League One
Bristol City (1) 2 Wagstaff 13, Emmanuel-Thomas 58
Bradford C (1) 2 Wells 33, McArdle 84
Att: 13,862
Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/
===========================
Signings, Loans and Injuries
Connor Ripley, 1 month loan, goalkeeper from Middlesbrough
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23561469
Injuries
===========================
General Links
Current table
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/league-table/
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-one/table
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/standings?leagueTag=ENG.3&lang=EN&wjb=
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/scoreboard?leagueTag=ENG.3&lang=EN
The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867
http://www.bradfordcity.tv/
Head to Head stats
http://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/bradford-city/
Bantams Player (subscription required)
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/commercial/Bantams-player/
BBC headlines and highlights (video may be uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bradford-city
T&A Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/
Pulse audio (last match highlights, post match interviews)
http://www.pulse.co.uk/on-air/pulse-sport/
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
===========================
Game links
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368059&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=
Goals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgoJ9vLFXPM
Live Blog
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10590939.Live_blog__Bristol_City_v_Bantams/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/sport_bantams_pics2013_bristolcityaway/
Bristol City: Fielding; Maloney, Flint, Fontaine, Cunningham; Wynter, Kilkenny, Wagstaff, Bryan (Pack 63); Baldock, Emmanuel-Thomas (R Taylor
75). Unused substitutes: Parrish, Williams, B Reid, Harewood, Elliott.
Bradford City: McLaughlin; Darby, Meredith, Davies, McArdle; Jones, Doyle, Yeates (K Reid 66), Thompson (De Vita 66); Wells, Hanson. Unused
substitutes: Ripley, Kennedy, M Taylor, McHugh, Connell.
Referee: S Martin (Staffs).
===========================
Final whistle - match report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23474900
Rory McArdle's header gave promoted Bradford City a deserved point at Bristol City.
The hosts took the lead when Scott Wagstaff finished from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's pass before Nahki Wells levelled after home keeper Frank Fielding was caught out of position.
Emmanuel-Thomas put the Robins back in front with a powerful finish after the Bantams defence gave him too much room.
McArdle drew the visitors level with a header from Raffaele De Vita's corner.
It was a first League One match since 2006-07 for both teams, the Robins having spent the last six seasons in the Championship while Bradford spent the same period in League Two.
Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Credit to Bradford, they didn't panic when we started as well as we did and got the goal.
"Their belief and trust in each other is something we are trying to agenda in to our squad.
"There's five new players out there so it's going to take some time to embed.
"There's enough there for us to work on and to make sure we work on certain aspects."
---
Parkinson delighted with "deserved" point for Bradford City
6:10pm Saturday 3rd August 2013
By Simon Parker
Phil Parkinson felt City got their just rewards with the first-day fightback at Bristol City.
The Bantams boss was delighted with his side's display against one of League One's pre-season favourites.
Goals from Nahki Wells and Rory McArdle saw the home side twice pegged back in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate.
Parkinson said: "I was so pleased. We started a bit slowly but we grew into the first half and finished it in great fashion.
"Then I thought we dominated the second and completely pinned them in up to their (second) goal. It was a shame to concede that because I could only see one winner up to then.
"Bristol City have got quality players and you get punished higher up the leagues you go. But we responded, kept going and got our rewards.
"It was a day where the way we played certainly warranted at least a point."
===========================
When the dust settled - match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10591289.print/
Bantams fans will never tire of watching McArdle goal repeats
7:00am Monday 5th August 2013
By Simon Parker
Bristol City 2 Bradford City 2
A compilation DVD of Rory McArdle's goals would not contain much variety.
Here's a header at the near post, and another, and one more, ad infinitum. In terms of the type of finish, it's fair to say you've seen one and probably seen them all.
It's become a running joke within the dressing room that McArdle does not score any other way. Not that anyone will ever get bored with these repeats.
They all count – and the goals that the defender puts away are always significant. Aston Villa, Wembley, the Easter Monday equaliser at Torquay which sparked the late promotion charge ... none of them were meaningless fillers when the result was already beyond doubt.
