Pre season latest -match reports and upcoming fixture

Next fixtures
Wednesday (1 August 2012) v Guiseley AFC (a) 7.45pm
Saturday (4 August 2012) v Bury (h) 3pm


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Bradford City delighted to get something for nothing

8:20am Wednesday 25th July 2012

By Simon Parker

City saved themselves £75,000 by biding their time before snapping up Alan Connell.

The striker played 30 minutes of last night's 4-0 win at Wexford Youths in Ireland, his first appearance for the club after joining from Swindon

on Friday.

Connell signed for City for no fee after the League Two champions agreed to settle his contract with a year still to run.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn praised Swindon for their help in smoothing the move – and felt it justified City's decision not to rush in.

Connell was the eighth capture of the summer but Lawn had sensed a few rumbles about how long it was taking to bring in another forward,

especially after the long-running interest in Andy Gray ran its course.

Lawn said: "All these people were telling us that we needed to get a striker in early. But if we had tried to do the deal for Connell at the back

end of May, it would have cost us £75,000.

"That was what Swindon were asking for at the time. But we were sensible and did it at no cost to us other than his wages."

Connell bagged 13 goals in Swindon's title win but found himself out of Paulo Di Canio's plans and was left at home for the club's training camp

in Italy.

Lawn was impressed that they did not try to hamper Connell's attempts to get a move.

He said: "We really appreciated how professional they have been. It makes a refreshing change to deal with a club that conduct themselves in such

an appropriate manner.

"Swindon realised they didn't want him but could still have made some money. They knew Alan had to move on to benefit his career and helped him

to do that."

----


Barrass unveiled as Bantams' latest signing

7:30pm Wednesday 25th July 2012

By Simon Parker

The newest member of City's back-room team made his debut at Wexford.

Matt Barrass has taken over as the club's physio after Dave Hanson decided to step down for personal reasons.

Thirty-two-year-old Barrass had been assistant physio at Preston North End since taking his qualifications at Salford University.

A former right back, he played for Bury for nine years but had to quit the game early because of a knee injury.

Phil Parkinson said: "I knew Dave Hanson was leaving for the last three or four weeks. He has continued working through that period but has had

to leave us because of personal reasons.

"I've been working hard with Steve (Parkin) and Dave Baldwin to bring the right person in. We looked at several people but Matt Barrass looked

the best man for the club.

"He was a very good player by all accounts. He's come here very highly recommended by a couple of people.

"Matt is ambitious and I really feel he will be an excellent appointment for us.

"I've always said that physios and sports scientists are very important. They get the players on the pitch first of all and then, if they are

injured, get them back out there quickly.

"Making those judgement calls throughout the season is pivotal in having a good year. That's why we've taken our time and made sure we got the

right man. It's a great job for Matt and one I know he's looking forward to."

One of Hanson's last acts was to oversee the medical before Alan Connell completed his move from Swindon. He was a popular figure among the

players and staff.

Parkinson added: "We're sorry to see Dave go because he's a terrific bloke. He's a good mate of us all and I'm sure he will keep popping in."



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


Strikers fill their boots in opening Bradford City salvo

6:00am Monday 23rd July 2012

By Simon Parker

Tadcaster Albion 1, City 7

Alan Connell was not at Tadcaster for City's pre-season opener but his presence seems to have made an impression already.

The Bantams enjoyed a boot-filling exercise at the end of a fortnight of training bootcamp – with all the strikers getting on the scoresheet.

Results at this stage may not matter but goals are always a welcome currency in generating self-belief among the frontmen.

Connell's arrival may have dropped Ross Hannah another peg down the order but he made a good point in his 45 minutes of action with the opening

two goals.

James Hanson's trademark header and a near-post finish by Nahki Wells ensured they are both up and running before the quality of opposition kicks

up a notch in Wexford tomorrow night.

Lofty second-year apprentice Louie Swain made it a clean sweep for the forwards with a tidy header late on, while Andrew Davies and Kyel Reid

also joined in the fun.

"It's good for the goal-scorers to score at any stage in the season," said Phil Parkinson afterwards.

" This gave us a good opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net. Roscoe got a couple, Reidy, Nahki, James and young Louie as well, which

will build their confidence."

