The Bradford City Onion

A light hearted look at the goings on at Bradford City Football Club in England. I sometimes just larf at the non-news items that is posted between game on the City web site. Typical comments are "if we had scored more goal than the opposition we would have won. We didn't so we lost". DUH! Coupled with the sarcastic news on "theonion.com" this is my blog. Want real BCFC news? Sign up for the City Forward! Email List I edit by sending a blank email to bantams-cfml-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Monday, April 30, 2012

L2 L1-3 (A) Cheltenham Saturday April 28, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

Read this online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx

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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

Those leaving

Contracts terminated by mutual consent
Michael Flynn, Craig Fagan and Chris Mitchell

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

Match Media & Stats

Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/
http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~2754021,00.html?
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2753444,00.html?

"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

BBC highlights (uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17888677?

Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results

Cheltenham   Bradford
9(2)   Shots (on Goal)   7(2)
9   Fouls   11
4   Corner Kicks   2
5   Offsides   1
53%   Time of Poss.   47%
1   Yellow Cards   2
0   Red Cards   0
2   Saves   1

Cheltenham Town: Brown, Elliott, Bennett, Garbutt, Jombati, Pack, Low (Lowe 90), Penn (Mohamed 42), Summerfield, Spencer (Duffy 90), Burgess.

Unused substitutes: McGlashan, MacLean.

Bradford City: Duke, Ramsden, Branston (Syers 76), Oliver, Kozluk, Jones (Bullock 55), Ravenhill, Atkinson (Smalley 76), Reid, Hanson, Wells.

Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Baker.

Referee: D Drysdale (Lincs).

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

Monday morning match report

Lack of goals remains Achilles heel for Bradford City
6:20am Monday 30th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Cheltenham 3, City 1

Nothing new came out of City's final away defeat.

A poor season on the road typically ended with another loss as once again the Bantams headed back north cursing points that had got away.

The manner of Saturday's setback – so positive and in command before the break, then chasing their tails after – rammed home the major flaw of a

frustrating campaign: City simply haven't scored enough when on top.

Don't point the finger at the front two. Nahki Wells made it a dozen goals for the season with the clinical strike that should have set his side

on the way to a third win on the spin and James Hanson put himself about all afternoon, bouncing one header on to the bar.

But it is the lack of input from the rest of the team that is an issue Phil Parkinson must solve during his summer shopping.

Departing duo Michael Flynn and Craig Fagan accounted for 14 goals of City's season, although the bulk of those were from the penalty spot. At

least the 26 the two strikers have rattled up all came from open play.

City need more from other outlets – central defenders at set-pieces and, in particular, midfielders.

So it was ironic that the post-match talk was dominated by the uncertain future of David Syers, the one midfield player who you can expect to

chip in with his fair share.

Syers has had a season to forget with the long-term knee injury, the red card on his return and the over-riding frustration of finding himself

sitting on the bench most weeks.

The revelation that he had apparently turned down a contract offer at the start of the year came as a bolt from the blue.

The ensuing shenanigans on Twitter did nobody any favours. His comments about crossed wires and stormy tea-cups implied an uneasy truce had been

declared with management.

Where it goes from here, nobody can be sure. Parkinson insists the deal is still there to be signed; the reaction from Syers suggests that he

will not be rushing back to the table.

Should the impasse not get resolved, then the pressure will be on the City boss to summon up a suitable replacement.

The name game has already begun on the message boards, as is the case at this time every year. But Parkinson, typically, will keep his cards

pressed closely to him.

Waving goodbye to Flynn frees up a chunk of the budget but the club may feel that should be directed more at another striker, particularly while

they try to tie down Wells to something meatier.

Ricky Ravenhill and Ritchie Jones are clearly Parkinson's preferred engine room but two goals from the 62 starts between them does not suggest an

untapped scoring source.

Ravenhill did hit the inside of the post at Whaddon Road – one of those chances that went begging when nervy Cheltenham were there for the

taking.

Will Atkinson arrived at Valley Parade with a reputation for goals here and there. Just one at Barnet so far has hardly convinced the fans that

he is the answer.

The Hull winger joined with a view to next season and there are rumours of a pre-contract already in place. But his first outing since Aldershot

in mid-March faded fast after a bright early flurry.

That was the general theme to City's afternoon. For 45 minutes there was only one team in it – and it was the same for the second half, only this

time it was the hosts who dominated.

Parkinson reflected: "That first half was as good as we've played away from home all season. We had chance after chance and should have come in

two or possibly three goals ahead.

"But we didn't and inevitably Cheltenham stopped giving us the space they had done. We also stopped doing the things that brought us success.

They're a good side and we let them back in the game.

"This season we've probably lacked goals from other areas, not just the front two. But when you have that amount of pressure you really do expect

to score more."

Wells' stock rose once more with the quality of his seventh-minute opener, capitalising on a poor defensive header to slip one way then the other

before whipping a low drive wide of Scott Brown.

But the Cheltenham keeper got his own back with a couple of key saves from the Bermudian to deny City the commanding lead their play warranted.

The home side, needing the win to secure their play-off berth, were edgy and out-of-sorts. Their midfield diamond was being bypassed time and

again.

Realising his tactical blunder, Mark Yates threw on winger Kaid Mohamed five minutes before the break and switched to a more conventional shape.

It turned the match on its head.

Having whistled an immediate shot wide, Mohamed kicked off the second half by breezing through a half-tackle from Simon Ramsden before teeing up

Jimmy Spencer's equaliser with the outside of his boot.

Just 45 seconds of the second half gone and City had paid the price for not pressing hard enough when they had Cheltenham by the throat.

The section of the crowd who had serenaded Yates with a chorus of "you don't know what you're doing" now acclaimed his substitution. What

followed was predictable.

Luke Summerfield shovelled a pass through to Spencer for the on-loan Huddersfield man to curl his second goal beyond Matt Duke's fingertips just

after the hour.

Hanson headed over before Cheltenham put the lid on the result with a Ben Burgess lob after Guy Branston had lost a long ball in the wind. The

defender's reaction at being subbed five minutes later showed what he thought.

Spencer and Mohamed went close to more before City found a late rally, Hanson clipping the woodwork and Syers flicking wide from six yards;

chances not taken again – a season-long problem.

Parkinson will spend the next couple of months seeking a solution. How he gets on will define whether anything will change come August 18 when we

start all over again.

Attendance: 3,930

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

1911 FA Cup final winner's medal of Bradford City's Robert Torrance up for auction

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bradford-city/9233952/1911-FA-Cup-final-winners-medal-of-Bradford-Citys-Robert-Torrance-up-for-

auction.html
or
http://tgr.ph/IB6xuz

The 1911 FA Cup final winner's medal of Bradford City defender Robert Torrance will be among a catalogue of prized items of sporting memorabilia

up for auction next month.

Torrance turned in a man-of-the-match performance as Bradford won their first and, to date, only FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Newcastle in the

replay at Old Trafford after the first game finished goalless. He went on to make 161 appearances for the club up until 1917.

