection dilemma in attack. Following the takeover of the club by middle-east consortium Munto Finance, the Scot has been able to considerably strengthen his striking options with the signings of Luke Rodgers, Lee Hughes and Karl Hawley.

Rodgers has been in blistering form during pre-season scoring seven goals and has already forged a good partnership with Hughes, while Hawley insists he is fit and ready to be thrown straight into the team following his arrival from Preston.

Delroy Facey, Sean Canham and Ben Fairclough complete the Magpies' six-man strikeforce.

Bradford's latest signing Steven O'Leary is one of nine new players who could be handed his debut.

O'Leary has joined on a five-month deal with a view to earning a longer contract and is expected to join Michael Flynn and Jamie O'Brien in the Bantams' squad.

Simon Eastwood, from Huddersfield, and Jon McLaughlin will vie for the goalkeeper's spot and former Macclesfield striker Gareth Evans will start alongside new skipper Peter Thorne up front, but ex-Guiseley forward James Hanson is also in the reckoning.

New defenders Simon Ramsden, Jonathan Bateson and non-league signing Steve Williams could all feature in a new-look back four.

Club captain Zesh Rehman, Omar Daley, Matt Clarke and Lee Bullock all served under Stuart McCall last season and are hoping to play their part, while Chris Brandon has finally put his long-term ankle injury behind him.

The Build up...

BFB Observations

http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2009/08/notts-county-vs-bradford-city-the-route-to-success/

Opening Days

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1692384,00.html

Away Coach is sold out!

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1746423,00.html

Season Ticket Collection - news / Delph etc

Season Ticket collections update


The club would like to inform supporters that *NO* season ticket cards
will be available for collection from 1.30pm - 4.45pm on Saturday 15th
August, the date of City's first League home fixture of the season.

This decision has been taken in a bid to ease the potential congestion
that may occur at the Ticket Office and to allow all supporters to get
into the ground before kick off.

The Ticket Office will continue to be open from 1.30pm onwards until the
kick off, but only for sales of tickets for home fixtures and Bantams
away matches.

The Ticket Office will be open again for season ticket collections after
the match against Port Vale, at approximately 4.45pm.

Due to this decision, the club urges any supporters wishing to attend
the Port Vale fixture to try and arrange for their season ticket(s) to
be collected before the day of the fixture.



===========================


Cash windfall for Bantams

Bradford City could be set for a cash windfall of around £960,000 after Aston Villa agreed what is believed to be an £8m fee for Leeds United's 19-year-old Bradford-born midfielder Fabian Delph.

City are believed to have a sell-on clause of 12 per cent.

The England under-21 international midfielder only broke into the Leeds team last season when he played 50 games but took League One by storm and was voted the Football League young player of the year.

He has been the target for a number of clubs, including Spurs and Manchester City, but he had expressed a preference to join Villa.

----

Leeds United midfielder Fabian Delph agreed personal terms with Aston
Villa today and passed his medical.

The two clubs had agreed a fee for the former Bantams schoolboy
yesterday, believed to be worth up to £8million.

The deal means City could eventually net in the region of £1million as
they have a sell-on clause, believed to be 12.5 per-cent.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates confirmed the Bantams are to get a share of the
transfer.

He said: "We get a fee – some of which has to go to Bradford City as
part of a sell-on – and there's a contingency built in subject to
Villa's performances."

Delph said: "There are a lot of young English players here, a superb
manager and this is the club I've chosen to play for so hopefully I can
do well."




===========================

  O'Brien must prove his staying power


Bradford City have given James O'Brien three months to prove he is
good enough.

The Dublin-born youngster has signed a short-term deal at Valley Parade
after spending the whole of pre-season with the club.

And Stuart McCall will be hoping the carrot of earning a potentially
longer stay will inspire the 19-year-old, as it did with Kyle Nix two
years ago.

Nix was given a series of weekly and monthly contracts when he first
came in and went on to play regularly during his first season.

Midfielder O'Brien made an immediate impact in the early friendlies and
scored City's first goal in pre-season against Burnley.

With his future secured for the next three months, the challenge has
been laid down to the former Birmin-gham player to replicate that form
on a regular basis.