And now he can add the second equaliser at Ashton Gate which ensured that City began their 100th season of league football – and first in the third tier since 2007 – with a hard-earned and richly-deserved point.
Ironically McArdle was not immediately aware of where his flick header from Raffaele De Vita's corner had ended up. The momentum of the run had carried him over the advertising boards and he only realised it was a goal when a posse of blue shirts charged his way to celebrate.
McArdle was quick to praise the "spot-on" delivery from debutant De Vita, who once again highlighted the growing supply of set-piece takers within City's ranks.
Few teams are collectively taller than Phil Parkinson's men so the more crosses the merrier. With the summer arrival of De Vita, Mark Yeates and Jason Kennedy to add to Gary Jones and Kyel Reid, the big guys should not struggle for service.
"We've got some big boys in the team," said McArdle. "I know if I go to the near post and miss then Dava (Andrew Davies) is behind me or Thommo (Garry Thompson) and Hans (James Hanson) will be in there.
"There are a lot of lads who like heading a ball and will go and attack it.
"We practise it a lot in training and it's brilliant when that pays off. Yeatesy put a couple of great balls in during the first half and then Raf came on for him and put one right on the money."
The draw ensured City bucked a trend of four successive first-day defeats.
The form book had probably pointed to a stalemate given that Bristol City had also gone without a winning start since 2008.
But that would undersell the determination of the visitors and their refusal to buckle after twice going behind to opponents who are strongly tipped to be in the promotion shake-up.
Bristol City have undergone major change since relegation but there is quality in their make-up. The unsure defending may have borne the mental scars from last season but with the ball they are a real handful.
There was no Albert Adomah, City's long-term nemesis in his Barnet days, as he pushes for a move to either Wigan or Middlesbrough.
But Scott Wagstaff, a recent target for Parkinson, and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas provided the guile to keep the visitors on their toes. And centre forward Sam Baldock was clearly an intelligent step or two up on what they have become used to facing in League Two.
The way the Bantams came through a tentative opening to match them backed up the feeling that they will hack it at the next level.
According to one national newspaper's ins and outs on Saturday morning, Andrew Davies and Nathan Doyle had both gone in the summer.
Wishful thinking from their rivals maybe as both were very much at the heart of this encouragingly composed opening performance. Doyle, in particular, was a considerable presence in midfield, where the benefits of a proper pre-season under his belt were clear with the way he got around the pitch.
City maintained the momentum from last season's charge over the line to the delight of their 1,072 noisy travelling fans. The Midland Road anthem boomed out with pride in a second half which saw the natty new blue away shirts camped in home territory.
The fans almost had a goal to cheer inside five minutes as Nahki Wells rattled a post with his header from a Yeates free-kick, firing the rebound into the ground and over the bar.
But that was an isolated attack as the visitors took time to settle into their new loftier surroundings.
Bristol City's attack were asking difficult questions and soon made the breakthrough. Emmanuel-Thomas found his route blocked off on the edge of the box but the ball broke for Wagstaff to score off a post.
The irony of conceding to a player who could well have been lining up for the Bantams would not have been lost on Parkinson.
For a while, City were caught in the headlights as the hosts probed for a second. But the uncertainty passed and they hit back with an equaliser which owed as much to cool heads as Bristol City goalkeeper Frank Fielding losing his.
Fielding, the keeper that Stuart McCall long coveted in his Valley Parade reign, made a mad dash out of his area to confront a rampaging Hanson.
The striker muscled his way wide and then showed composure to resist the temptation of a shot from a very difficult angle and pick out Wells instead.
The Bermudian duly picked off the first of his 30-goal target with a confident finish between the legs of defender Liam Fontaine on the line.
Back on terms, City began the second half with the bit between their teeth – only to come unstuck again from Bristol's first attack of intent.
Baldock linked up tidily with Emmanuel-Thomas, who beat Jon McLaughlin as the defenders held off.