Torrance and eight other Bradford players including captain Jimmy Speirs who lifted the Cup in 1911, were all killed in active service during the

First World War.
Torrance, who was born in Kirkintilloch - to the north-east of Glasgow - in 1888 joined the Royal Field Artillery and lost an arm during an

artillery barrage near the Belgian town on Ypes. The field hospital he was taken to was shelled into oblivion and his remains were never found.
The FA Cup winner's medal has been a prized possession of Robert's great grandson, Tim Braidwood, who was given a series of Torrance's medals by

his grandfather.
"We haven't felt comfortable having the medal out on display given its worth so have decided it could benefit and make a difference to our lives

financially to sell it," Braidwood said.
"Similarly I have a number of other medals of Robert Torrance's, including a cigarette case which was given to him, which I will be keeping."
The last two medals sold from the 1911 FA Cup winning Bradford City team sold for £26,000 and £23,000 respectively.
The auction, which will be held at Sotheby's on May 15, is completely made up of sporting memorabilia with Barry Sheene's 1984 Suzuki race-worn

leathers and an England No 20 red shirt issued to Ian Callaghan for the 1966 World Cup final also expected to fetch a healthy price.
For more information on the auction, visit http://www.grahambuddauctions.co.uk/

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

CITY SHOW TRIO THE DOOR

Bradford City have terminated the contracts of Michael Flynn, Craig Fagan
and Chris Mitchell by mutual consent.

The contracts of all three players were due to expire in the summer and they
have all been released early by manager Phil Parkinson.

Midfielder Flynn, 31, who arrived on a free transfer from Huddersfield in
the summer of 2009, has made 36 appearances for the Bantams this season and
was captain on a number of occasions.

Striker Fagan, 29, was given a one-year deal in September when he signed for
an undisclosed fee, following his release from Hull the previous June.

Mitchell, 23, joined Bradford on a free transfer from Falkirk last summer
and made 17 appearances for the club.

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

Bradford City door remains open for Syers
8:20am Monday 30th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson today told David Syers: The ball is in your court if you want to stay at City.

The midfielder turned down the offer of a new deal in January – a decision which shocked the club. But Parkinson has made it clear the unsigned

contract remains on the table.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn said: "David has a choice now. We offered him a contract, which we believe is a good one, and he hasn't chosen to sign

it.

"I'm flabbergasted he hasn't taken it but what can we do?"

Parkinson is clearing the Valley Parade decks for a summer rebuild. Michael Flynn, Chris Mitchell and Craig Fagan have all played their last

games for the club and others will follow.

Mark Stewart is also set to go and City are in talks with Inverness about Steve Williams making his move to Scotland permanent.

Parkinson is expected to discuss possible deals with Simon Ramsden and Lee Bullock – and also insists the door remains open for Syers.

He said: "We offered him a very good contract which he didn't take. But we certainly haven't withdrawn it.

"It was way back when he first got back in the team. We sat down and I explained to him how much I want him to be part of it here.

"The chairman then spoke to Dave and his agent and they decided they weren't happy with what the club were offering.

"I tried to be fair to him because he'd just recovered from a long-term injury and obviously you have concerns when you're in that position.

"We haven't spoken about it since then. But Dave's out of contract and he's got every right to see what's out there."

Syers, last season's player of the year, went on Twitter after Saturday's 3-1 loss at Cheltenham to dispute what was being said. But he later

admitted it was a "storm in a tea cup" after a further chat with the manager.

Parkinson has put out feelers with potential summer targets but City will not hurry to get their business done.

"Supporters might be waiting for announcements quickly but that won't happen," said the Bantams boss.

"We've spoken to a few people already but players are still coming out of contracts. They've got another game to play and some might be in the

play-offs.

"We're experienced enough to know that players out of contract are always in the market for clubs wanting to speak to them. That's the name of

the game."

As one of the best-paid players at the club, Flynn's departure will pave the way for more investment. Fagan was also near the top of the pay

scale.

Parkinson said: "We've got Ricky (Ravenhill) and Jonah (Ritchie Jones) already under contract and unfortunately the budget doesn't allow for

another experienced midfield player with Michael.

"Fages had plans to go back down south and one or two clubs have been speaking to his agent.

"Agreeing deals with players now saves money for us which we can utilise in the summer going forward."

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

GROUNDSHARE MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE FOR BULLS & BANTAMS
By Ross Heppenstall (T&A)

A Bradford MP today led calls for the Bulls to leave Odsal and make Valley
Parade their new permanent home.

Bradford East MP David Ward insisted Odsal will be never be anything other
than a "big black hole" in the Bulls' finances and claimed a groundshare
with City held the key to a sustainable future for both clubs.

Ward said the Bulls' financial crisis was partly due to the cost of being at
Odsal and that City were paying an "absolute fortune" in rent to Valley
Parade landlord Gordon Gibb. His solution would see both the city's
professional sports clubs play at Valley Parade, with a potential long-term
possibility of buying the stadium from Gibb.

Ward told the T&A: "This needs to be raised as a matter of priority in any
discussions about the future of the Bulls and City.

"When you are on the terraces at Odsal it's awesome in terms of a venue, but
the cost is bringing the club to its knees.

"Odsal will never be anything other than a big black hole, sucking the
resources out of the playing side and detrimental to the development of the
club.

"You have a 25,000-seater, state-of-the-art stadium at Valley Parade and
there's room to develop it further.

"It's used little more than 23 times a year as things stand and that just
does not add up.

"If you look at the success of groundsharing at other clubs then it's the
only way forward. It makes economic sense and it simply has to happen."

Two years ago, ambitious plans for a £75.5 million Odsal Sports Village were
kicked firmly into touch due to a funding crisis.

Earlier this year the Bulls sold the lease on Odsal to the RFL, making them
tenants rather than owners of their historic home.

Ward added: "As long as the Bulls stay at Odsal they will always be just
sticking plasters over things until the next crisis – it would be throwing
good money after bad to stay there.

"If the Odsal Sporting Village had got underway they would have had to move
to Valley Parade for at least a couple of seasons anyway.

"Why not just bite the bullet on this one and recognise the economic
realities? Whatever happens to Odsal will happen.

"It's a highly developable part of the city with great links to the
motorway, as we know.

"But that's really a secondary issue. This is not about how the Bulls are
going to raise the next £500,000; it's about the development of both clubs
for the next 15 to 20 to 25 years.

"All the economic reality is pointing in one direction. Let's just get the
debate going.

"I actually think many people are put off investing in the Bulls because
they regard the stadium as being a lost cause.

"Once you've backed that with joint funding, you've got a fantastic stadium
in Valley Parade as it stands.

"But then you can start talking about the development of that stadium and
the surrounding area.

"We need to get some economic regeneration in the city centre and
in Manningham – this could kick-start that."

The Bulls played two seasons at Valley Parade in 2001 and 2002 during the
redevelopment of Odsal, the club's home since 1934.

