CFML pre-season news #2010-07-30

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

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GAVIN GRANT GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE FOR SHOOTING FORMER FRIEND
By T&A Newsdesk

Former Bradford City footballer Gavin Grant has been jailed for life for
shooting a former friend and told he would have to serve at least 25 years.

The 26-year-old striker played for City between February and the end of last
season, and was thought to be in line for a new contract for next season.

He thought he had got away with murder after Leon Labastide, 21, was gunned
down outside his parents' home in 2004, the Old Bailey was told.

Detective Inspector Steve Horsley said after the trial: "Gavin Grant thought
he had got away with murder.

"He carried on his career while, all along, he had blood on his hands."

Grant had been cleared in August 2007 of the shooting murder of Jahmall
Moore. But he was charged with Mr Labastide's murder after new witnesses
came forward.

Gareth Downie, 25, and Damian Williams, 32, were also jailed for life and
given minimum terms of 25 years - Downie for murdering Mr Labastide and
Williams for conspiracy to murder.

As Grant was being sentenced at the Old Bailey, a woman shouted from the
public gallery: "It's all fixed" and "You are coming out".

The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, said Mr Labastide's murder had
been in revenge for a series of "tit-for-tat" shootings.

Mr Labastide's mother, Diane Havill, said in a statement: "Leon was a keen
footballer who shared his passion for the game with all who knew him. He
loved life. His senseless killing by so-called friends who grew up with him
has left it hard for me to understand the futility of snatching Leon's
future whilst destroying their own."

A charge that Grant had committed perjury at his trial for murdering Mr
Moore, 22, was allowed to lie on file.

Roberto Parchment, 24, originally convicted of Mr Moore's murder, was found
guilty again following a retrial in December brought about by supergrass
Darren Mathurin's involvement.

Stephen Batten QC, prosecuting, said that many of the people involved in the
case had been linked to shootings and drug-dealing on the Stonebridge Park
estate in Harlesden, north-west London.

He told the jury: "Attitudes and standards are different.

"It is more the law of the jungle than the law of civilised England."



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O'BRIEN JOINS ST. PAT'S

St Patrick's Athletic have today signed former Bradford City player 20 year
old midfielder James O'Brien.

A native of Lally Road Ballyfermot, O'Brien played schoolboy football with
his local club Cherry Orchard before joining Birmingham City 2006.

While O'Brien never got his chance to impress at Birmingham he did play
alongside former Saints' favourite Keith Fahey during his time at the
midlands club.

In 2009 a three day trial with Bradford City soon became a two week trial
and then a three month contract became an 18 month contract for O'Brien.

"Bradford was a great experience for me, Stuart McCall brought me in and
Peter Taylor was there when I was leaving".

"Nobody wanted me to leave it was my decision, there are two sides to being
a footballer", he explained, "while I enjoyed the football on the pitch I
wanted to be happy off the pitch".

In recent weeks there had been interest from St Pat's and "it really just
escalated from there".

The former Ireland schoolboy did not take the decision lightly "my brother
Mark is already in the first team with Derby so I talked through the whole
move with him to make sure I was making the right decision".

O'Brien is now very much looking forward to playing for his local Airtricity
league club, "I only live 20 minutes away from the ground, I went to school
in Inchicore and I used to come down to the games every now and then with
friends".

He added "it's good to come home and have my friends and family around me
and I already know some of the lads at the club including Ian Bermingham and
Graeme Dowling".

While O'Brien would describe himself as an attacking midfielder at the
moment he would be happy just to break into the team - "I've been playing a
few pre-season games so I'm pretty fit and my aim would be to play a part in
helping Pat's win any silverware that's going this season".

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BRADFORD CITY have done a u-turn and decided against signing Southport
striker Chris Simm.

The 26-year-old had been on trial with the League Two side but after manager
Peter Taylor indicated a deal would be on the table, opted to look elsewhere
for attacking reinforcements.

After a decent showing in the pre-season friendly at North Ferriby United,
Simm was told he would be wanted permanently by the Bantams with only
transfer details to be finalised with the Sandgrounders.

However Taylor had a change of heart leaving the transfer-listed Simm
running out of time to find the full-time football he craves and now heading
back to Southport.

Former England boss Taylor believes Simm was finding the increased training
workload difficult to deal with but has not ruled out another move for the
ex-Hyde United man.

Simm, who was nursing a toe injury in the second part of his trial with
Bradford, was this week in discussions with Southport manager Liam Watson
about his future and the increasing possibility of starting the new season
at Haig Avenue.