To fall behind again after such a positive spell of play could have burst the bubble. Instead it gave City another chance to show that indomitable streak that Parkinson has forged.
Sean O'Driscoll, as wily a manager as any in the league, acknowledged the strength of team spirit within the Bantams ranks and talked afterwards
about trying to engender that in his own side. As we saw last year, that close bond and belief in everyone around can take you a very long way.
The City fans sensed it as they continued to belt out their songs. Their team was far from beaten.
Wells continued to pull Bristol City around with his movement and Doyle went close with a snap volley.
The reward came with 11 minutes to go as De Vita, the winger Parkinson homed in on when Wagstaff chose Bristol over Bradford, picked out McArdle.
And you know the rest.
Neither team was content to settle for the draw and chances flowed in a frantic finale. De Vita should have buried a close-range volley then McLaughlin's knees denied Greg Cunningham.
Frantic, exciting stuff enjoyed by all who had made the trip from West Yorkshire. On first impressions, there could be plenty more of the same to follow.
===========================
LENNY HANGS UP HIS BOWLER AND BROLLY
Bradford City can announce that after a period approaching 20 years
performing as club mascot City Gent, Lenny Berry has decided to call time on
his association with the role.
Lenny's decision was conveyed to Bantams Director Roger Owen at a meeting at
the Coral Windows Stadium late last Friday afternoon.
Mr Owen told the club's official website: "I met Lenny late Friday and he
gave me his decision, which he had been pondering for some three weeks.
"As the matter had been the subject of discussion at our Board Meetings over
recent weeks, it was only right that I advised my fellow Directors of
Lenny's decision, and this was done at Bristol City yesterday (Saturday).
"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Lenny for his efforts over
what has been a long time, in all weathers and through the various fortunes
of the club.
"He has brought fun and enjoyment to many, particularly our fans at the
younger end of the age scale, and he finishes with our best wishes for the
future, which I understand will include being a Season Ticket holder
somewhere in the stadium."
Owen added: "Over the last week or so I have been made aware of various
speculation around Lenny which has appeared on some social websites and fan
sites.
"Without breaching the confidence I promised Lenny, I feel some explanation
of the sequence of events should be made to avoid confusion and conflict
which does seem to rule these sites from time to time.
"Following the end of last season we had two key Board Meetings, the first
of which focused on Phil (Parkinson) and his plans going forward.
"The second meeting looked at more general issues, one of which was the
issue of mascots - The City Gent and Billy Bantam.
"In the case of Billy, it was agreed that the purchase by him and upkeep of
his outfit had been a great improvement last season.
"In the case of The City Gent, the main issue was his physical appearance,
which was much changed from the original concept of the then-Chairman, the
late Stafford Heginbotham, who styled The City Gent on himself.
"We agreed that action needed to be taken. It was also agreed that Lenny be
formally contacted, by letter, to put our various points to him and to
suggest that the club obtain a Sumo-type suit with character head piece to
represent the Gent.
"The Football League had told us at the time of the (League 2) Play-Off
Final that only animal or human mascots were now appropriate if they wore an
anonymous headset. Dusty Miller at Rotherham is a good example.
"Lenny was given a deadline to respond, which was extended and then not
complied with by our meeting on Friday.
"I had also explained to Lenny that he would cease to be part of the mascots
match-day ground tour because of the size of his suit and as such he would
cease to be paid and have his taxation affairs dealt with by the club.
"Lenny asked about the continuation of his appearance at charity events and
he was told that these would cease as the club had not been given a full fix
on his activities and we cannot have possible conflict.
"At that point Lenny advised me that he would cease his role as City Gent
with immediate effect.
"The Board have now decided that as we are adequately covered by Billy
Bantam, the Bantams being our real nickname, and that the City Gent name
lives on in the excellent club Fanzine produced by Mike Harrison, we will
not replace The City Gent as a mascot."