Ward added: "Maybe it wasn't particularly friendly when the Bulls were
previously there but I know City would be very, very welcoming this time.

"City are paying an absolute fortune every single year in rent to Gordon
Gibb.

"Ideally, if both clubs came together then the prospects of buying out Gibb
at Valley Parade could be more of a possibility. Then you start to become
masters of your own destiny."

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

Monday, April 23, 2012

L2 W1-0 (H) Macclesfield Saturday April 21, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

Read this online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx

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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

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

Match Media & Stats

Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/

"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

BBC highlights (uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17808450?

Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results

Bradford City: Duke, Ramsden, Branston, Oliver, Kozluk, Fagan, Jones, Ravenhill, Reid (Flynn 69), Wells (Smalley 83), Hanson. Unused substitutes:

McLaughlin, Bullock, Syers.

Macclesfield Town: Veiga, Daniel, Brown, Futcher (Smith 73), Mendy, Hamshaw, Chalmers (Fairhurst 76), Wedgbury, Draper, Ben Mills (Tomlinson 73),

Marshall. Unused substitutes: Bateson, Andrew Mills.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Team Stats
Bradford   Macclesfie
12(5)   Shots (on Goal)   4(1)
18   Fouls   10
2   Corner Kicks   3
1   Offsides   2
50%   Time of Poss.   50%
4   Yellow Cards   4
0   Red Cards   0
1   Saves   3

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

Monday morning match report

No slip-up this time as Bradford City dodge banana skin
6:30am Monday 23rd April 2012
By Simon Parker

Bradford City 1 Macclesfield 0

It shows how low expectations have dipped when a win over the worst team in England will be seen as a surprise by some City fans.

Macclesfield's last win came so long ago that Spurs were still in the title race and Manchester had two teams in Europe.

The biggest result on New Year's Eve came at Old Trafford where Blackburn pulled off a stunning 3-2 win. Few paid attention to Macclesfield

beating Port Vale in League Two.

But that remains the Silkmen's last triumph of any kind. Four months on and their position at the foot of the Football League is a true

reflection of a 2012 that has been awful beyond words.

And yet many seasoned Bantams observers saw Saturday's home game as a banana skin ready to tumble on.

It has become a cliche that City are the ideal opponents to put paid to a winless run, however wretched.

Whether that is strictly fact or not, memories remain vivid of painful defeats in years gone by from the likes of Brighton and Stockport when

they could not buy a point.

Twitter was full of doom and gloom predictions about "typical City" in the run-up to the game.

This season's form has hardly dispelled the myth either. While the Bantams regularly pick off the bunch at the top of the table, results against

the bottom half have been awful.

And Macclesfield had beaten them with the world's softest penalty at the Moss Rose in late October.

Incredibly, the win over Vale was Macc's only three points since that night. From the 63 on offer since the turn of the year, they have collected

just seven.

They are bottom for a reason but with time fast running out City still needed to be vigilant.

It was not a game that will live long in the memory. Most fans will have forgotten it by the time they switched on The Voice.

But maybe that's a good thing. Better that than another notorious episode to be trotted out whenever future relegation strugglers come calling.

Humdrum home wins are not something City do well.

Think back to that sequence of draws at the start of the year. The team's performances against Burton and Morecambe were much brighter than on

Saturday but points were tossed away willy-nilly.

Two or three wins during that five-match run would have taken the sting out of March. Maybe City, with that bit of momentum behind them, might

even have flirted with the top half of the division for once.

Saturday was mediocre at best but Phil Parkinson's men walked off with their third victory in four. The home form that he is so keen to build on

could add another addition to the win column.

And for the second week running, City had seen off a team in and around them. That doesn't usually happen unless the opposition is Barnet.

There were few highlights and the scrappiness of the only goal summed up the contest.

Arnaud Mendy conceded a needless free-kick for hacking at Kyel Reid by the corner flag. James Hanson met Craig Fagan's cross with a weak header

that should have been comfortably dealt with – instead Macc striker Ben Mills got his legs in a tangle on the goal-line and only succeeded in

helping it in.

Mills probably got the final touch but he wasn't going to argue with Hanson claiming his 14th goal of an increasingly-profitable campaign.

That was one of only two shots on target from the hosts. The first came just 90 seconds in when Nahki Wells was sent racing away by Ritchie

Jones.

The stage was set for the Bermudian to carry on from right where he left off with his Northampton treble. Instead he took it too close to keeper

Jose Veiga, who was able to smother.

A goal so early might have made for a very different afternoon, drawing Macclesfield out to play. Instead it became a paint-drying exercise in

front of a disinterested crowd.

Matt Duke had it so easy that the Silkmen only called upon him once and Ben Wedgbury's tame drive did not crop up until the 85th minute.

At least the City defence could look back with satisfaction on a second straight clean sheet at home. As Parkinson pointed out, they provided the

foundations for the win.

Guy Branston headed off for a James Bond-themed party afterwards dressed as Oddjob. So that's simply a bowler hat then, Guy ...

But the one-time skipper is proving far more than an Oddjob man at the heart of the back four.

Called in since the Crawley fracas, Branston has not put a foot wrong. Andrew Davies is finally available again for the Cheltenham trip but the

loanee surely cannot dislodge the stand-in who has made the role his own.

Branston is only halfway through the two-year contract he was handed by Peter Jackson but up to a few weeks ago his future seemed certain –

anywhere but Valley Parade.

Now, however, the picture may have changed. All will become clearer over the summer but Parkinson has definitely been impressed by his five-game

flourish.

The City chief could not have asked for a better response after his defence was ripped apart in the aftermath of that mass brawl.

Parkinson said: "The morning after Crawley, I looked at who we'd lost – Seip and Fry (both injured), Davies, Oliver and McLaughlin. But we called

Guy back into it and he's been tremendous.

"He's just done his job and Luke (Oliver) has come back and carried on straight where he left off."

The nerves that accompanied the long trek back from Plymouth at the end of last month seem a long time ago. While City want to finish on a high,

attention is once again turning to what needs to be done to get the club out of this God-forsaken division.

For Macclesfield, it looks too late. Their return to non-league seems inevitable – without the memories of a final day in the sun at Valley

Parade to ease the pain.
===========================

Bradford City: Parky happy with scrappy win
7:20am Monday 23rd April 2012
By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson wants City to get the knack of winning more scrappy games.

Parkinson admitted Saturday's victory over bottom club Macclesfield was no Valley Parade classic.

But he would love to see more of the same if his side are to challenge next season.

He said: "You've got to have that ability as a team to win those sort of games.

"For a manager and the coaching staff to grind out a 1-0 win that's not that pretty is great. Macclesfield came here fighting for their lives.

They were very strong and solid and we had to deal with that.

"There was a feeling that we'd done the job last week. You could sense it round the ground.

"Sometimes as a team you have to spark the crowd into life and I felt we did that."

James Hanson headed the only goal from Craig Fagan's free-kick. Macc striker Ben Mills appeared to get the final touch as he fluffed his

attempted clearance on the line but City's top scorer was claiming his 14th of the season.