Nobody will get carried away by the emphatic scoreline against a side five levels down the pyramid. Peter Jackson's City did the same to Silsden

this time last year.

But City showed good sharpness for a first game and the fitness levels were high. Parkinson swapped the team completely at half-time but all the

players did extra work on the pitch afterwards.

Apart from Connell, Gary Thompson and Stephen Darby both sat it out in the clubhouse as a precaution to rest slight strains.

Five trialists were on display for a sun-baked crowd boosted by over 500 City fans. But there was no Matt Hamshaw after Parkinson told him he was

looking for more pace on the right flank.

So Anthony McNamee, the well-travelled former Watford flyer, was given the shirt first half. Like right back Michael Boateng, he had been

recommended by Jamie Lawrence.

And Tom Taiwo popped up in central midfield alongside the energetic Gary Jones. He is looking for a club nearer his Leeds roots after leaving

Carlisle.

Boateng showed a willingness to bomb forward and nearly created an early goal for Hannah at the near post.

But the striker was off the mark in the sixth minute, showing good strength to control a Jones pass and lob Tadcaster keeper Aaran Reid.

City's defence was rarely troubled and Davies had time to rumble forward to drill in number two, which was swiftly followed by a Hannah penalty

after Reid had sent him tumbling.

Then Hanson got in on the act with a powerful header from a cross by youngster Forrayah Bass.

It was predictably all change at the break and City mark two included two more strange faces, right back Javan Vidal and huge centre half

Christophe Lowinsky.

French under-19 international Lowinsky had recently been on trial with Newcastle after coming through the Marseille B team. With Luke Oliver at

his shoulder forming a pair of twin towers, the home forwards must have felt like a basketball point guard trying to pick a shot past Lebron

James and Dirk Nowitzki.

The rout continued with Reid's lovely pass picking out Wells to score a bit too easily on the turn. As City queued up for more, Ricky Ravenhill,

Swain and Adam Baker were all denied.

Eventually Reid, who was going through his full repertoire of tricks on the left, claimed the sixth with a second bite at the cherry after his

initial shot was blocked.

Tadcaster got some reward for keeping going when Danny Gray forced his way inside Oliver to claim a consolation. But City had the final say when

Swain got the goal his hard work merited from another Reid assist.

City –
first half: Duke, Boateng, McArdle, Davies, Bass, Atkinson, G Jones, Taiwo, McNamee, Hanson, Hannah;
second half: McLaughlin, Vidal, Oliver, Lowinsky, Meredith, Baker, R Jones, Ravenhill, Reid, Swain, Wells.

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

radford City players show their hunger in Irish opener

6:40am Wednesday 25th July 2012

By Simon Parker

Wexford Youths 0, City 4

James Hanson and Ross Hannah hit the goal trail again as City strolled to another pre-season win in Ireland last night.

For the second game running, they claimed three between them – all coming before half-time against the willing amateur hosts.

This time it was Hanson who got the lion's share in a one-sided encounter that ran out of steam after the break.

City boss Phil Parkinson said: "Wexford Youths are a young, fit team and we did well to get the first three goals before half-time.

"I thought Hanson's two goals were really good. Putting the ball in the back of the net is a great habit.

"The move for the second goal and his finish shows what he is like when he's playing with confidence."

The second half's major point of interest was Alan Connell's first appearance for the club, before fellow substitute Nahki Wells rounded off the

scoring late on.

Parkinson spared some of the big guns for Saturday's much stiffer test at top-flight Bray. But with four trialists in the City starting ranks,

there was no lack of incentive and it showed.

Michael Boateng and Anthony McNamee were joined by former Aldershot, Swansea and Wycombe central midfielder Scott Donnelly and teenage Irish

centre back Carl McHugh, who had been on Reading's books.

Ricky Ravenhill was not taking it lightly, producing a crunching tackle inside two minutes which earned him a harsh yellow card.

Adam Baker again looked promising on the right flank and tested goalkeeper Graham Doyle at his near post after full back Shane Clarke sliced his

clearance.

The first-year professional then turned provider, crossing for Hannah's header which Doyle saved scrambling to his right.

Goals were coming – and duly arrived with two in as many minutes.

