CFML pre-season news #2010-07-03

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

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City this afternoon splashed out £25,000 on Conference hitman Jake Speight.

The diminutive 25-year-old striker netted 17 goals for Mansfield last term from 33 appearances, only 15 of which

were starts. His haul included a hat-trick against Kidderminster on the final day.

Speight, who was also being tracked by Luton, Cheltenham and Stevenage, began as a trainee with Sheffield United.

He moved on to Bury for a season before dropping out of the league.

His time in non-league included a sixth-month spell at Farsley Celtic in the 2008-2009 campaign, scoring six in 15

games.

He joined Mansfield last summer and finished their top scorer but turned down the offer of a new contract.

City co-chairman Mark Lawn said: "If he can score 17 to 20 goals for us next season, we will be well pleased."

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8247130.City_snap_up___25_000_striker/?ref=rss

And from the official site:

Taylor swoops for Speight
Posted on: Wed 30 Jun 2010
Peter Taylor has moved to boost his striking options by completing the signing of Mansfield Town striker Jake

Speight for £25,000.

Speight, 24, has put pen to paper on a two year contract to become Taylor's fifth summer signing.

The 5' 8'' striker will join up with the Bantams after enjoying a hugely successful season at Field Mill with the

Stags.

The Sheffield born striker finished the 2009/10 campaign as Mansfield's top scorer.

Speight managed to notch up 17 goals in the Blue Square Premier last season despite starting only 15 matches.

Such form meant Speight was reportedly on the radars of several league clubs, but in the end it was the Bantams who

have managed to secure his signature.

After starting his career at Sheffield United in 2004, Speight enjoyed a brief spell at Scarborough before

returning into league football with Bury.

Speight featured at Gigg Lane for two years as he continued to learn his trade.

Searching for more regular first team football, Speight left the Shakers to join Northwich Victoria in 2007. After

a season with Northwich, Speight returned to Yorkshire with Farsley Celtic, where he scored six goals in 15

matches.

A move to Droylsden beckoned for Speight in 2009 before he moved his career to another level at Mansfield with his

amazing goalscoring feats.

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2081611,00.html



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City staying at Apperley Bridge

City kick off pre-season today back at Apperley Bridge after Peter Taylor pulled the plug on plans to change

training base.

The Bantams were expected to start an eagerly-anticipated campaign with a switch to new headquarters at the

University of Leeds site in Weetwood.

But Taylor, who had been pressing for better training facilities, had a late change of heart because he was

concerned that what the venue was offering did not fit the bill.

The City chief said: "All the boxes had to be ticked before going to the other place and they weren't. A couple of

things we wanted couldn't be guaranteed, such as being able to train on certain areas on certain days, and I wasn't

prepared to take that chance if it wasn't right.

"The contract hadn't been signed. It had to be right for both parties, on their side as well as ours.

"It was very close but we just couldn't agree 100 per cent on everything."

But Taylor is not down-hearted by the prospect of a return to Rawdon Meadows. He added: "My thinking is still the

same. Everything has got to be right if we find a place to go to.

"To be fair to Apperley Bridge and the groundsman there, they have been terrific for us. I'm really pleased for the

groundsman especially because he is a Bradford supporter and he used to work his socks off."

"I'm sure the players will be fine about it. Some of them will no doubt be pleased because it's less of a journey

for them."

A full squad will re-assemble this morning, including new signings Jake Speight, Tommy Doherty, Luke Oliver, Robbie

Threlfall and Lloyd Saxton. The first friendly at Eccleshill is only eight days away.

Taylor said: "I always look forward to pre-season. It's nice to see the players again and I'm looking forward to it

even more because of the way we finished last season and the atmosphere around the place."


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From the Official BCFC website...

RESERVES MOVE TO ECCLESHILL
Posted on: Fri 02 Jul 2010

After much speculation, Bradford City can confirm that it is the football
club's intention to play their home reserve fixtures at Eccleshill United's
Plumpton Park.

The Bantams have decided to move their totesport.com Central League home
matches from the Coral Windows Stadium to Eccleshill in order to spare the
recently refurbished playing surface at Valley Parade.

The move is subject to a final inspection from the Football League, but all
signs seem to suggest that the Bantams should have no problems using
Plumpton Park as a venue for the reserves this forthcoming season.

Admission prices into Plumpton Park for City reserve fixtures will be
confirmed later.

Fans unfamiliar to Eccleshill United's home ground will get their first
opportunity to visit the venue next Friday (9th July 2010) when the Bantams
play their first pre-season friendly there.

Plumpton Park is situated approximately three miles away from Valley Parade
and can be found on Kingsway in Wrose (postcode - BD2 1PN).

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From the Official Cheltenham Town website...

SHANE DUFF JOINS BRADFORD CITY
Posted on: Fri 02 Jul 2010

Cheltenham Town Defender Shane Duff, who's contract with the Robins expired
in June, has today joined fellow League Two club Bradford City.

Shane enjoyed 10 successful years with the Robins, and was rewarded with a
testimonial season during the 2009/2010 campaign.

Recent seasons have seen Shane dogged by injuries and a damaged achilles
tendon suffered during the Robins 5-4 defeat to Bradford at The Abbey
Business Stadium back in August 2009 robbed Duff of the majority of the
2009/2010 season.

Shane was offered a new contract by Robins Manager Mark Yates for this
season, however the long serving defender has decided to move on and pursue
his career elsewhere.

Shane is a tall, strong central defender who joined Cheltenham Town straight
from school and spent a year in the youth team before being offered a
professional contract in 2000.  After a couple of years in the reserves and
a loan spell at non-league Evesham United, Shane was ready to make to the
move into first team football.

He made his debut in season 2002-2003 and the following season made a number
of appearances alongside his brother Michael in central defence before his
older sibling moved to Burnley.

Shane's performances during season 2004-2005 earned him the club's Player of
the Year award and established him as a first choice player. He went on to
play an important part as the Robins won promotion in 2006 and retained
their League One status the following season.

Shane was selected for the Northern Ireland under-21 squad for the away
match in Armenia in March 2003 and made his international debut at under-21
level three months later against Spain in Lurgan.

Also a talented cricketer, Shane appeared as a wicketkeeper-batsman for
Shipton-under-Wychwood in the 2002 National Village Knockout final at
Lord's.

During both the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 League One campaigns Shane's
appearances were curtailed slightly by injury but he still managed to start
nearly two thirds of the games over the course of both seasons.

It was another frustrating campaign for Shane during 2008/09 when injury saw
him unavailable for four and a half months during the middle part of the
season. Nevertheless, he returned with gusto towards the end of that
campaign becoming an important face within a side that, despite suffering
relegation, showed true spirit and determination.

Now with Peter Taylor's Bradford City, all at Cheltenham Town would like to
thank Shane for his long-standing commitment to the club and wish him all
the very best in his future career.