The win was City's third in four games in April as well as another home clean sheet to back up the Good Friday victory over Southend.

Parkinson added: "The back four have to stand strong and do their jobs professionally to scrap out those 1-0s and I thought the defence and

goalkeeper gave us the platform to go on and win the game.

"You must have the right attitude. I said to Nahki (Wells) there was no way he was going to be given the freedom of the ground after scoring that

hat-trick last week.

"Teams do their homework and make it difficult. So you have to grind out the performance.

"And his persistence in the corner won us the free-kick which we scored from.

"We had that run of (home) games when we played well, probably better than we were allowed to on Saturday, and ended up with just one point each

time. That's the difference.

"Those five draws could have been costly but fortunately they haven't been. We've picked up wins where we needed to."

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

New-look defence key to Bantams avoiding drop out of league

Published on Monday 23 April 2012 07:56

Three wins from the last four matches have ensured that Bradford City will be playing in the Football League next season.

Less than three weeks ago, City were struggling to pull clear of the relegation zone and their problems were exacerbated when first choice

goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and central defenders Luke Oliver and Andrew Davies were sent off following the brawl at the end of their 2-1 home

defeat against Crawley.

The loss of these key players through suspension could have derailed their survival battle, but home wins against promotion-contenders Southend

and relegation-threatened Macclesfield and an away victory at Northampton have banished any fears of relegation.

In fact, in five matches since that infamous Crawley match, City's new-look defence, featuring goalkeeper Matt Duke, recalled from his loan spell

at Northampton, and Guy Branston, restored to the team after being out of favour, have conceded only three goals.

Manager Phil Parkinson admitted that 'grinding out' a 1-0 win against bottom club Macclesfield, without a win since New Year's Eve, had not been

pretty, but added: "They came here fighting for their lives. You expect them to be very strong and very solid and we had to deal with them.

"We were the better side in the first half and in the second half we had more pressure and deserved a goal."

In a match full of endeavour, but few scoring chances, it was left to leading scorer James Hanson to break the deadlock in the 65th minute with a

close-range header at the far post from Chris Fagan's free-kick.

The ball hit Ben Mills as the visitors' striker tried to clear but Hanson claimed the goal as City fans celebrated.

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

ADAM BAKER HANDED PRO CONTRACT

Bradford City have handed teenage striker Adam Baker his first professional
contract at the end of his two-year scholarship.

Baker, who has featured for the reserves on a number of occasions this
season, has been given a one-year deal with the Bantams.

Manager Phil Parkinson said: "The criteria for earning a pro contract is
simply whether we feel they're going to be good enough to play in the first
team next year."

"It's obviously pleasing for Adam to be offered a professional contract. He
deserves it and he now needs to go away in the summer and work really hard
to give him a chance of making a real statement once the lads come back for
pre-season training."

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

Wells has Defoe magic, says Lightbourne | Bermuda Soccer

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120420/SPORT01/704209977

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

Portland's Johnson announces retirement - KansasCity.com

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/20/3567218/portlands-johnson-announces-retirement.html

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

BBC Sport - Bradford City ex-boss Stuart McCall has promotion ambition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17746045

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

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

L2 W3-1 (A) Northampton Saturday April 14, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

L2 L0-1 (A) Shrewsbury T. Monday April 9, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

Read this online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx

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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

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

Crawley Fined £18,000 City fined £9000

The Bantams have been fined £9,000 for their part in the Valley Parade free-for-all with Crawley.

But, more importantly, they escaped being docked any points by the Football Association.

The club accepted their fate at today's 75-minute hearing at Wembley. They were also warned over their future conduct.

Director of operations David Baldwin and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin – one of the three City players sent off in the melee – attended the meeting

along with Crawley chief executive Alan Williams.

Both clubs were seen jointly by the disciplinary panel, who watched video footage of the post-match brawl, which resulted in five red cards from

referee Iain Williamson. Crawley defender Kyle McFadzean was also later charged.

City accepted responsibility for failing to control their players. They are not looking to appeal the FA's verdict.

McLaughlin and Luke Oliver have been fined two weeks' wages by the club – the maximum allowed by the Professional Footballers' Association. On-

loan defender Andrew Davies' punishment will be decided by Stoke City.

Baldwin said: "The players wanted to make it clear to the fans they are very sorry for their actions and extremely remorseful.

"Jon and Luke have accepted their fine. With regards to Andrew, discussions are still on-going with the player and his parent club on the basis

that Stoke are his employer.

"Now we want to move on as a club and concentrate on achieving our League Two status before the end of this season. Then we can crack on with a

fresh vigour for a positive campaign next year."

Crawley's fine was doubled to £18,000 because it was the club's second offence in the last 12 months. Their skipper Pablo Mills also faced a

separate hearing after he was charged with an additional offence. He was fined £1,000 and given a three-match ban for violent conduct.

Both McLaughlin and Oliver are eligible to return for City's trip to Northampton on Saturday after missing the last three games. Davies is still

banned for the next two following his third dismissal of the season.

City's reshaped defence have conceded only two goals in their absence and Phil Parkinson admitted it will be a tough selection call.

The City chief said: "You look at what we've had to change after the Crawley game with the players missing. Don't forget Marcel Seip who's been

out as well because he's been a big player for us.

"With all that change, we still got a very important three points last week against a strong Southend side.

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

Match Media & Stats

Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2729125,00.html?
http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2012/04/10/shrewsbury-town-1-bradford-0-in-pictures/?

"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

BBC highlights (uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17581435

Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results

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

Monday evening match report

PP audio
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17659484?

Shrewsbury 1 City 0
4:53pm Monday 9th April 2012
By Simon Parker

City could not make it an Easter double as they became the latest victims of Shrewsbury's unbeaten home record.

Having beaten Southend on Good Friday, Phil Parkinson's side were looking to shock another of the promotion pack.

But there was no repeat of their New Year's Eve victory as they suffered a sixth straight defeat on the road.

Having started fairly brightly, City were undone by Shrewsbury's third corner in the 16th minute.

They could not clear an almighty scramble in the box and right back Jermaine Grandison scored from close range.

Mark Wright was instantly denied a second by a good save from Matt Duke and the winger was just wide with a curler.

City were under the cosh with Grandison a real danger on Shrewsbury's right flank.

But Craig Fagan wasted a great chance to equalise after 27 minutes, volleying wide from right in front of goal after James Hanson had nodded the

ball in this path.

Parkinson had named an unchanged starting line-up. But Kyel Reid and Chris Dagnall both came on for the second half.

Fagan had an early half-volley saved by Chris Neal as City were more of a match for their high-flying hosts.

Matt Duke tipped over a free-kick from Matt Richards but had one or two indecisive moments.

Reid threatened a couple of times but City could not find an equaliser.

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

Tuesday morning match report

Huff and puff just not enough in another 1-0 Bradford City defeat
6:30am Tuesday 10th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Shrewsbury 1, City 0

There were no Arab princes sitting with Mark Lawn in the New Meadow directors' box.