===========================
Huddersfield v Bradford
Preview followed by live coverage of Tuesday's game between Huddersfield and Bradford in the League Cup.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23499407
===========================
Bristol City (1) 2 Wagstaff 13, Emmanuel-Thomas 58
Bradford C (1) 2 Wells 33, McArdle 84
Att: 13,862
Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/
===========================
Signings, Loans and Injuries
Connor Ripley, 1 month loan, goalkeeper from Middlesbrough
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23561469
Injuries
===========================
General Links
Current table
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/league-table/
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-one/table
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/standings?leagueTag=ENG.3&lang=EN&wjb=
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/scoreboard?leagueTag=ENG.3&lang=EN
The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867
http://www.bradfordcity.tv/
Head to Head stats
http://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/bradford-city/
Bantams Player (subscription required)
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/commercial/Bantams-player/
BBC headlines and highlights (video may be uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bradford-city
T&A Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/
Pulse audio (last match highlights, post match interviews)
http://www.pulse.co.uk/on-air/pulse-sport/
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
===========================
Game links
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368059&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=
Goals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgoJ9vLFXPM
Live Blog
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10590939.Live_blog__Bristol_City_v_Bantams/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/sport_bantams_pics2013_bristolcityaway/
Bristol City: Fielding; Maloney, Flint, Fontaine, Cunningham; Wynter, Kilkenny, Wagstaff, Bryan (Pack 63); Baldock, Emmanuel-Thomas (R Taylor
75). Unused substitutes: Parrish, Williams, B Reid, Harewood, Elliott.
Bradford City: McLaughlin; Darby, Meredith, Davies, McArdle; Jones, Doyle, Yeates (K Reid 66), Thompson (De Vita 66); Wells, Hanson. Unused
substitutes: Ripley, Kennedy, M Taylor, McHugh, Connell.
Referee: S Martin (Staffs).
===========================
Final whistle - match report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23474900
Rory McArdle's header gave promoted Bradford City a deserved point at Bristol City.
The hosts took the lead when Scott Wagstaff finished from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's pass before Nahki Wells levelled after home keeper Frank Fielding was caught out of position.
Emmanuel-Thomas put the Robins back in front with a powerful finish after the Bantams defence gave him too much room.
McArdle drew the visitors level with a header from Raffaele De Vita's corner.
It was a first League One match since 2006-07 for both teams, the Robins having spent the last six seasons in the Championship while Bradford spent the same period in League Two.
Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Credit to Bradford, they didn't panic when we started as well as we did and got the goal.
"Their belief and trust in each other is something we are trying to agenda in to our squad.
"There's five new players out there so it's going to take some time to embed.
"There's enough there for us to work on and to make sure we work on certain aspects."
---
Parkinson delighted with "deserved" point for Bradford City
6:10pm Saturday 3rd August 2013
By Simon Parker
Phil Parkinson felt City got their just rewards with the first-day fightback at Bristol City.
The Bantams boss was delighted with his side's display against one of League One's pre-season favourites.
Goals from Nahki Wells and Rory McArdle saw the home side twice pegged back in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate.
Parkinson said: "I was so pleased. We started a bit slowly but we grew into the first half and finished it in great fashion.
"Then I thought we dominated the second and completely pinned them in up to their (second) goal. It was a shame to concede that because I could only see one winner up to then.
"Bristol City have got quality players and you get punished higher up the leagues you go. But we responded, kept going and got our rewards.
"It was a day where the way we played certainly warranted at least a point."
===========================
When the dust settled - match report
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10591289.print/
Bantams fans will never tire of watching McArdle goal repeats
7:00am Monday 5th August 2013
By Simon Parker
Bristol City 2 Bradford City 2
A compilation DVD of Rory McArdle's goals would not contain much variety.
Here's a header at the near post, and another, and one more, ad infinitum. In terms of the type of finish, it's fair to say you've seen one and probably seen them all.
It's become a running joke within the dressing room that McArdle does not score any other way. Not that anyone will ever get bored with these repeats.
They all count – and the goals that the defender puts away are always significant. Aston Villa, Wembley, the Easter Monday equaliser at Torquay which sparked the late promotion charge ... none of them were meaningless fillers when the result was already beyond doubt.