O'Brien's younger brother Mark is currently on Derby's books – and made
his senior debut as a 16-year-old sub against Watford in May.

McCall's player hunt continues and he has imposed a deadline of today on
a couple of potential targets. But he is pleased to tie up another
unproven youngster.

The City chief said: "It will give us the chance to have a bit more of a
look at him. We've got a few young midfielders at the club but James has
shown promise in certain areas and we can see how he's going.

"It's a frustrating time at the minute trying to get people in and we're
waiting on a couple to come back to us."

Steve O'Leary will get another opportunity to push his claims in this
afternoon's private reserve game at Sheffield Wednesday.

The 24-year-old, who played 15 times last season for Hereford, made a
decent impression against Carlisle on Saturday.

McCall added: "The lad hasn't played an awful lot of football so to do
the full 90 minutes wasn't easy. He was very good for the first half
hour but then naturally tired and drifted out a little bit towards the end.

"But he certainly did enough to earn another chance. He can do a bit of
both in midfield – get his foot in as well as pass the ball.

"There were some positive things out of Saturday and it's just a shame
that the first half hour got overshadowed by the next 15 minutes when we
conceded three.

"But we shouldn't lose sight of the positives and the second half was
fairly equal."

===========================


Flynn grabs #4 shirt

Bradford City manager Stuart McCall has moved to bolster his midfield on the
eve of the new campaign by signing experienced midfielder Michael Flynn.

The Newport native has signed a one year deal at the Coral Windows Stadium
and will be handed squad number 4.

He joins from local rivals Huddersfield Town after spending one season at
the Galpharm Stadium.

Flynn, 28, will now go straight into McCall's squad for Saturdays
curtain-raiser at Notts County.

After spells with home town club Newport County and Barry Town, Flynn moved
to England and joined Wigan Athletic in 2002.

Flynn spent three years at Wigan, during which time he featured in a loan
spell at Blackpool, before moving to south to Gillingham.

Upon his arrival at the Priestfield Stadium, Flynn became an instant fans
favourite with the Gills faithful and integral member of their first team
squad.

In his final season with Gillingham, Flynn was named as club captain and
finished as their top scorer.

During the summer of 2007, Flynn signed with Blackpool for his second spell
at Bloomfield Road, before moving onto Huddersfield Town the following
season.

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1743212,00.html

===========================


  Flynn: I'll give rivals what four!

Michael Flynn will don the City number four shirt and has vowed to do
it justice.

Attacking midfielder Flynn will wear the jersey that is synonymous with
boss Stuart McCall.

It ends a two-year wait for McCall, who tried to snap up Flynn when he
first became City boss in 2007.

And the 28-year-old former Gillingham skipper – who is poised today to
complete a one-year deal – is confident he will live up to his manager's
expectations.

Flynn said: "He's a passionate man who had a great career and it's
always flattering when someone like Stuart McCall wants to sign you.

"When he first came in for me a couple of years ago, I also got an offer
from Blackpool, who were in the Championship, which was something I
couldn't turn down. But he's an ambitious manager and I feel that
Bradford are a very good club for this league.

"I didn't know about the significance of the number four shirt here but
it was good for me when I wore it for Gillingham and scored double
figures in League One, so hopefully I can get more than ten this season."

Flynn will complement Lee Bullock in City's central midfield and his
arrival on the eve of the season fills a hole that has concerned McCall
all summer.

He added: "I get back as well, I'm not just an attacking midfielder. But
I like to play box-to-box and there's no better feeling than scoring a
goal."

Stan Ternent signed Flynn at Huddersfield a year ago but the move went
sour after the manager was axed mid-season. The flame-haired Welshman
did not feature at all once Lee Clark took control and went out on loan
to Darlington.

Flynn added: "It was very frustrating. I was top scorer at the start of
the season but when Stan got sacked I was told I wouldn't play.

"I'm always loyal and I don't think 15-16 games is long enough for any
manager. While I was out on loan, Lee Clark came in and I was fighting a
losing battle straight away.

"He wanted his own players just like Stan did and that's the way
football works. I had to get my head round that but things change."

Flynn's capture adds to the Huddersfield presence in the City dressing
room and he predicts on-loan Town keeper Simon Eastwood will do a solid
job.