George Gallaway, Bradford's newest high-profile MP, has grandly promised to use his Middle Eastern contacts and attract big investment for City.

But if there were any money men having a gander in cold and soggy Shropshire, they were keeping a very low profile.

In truth, it was no footballing feast fit for a king.

The afternoon went with the form book as promotion-hunting Shrewsbury stretched League Two's only unbeaten home record to a 29th game.

For the Bantams, it was a sixth away match in a row without reward.

With Good Friday's precious three points under their belt, the pressure had been eased to an extent.

And other results again fell kindly, with bottom two Hereford and Macclesfield both beaten. The gap above the trapdoor remains at seven points –

with only four games now left.

But City will still feel they could have got something. Unfortunately, like all the other 1-0s of late, there was plenty of huff and puff with no

cutting edge.

Phil Parkinson had kept faith with the 11 that brushed aside Southend on Friday. It was the first time he had named an unchanged side for seven

months.

Shrewsbury had not lost on home soil since March 1 last year but it was the visitors who had the opening effort on goal, Nahki Wells trying his

luck on the skidding surface from Craig Fagan's lay-off.

As City settled in, Wells showed some neat footwork to elude Shane Cansdell-Sherriff just outside Shrewsbury's box, only to take a wrong option

and run into a host of striped shirts instead of having a shot.

But City's bright start was wiped out after 16 minutes as Shrewsbury struck from a corner. The Bantams failed to clear Matt Richards' kick and,

after two stabs at it, Jermaine Grandison made no mistake with his second attempt from close range.

Suddenly it became the Alamo in the City box. Mark Wright weaved his way past Lee Bullock's sliding lunge to force a good save from Matt Duke

before blazing over with the rebound.

Then winger Aaron Wildig cut inside the box but Rob Kozluk got across in the nick of time to take the full brunt of his drive, allowing Duke to

scoop up the loose ball.

City's back four were working overtime and Bullock had to whip the ball off James Collins. Then the elusive Wright turned inside Simon Ramsden

and beat the far post with a curler.

But the real problems for the visitors were coming down their left flank, where Grandison enjoyed plenty of room to roam free at every

opportunity.

City were under the cosh – but suddenly had two good chances to level.

Wells looked to be in on goal after Ian Sharps slipped before Cansdell-Sherriff nicked the ball away just as he prepared to pull the trigger. But

that was nothing on the opening that fell to Fagan moments later.

Ramsden's angled ball into the box was won by James Hanson, who steered it right onto Fagan's boot barely five yards from goal. He looked certain

to score but instead skewed his volley horribly wide with the net gaping.

Ramsden held his head in frustration while the City fans behind that goal simply looked on stunned.

Ritchie Jones was rightly booked for a crunching foul on Joe Jacobson level with the City penalty area. Bullock cleared the initial free-kick,

only for Fagan to concede another in exactly the same spot for an equally late challenge on Wright and he was also yellow-carded.

The sting was taken out of the game as half-time approached. Not a bad thing from City's point of view, allowing the defence to catch their

breath after the non-stop shift they had been forced to put in.

But City almost fell further behind in freaky circumstances right on the break. Jacobson's long free-kick was flicked on by Grandison, Guy

Branston got his head to it – and then Duke and City watched anxiously as the ball looped over the keeper and dropped just the wrong side of the

post.

It was no great surprise to see Parkinson change things for the second half. Kyel Reid replaced Michael Flynn, to give Grandison something to

think about out wide, and Chris Dagnall took over from Wells up front.

Fagan showed an immediate positive intent as Hanson nodded on Kozluk's free-kick from the halfway line, controlling on his chest before testing

the keeper with a well-hit half-volley. And Jones, still with only one City goal under his belt, screwed a low drive wide from 25 yards.

Terry Gornell almost threaded Collins through. Branston was at full stretch to cut out the pass in the City D and then just managed to flick it

away from beneath the striker's feet.

Bullock became the third City name in referee David Coote's book after nudging over Gornell as he appeared to get goalside in pursuit of

Jacobson's long pass.

City had the chance to break out as Shrewsbury's free-kick went straight into the wall. Jones made a great run through the middle but Reid failed

to pick him out with a poor ball.

Branston wrestled Gornell to the ground 30 yards out but Richards bent the free-kick harmlessly into the away end.

Reid had been quiet since coming on but suddenly got past Grandison to deliver a great cross which just eluded the leaping Bullock in the

goalmouth.

The substitute looked to get away again but was halted in his tracks by a thumping tackle from Sharps. City were fuming as nothing was given

against the defender.

City were back in desperation mode at their own end after Branston headed an incoming free-kick up in the air. Duke failed to reach it with a

punch before Branston managed to clear from right in front of goal.

But the Bantams were still in the game and Hanson caused trouble from a Fagan set-piece. Shrews keeper Chris Neal was fortunate the loose ball

dropped within range to grab it after their aerial tussle.

Hanson headed wide from a rare corner as the home fans tried to come to life again. A few nerves were on show from the promotion chasers.

Parkinson made his final change with 15 minutes to go. Jones made way for David Syers, who had a point to prove after that hotly-disputed red

card against the same opponents at Valley Parade.

City were cursing another dubious call as Ricky Ravenhill was punished for his challenge on Collins. Duke was equal to Richards' free-kick and

tipped over the bar Indecision from Duke dealing with a long ball caused a few more defensive flutters before Kozluk whacked it away from danger.

Branston caused a roar from the home fans when he seemed to gesture their way. The last thing City need is any more disciplinary hassle,

particularly with their Football Association hearing taking place at Wembley today.

Wildig received Shrewsbury's first booking for a foul on Kozluk, a decision which brought an ironic Hallelujah chorus from the City section.

Reid dashed 40 yards to whip in another ball which Cansdell-Sherriff dealt with at the near post. But once again City had drawn a blank on the

road.

Attendance: 6,272

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

City finishing position since the Premiership (unverified)

2002 15th
2003 19th
2004 relegated
2005 11th
2006 11th
2007 relegated
2008 10th
2009 11th
2010 14th
2011 18th -
2012 21st/22nd?

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

I got it wrong, admits Bradford City boss Parkinson
7:30am Tuesday 10th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson admitted he named the wrong team after City again came back goalless and empty-handed from another away trip.

The 1-0 loss at Shrewsbury was their sixth in a row on the road, although other results at the bottom went well for them, with Hereford,

Macclesfield and Barnet all losing.

With four games left, City remain seven points off the relegation zone with a much better goal difference on the sides in trouble.

But Parkinson felt he slipped up yesterday by keeping faith with the side that had beaten Southend three days earlier.

He said: "I have to look at myself and maybe I should have made a couple of changes.

"I wanted to play the same team just to get that bit of continuity with the threat from the bench, which I felt could have won us the game.

"I just felt I'd go with the side that had done so well on Friday. That was a terrific performance but I think it told on our legs."

Jermaine Grandison's first-half goal kept up Shrewsbury's unbeaten home record.