And now he can add the second equaliser at Ashton Gate which ensured that City began their 100th season of league football – and first in the third tier since 2007 – with a hard-earned and richly-deserved point.
Ironically McArdle was not immediately aware of where his flick header from Raffaele De Vita's corner had ended up. The momentum of the run had carried him over the advertising boards and he only realised it was a goal when a posse of blue shirts charged his way to celebrate.
McArdle was quick to praise the "spot-on" delivery from debutant De Vita, who once again highlighted the growing supply of set-piece takers within City's ranks.
Few teams are collectively taller than Phil Parkinson's men so the more crosses the merrier. With the summer arrival of De Vita, Mark Yeates and Jason Kennedy to add to Gary Jones and Kyel Reid, the big guys should not struggle for service.
"We've got some big boys in the team," said McArdle. "I know if I go to the near post and miss then Dava (Andrew Davies) is behind me or Thommo (Garry Thompson) and Hans (James Hanson) will be in there.
"There are a lot of lads who like heading a ball and will go and attack it.
"We practise it a lot in training and it's brilliant when that pays off. Yeatesy put a couple of great balls in during the first half and then Raf came on for him and put one right on the money."
The draw ensured City bucked a trend of four successive first-day defeats.
The form book had probably pointed to a stalemate given that Bristol City had also gone without a winning start since 2008.
But that would undersell the determination of the visitors and their refusal to buckle after twice going behind to opponents who are strongly tipped to be in the promotion shake-up.
Bristol City have undergone major change since relegation but there is quality in their make-up. The unsure defending may have borne the mental scars from last season but with the ball they are a real handful.
There was no Albert Adomah, City's long-term nemesis in his Barnet days, as he pushes for a move to either Wigan or Middlesbrough.
But Scott Wagstaff, a recent target for Parkinson, and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas provided the guile to keep the visitors on their toes. And centre forward Sam Baldock was clearly an intelligent step or two up on what they have become used to facing in League Two.
The way the Bantams came through a tentative opening to match them backed up the feeling that they will hack it at the next level.
According to one national newspaper's ins and outs on Saturday morning, Andrew Davies and Nathan Doyle had both gone in the summer.
Wishful thinking from their rivals maybe as both were very much at the heart of this encouragingly composed opening performance. Doyle, in particular, was a considerable presence in midfield, where the benefits of a proper pre-season under his belt were clear with the way he got around the pitch.
City maintained the momentum from last season's charge over the line to the delight of their 1,072 noisy travelling fans. The Midland Road anthem boomed out with pride in a second half which saw the natty new blue away shirts camped in home territory.
The fans almost had a goal to cheer inside five minutes as Nahki Wells rattled a post with his header from a Yeates free-kick, firing the rebound into the ground and over the bar.
But that was an isolated attack as the visitors took time to settle into their new loftier surroundings.
Bristol City's attack were asking difficult questions and soon made the breakthrough. Emmanuel-Thomas found his route blocked off on the edge of the box but the ball broke for Wagstaff to score off a post.
The irony of conceding to a player who could well have been lining up for the Bantams would not have been lost on Parkinson.
For a while, City were caught in the headlights as the hosts probed for a second. But the uncertainty passed and they hit back with an equaliser which owed as much to cool heads as Bristol City goalkeeper Frank Fielding losing his.
Fielding, the keeper that Stuart McCall long coveted in his Valley Parade reign, made a mad dash out of his area to confront a rampaging Hanson.
The striker muscled his way wide and then showed composure to resist the temptation of a shot from a very difficult angle and pick out Wells instead.
The Bermudian duly picked off the first of his 30-goal target with a confident finish between the legs of defender Liam Fontaine on the line.
Back on terms, City began the second half with the bit between their teeth – only to come unstuck again from Bristol's first attack of intent.
Baldock linked up tidily with Emmanuel-Thomas, who beat Jon McLaughlin as the defenders held off.