City's opener was created by a fine cross from McNamee, with Hanson on the end of it to loop a header over the stranded Clarke.

Then James Scannon took Hannah's legs away in the corner of the box and the striker stepped up to slam home the resulting penalty.

Boateng barrelled forward to join the fun but his cut-back was scuffed into the ground by Hanson.

Still, there was plenty of goal-mouth action to entertain the sizeable – and decidedly merry – away following.

Hanson made immediate amends with a sweet right-foot strike that flew into the top corner from 20 yards. At that stage, it was threatening to

become another Tadcaster-style rout.

McHugh made an important block from a rare Wexford foray but the defence had been hardly troubled and Forrayah Bass was allowed to charge upfield

from left back to set up another chance which Hannah spooned over.

There were no City changes for the start of the second half but the impetus had not surprisingly disappeared. Brian Nolan volleyed home for

Wexford but had been flagged offside.

A raft of substitutes were warming up as Rory McArdle missed City's first chance of the half, heading over from a corner.

Parkinson then signalled the change with seven switched, only keeper Jon McLaughlin remaining unused in the dugout.

It gave Connell his first half hour in a City shirt to partner Wells as Hannah and Hanson took their well-earned breather.

McNamee had also put a shift in and Jamie Lawrence, who had pushed him Parkinson's way, banged on the clubhouse window to show his appreciation

for the little winger's efforts.

Gary Jones, who had replaced Ravenhill, was straight into the action with a ferocious volley after Wells picked him out but it flew straight at

the relieved Clarke.

Connell chested the ball down for Jones to have another crack but the midfielder dragged his left-footer across goal.

Matt Duke, skipper for the night, had been a spectator all night. His first save, when it eventually came after 73 minutes, was a simple catch

above the head.

Wells rounded off the scoring seven minutes from time when he tapped home after beating the offside trap from Will Atkinson's through ball.

City: Duke, Boateng, McHugh (Davies 60), McArdle (Oliver 60), Bass, Baker (Atkinson 60), Ravenhill (G Jones 60), Donnelly (McHugh 73), McNamee

(Meredith 60), Hannah (Connell 60), Hanson (Wells 60). Sub (not used): McLaughlin.

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

Bray Wanderers 1 Bradford City 2
Posted on: Sat 28 Jul 2012


Saturday 28 July 2012
npower League 2
Bray Wanderers 1 (Dooney 85)
Bradford City 2 (Wells 22, Hannah 62)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Carlisle Grounds

City finished off their week-long tour of Ireland with a hard-fought but deserved victory over League of Ireland Premier Division side Bray

Wanderers.

A first half strike from Nahki Wells gave City the interval lead before second substitute Ross Hannah increased the Bantams' advantage just past

the hour mark.

For Wells, it was his third goal in three matches so this pre-season, while Hannah has now gone one better with four in three thanks to his Bray

second half strike.

Home right back Ryan Dooney pulled a goal back late on for Bray but City, who looked particularly bright in the second period, still secured the

victory - their third straight win in pre-season so far.

Heavy rain showers and Bray's ability to bring on a number of fresh legs could have made the afternoon a challenging one at times for City, but

the Bantams showed great commitment and composure on the ball run out worthy victors and make it two wins out of two for their Irish tour.

City in the second half in particular could have actually added to their lead, with James Hanson firing over on the volley from around six yard

out and Hannah hitting the crossbar with a snap-shot on the turn from close range.

The returning Ritchie Jones, who missed Tuesday's Wexford Youths win with an ankle knock, also saw a decent one-on-one chance saved by Bray

'keeper Darren Quigley in the first period.

Fit-again Stephen Darby played the first fourty-five minutes of the friendly for his first action in City colours since joining this summer.

Along with Darby's appearance, Alan Connell was given his maiden start by Phil Parkinson as the Bantams boss, as promised, made a number of

changes from the Wexford game.

Opening goalscorer Wells, Jon McLaughlin, James Meredith, Will Atkinson and Luke Oliver were also promoted up from the Wexford bench to complete

City's line up at Carlisle Grounds.

Kyel Reid came off the bench to play the final half an hour or so but Andrew Davies was not risked, however, after picking up a bug in the last

twenty-four hours.