"Simon's a good young keeper and if he hits the ground running for the
first ten games then he will improve. He'll show everybody the ability
he has got.

"It's a time of change at Huddersfield with a new manager and chairman
with a big purse to spend but this club has a terrific set-up and you
want to play in a stadium like this every other week."


===========================

Delph transfer windfall from Leeds will help safeguard Bradford's future


By Richard Sutcliffe
MARK LAWN has warned Bradford City fans not to expect a sudden influx of players after Fabian Delph's move to Aston Villa earned the club a substantial cash windfall.
The Bantams are expected to bank around £650,000 from the 19-year-old's switch from Leeds United to Villa Park for an initial £6m thanks to a sell-on clause.

Bradford-born Delph started his career as a schoolboy at Valley Parade before being enticed to Elland Road at the age of 11 in a deal that included a 12 per cent sell-on clause should he subsequently be transferred.

City, who had already earned £125,000 before Delph's move to the Premier League, can now look forward to a substantial windfall.

However, any fans hoping the bulk of this money will be handed to manager Stuart McCall for team re-building are likely to be left frustrated.

Joint chairman Lawn said: "The money will be used to put the club back on to an even-keel after last year's financial loss.

"As people know, we pushed the boat out in the hope of winning promotion by having a large wage bill.

"We viewed this as prudent risk-taking as even if it did not result in Bradford City going up, we knew there was a good chance that Fabian Delph would be sold for a substantial sum.

"With that having happened, the money can be used to safeguard the club's future. After what has happened at Bradford City in the last few years, I am sure everyone can see the sense in such an approach."

City's failure to win promotion last term despite having the largest wage bill in League Two led to a drastic round of costcutting with McCall's playing budget having been slashed in half.

Lawn, as joint chairman, also lent the club £1m to cover the losses to prevent Bradford from descending into the sort of financial problems that twice led to administration in 2002 and 2004.

However, despite City's windfall from the Delph transfer, Lawn has stressed: "I appreciate some supporters will be worried I might take that loan back out now, but at present, I have no plans to do so.

"The loan was made for a reason and that was to keep us on an even-footing. That is still my intention.

"When I joined the board (in 2007), I said the aim was to stabilise the club and we did that by making our first profit in 10 years that following season.

"Last season, we budgeted for a large loss but this was a calculated decision." Lawn has also moved to thank neighbours Leeds for their conduct throughout a saga that began almost as soon as Delph burst into the Elland Road first team last August.

A host of Premier League clubs were linked with the teenager and United turned down an initial bid of £4.75m from Aston Villa earlier this summer amid interest from Everton and Manchester City.

Lawn said: "I would like to thank Ken Bates, Shaun Harvey and Leeds United for the way they have conducted themselves throughout this.

"They were honourable and never once tried to move the goalposts, which does happen in football with clubs often claiming that a sell-on clause is blocking a deal and that unless it is reduced then the move will be off.

"That didn't happen with Leeds, who were very professional.

I know some of our fans harbour animosity towards our neighbours so I want them to know just how honourably that Leeds have behaved throughout."


===========================

McCall not envious of money-bags Notts County
7:40am Thursday 6th August 2009

By Simon Parker

Stuart McCall insists he is not jealous of Notts County's new-found wealth.

Michael Flynn is the new-est face to check in at City ahead of Saturday's opener at Meadow Lane.

But the Bantams are not in the same ball park as County, whose preparations – including the shock capture of Sven Goran Eriksson as director of football – are now being bankrolled by mega-rich middle-east owners Munto Finance.

McCall, in contrast, has been forced to wheel and deal within a reduced budget but he is adamant there is no green eye towards the goings on at their first-day opponents.

He said: "Obviously Notts County are in a good position now but I knew the score here at the end of last season. I don't get envious.

"A couple of years ago, we knew there were a couple of clubs in Peterborough and MK Dons who would be up there because they had the money. Last season, al-though Shrewsbury spent £175,000 on Grant Holt, we were up in the top three or four in budget terms and we've had to deal with that.

"Sometimes if you've got the money it's always nice to speculate to accumulate. You saw that with Peterborough.