Nahki Wells, who was subbed by Chris Dagnall at half-time, had chances to hit back and Craig Fagan missed a close-range volley when it looked

easier to score.

Parkinson added: "Nahki didn't pull the trigger quick enough. I thought he looked tired and I had to make some changes.

"Fages was in the six-yard box and you expect that to go in.

"The most disappointing thing was to concede a scrappy goal because we had chances to clear and didn't do it. It's frustrating because in the

main we coped reasonably well.

"We worked our socks off in the first half but were slightly low in our intensity levels. But I thought we improved immensely in the second when

the fresh legs helped us."

Skipper Michael Flynn, who again started on the left of midfield, was also taken off at the break for Kyel Reid.

Parkinson said: "Reidy took a while to get his second wind but he's had nearly two and a half weeks when he hasn't trained.

"Flynny created two goals on Friday and did well. He looked a bit leggy for it but he's a good player."

City face the Football Association today to find out their punishment for their part in the Crawley brawl.

The club are not contesting the charge of failing to control their players but Jon McLaughlin, one of the three sent off, will join director of

operations David Baldwin at the Wembley hearing to put their case across.

Parkinson said: "It will be nice to move on from that at last. It's been hanging over us."

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

Northampton admission details
Posted on: Tue 10 Apr 2012

City travel to the Sixfields Stadium this Saturday (14 April 2012) to take on Northampton Town in their latest npower League 2 fixture.

There will be no advance ticket sales for this fixture. Please pay at Northampton on the day.

Ticket prices for this match will be as follows:

Adults: £19.00
Senior Citizens Over 60: £15.00
Juniors under 16: £6.00
Juniors under 7: FREE (must be accompanied by an adult)
Adult disabled ticket: £13.00
Junior disabled ticket: £6.00
Carer: FREE

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

City to host cup final
Posted on: Tue 10 Apr 2012

The Coral Windows Stadium will play host to the Co-operative West Riding County Cup Final this Wednesday night when Guiseley AFC take on Bradford

(Park Avenue).

Kick off for the final is scheduled for 7:45pm. Supporters will be able to gain access to the Co-operative Main Stand on the night of the tie.

Adults tickets will be priced at £7.00 each and concessions at £3.00 each.

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

Sunday, April 08, 2012

L2 W2-0 (H) Southend U. Friday April 6, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

NPower League Two
Bradford C (1) 2 Hanson 38, Fagan pen 54.
Southend U (0) 0
Att: 10,859

Read this online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx

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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

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

Match Media & Stats

Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2726617,00.html?

"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

BBC highlights (uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17558835

Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results

Stats: Bradford C - Southend
Possession: 64 - 36%
Shots on target: 9 - 2
Shots off target: 4 - 5
Fouls: 4 - 7
Corners: 6 - 4

Ref: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).
Red cards:
Southend: Clohessy 52 min., Benyon 68 min.
Yellow cards:
Bradford C: Flynn 65 min. (time wasting).
Southend: Grant 45+2 min.

BRADFORD C: 34. Matt Duke, 2. Simon Ramsden, 22. Lee Bullock, 5. Guy
Branston, 24. Rob Kozluk, 39. Craig Fagan, 8. Ritchie Jones (81), 14.
Richard Ravenhill (75), 4. Michael Flynn, 21. Nahki Wells (81), 9. James
Hanson.
SUBS: 15. Jamie Annerson (GK), 11. Deane Smalley, 17. Chris Dagnall (81),
23. David Syers (81), 32. Kyel Reid (75).

SOUTHEND UTD: 35. Cameron Belford, 2. Sean Clohessy, 23. Chris Barker, 16.
Luke Prosser, 34. Lee Hills (46), 12. Kane Ferdinand (59), 8. Michael
Timlin, 7. Anthony Grant, 4. Ryan Hall, 37. Freddy Eastwood (60), 6. Bilel
Mohsni.
SUBS: 3. Peter Gilbert, 9. Neil Harris (59), 14. David Martin, 15. Mark
Phillips (46), 24. Elliot Benyon (60).

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

Friday evening match report

Report by Simon Parker (T&A)

City gave their survival hopes a much-needed boost by completing the double
over promotion-chasing Southend at Valley Parade.

James Hanson, restored to the starting line-up, headed his 13th goal of the
season. And Craig Fagan made sure of their first win for seven games with a
confidently-taken penalty.

Southend's misery was compounded with two red cards. But for the Bantams,
this was the perfect result following all the misery and uncertainty of the
past month.

There had been plenty of endeavour on display in the first half but little
in terms of goalmouth action.

Ritchie Jones had an early 30-yarder saved and Southend keeper Cameron
Belford denied Nahki Wells with his knees.

City's makeshift back four kept Southend at arm's length with Guy Branston
relishing his Valley Parade return.

The game finally came alive after 38 minutes as City edged in front. Michael
Flynn's cross was right on the button for Hanson to head home at the far
post.

Jones and Wells had shots blocked with the home side finishing the half
strongly.

City carried on in the same vein and were two up within seven minutes of the
restart.

Sean Clohessy was sent off as the last man for a nudge in the box on Wells
and Fagan fired home the penalty.

Southend then lost a second man when sub Elliot Benyon was red-carded only
ten minutes after coming on for an off-the-ball incident.

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

Bradford City boss Parkinson warns: We're not safe yet
7:00pm Sunday 8th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson has warned City that the survival picture can still change fast.

Parkinson's men are buzzing for today's trip to Shrewsbury after their Good Friday win over Southend.

But the City chief insists there can be no thoughts that the job has been done.

While their first win in a month left City sitting pretty seven points off trouble, Parkinson is wary of more twists.

He said: "We're very conscious of the fact that one game changes things, like it did on Friday.

"We've got to keep our eye on the ball.

"We'll go to Shrewsbury full of confidence but we need to put in the same level of performance and hopefully play in the same style.

"If we do that, we'll be a difficult team to beat."

Parkinson hot-footed it from Valley Parade to watch Shrewsbury win 3-1 at Macclesfield.

He knows the size of the task against the only side in the division not to lose at home.

But Friday's overdue victory has restored faith after the slump in results during March.

Parkinson added: "You can go back to the Gillingham game when we dominated, had three goals disallowed and didn't win. The more you look at it,

the more bizarre it gets.

"I thought last week at Plymouth we were excellent again and had the chances but didn't take them.

"You could always feel sorry for yourself after that but we haven't and the response on Friday was excellent.

"We said before the Plymouth game about having five captains in the team and you could see that."

Kyel Reid and David Syers are pushing for recalls as City check on the fitness of Ritchie Jones and Ricky Ravenhill.

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

KYEL REID BECOMES A DAD
(Thursday)

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Phil Parkinson will decide in the morning whether Kyel Reid is right to play
in City's home clash with Southend.

The winger became a dad at lunchtime after his girlfriend gave birth to a
baby boy. He was travelling back up to Bradford tonight from London.

Parkinson said: "I am really pleased for Kyel. His girlfriend has been in
hospital all week awaiting the birth but fortunately everything has turned
out well.