To fall behind again after such a positive spell of play could have burst the bubble. Instead it gave City another chance to show that indomitable streak that Parkinson has forged.
Sean O'Driscoll, as wily a manager as any in the league, acknowledged the strength of team spirit within the Bantams ranks and talked afterwards
about trying to engender that in his own side. As we saw last year, that close bond and belief in everyone around can take you a very long way.
The City fans sensed it as they continued to belt out their songs. Their team was far from beaten.
Wells continued to pull Bristol City around with his movement and Doyle went close with a snap volley.
The reward came with 11 minutes to go as De Vita, the winger Parkinson homed in on when Wagstaff chose Bristol over Bradford, picked out McArdle.
And you know the rest.
Neither team was content to settle for the draw and chances flowed in a frantic finale. De Vita should have buried a close-range volley then McLaughlin's knees denied Greg Cunningham.
Frantic, exciting stuff enjoyed by all who had made the trip from West Yorkshire. On first impressions, there could be plenty more of the same to follow.
===========================
LENNY HANGS UP HIS BOWLER AND BROLLY
Bradford City can announce that after a period approaching 20 years
performing as club mascot City Gent, Lenny Berry has decided to call time on
his association with the role.
Lenny's decision was conveyed to Bantams Director Roger Owen at a meeting at
the Coral Windows Stadium late last Friday afternoon.
Mr Owen told the club's official website: "I met Lenny late Friday and he
gave me his decision, which he had been pondering for some three weeks.
"As the matter had been the subject of discussion at our Board Meetings over
recent weeks, it was only right that I advised my fellow Directors of
Lenny's decision, and this was done at Bristol City yesterday (Saturday).
"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Lenny for his efforts over
what has been a long time, in all weathers and through the various fortunes
of the club.
"He has brought fun and enjoyment to many, particularly our fans at the
younger end of the age scale, and he finishes with our best wishes for the
future, which I understand will include being a Season Ticket holder
somewhere in the stadium."
Owen added: "Over the last week or so I have been made aware of various
speculation around Lenny which has appeared on some social websites and fan
sites.
"Without breaching the confidence I promised Lenny, I feel some explanation
of the sequence of events should be made to avoid confusion and conflict
which does seem to rule these sites from time to time.
"Following the end of last season we had two key Board Meetings, the first
of which focused on Phil (Parkinson) and his plans going forward.
"The second meeting looked at more general issues, one of which was the
issue of mascots - The City Gent and Billy Bantam.
"In the case of Billy, it was agreed that the purchase by him and upkeep of
his outfit had been a great improvement last season.
"In the case of The City Gent, the main issue was his physical appearance,
which was much changed from the original concept of the then-Chairman, the
late Stafford Heginbotham, who styled The City Gent on himself.
"We agreed that action needed to be taken. It was also agreed that Lenny be
formally contacted, by letter, to put our various points to him and to
suggest that the club obtain a Sumo-type suit with character head piece to
represent the Gent.
"The Football League had told us at the time of the (League 2) Play-Off
Final that only animal or human mascots were now appropriate if they wore an
anonymous headset. Dusty Miller at Rotherham is a good example.
"Lenny was given a deadline to respond, which was extended and then not
complied with by our meeting on Friday.
"I had also explained to Lenny that he would cease to be part of the mascots
match-day ground tour because of the size of his suit and as such he would
cease to be paid and have his taxation affairs dealt with by the club.
"Lenny asked about the continuation of his appearance at charity events and
he was told that these would cease as the club had not been given a full fix
on his activities and we cannot have possible conflict.
"At that point Lenny advised me that he would cease his role as City Gent
with immediate effect.
"The Board have now decided that as we are adequately covered by Billy
Bantam, the Bantams being our real nickname, and that the City Gent name
lives on in the excellent club Fanzine produced by Mike Harrison, we will
not replace The City Gent as a mascot."
===========================
Huddersfield v Bradford
Preview followed by live coverage of Tuesday's game between Huddersfield and Bradford in the League Cup.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23499407
===========================
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