"Barry Fry knew the non-league system like the back of his hand and brought in the likes of Aaron McLean for £250,000. That seemed an awful lot of money but last year they knocked back a bid for £2m.

"Sometimes good non-league players come to me well recommended but they are going to cost £50-75,000 and, unfortunately, we haven't got that to spend."

Preston striker Karl Haw-ley became the latest Notts County signing and Ports-mouth's highly-rated young winger Matt Ritchie, outstanding for Dagenham against City last term, has been targeted to follow.

McCall is not surprised by the influx of new talent that his team will face.

He said: "We knew it was coming but you've got to spend the money wisely and get the right gel and balance in the team.

"Obviously it's great when you can bring in the likes of Karl Hawley.

"They've also got Spike (Graeme Lee), two midfield players who are very effective at this level and Lee Hughes up top, so they have bought well.

"I watched them last week and five of the front six were new players. And they've still got the finances to go out and strengthen if and when.

"But it also brings a level of expectation and pressure that they wouldn't have had before."

McCall is considering making a short-term offer to midfielder Stephen O'Leary.

Former Huddersfield winger Malvin Kamara, who has been training with City and played against Sheffield Wednesday reserves, could also get a deal.



===========================
Facebook page:

http://bcfc.gregshepherd.com/link.php?id=30
or search for
"City Forward! Mailing List"

***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***

CFML on location / game reports etc

The CFML is on location - in Yorkshire! I'm home for a month so I expect to be at the Port Vale, Lincoln and Torquay games. I'd like to put faces to names so let me know if you'll be at the games. Reply to this email or contact me via Facebook http://www.facebook.com/greg66




***
Help the CFML help others

I ask for your support for the daughter of a long time Bradford City fan and CFML subscriber as she prepares for a London-Paris charity bike ride. Emily has also produced a wonderful recipe book which is available to buy from Ebay (link below). It is a perfect (late) Mothers Day present, birthday present or a stocking filler (admit it - Christmas is just around the corner).

Please forward this information to your friends, post on your myspace, twitter or facebook page and lets all help Emily raise money for this excellent cause.

About Emily
http://www.justgiving.com/emilybeardall

Whether your support is vocal, promotional or monetary the CFML Thanks You!

***

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.

********************


From the Official BCFC Website...

72 REASONS TO STAY IN ON SATURDAY

BBC Sport have announced plans for a brand new Saturday night highlights
programme called 'The Football League Show', which will follow 'Match of the
Day' and showcase all the goals from the Coca-Cola Championship, League 1
and League 2.

Presented by Manish Bhasin, The Football League Show will begin on Saturday
8th August at 11.10pm on BBC1. Joining Manish in the studio, with his unique
brand of expert analysis and candid opinion on major talking points, will be
Steve Claridge, whose playing career included spells at Leicester City,
Portsmouth, Millwall and Birmingham City to name but four clubs. 5 Live
regular Mark Clemmit takes up the role of roving reporter, bringing viewers
all of the stories making the headlines.

Live coverage of The Coca-Cola Football League also returns to the BBC for
the first time since 1988. Ten matches from the Coca-Cola Championship will
be shown live, beginning with West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United on
Saturday August 8th at 5.20 pm (kick-off 5.30pm) on BBC1.

BBC Sport Online will simulcast the live Championship games and provide
match edits of the weekend's games' highlights. In addition, there will be a
divisional goals round up from each division every week. All the Carling Cup
and Johnstone's Paint Trophy goals will also be available.

The Football League Show will also be available for seven days on BBC
iPlayer and on Red Button until midday on Sunday.

The Carling Cup also returns to the BBC with live coverage for the first
time since 1987. There will be a highlights programme for each round, the
first of these on Wednesday, 12th August, featuring Macclesfield Town v
Leicester City. The Carling Cup Final will be shown live as will one leg of
each Semi Final.

Highlights of the Coca-Cola Football League Play-Offs will bring the season
to a dramatic conclusion.

Football League Commercial Director Stewart Thomson welcomed the news: "We
are delighted to be starting this new relationship with the BBC, alongside
our long-standing broadcasting partner Sky Sports.

