CFML pre-season news #2010-08-04

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

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Article in todays Sunday Observer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/01/zesh-rehman-pakistan-asian-footballers



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City D1-1 v Rochdale (Friendly)

Pre-Season Friendly:

Rochdale (0) 1 O'Grady 64
Bradford C (0) 1 Moult 54
Att: 968

By Connor Murphy (T&A)

The picture is becoming ever clearer. With just a week remaining until the
big kick-off, City shed the experimental look of early pre-season to provide
a proper insight into how Peter Taylor's side are shaping up.

On paper, the visit to League One outfit Rochdale was their toughest test of
the summer, yet it still provided firm grounds for optimism.

For the most part, City appeared to be a cohesive, well-drilled unit,
particularly in defence, while still offering enough at the opposite end to
keep the hosts on their toes.

In the second half, much of that threat involved striker Louis Moult, who
claimed a deserved goal on his debut just a day after completing a long-term
loan move from Stoke.

But once Chris O'Grady had grabbed an equaliser for Rochdale, City still had
Jon McLaughlin to thank for salvaging the draw.

The Bantams goalkeeper added to his burgeoning collection of penalty saves
with an impressive stop to deny O'Grady from 12 yards.

Taylor said: "We got a lot of benefit out of it. We didn't create a load of
chances or have a lot of the ball but for defensive reasons it was a really
good workout because Rochdale are such a good football team.

"We got some good things out of it and I'm delighted we got a goal for young
Louis and we had a couple of other good chances as well.

"Louis is a clever footballer and a good finisher and Scotty Neilson played
him in with a really good ball. There were certainly some pluses and overall
I'm very pleased."

City made a lively start, with the bustling, enthusiastic Neilson making a
particular nuisance of himself as much of the probing took place down the
right.

Ironically though, the first genuine opening came from the opposite flank.

When Lee Bullock slipped the ball in to Robbie Threlfall, the defence seemed
to part right in front of him and the left back did not need a second
invitation, his sweetly struck 20-yard effort only kept out by the
fingertips of Josh Lillis.

Neilson did get in on the act belatedly, pouncing on a loose pass from the
hosts to feed Gareth Evans, the frontman dragging his shot wide of the
target.

Opting for the patient approach, Rochdale initially offered only a fleeting
goal threat, unable to break down the visitors as City settled into a
disciplined 4-5-1 on defence.

But the more they played the waiting game, the more the Lancastrians found
their rhythm.

Jason Kennedy tested McLaughlin with a couple of fizzing long-range efforts
but the best chance fell to O'Grady, a former City loan player.

Picked out inside the box after good work by Joe Widdowson, the Dale hitman
looked odds-on to score but his touch was less than clever, much to the
relief of the City defence.

Rochdale continued to apply pressure immediately after the break but were
punished in the 55th minute for their lack of real cutting edge.

Moments after Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro had headed over the bar, City countered
with conviction and Neilson threaded a delightful ball down the right
channel to Moult, who steadied himself before drilling into the far corner.

But the lead was surrendered ten minutes later, Akpro's cross causing
problems and allowing O'Grady to slot home after Zesh Rehman had blocked Joe
Thompson's initial effort.

Rochdale should have made it a quick-fire double when Lewis Hunt bundled
Akpro over in the area but McLaughlin produced a stunning full-stretch save
to keep out O'Grady's spot-kick.

City actually had the better chances to steal victory late on, Hunt twice
going close before Lillis produced an acrobatic stop to tip Tom Adeyemi's
last-minute shot over the bar.

Bradford City: McLaughlin (Elliott 76), Ramsden (Hunt 46), Rehman, Oliver
(Duff 46), Threlfall (Harrison 76), Bullock, Adeyemi, O'Brien, Daley
(Speight 46), Evans (Moult 46), Neilson.


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BBC LEAGUE TWO PREVIEW

Stevenage have joined the Football League for the first time and will work
hard for Graham Westley. They will be tough to beat.

Oxford were also promoted and will be one of the bigger clubs in the
division. They have a great fan base and there is no reason why they can't
do well.

You've got to put Shrewsbury into the promotion equation because they have a
big squad, a big budget and a manager who knows exactly what he's doing.
They should have done better last season and will expect to be knocking on
the door this time.

Bradford City are arguably the biggest club in the division, they finished
well last season and you would expect them to make at least the play-offs
this time.

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see also
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/08/too_close_to_call_in_league_tw.html#240121






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From the Official BCFC website...

SOVEREIGN STEP IN

Bradford based healthcare specialists, Sovereign Health Care have stepped in
to help the Bantams by funding the provision of additional medical
equipment.

As City director, Roger Owen explained, "We have moved our reserve team
games to Eccleshill for the coming season and the Eccleshill staff have gone
out of their way to help the transition by funding improvements to Plumpton
Park".

"However, league rules have dictated that we have more medical equipment
available to players during matches at Eccleshill.

"We are delighted that our long term supporters, Sovereign Health Care have
stepped in to help us purchase the necessary equipment.

"In addition to their pitch side advertising, they have now met the cost of
this additional medical kit which we are delighted to make available to
Eccleshill when we aren't using it.

"We see this as an important strengthening of the community bond with
Eccleshill and we hope our fans will continue to support us by attending
reserve games at Eccleshill. The smaller ground lends itself to the reserve
games where attendance is traditionally smaller than at first team matches.
We're sure our fans will raise the roof with the atmosphere!"

Caroline Cundey, head of marketing and business growth at Sovereign Health
Care said: "We are extremely proud to be able to offer our support to
Bradford City and Eccleshill in their joint venture.

"Both clubs are an important part of Bradford and the local community, so
linking the clubs in this way makes football more accessible to a wider
audience. The medical equipment was vital to making the JV possible and we
are pleased that we could offer our help."

Owen added that the Club is delighted that more local firms are "starting to
come on board, but we could do with more like Sovereign".


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Pre-Season Friendly

photos
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2110607,00.htm

Bradford C (2) 4 Williams 31, Moult 43, Evans 53, Neilson 79
Bradford PA (0) 0
Att: 1,687

City completed their pre-season schedule with a 4-0 win against neighbours
Bradford Park Avenue.

In the first game on Valley Parade's newly-laid pitch, Avenue caused a few
early shocks when Tom Greaves twice went close to opening the scoring.

Having taken a while to find their rhythm, City went ahead when Steve
Williams headed home Omar Daley's corner.

Louis Moult doubled the advantage with a well-taken strike before the break
and Gareth Evans made it three after coming on as a half-time substitute.

David Heagrey rocked the bar with a bullet shot for Avenue before Scott
Neilson wrapped up the scoring from close range.

CITY First half: Saxton, Hunt, Duff, Williams, Horne, Carole, Doherty,
Syers, Daley, Moult, Speight.

City Second half: Saxton (Elliott 69), Ramsden, Hunt (Rehman 58), Williams
(Oliver 58), Threlfall, Neilson, Bullock, Syers (Adeyemi 58), O'Brien,
Hanson, Evans.