"I had a good week with Bradford. I went the week before last and trained on
the Thursday, Friday and played against Ferriby on the Saturday. After the
match Peter said he was going to sign me but a few things had to be sorted
out between the two clubs.

"However he rang me on the Sunday and said he wanted to take another look at
me and asked would I go on tour with them down in Essex.


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DITTMER SIGNS AS GOALKEEPING COACH
By Simon Parker ((T&A)

Tim Dittmer, 25, has been named as City's new goalkeeping coach.

Dittmer has been working with the keepers at Liverpool's academy for the
last six years.

Peter Taylor has been looking for a full-time replacement for Nigel Martyn
and Dittmer joined City for last week's tour of the south.

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BANTAMS DISH OUT VALLEY PARADE BANS
Wednesday 28th July 2010 16:31

Bradford City have issued four lifetime bans and 20 season-long bans after
investigating trouble at Valley Parade on the final day of last season.

City supporters spilled on to the pitch at the final whistle in their last
home game in May against Northampton, clashing with visiting fans and
offenders have been identified with the help of the club's CCTV footage and
a newspaper campaign.

A Bradford club statement read: "As a result sanctions have been taken
against 40 people. The sanctions taken include 16 good behaviour contracts,
20 bans for the 2010/11 season and four lifetime bans.

"While the club is now keen to draw a line under the scenes on May 1, the
work to identify others involved in those problems will go on into the new
season.

"We were delighted with the support of the majority of Bradford City
supporters for the campaign we launched after the Northampton Town game.

"The efforts we have made, and will continue to make in the new season, will
help to ensure that the games can be enjoyed by everyone attending the
stadium."

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BANTAMS LAND MOULT ON LOAN
Posted on: Fri 30 Jul 2010

With just over a week to go before the start of the new campaign, Peter
Taylor has bolstered his strike-force by securing the loan capture of Louis
Moult.

The highly rated forward arrives from Premier League side Stoke City on a
loan deal which will run until Monday 3rd January 2011.

After putting pen to paper on his loan deal at Valley Parade this Friday, he
becomes the Bantams second signing of the day following the capture of Lewis
Hunt earlier in this afternoon.

Moult ,18, has been a regular in Stoke's reserves for the past two years and
finished the 2009/10 campaign as the reserves top scorer.

His goalscoring feats in the youth and reserve set-ups over the past few
years have caught the attention of many observers around Stoke, leading him
to be touted as one of their hottest prospects.

As a sign of his rapid progression through the ranks at the Britannia
Stadium, Moult signed his first professional contract in March when he was
still aged only 17.

He made his first team debut last August in Stoke's Carling Cup match
against Leyton Orient and also featured against Portsmouth later on in the
same competition.

The 6' 0'' striker made his first Premier League appearance for the Potters
when he entered the field as a second half substitute against Burnley at
Turf Moor last season.

Moult has been handed the number 19 shirt and is expected to make his first
appearance in claret & amber during City's pre-season fixture at Rochdale
this Saturday.

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From the Official BCFC website…

HUNT SIGNS ON
Posted on: Fri 30 Jul 2010

Peter Taylor has ended his search for another suitable right back to add to
his squad by completing the signing of Lewis Hunt.

Hunt, who can also play as a central defender, has put pen to paper on a one
year deal.

The deal can also be extended by a further season should Hunt make a certain
number of appearances during the forthcoming season.

The former Wycombe Wanderers and Southend defender has been on trial with
the Bantams for the past two weeks and featured in all four matches of
City's recent Essex tour.

The 27 year old will now take his place in Taylor's playing squad and act as
competition to Simon Ramsden for the right back berth.

Hunt has been given the number 15 shirt.

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From the Official BCFC website...

BANTAMS HANDED JPT BYE
Posted on: Fri 30 Jul 2010

The Bantams have received a welcome boost with the news that the football
club have received a bye through to Round 2 of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The Football League made the announcement this Friday along with news of the
regional groupings ahead of the Round 1 draw which takes place on Saturday
14th August 2010.

The Bantams were one of eight teams in total to be given a bye from the
Northern Section of the competition.

City's first action in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy will therefore take
place on either Tuesday 5th or Wednesday 6th October 2010 when the 2nd round
fixtures are due to take place.

Peter Taylor's men will enter the competition looking to build on last
season's impressive run to the Northern Section Semi-Finals.