"This season, supporters of Football League clubs will be able to enjoy
their club's matches across a range of different broadcasting platforms,
giving them the most comprehensive coverage of our competitions ever seen."

In addition to the BBC's offering, Sky Sports will be showing live coverage
of up to 80 Coca-Cola Football League matches, including games from all
three divisions and the Play-Off Finals at Wembley Stadium.

A full list of scheduled live TV games can be found by visiting:

www.football-league.co.uk/page/TVGamesDetail/0,,10794,00.html










===========================

Pre-Season Friendly
Alfreton Town (0) 0
Bradford C XI (0) 1 James O'Brien 68
Att: 215

Bradford C:
1 Simon Eastwood
2 Simon Ramsden
3 Luke O'Brien
4 James O'Brien
5 Phil Cutler
6 Matthew Clarke
7 Leon Osborne
8 Lee Bullock
9 Michael Boulding
10 Rory Boulding
11 James Hanson
Substitutes:
12 Louis Horne
13 Chris Elliott
14 Luke Dean
15 Dean Mitchell
16 Ryan Harrison


===========================

  FLC1: Forest Ticket Details

The second visit to Nottingham in a matter of days maybe a touch less
expensive than the first.

County are charging adults £20 for 4th Division fodder whereas Forest are no
more than £15 for the League Cup tie. (County's Erikson surcharge?).

There is no advance ticketing for the County game, while Forest ONLY accept
advance ticket purchasing (see below).

From the Official BCFC Website...

NOTTINGHAM FOREST TICKET INFORMATION
Posted on: Wed 29 Jul 2009

Tickets for the Bantams Carling Cup 1st Round fixture with Nottingham Forest
are now on sale from the Ticket Office at the Coral Windows Stadium (closed
Wednesdays?).

The match will take place on Wednesday 12th August 2009 at Forest's City
Ground.

There are two sets of ticket prices for the Forest fixture, one for Bradford
City season ticket holders and one for general sale tickets.

Admission prices are as follows:

Season ticket holders:
Adults: £12.00
Senior Citizens: £6.00
Under 16's: £3.00

General sale:
Adults: £15.00
Senior Citizens: £10.00
Under 16's: £5.00

Wheelchair spaces and ambulant disabled tickets are also available from the
club's allocation.

Supporters wishing to obtain tickets priced for season ticket holders must
bring either their season ticket cards or receipts to the Ticket Office at
the time of purchase.

Bradford City fans have been allocated the Bridgford Stand (Lower Tier).

Supporters are advised to purchase tickets in advance where possible, as
Nottingham Forest operate a ticket only policy and have NO CASH TURNSTILES.
If any tickets are still remaining on the night of the fixture, supporters
would have to purchase a ticket from Forest's Ticket Office before gaining
entry to the ground.

Nottingham Forest strongly recommends that children be of at least primary
school age (4-5 years) when entering the City Ground. Forest will not allow
babes in arms or children in buggies into the ground for their own safety.



===========================

From the Official BCFC Website...

Hyde United (0) 0
Bradford C XI (0) 0
at Ewen Fields
Att: 142

Bradford City's second friendly in as many days ended in a dour goalless
draw with Hyde United.

Chances were at a premium for the Bantams during an unconvincing
performance at Hyde's Ewen Fields.

The main positive for Bantams boss Stuart McCall will have been the fact
many of his senior squad members racked up more vital match practice with
less than two weeks before the kick off of the league season.

After half of the Bantams squad received a welcome 90 minutes on Tuesday
night at Alfreton, the remainder of McCall's playing staff featured at Ewen
Fields.

Joe Colbeck, Steve Williams and Gareth Evans managed to last the full
distance, while Peter Thorne and Chris Brandon also got vital minutes under
their belts.

Jon McLaughlin took over the goalkeeping duties from loan keeper Simon
Eastwood as the battle for City's number 1 jersey hots up between the pair.

The Bantams forward pair of Peter Thorne, who was captain for the night and
Gareth Evans endeavoured well to try and engineer openings, but struggled to
get constant service from their team mates as City seemed to struggle in the
final third of the pitch.

