CFML pre-season news #2010-06-30

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html

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LAWN TO JUDGE FANS' RESPONSE TO VUVUZELAS
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Mark Lawn will let the fans decide if they want to hear vuvuzelas at Valley
Parade.

The constant drone of the South African horns has whipped up a storm of
complaints during the first week of the World Cup.

And there is a fear that the vuvuzela is set to become an unwanted addition
to domestic football next season.

Previous crazes such as tickertape and the Mexican Wave have hit the English
game after being seen in World Cup campaigns. Now the ear-splitting plastic
horn is expected to follow.

Joint-chairman Lawn, who has watched football in South Africa, admitted he
would leave it to people power should the craze hit City.

He said: "I think we would have to see the response from the rest of the
fans. Being realistic, we wouldn't ban them (vuvuzelas) straight away until
we found out what the other supporters thought of it.

"Maybe we could put it to a text vote or something to go with the majority
view.

"I'm sure you'll get them at some grounds here for the first couple of games
but then I think it will just die out. That's after their mates have punched
them in the face!"

Lawn feels the problems in South Africa have been magnified because of the
large attendances.

He said: "When I've been to games over there, it's not been that bad. You
normally only get about 1,000 people turning up, unless it's someone like
Kaiser Chiefs playing, so it's not a noise that is consistently there.

"I don't think you would get that consistent noise here. The British psyche
is different to South Africa, so I could see it being more intermittent and
just for important parts of the game like corners and goals.

"On a lighter note, it would help to drown out the moaners in the crowd!"




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CITY v AVENUE DERBY IS WELCOME APPETISER
By Ian Whiting (T&A)

The area's two biggest non-league clubs announced their pre-season friendly
fixtures this week, and Bradford Park Avenue's includes a tasty derby with
Bradford City at Valley Parade.

The Bantams will host Avenue on Tuesday, August 3, less than a week before
City begin their League Two campaign.

Avenue's opening warm-up game will be at Horsfall Stadium against another
Football League near- neighbour, with Huddersfield Town providing the
opposition on Wednesday, July 14.

Guiseley begin a day earlier when they host City, and the Bantams are
expected to send a full squad as the fixture was agreed as part of the deal
that took James Hanson to Valley Parade 12 months ago.

Hanson had just finished his second season as the UniBond League Premier
Division club's top scorer, a feat he emulated in his first season in the
Football League.

The young striker also scooped a couple of player awards to boot at Valley
Parade.

The Nethermoor pitch will be back under wraps after City's visit.

The Lions are gearing up for their first season in the Conference North
following promotion as champions of the UniBond Premier last May.

Their only other home friendly is against Conference outfit Gateshead on
Saturday, August 7.

The pitch at Brighouse Town's Dual Seal Stadium will take a hammering before
Town's season gets underway as they have six home friendlies booked.

Town, like Guiseley, will begin their new season in a higher division, after
winning promotion to the Kool Sport Northern Counties East League Premier
Division as runners-up of Division One last term.

They will be league rivals of Farsley AFC, as will Thackley and Liversedge.

Farsley were confirmed as new members after the club, born out of the demise
of Farsley Celtic, was offered a place on the recommendation of the FA.

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BANTAMS BOSS KEEN TO KEEP HANSON

Bradford City hope to head off any possible interest in James Hanson by
offering the striker an improved deal at Valley Parade.

Hanson, signed from Guiseley last summer for an undisclosed fee, scored 13
goals for the Bantams in his first season in the Football League and was
voted player of the year.

City manager Peter Taylor, who met Hanson's agent on Monday, said: "That's
hopefully happening very soon. We hope James will be fit and well for next
season and carry on playing for us as well as he has done."

Hanson, 22, missed the final seven games of the season after pulling a
hamstring at Bournemouth in April.

Taylor added: "For a while we were a little bit nervous because it didn't
seem to be clearing up, but the last scan we saw looked OK."


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Former City striker feels he did not get games to prove his worth
* Exclusive By Simon Parker »

Michael Boulding is ready to revive his career after claiming he was "mismanaged" by City.

The striker, released from Valley Parade in March, is taking his pick
from several offers in Leagues One and Two.

He will make a decision next week in time to begin pre-season training
-- determined to show that he can still cut it as a goal-scorer.

But Boulding has revealed the overwhelming sense of frustration about
his time with the Bantams.

The 34-year-old scored 16 goals in 64 league games, although 20 of those
appearances were as a substitute, and he feels he never really got the
opportunity to show the poaching ability that had attracted Stuart
McCall's interest in 2008.

Boulding said: "I wasn't given the time on the pitch. You've got to play
yourself into form and play regular games.

"You can't score goals sitting on the bench -- and if you aren't
playing, what are you doing there?

"I should have left at the end of the last season. I didn't and came
back and took a big pay cut.

"I tried to do everything right and it went really well all pre-season.
Then two games into the season I was dropped."

Peter Taylor
<http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/?search=Peter+Taylor> had
replaced McCall by the time Boulding agreed to cancel his contract but
he felt City had already made up their mind to move him out well before
then.