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

The Bantams back in Bradford
Posted on: Mon 30 Jul 2012

City have now returned back to Bradford following their week-long stay in Ireland as part of their pre-season programme.

Basing themselves in Enfield, Phil Parkinson's squad took part in two friendly games in the country - beating Wexford Youths and Bray Wanderers -

as well as getting several intense training sessions under their belt.

The football club would like to take this opportunity pass on a massive thank you to the staff of Johnstown House Hotel for all of their help

during City's stay last week.

After defeating Wexford and Bray during their time in Ireland, City will now turn their attentions to next Wednesday's (1 August 2012) friendly

fixture at Guiseley AFC.


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

Parkinson pleased with Bray workout

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2864505,00.html

(Extract of article)

...Parkinson gave right back Stephen Darby his first piece of action in City colours at Bray since joining in the summer. He played the first

half before being replaced by Ricky Ravenhill at the interval.

Darby had previously missed the Bantams' first two pre-season friendlies with a slight toe and groin problems.

"We wanted to give Stephen just 45 minutes because of his slight injury problems and the recent lack of football he's had as a result," the

Bantams boss added.

"I thought he did well though and I'm pleased to see him get through the game ok."

As thoughts turned back to home for City, Parkinson reflected on a successful trip in general for his squad.

"I've been delighted with this week - it couldn't have gone better really," Parkinson said.


"The discipline and attitude of the players in and around the hotel during the week has been excellent.

"I can't fault any part of the whole week. Every box we wanted to tick has been."

Despite being thrilled with his squad's work in Ireland though, Parkinson is still aware that further recruits are required to get City ready for

the big kick off next month.

Parkinson added: "I still feel we need to make a few more signings to strengthen the squad because it's not quite strong enough yet.

"But it is something we are working on all the time, and when we get those signings I think we''ll be a strong unit.

"The season is getting ever closer now. The lads will keep working hard to improve and get themselves ready and my job in the background will be

to bring in a couple more bodies during the next week or so.

"We've looked at a few trialists here (Ireland) as well, so when Monday comes around I'll have a sit down with the chairmen to talk them through

the options available to us to help improve our squad."

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

Bury friendly details confirmed
Posted on: Mon 30 Jul 2012

The football club can now confirm admission details for this Saturday's (4 August 2012) pre-season friendly with Bury at the Coral Windows

Stadium.

The lower tier of the Co-operative Main Stand will be open to City supporters on an unreserved basis. The Betrescue Stand will be made available

to Bury fans.

Kick off on Saturday will be 3:00pm.

Admission prices for the match will be as follows:

Adults: £10.00
Concessions (Senior Citizens and Juniors): £5.00

There will be no advance sales for the match. Please pay on the turnstiles on Saturday.

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

Guiseley AFC ticket prices
Posted on: Mon 30 Jul 2012

Following their week-long tour in Ireland, City will now turn their attentions to this Wednesday's (1 August 2012) friendly at Blue Square North

side Guiseley AFC.

Kick off at Guiseley's Nethermoor on Wednesday will be 7:45pm.

Admission prices for City's fourth pre-season friendly of the summer will be as follows:

Adults: £10.00
Concessions: £6.00
Juniors 12-16 year-olds: £4.00
Juniors under 12: £1.00

Please pay on the turnstiles on the night - there will be no advance ticket sales for this match.

Guiseley's current playing squad includes former Bantams trio Simon Ainge, Mark Bower and Danny Forrest, while Lions midfielder Andy Holdsworth

once had a trial with City.  On the flip side, City striker James Hanson had a spell at Nethermoor with Guiseley before joining the Bantams.

Pre-season news

The new fixtures for season 2012-13 can be found at the Official BCFC
website:

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2814598,00.html

A quick glace shows the following key dates:

14/08/12 (A) Notts County - League Cup (Capital One) 1st round.

18/08/12 (A) Gillingham - first league match of season.

04/09/12 Johnstone's Paint Trophy 1st Round.

01/12/12 FA Cup (Budweiser) 1st round.

26/12/12 (H) Accrington - Boxing Day

01/01/13 (A) Morecambe - New Years Day

30/03/13 (H) Southend - Easter (Saturday)

01/04/13 (A) Torquay - Easter (Monday)

27/04/13 (A) Cheltenham - Last match of season.