Chris Brandon occupied the left wing position again and looked busy and
hungry for the ball. The former Huddersfield midfielder had seemingly been
heading for the exit door earlier this summer, but now could play a vital
role in City's promotion bid.

Grant Smith was given a further chance to try and impress Bantams boss
Stuart McCall after receiving 90 minutes action. The former Carlisle
midfielder kept things simple, but struggled to make an impression on
proceedings. Smith did however show his versatility when switching to left
back during the second half.

Hyde, managed by former City striker Neil Tolson have had an unsatisfactory
start to this campaign, having yet to win any of their pre-season fixtures
in seven attempts.

Tolson has spent the summer beg, stealing and borrowing players in a bid to
cobble a side together capable of competing in Blue Square North.

Despite the undesirable way of putting his team together, Tolson's charges
were competent and composed and offered no evidence to suggest that they
lost their last seven fixtures.

The first half featured very few chances of note for either side, Colbeck
blasted over a rare opportunity after he found himself in a good position
mid way through the half.

The unfamiliar look to City's line up seemed to be the main reaso for some
disjointed play at times from the Bantams. Several times, blind alleys
seemed to be led down and wrong choices were made.

A late tackle from Chris Brandon on Hyde midfielder Tom Manship resulted in
a brief skirmish between the pair. Referee Kavanagh regained order moments
later, but Hyde nearly opening the scoring from the resulting free kick.
Defender Ash Eastham's header looped onto the crossbar and over via
McLaughlin's finger tips.

Hyde midfielder Nathan Arnold tested McLaughlin early on in the second half,
forcing the Bantams stopper to make a smart save down to his left.

Arnold's chance aside, the second half at Ewen Fields continued in the same
vein as the first, with clear cut chances being at a premium.

Just before the hour mark, Thorne wasted a good opportunity to place his
side in front. Colbeck whipped in an inviting cross, which Thorne, at full
stretch, could only volley wide.

Hyde went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 70th minute, when a
marauding run from defender Nathan D'Laryea set up Robbie Smith. The
on-rushing Smith looked certain to put his side in front, only for the Hyde
midfielder to somehow place the ball wide from point blank range.

With 10 minutes to go, Brandon tried to catch out Hyde keeper Michael Jones
with a low free kick, the Hyde keeper being more than up to the task to keep
out his effort.

Moments later his and team mate Thorne's night work were over, being
replaced by youngsters Dean Mitchell and Jordan Barker.

Substitute Luke Dean came close with the game nearing an end, his shot
whistling just wide of Jones post after he had done well to work himself the
opening.

Hyde almost sneaked it at the death through substitute Scott Mooney. Both
sides appeared to stop for an apparent foul by Luke Sharry, leaving Mooney
the chance to nip in and slide an effort past McLaughlin, but thankfully for
the Bantams wide of the post as well.

After the game Stuart McCall admitted: "There were not too many positives to
take out of the match".

"The lads did however get around 90 minutes under their belts, which is
important only 10 days away from the start of the season.

"I felt we lacked quality in the middle and the final third.

"We created one or two decent chances, but not too many given the players I
sent out tonight.

"I was slightly disappointed overall and it certainly leads to one or two
things to work on, but over the second of consecutive matches a lot of the
lads have got 90 minutes and we have kept two clean sheets which is
important."

Bradford C:
1 Jon McLaughlin
2 Jonathan Bateson
3 Ryan Harrison
4 Grant Smith
5 Steve Williams
6 Louis Horne
7 Joe Colbeck
8 Luke Sharry
9 Gareth Evans
10 Peter Thorne
11 Chris Brandon
Substitutes:
12 Luke Dean for 3 (64)
13 Chris Elliott
14 Dean Mitchell for 11 (83)
15 Jordan Barker for 10 (83)
16 Curtis Collantine


===========================


BRANDON HANDED BANTAMS LIFELINE

Bradford City manager Stuart McCall has told Chris Brandon that he will not
be forced out of Valley Parade due to the player budget at the club.

City's player budget has been slashed by 50% this summer and the club were
hoping their high-earners would move on, but two of them, Graeme Lee and
Paul McLaren, have left and McCall has had a rethink over Brandon, who was
barely involved last season due to an ankle injury.