He said: "I think so. There are other people making decisions at
Bradford apart from the management. This game is all about opinions.

"Someone can play you out of position -- you've seen it with the England
squad in the World Cup -- and the player looks like a duck out of water.

"It was through no lack of effort on my part, I just think I got
mismanaged.

"You bring in someone and then don't play to their strengths. So why
have you got him?

"You bring a goal-scorer to the club and then don't play him or try to
get the best out of him.

"It's frustrating for strikers when they do start games and get dragged
off in the last 20 minutes having put in all the hard work. That's when
you get goals -- it's ridiculous.

"But a few players have been in the same position as me at different
clubs. It's all down to what people think of you.

"I think from my point of view, the best thing for me was to get away
from Bradford. But time will tell."

Boulding insists his confidence has not been knocked as he looks forward
to the next challenge.

He said: "I definitely have a new club. It's just at what level.

"The worst-case scenario would be League Two. People know my pedigree
and it's just a matter of showing some of the higher clubs that I've
still got it.

"It's a new start and the chance to prove that I'm still fit and sharp.
I'm looking forward to getting back to business.

"But I just hope that Bradford get the success they deserve and are
craving for. There are 12,000 people turning up every week and they
desperately need some success.

"I genuinely really hope that they can do it this season."

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LAWN: VIDEO TECHNOLOGY IS THERE SO WE SHOULD USE IT
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Mark Lawn today added his voice to the call for video technology in
football.

As the row over England's "phantom" goal against Germany rumbles on, the
game's authorities are coming under greater pressure to bring in
state-of-the-art assistance for officials.

How long would it take to check the cameras? You could tell straight away
that the England goal was well over the line.

City co-chairman Lawn believes there is no excuse for FIFA to sit on their
hands any longer after the embarrassment of Bloemfontein, when Frank
Lampard's shot clearly bounced several feet behind the line.

Lawn said: "I think Sepp Blatter is out of tune with the real world to keep
saying no to technology. Rugby league, cricket and tennis have all got it,
so why not football?

"How long would it take to check the cameras? You could tell straight away
that the England goal was well over the line.

"We've already got the cameras in the higher leagues. Then why not use
them?"

City were victims of a similar injustice at Morecambe in April last year
when a Peter Thorne header went in but was not given by an unsighted
referee. Stuart McCall, manager at the time, demanded video evidence should
be introduced.

Lawn believes it should come in across the board - with the Premier League
footing the bill.

He added: "You think how much money is awash at the top end of English
football. Maybe it's time they started to make it more even by paying for
the technology at other league clubs.

"I'm not talking about putting a microchip in the ball because that would
work out more expensive.

"But I'm sure the authorities already spend more money than it would cost to
bring in cameras at every ground."

Referee Jorge Larrionda's blunder on Sunday was followed by another equally
significant wrong call in Argentina's win over Mexico. Carlos Tevez opened
the scoring with a goal from a blatantly offside position - which was
highlighted by TV replays broadcast at the stadium.

But FIFA yesterday repeated their firm stance against using technology to
rule on contentious issues.

Lawn said: "You've got to feel sorry for the Mexicans as well because that
goal should never have been allowed. And goals change games.

"However badly England played, what would the young German side have felt
like walking off at half-time if they had just conceded two goals in two
minutes?

"I'm not saying it would have changed the result because the best side
definitely won. But of course it would have had an effect."

Meanwhile, City's two games against Southend next season have both been
moved to a Friday night. They now host the Shrimpers at Valley Parade on
August 27 and travel to Essex on April 15.

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Hanson signs 4 year contract

Exclusive By Simon Parker »

James Hanson has signed a new deal that will keep him in the City ranks until 2014.

Hanson, top scorer last season with 13 goals, has been rewarded for his impressive start to professional life with an improved four-year contract.

It has been a remarkable rise for the formerGuiseley and Eccleshill striker, who began last pre-season on trial at the club while still working nights at the Co-op.

There have been rumours of interest from other clubs – one Championship side were understood to be keeping tabs on
him in January – and City are delighted to get him nailed down for the long term.

As he rejoins the squad tomorrow to begin preparation for his second League Two campaign, Hanson will now be
expected to maintain the high standards he has set.

But Peter Taylor is confident on that score and feels the lanky hitman can continue to make progress.

Taylor said: "I'm pleased as long as he carries on doing what he has been for us. It's good for the football club
and it's good for him.

"He's got to keep it going now. James has got to look at this at the first step on the ladder. But looking at it
and talking to him for three months, I can see he's got the right attitude to go on and be a good player."

Taylor is still looking to add two more players, including a striker, to the squad in time for the pre-season
kick-off.

Co-chairman Mark Lawn believes Hanson can look even sharper next term with a full warm-up programme under his belt.

Lawn said: "It's nice to see in this day and age somebody who's got a bit of affection for their local club and is
willing to sign a long-term contract."

Its plain to see as a team, England weren't good enough. However, I am concerned about hearing for the last 24 hours "Germany were the better team" and "Argentina were the better team" so the officiating didn't matter. What next? A row full of international judges deciding each game by giving marks out of 10 for like they do in Gymnastics and Ice skating?