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

Signings

June 22

BRADFORD CITY SNAP UP ROCHDALE'S GARY JONES
By Simon Parker (T&A)

City today swooped for experienced Rochdale skipper Gary Jones on a one-year
deal.

The 35-year-old midfielder made 531 appearances for Dale and steered them to
their first promotion in 41 years in 2010.

Jones, who nearly signed for Peter Jackson last summer, has a reputation for
scoring goals from midfield and replaces Doncaster-bound David Syers.

He said: "You seek fresh challenges in football and this is a great one for
myself.

"I came here last year but the Rochdale manager persuaded me to stay. I
didn't think it was the right time to leave then.

"But I met Phil Parkinson a few weeks ago and was really impressed by him.
I've played here a lot of times, it's a great club and I can't wait to get
started."

Parkinson was delighted to make Jones his third signing of the summer.

The City chief said: "He's a leader and has a great desire to play football.

"He played 50 games last season in League One and the same the year before.

"With Dave Syers going, we had the opportunity to utilise that money and
we've done that to bring Gary in.

"I think he's going to be a big signing for us."

----

James McFadden


==========================
July 19th

Bradford City 2012/2013 squad numbers

1. Jon McLaughlin
2. Stephen Darby
3. James Meredith
4. Ricky Ravenhill
5. Andrew Davies
6. Luke Oliver
7. Kyel Reid
8. Ritchie Jones
9. James Hanson
10. Ross Hannah
11. Garry Thompson
12. Matt Duke
14. Will Atkinson
18. Gary Jones
19. Adam Baker
21. Nahki Wells
23. Rory McArdle
??  Alan Connell (added July 21)



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

Stattos corner

Record of transfers for BCFC since 93/94
http://www.transferleague.co.uk/premiership-transfers/bradford.html
Disclaimer: Information not verified

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

Want City's fixtures in your Outlook, Gmail or other calendar?

download the .ics file from this link and import directly into
Outlook. Is also compatible with all the other major calendar apps.

http://subscriptions.thismonkey.com/fixtures/football/calendars/eng/2012

Google also have the fixtures available on Google Calendar (which can then
be sync'd with Outlook).
Settings>Calendars>Browse Interesting Calendars>Sports>Eng League 2


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

The funny...

"City's latest addition means veteran player Gary Jones isn't now going to
be the oldest player at the club despite recently turning 35!"
http://spiveyworld.net/bcfc.jpg




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

Bog off! Bradford City say good riddance to pitch problems

7:00am Thursday 19th July 2012

By Simon Parker

City have carried out a £50,000 pitch revamp in an attempt to solve Valley Parade's boggy wings.

The heavy state of the surface on the flanks has been a constant problem in recent seasons. But extensive work through the summer has left the

club confident that the issue has finally been resolved.

Director of operations David Baldwin said: "It's quite an extreme cost but an essential one. It is our stage and worth paying out a sizeable

chunk of money.

"We made as much saving as we possibly could in order to generate some more budget availability for this close season.

"Ultimately if you want to do well and entertain, you try to make available the best provisions possible within the resources.

"It will help with the nature of football the manager wants to play without any shadow of doubt. Hopefully it gives him the best opportunity to

get us out of this division."

Work began in late May to resurface the pitch and lay fibre sand along the sides to help with drainage. It should bring it in line with the

centre of the pitch, which had already been treated in the same way. The exceptionally wet weather has helped the grass bed in – and also

provided it with an early test.

Baldwin added: "The pitch has historically always been a battle. There's a 1930s massive 30-foot concrete wall underneath, that runs down almost

to the depth of Midland Road.

"The backfill of water that used to build on the main stand side of the stadium has been an ongoing problem.

"We spent a lot of money on the pitch a few years back, taking up 200 tonnes of soil to lay 100 tonnes of fibre sand. But that was predominantly

run down the crown of the pitch, from the halfway line out to the penalty area both sides.

"As a result of that, the crown dries out much quicker than the flanks. So that becomes very apparent.

"The perfect solution would have been to dig the whole lot out, blow out the concrete wall and start again. If you've got £500,000 and time is no

objective then that's fine.