McCall told the club's official website: "At that stage, we needed to
off-load at least two of the big earners and we've done that.

"We don't really need to off-load Chris and I've had a good chat with him.
His attitude and application has been spot on from day one.

"He just needs to continue playing and training as well as he is doing. I
think Chris is desperate to put behind him a year of frustration caused by
those injuries. He wants to have a good season here and I'm positive he can
do that with us."

Brandon joined his hometown club from Huddersfield in the summer of 2008,
but has made only seven first-team appearances.

===========================

From Official BCFC Website...

SEASON TICKETS: COLLECTION UPDATE

The club advise supporters that an estimated 2,000 - 3,000 season tickets
are still to be collected from the Ticket Office at the Coral Windows
Stadium.

If the majority of the cards are collected on the day of the club's first
home league fixture of the season against Port Vale, then it is feared that
due to the high numbers of supporters congregated around the Ticket Office,
many of those supporters may miss a proportion of the match.

To try and alleviate the situation, supporters wishing to have their season
tickets posted out can do so by sending a stamped address envelope to the
football club, marked for the attention of the Ticket Office to the
following address:

Bradford City FC
Coral Windows Stadium
Valley Parade
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD8 7DY

The envelopes must be marked with a first card stamp and must contain
supporters season ticket receipts. All season ticket cards will be sent out
to supporters via recorded delivery.

The Ticket Office at the Coral Windows Stadium is open during the week
from 9:00am - 5:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays.



===========================

Pre-Season Friendly:
Bradford C (2) 3 O'Leary 10, Thorne 22, Evans 79
Carlisle Utd (3) 3 Kavanagh 32, Robson 34, Anyinsah 42
Att: 1,163 (Visitors 172)

BRADFORD CITY
1 Simon Eastwood
2 Simon Ramsden
3 Luke O'Brien
4 Steve O'Leary
5 Zesh Rehman
6 Matthew Clarke
7 Joe Colbeck
8 Lee Bullock
9 Michael Boulding
10 Peter Thorne
11 Chris Brandon
Substitutes:
12 Steve Williams
13 Jon McLaughlin
14 Jonathan Bateson
15 James O'Brien
16 Gareth Evans for 9 (73)
17 James Hanson for 10 (68)
18 Leon Osborne
19 Luke Sharry

CARLISLE UNITED
40 Lenny Pidgeley
2 David Raven
5 Danny Livesey
7 Joe Anyinsah
8 Graham Kavanagh
10 Matty Robson
11 Paul Thirlwell
12 Tom Taiwo
14 Ian Harte
17 Cleveland Taylor
21 Richard Keogh
Substitutes:
1 Adam Collin
6 Peter Murphy
9 Scott Dobie for 7 (73)
15 Gavin Rothery for 11 (84)
18 Conor Tinnion
23 Tony Kane
28 Gary Madine for 8 (80)
22 Michael Evans for 12 (66)
3 Evan Horwood


===========================

MAN CITY MOVE FOR FABIAN DELPH

Manchester City have entered the race to sign Leeds United's highly rated
midfielder Fabian Delph.

Aston Villa and Everton have also been linked with the 19-year-old
left-sided player, who was withdrawn from Leeds' friendly with Burnley on
Saturday.

"We have an interest in the situation," said City boss Mark Hughes after
their 1-1 friendly away draw with Barnsley.

City's interest in Delph is a surprise given their summer spending spree has
targeted experienced internationals.

During the summer transfer window City have spent close to £100m in signing
the likes of Kolo Toure, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry and
Emmanuel Adebayor.

"He is a young player who has been brought to our attention," said Hughes of
City's interest in Delph, who is likely to command a transfer fee in excess
of £6m.

"I'm not sure where we are up to with that because obviously I have been
busy with the game."

Delph began his career at Bradford City before moving to Leeds in 2001

The teenager won the Football League's Young Player of the Year award last
season.

His form, which secured an England Under-21s debut in November, established
him as one of the stars of a League One campaign that ended in play-off
semi-final defeat to Millwall.

Although he signed a four-year deal at Elland Road in September, speculation
linking him with a move to the top flight has continued with Leeds denying
in June that Everton had made a bid.



===========================



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