Football is about scoring more goals in a game. if not then be done with WC qualifying and just let FIFA invite the top 32 ranked teams to Brazil in 2014. Then each time they are ready to take to the pitch FIFA can say "well, team A is ranked higher than team B so team A wins".

One quote from many years ago (source unknown) said "FIFA is just there to make the ball square and the goals round". They are taking a wonderful competition and making it look like a joke.

CFML pre-season news #2010-06-19

Fixtures now available:

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html

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WILLIAMS AND BULLOCK SIGN DEALS

Bradford defender Steve Williams and midfielder Lee Bullock have signed new
contracts at Valley Parade.

Williams initially penned a one-year deal with the Bantams last summer, with
the option of a further year's extension.

But the League Two side were keen to keep him for a longer period and have
handed Williams a three-year deal.

Bullock has signed a new two-year deal which will keep him with the West
Yorkshire club until July 2012.

Bullock, who joined the club from Hartlepool in February 2007 following an
initial loan spell, made 45 appearances for the Bantams last season and was
a key member of their starting line-up.

Meanwhile, youngster Ryan Harrison has earned a place in the first-team
squad for next season by signing a one-year contract.

Goalkeeper Chris Elliott has agreed terms on a professional deal with the
club and will put pen to paper later this month.




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CITY CHIEF BACKS HOMEGROWN RULING

Bradford City manager Peter Taylor has welcomed the Football League's new
ruling to increase the number of 'homegrown' players at clubs.

The rule changes, which will see first-team squads restricted to 25 players
over the age of 21, of which 10 must be registered in domestic football for
three seasons before their 21st birthday, were approved by the 72 Football
League clubs at their annual general meeting in Malta earlier this week.

Taylor told the club's official website: "I think it's a good idea and I can
see why the Football League have moved to introduce it.

"I can understand why Premier League teams go for the best players in Spain
or France, but it restricts opportunities for young British players."

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ANTAMS MIDFIELDER PENS NEW DEAL

Bradford City midfielder Michael Flynn has given boss Peter Taylor a boost
by signing a new two-year contract at Valley Parade.

The 29-year-old has ended speculation about his future by committing himself
to Bradford until July 2012.

Flynn was a regular starter for the Bantams last season and impressed after
joining on a one-year deal in August 2009 following his release from
Huddersfield.

The Welshman's previous clubs include Wigan, Blackpool and Gillingham.

Defender Simon Ramsden is also set to sign a two-year contract extension
when he returns from his summer holiday.

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O'BRIEN SIGNS NEW BANTAMS DEAL

Bradford City defender Luke O'Brien has signed a new two-year contract at
Valley Parade ahead of the new League Two campaign.

The Halifax-born 21-year-old, who made 45 appearances for Bradford last
season, is the seventh Bantams player to agree to a new deal since the end
of the season.

Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, Michael Flynn, Leon Osborne, Lee Bullock, Steve
Williams and Ryan Harrison have all committed themselves to Peter Taylor's
squad in the last fortnight.

CFML pre-season news #2010-06-02

nPower Fixtures released  9:00am on Thursday 17th June 2010

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2064003,00.html?


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New signings

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/8707838.stm


Bradford City sign Oliver, Threlfall and Saxton

Bradford City manager Peter Taylor has made a trio of new signings, with the free transfer captures of Luke Oliver,

Robbie Threlfall and Lloyd Saxton.

Central defender Oliver, 28, had a month on loan at Valley Parade from Wycombe last season, and has agreed a

permanent two-year contract.

Left-back Threlfall, 21, spent time on loan from Liverpool and has also signed a two-year deal.

Goalkeeper Saxton, 20, joins from Plymouth on a one-year contract.

Taylor is also hopeful that several of his out of contract players will accept the new deals being offered to them.

Lee Bullock and Simon Ramsden have already indicated that they will stay at Valley Parade, with Taylor just waiting

on a decision from Michael Flynn.

"I honestly haven't heard anything negative so I'm very hopeful that they'll be signing and staying - I'm very

confident of that," he said.




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Home commentaries

The club have announced a new 3 year deal with BBC Radio Leeds.

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2059733,00.html

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Osborne on board
1:09pm Thursday 3rd June 2010
Leon Osborne has become the second City youngster in a day to secure his future at the club.

Following the three-year deal signed by Jon McLaughlin this morning, Osborne has agreed a new two-year contract.

Like McLaughlin, the 20-year-old winger impressed when he was given an extended run in the first-team at the tail

end of last season.

Osborne made a total of 13 appearances in what proved to be a breakthrough campaign at Valley Parade.

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McLaughlin commits to City
11:10am Thursday 3rd June 2010
By Connor Murphy

Jon McLaughlin has committed his long-term future to City after signing a new three-year deal.

The 22-year-old has emerged as first-choice keeper following a string of impressive performances to end last

season.

Given his chance by boss Peter Taylor in the final month of the campaign, McLaughlin conceded just three goals in a

six-match unbeaten run.

McLaughlin kept clean sheets against Northampton and Crewe and also saved a penalty in a man-of-the-match display

at Burton.