"After spending some time with his new son, Kyel is heading up tonight and
we'll have a look at him tomorrow morning.

"We'll assess his fitness and his physical state and then make a decision on
whether he will feature in the squad or not.

"He hasn't trained all week, which is obviously a concern. But we'll get him
in early and have a good look at him."

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

(Easter) Monday 9 April 2012
npower League 2
Shrewsbury Town vs Bradford City
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Greenhous Meadow

Match Officials

Referee: D Coote
Assistant Referee: M Howes
Assistant Referee: R Johnson
Fourth Official: D Handley

Bantams team news
City boss Phil Parkinson will need to assess the fitness of both Ricky Ravenhill (dead leg) and Ritchie Jones (hip) after the pair picked up

knocks that forced them off during the second period of Friday's win over Southend United.

Should either of the pair miss out, however, Parkinson does have the likes of David Syers and Kyel Reid who could come back into the reckoning,

while Michael Flynn maybe moved over from the left of midfield into a more central berth.

Matt Fry will be hoping to make up part of City's match-day squad for the game as well after missing the last two matches with a groin problem.

Andrew Davies, Jon McLaughlin and Luke Oliver all remain suspended, although Oliver and McLaughlin's bans end after Monday, while Marcel Seip is

out for the rest of the season with a shoulder problem.

Shrewsbury team news
Barring any unreported injuries from their win at Macclesfield Town last Friday, Shrews boss Graham Turner is expected to stick with the same

starting eleven that defeated the Silkmen two days ago.

That means Shrewsbury top scorer James Collins, who's double against Macclesfield took his season tally to 15, is likely to be partnered in

attack again by former Accrington Stanley forward Terry Gornell.

And after spending a number of the Shrews' recent games filling in at left back, Matt Richards is also expected to stay in central midfield after

moving there for the Moss Rose fixture to accommodate Joe Jacobson's return.

Winger Jon Taylor will still be unavailable to Turner, however, as he continues to serve out a three match ban for a recent red card.

Fellow wideman Lionel Ainsworth is back in the Shrewsbury camp though after a loan spell with Burton Albion and could be named on the bench.

---

http://www.shrewsburytown.com/page/PreMatchAnalysis/0,,10443~2727880,00.html?

Head to Head
This game will be the 42nd league meeting between Shrewsbury and Bradford City and Town have won 18 of those games. Bradford have won 14 times

against us with their highest scoring win being a 4-2 win in the 2007/8 season. Shrewsbury Town's best win against the Bantams was a 4-0 home win

in December 1977.

Top Scorers (league)
James Hanson 12
Craig Fagan 7
Nahki Wells 6

Assists
Kyel Reid 10
Jack Compton 4
Chris Mitchell 3

Clean Sheets
7 (3 at home, 4 away)

Form (league, most recent first)
WLLDLL

Prediction
This game was looking a lot easier before Bradford went and beat Southend on Friday, but now I'm not so sure about that. In fairness, it's been a

pretty poor season for the Bantams and a point or three wouldn't go amiss in their quest for safety. However, we are on a good run of form and

should be buoyed up by shifting Crawley from third place. We also have a home record that prevents me from predicting a loss at the Greenhous

Meadow, so I will go for a hard fought 2-1 win to Shrewsbury Town!

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

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

L2 L0-1 (A) Plymouth A. Saturday March 31, 2012. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

Read this online
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/

CFML Daily News
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/clubhouse?teamId=387&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867

Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx

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

Signings, Loans and Injuries

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

Match Media & Stats

Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2011/

"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html

BBC highlights (uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17579198?

Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/319890?&cc=5901

Plymouth Argyle: Cole; Berry, Purse, Blanchard, Williams; MacDonald, Wotton, Walton, Hemmings (Bhasera 79); Chadwick (S Fletcher 66), Tsoumou. Unused substitutes: Larrieu, Feeney, Hourihane.

Bradford City: Duke; Ramsden (Hanson 57), Branston, Bullock, Kozluk (Wells78); Syers, Ravenhill (Reid 46), Jones, Flynn; Fagan, Dagnall. Unused substitutes: Smalley, Annerson.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

Plymouth Argyle       Bradford City
9(5)   Shots (on Goal)   16(7)
12   Fouls   13
7   Corner Kicks   11
0   Offsides   2
48%   Time of Possession   52%
3   Yellow Cards   1
0   Red Cards   0
5   Saves   4

Read more: http://www.plymouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/stats.asp?a=278025#ixzz1quhWtWRN

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

Saturday evening match report

PHIL PARKINSON'S BLANK FACE SAYS IT ALL
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Phil Parkinson stood motionless on the halfway line, hands planted on hips,
transfixed by the scenes of green celebration.

As Plymouth milked the moment from a win that moves them to level pegging
with City, he looked on enviously and helpless.

A long horrible week had ended horribly. With the prospect of the longest
trip home on the club's calendar to follow.

It was no consolation that the better team had lost or that City had spent
most of the previous 45 minutes camped deep in home territory.

For the fifth time in four weeks, his side had to board the bus back to
Bradford with nothing to show for their efforts.

The 4-0 romp at Barnet at the end of February suddenly seems a lifetime ago.
Seven-and-a-half hours of away football since have delivered no points and
just one City goal – and that was turned in by a Wimbledon defender.

Nahki Wells was the last player in a Bantams shirt to score on the road when
he netted the fourth at Underhill.

Parkinson, his players and the 300 or so hardy souls who followed them to
the deep south will be scratching their heads at how that wretched statistic
was not buried on Saturday.

Wells did have the ball in the net but was ruled offside. Other chances came
and went, scrambles in the penalty box were thwarted, goal-bound efforts
kept out by desperate defence.

At times the Plymouth goal-mouth was busier than the caravan car park
otherwise known as the M5 at holiday time.

But Argyle clung on to their fifth-minute lead like men possessed. It is no
surprise that they have conceded only five in their last 11 games.

Guy Branston was like a kid at Christmas after getting his first game for
City since October.

The bruising centre half, returning to one of his many previous loan clubs,
thought he'd crowned a solid game with a late equaliser. But his thumping
header joined the lengthy list of "if onlys" as Jake Cole punched it away.

"That save was world class," admitted Branston. "It was going right in the
corner.

"But that just summed it up. I thought we totally outplayed them.

"We got the ball down, which people want to see, and put Plymouth under
pressure all the time. But they just scraped and scrapped it away.

"You'll watch the video and think how did the chances not go in? The lads
are trying their backsides off but it's just not happening.

"It was great to be part of it again, I can't say that enough. It just makes
it so disappointing to lose but we've got to lick our wounds."

Branston was one of six changes after the battle of Crawley. Like goalkeeper
Matt Duke, another called in from the cold, he did not let the manager down.

Both will have a big role to play in City's increasingly scary struggle for
survival. Nobody expected to be saying that a few weeks ago.

But then few would have anticipated the club still being mired in the sticky
stuff with only six games to go.