"We've had to do it step by step but ultimately to fix the problem we needed to have fibre sand across the whole pitch. We now have that."

The new-look pitch will get its first work-out in City's friendly with Bury on August 4. With Barnsley's visit the following week cancelled

because of the Capital One Cup shift, there is a 17-day break before the next home game against Fleetwood.

Baldwin said: "The pitch is looking quite lush at the minute with the weather we've had.

"Most importantly, we've got an even texture underneath because the fibre sand has covered every parameter.

"We're talking about a ten-week period to grow the grass back and let it bed down. That is the minimum limit.

"We're feeling very positive about it. The groundsman, Mick Doyle, really wants to go for that best pitch in the division award again."

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

Appliance of science benefits Bradford City players

6:30am Tuesday 17th July 2012

By Simon Parker

What would Howard Wilkinson and football's old school say?

The days of pounding up and down the terraces until you throw up in a bucket have been consigned to the past.

With few exceptions, training is now dictated by the appliance of science – and pre-season will never be the same again.

Where it was once a case of run, run and run some more, the focus now is on the aerobic fitness. The effectiveness of sessions are measured on

the quality of work, not the amount of time you're out there.

Nick Allamby is the man behind the programme at City. As the club's sports scientist, he decides on the timings and levels of work for the

players each day.

Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff put the squad through their paces but everything has been factored first with Allamby.

He said: "The traditional pre-season would involve thrashing the lads for the first two weeks. They would just run their guts out for thousands

and thousands of metres without seeing a ball.

"But for me that just builds up fatigue and doesn't do you any good. What we try to do is structure the holiday break. So although the players

were away from the place for eight or nine weeks, we gave them stuff to do with set points when they had to come back to be tested.

"A footballer needs to be aerobically fit. That's the starting point, so we know that they came back in a decent enough position.

"If they've done nothing before pre-season, then we have to start them at a lower level. You have to catch the others up, which obviously carries

a bigger injury risk.

"But all the lads got up to the required standard. Now we can have a structured, gradual build-up and it's my job to monitor them day to day to

make sure they are improving."

Not that it's a cushy number for the modern-day footballer; far from it. Allamby is not afraid to put them through the grinder when the need

demands.

He said: "I do differ from some others because I don't mind a bit of old-fashioned hard work. They don't enjoy some of the really hard aerobic

sessions but it's all within a structured plan. It's what we call a periodised system.

"But rather than coming back and just running all the time, most of the work is done through the football."

Parkinson is a firm believer in sports science, which is why he was so keen to tie down the former head of fitness at Middlesbrough to a new

contract after working on a consultancy basis last term. Allamby values the support from above.

He said: "You can't put this in place without a coaching staff who believe in it. Our manager is very good at understanding sports science. We

train at set intensities for every day; one will be at high intensity, then the next a lot lower.

"When it first came in, coaches did their bit and sports scientists did theirs and we didn't intermingle. But when you look at the overall load

that players are subjected to, 80 per cent of that work is with a football. You have to work together.

"So I guide the coaches on how hard their training sessions should be from one day to the next. That goes all the way down to number of players

on each side to the size of the pitch they are playing on."

Fixture congestion is the biggest headache. Allamby admitted he could do little to help City during last season's manic March, with ten games in

the space of 32 days – including five successive Tuesday nights.

He recalled: "That was almost unmanageable. How the fixtures had come together like that was ridiculous.

"We didn't do anything bar play the games, do a recovery session and bit of tactical work and then we were playing again."

As football evolves, sports science has become the accepted method of preparation and maintaining fitness. Allamby estimates that more than three

quarters of clubs now use it and the vast majority of players and coaches are no longer sceptical.

He said: "There are still a few managers who want to do things their way and don't believe in it. But a lot of the newer breed have gone through

their coaching badges and it's a massive part of the UEFA B, A and Pro Licence.

"It's gone full circle now. When players go to clubs where it is still old school, they don't enjoy it. Before, we were convincing them that this

might help you. Now a lot are wondering what's happening when it isn't there.

"We don't do everything right all the time. Our job is support; it's not the be all and end all. The crux of a sports scientist is to make sure

by Saturday that the manager has as many players as possible to choose from."