That Barnet win should have blown away any fears of getting dragged back
into trouble. But then Barnet are the only side at the bottom that City can
beat.

Saturday's loss, however harsh it may seem, prolonged their miserable run of
form against the teams around them. The so-called "six pointers" are not
City's forte – how that looming visit from Macclesfield is getting bigger
all the time.

Parkinson's reshuffle at the back was expected given the sudden loss of key
defensive resources. Only Rob Kozluk remained from the previous Tuesday's
backline and he was switched to the left side for the injured Matt Fry.

Kozluk struggled and so did right back Simon Ramsden, who looked washed out
after throwing up before the game. He insisted on playing but looked
predictably off the pace and was subbed soon after the break.

Ricky Ravenhill, too, went off early. Having passed a pre-match fitness
test, he suffered another dead leg from a tackle.

That meant a half-time recall for Kyel Reid, who Parkinson had left on the
bench to go with a midfield consisting of four centrally-based players. With
the winger spending the end of the week in London again on maternity watch,
his manager made the call not to involve him from the start.

Parkinson said: "Reidy had a problem after Tuesday with his hamstring and
back but there are also the on-going issues family-wise. So we haven't seen
him.

"We'd worked on that shape and that personnel for two days in training. I
felt it would offer the back four strong protection and it worked.

"I didn't think Reidy was right to start but he showed some good flashes
coming on.

"I just want this baby to arrive so we can get him back on the training
pitch."

Plymouth's goal was a shocker as City's zonal marking from Paul Wotton's
free-kick fell apart.

The defence weren't in the same post code as Juvhel Tsoumou, a German
striker who once scored against Bayern Munich, was left free to nod his
first goal in English football.

It was a terrible goal to concede before Duke had even had a proper touch.
After keeping Plymouth at bay for 90 minutes with Northampton the previous
week, he didn't last five with City.

The blame was not his at all but the absence of any defensive challenge
whatsoever.

Wotton then beat him with a free-kick that smacked the post before Duke's
day improved considerably, finishing with a superb save to deny the
midfielder's late thunderbolt.

After the first ten minutes, City started to take over. The further the game
went on, the tighter their grip became.

But there was no reward for all the pressure.

Before the break, David Syers had brushed a post and seen Durrell Berry
block a goal-bound header from the opening corner.

The substitutions added attacking options in the second half – by the end,
Branston was the only recognised defender in the City team.

James Hanson twice saw attempts cleared off the line; Wells was denied by
the assistant's flag and Branston by the keeper's reflexes.

Wells was inches away again from a bout of head tennis and Cole kept out Lee
Bullock's flick.

Plymouth were used to living on their nerves and edged their way to three
priceless points. The reaction at the final whistle showed the size of their
victory.

City at least have a free midweek to get their heads together. Their League
Two status remains anything but secure and a four-point cushion on the
bottom two could swiftly disappear over the two-game Easter period.

Fortunately Hereford and Macclesfield, the two occupants in the ejector
seats, cannot buy a win right now. But neither, for all their near misses
and hard luck tales, can City.

They cannot afford April to prove as miserable as March.

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

BRADFRD CITY REQUEST PERSONAL HEARING WITH FA

By Simon Parker (T&A)

City have requested a personal hearing over their charge for failing to
control their players in the Crawley fracas.

The club have accepted the Football Association charges and will sit down
with the authority to put forward a case in mitigation.

The date of that hearing will be set by the FA. It can take place any time
up to and including next Wednesday.

Meanwhile the three City players sent off after the game will all return to
training today.

Phil Parkinson said: "Two of them become available again after Monday's game
so it's important they are all involved."

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

Parkinson's job safe, says Bradford City chief Lawn
7:00am Wednesday 4th April 2012
By Simon Parker

Mark Lawn today urged fans to get behind manager Phil Parkinson in City's hour of need.

Lawn insisted Parkinson had the backing of the board despite the worrying league position.

And he felt that making another change at the top at this present time would be a "foolish" move.

City go into Easter with a four-point advantage on the drop zone after collecting only one win and two draws from the nine games in March.

But Lawn is still confident that Parkinson can keep their heads above water.

He said: "We've got to stick with Phil, simple as that. Now's not the time to start changing managers with only six games left.

"If you look at Macclesfield, they've changed and so far there has not been a positive impact.

"Who would you get in who could change it so quick? You just can't do that.

"Results have been disappointing. But if you look at the games, we are competing and we're there or thereabouts.

"It's been very close and we've just got to edge over that line. To change manager now would be foolish."

Parkinson signed a two-year deal when he succeeded Peter Jackson in August. The City joint-chairman added: "I still think Phil is a commonsense manager and he works very hard.

"We all hope we're in safe hands and we'll get to that position where we are safe in the league.

"At this stage, he has a contract to fulfil through next season."

Macclesfield, who visit Valley Parade on April 21, and Hereford sit in the relegation spots. Lawn admitted the sole objective for the final month of the season was to finish above them.

"We're still four points ahead of the bottom two and that's our league we've got to win. Finishing sixth or seventh bottom in that little league would be great but third means you're safe.

"If we do the same as Hereford and Macclesfield, we stay up. If we do better, then we stay up.

"I am amazed it's come to this but some of the decisions we have been getting are not the best.

"We can't change that. We've had words with referees and we're still getting those decisions.

"I've got to be quite honest, I thought Nahki (Wells) was in line at Plymouth and not offside.

"But we're just going to have to work harder. I spoke to Phil about it and there's no point moaning.

"I'm as worried as I was last year. We were in a similar position then so let's hope we can dig in again and get a few results to get out of it.

"Some very wise managers have turned round and said there will be some twists and turns before the end of the season. That will happen in our little league of seven."

Recent poor results have also hit season-ticket sales, with fans reluctant to buy for next term until they are certain that City will survive.

Lawn said: "I would be encouraged if we were selling more and it would help the cashflow. But I can see why people are hanging on and there hasn't been a great uptake.

"But I don't agree with it. I was a fan, I've been there and I've bought season tickets.

"In their position, I'd have got mine already."

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

KYLE McFadzean will serve a three match ban after losing his appeal against an FA charge.

The FA had charged the versatile Crawley player with violent conduct for an on-field incident which was caught on video during the Reds' mass

brawl with Bradford last Tuesday, effectively giving him a retrospective red card. Crawley appealed, and McFadzean was able to play in Saturday's

0-0 draw at Burton, but the FA confirmed today that appeal has been unsuccessful.

Reds are already missing Pablo Mills and Claude Davis, who have started their suspensions after being red carded for their part in the

confrontation which occurred on the final whistle of Crawley's 2-1 win.

A brief statement on the club's official site read: "The Football Association have confirmed that Kyle McFadzean has lost his appeal against his

retrospective red card, issued on the basis of video evidence by the match referee following last Tuesday's game against Bradford City, and will

now be suspended for a period of three matches.

"Crawley Town Football Club would like to point out that no one from the club was permitted to attend the hearing which was held behind closed

doors."

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