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


Connell joins Bradford City

6:00pm Friday 20th July 2012

By Simon Parker

City have snapped up Swindon striker Alan Connell on a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old becomes Phil Parkinson's eighth summer signing and links up with his new team-mates in time for their week-long trip to Ireland.

Parkinson said: "I'm obviously delighted to get Alan on board. He's an intelligent striker with a good goalscoring record in recent years and

will add something different to our attack."

Connell finished top scorer with 13 goals in Paulo Di Canio's title-winning side but was deemed surplus to requirements by the Italian for League

One.

The former Bournemouth, Brentford and Hereford hitman joined Swindon a year ago from Grimsby for a fee believed to be over £100,000.

City swooped after Swindon came to an agreement with London-born Connell, who had another 12 months on his County Ground contract to run. He

passed a medical before putting pen to paper.

Scunthorpe and Stevenage were among several clubs who had also been linked with him.

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


Promotion expert Connell on why he opted for Bantams
8:00am Saturday 21st July 2012
Exclusive By Simon Parker

Alan Connell is dreaming of making it back-to-back League Two promotions with City.

The former Swindon striker will meet his new team for the Ireland tour after signing a two-year deal yesterday.

Having top-scored for Paulo Di Canio's title-winners last term, Connell believes he can match that success at Valley Parade.

He said: "Winning the league was a really big achievement and hopefully I can repeat that this season with Bradford.

"I want to be challenging up there in the top seven and I think we can do that with the squad we've got."

Swindon paid around £115,000 to take Connell from Grimsby last year and he netted 13 times. But Di Canio made it clear that he would not be taking him into League One.

Connell added: "It's something I didn't see coming after such a good season. But football is a game of opinions and once I knew I wasn't going to be part of it, I had to do what was right for myself.

"It's been a strange period and I've been waiting for the right option to come along. I think Bradford City are the best club at this point of my career.

"I've had promotions from this league before with Bournemouth and Swindon and expectations were high at both clubs. Here it will be no different because this is the best supported club in the division."

Phil Parkinson believes the 29-year-old will add something different to City's strikeforce.

The City chief said: "He's a very intelligent footballer. We did a lot of homework about Alan and everyone spoke highly of him as a player and character.

"It's a good bit of business for us. He's another good addition to the squad and slowly but surely we're getting there."

Connell is attracted by the prospect of giving City's fanbase something to cheer.

He said: "To achieve success at Bradford would mean a lot to me personally. The club have been under-performing for quite a long time and if we could do something for the fans then it would be very special.

"The support was a big factor. I'm from London and the size of the crowd was a big aspect in me joining Bradford."

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Trialists invited to join Bradford City in Ireland
7:40am Monday 23rd July 2012
By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson will run his eye over a couple more new faces during City's week in Ireland.

The Bantams were training for the first time at their County Meath base this morning after flying in to Dublin yesterday.

But Parkinson has not ruled out adding to the squad that are already there.

"Some trialists have come with us and we'll get one or two more to join us during the week," he said.

"There are quite a lot of players still looking for clubs and we've got to make sure we get the balance in our squad right. That's what we are working towards.

"It's tough to go on trial because you've got to be better than what's already there. It's our job to make sure they are right, not just as a person but as a character."

City fielded five trialists in Saturday's 7-1 stroll at Tadcaster Albion – former Carlisle midfielder Tom Taiwo, winger Anthony McNamee and defenders Christophe Lowinsky, Michael Boateng and Javan Vidal.

"I can't fault any of them and they all put themselves in the reckoning," said Parkinson.

"But we're assessing the players all the time in training as well. You want to see they can do the basics of the job first of all, but also how they fit in character-wise with the rest of the group.

"That's very important and being in Ireland now gives us a great opportunity with everybody under the same roof."

Parkinson was happy with the fitness of the players in the opening friendly.

He said: "Everything went to plan. It was a good exercise, they all played 45 minutes and did some running on the pitch at half-time.

"We're in good shape at this stage and we've still got players who weren't out there on Saturday as well as new signing Alan (Connell). There are good options starting to form."

Connell has joined up with the squad after making his own way separately from the south.

"You're always a little bit nervous joining a new club as you try to fit into the group," he said.

"It's important you get on with everyone as quickly as possible and this trip is a good chance to do that."

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