Read this article 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
http://www.bradfordcity.tv/
Official Mobile app
http://communicatoremail.com/IN/Y2tx0dX-0UIRu4P1_588C9Eehl64XmQ-JA8WroOSpEQ/WebView.aspx
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Signings, Loans and Injuries
Injuries
Andrew Davies, knee, Out 4 months (from Nov 1st)
Luke Oliver, Achillies, out for the 2012/13 season
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Match Media & Stats
Head to Head
http://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Southend%20United
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/bradford-city/
Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/
(The T&A picture link will dfault to the last match for which pictures are available)
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
BBC highlights (uk only)
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=345236&action=stats&lang=EN&wjb=
Southend United: Smith; Clohesy, Cresswell, Prosser, Barker (Eastwood 87); Hurst, Mkandiwire (Corr 69), Laird, Timlin; Assombalonga, Tomlin.
Unused substitutes: Straker, Martin, Donnelly, Bentley, Leonard.
Bradford City: Duke; Darby, Meredith, McHugh, McArdle; G Jones, Doyle (Ravenhill 81), Atkinson, Thompson (Forsyth 57); Wells (Hines 70), Hanson.
Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Connell, Turgott, Good.
Referee: S Martin (Staffs).
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When the dust settled - match report
Southend burst Bantams' bubble in dramatic end to a dramatic week
8:00am Monday 17th December 2012
By Simon Parker
Southend 2 Bradford City 2
Commonsense and realism have been in short supply at the end of a week that could have been written by Hans Christian Andersen.
Cloud nine does not have room for pragmatists.
But in the cold light of Monday morning, the weekend point from Roots Hall looks a precious one.
It didn't feel like that at the time. Still riding on the euphoria of a certain cup tie, it seemed that nothing could spoil City's mood.
Until Gavin Tomlin shrugged off Stephen Darby to unlock a shattered defence in stoppage time and rescue a draw that Southend probably deserved.
So the Bantams' feet were brought back down to earth, if not with a resounding thud then with enough of a bump to remind us all that League Two
cares little for giant-killing reputations.
But among the muted reaction of a weary squad boarding the team bus, Rory McArdle typically provided the voice of reason.
Having done more than anybody to repel numerous Southend attacks, McArdle put the afternoon after the night before in proper perspective.
He said: "We all saw the papers on Wednesday and it was all about Bradford beating Arsenal. It's been unbelievable really.
"But everybody was on a bit of a comedown after that. So we knew coming to Southend would be tough after the events of the week.
"It wasn't a pretty game because the pitch was heavy after all the bad weather but we've come out the right side.
"I don't think the boys changed their mentality. We'll enjoy the cup success but promotion is the key.
"There was no pressure on us at all last Tuesday but we know what's expected of us in the league.
"And if you'd said before the start of the week that we'd beat Arsenal and get a point at Southend, I'm pretty sure everyone would have taken
that."
Of course it could have been so much better. If Will Atkinson's curler had found the top corner, if somebody had got a toe on the cross from
Zavon Hines that was begging to be tapped home, if referee Stephen Martin had spotted the barge on Matt Duke which Phil Parkinson was so adamant
about before Southend's opener.
And if City had dealt with one last hopeful punt upfield in the first minute of added time.
It was a sloppy equaliser to concede as Paul Smith's clearance was allowed to bounce right through for Tomlin to net for the sixth time in seven
games.
But let's not be too harsh. The back four had been magnificent up to that point against a side as free-flowing and dangerous as anyone they have
encountered – Arsenal included.
As Parkinson had warned, Southend love to ping in crosses and make chances for fun. But for 80 minutes at least, City's defence stood strong.
The late blows owed much to energy tanks and minds running on empty; entirely understandable in the context of a tumultuous few days. No wonder
Parky will shuffle as much as he can at Brentford tomorrow.
Unfortunately defence, the area which could most do with a breather, is the one where he can hardly tinker. Forrayah Bass could make his senior
debut but the unavailability of Tom Naylor and, of course, Curtis Good means the two centre halves could be forced to stay on duty.
McArdle and Carl McHugh had little time to relax on Saturday against the lively pairing of Tomlin and on-loan Watford frontman Britt
Assombalonga.
It was the same for the full backs, James Meredith and Stephen Darby, as Southend attacked with the vigour of a team unbeaten now in 12. But none
of the backline were found wanting.
"We've got defenders who always get in the right position," said their manager. "They are always filling holes at the right time and reading
situations."
There are confident individuals all through the team, none more so than Meredith, who continues to take the step up from non-league in his
effortless long strides.
The Australian is as equally at home in the opposition half as his own. It was his run that set up City's breakthrough for Nahki Wells in the
first half.
Meredith's forward forays also allow Atkinson to tuck inside, his favoured part of the pitch, and the pair dovetailed neatly before the left back
slipped Wells into the box.
Luke Prosser, who had an afternoon he will want to forget, slid across to block his shot. But the deflection merely succeeded in committing the
keeper and popped back in the path of City's striker to take his goal tally to 15.
That setback riled Southend, who spent the rest of the first half and the opening stages of the second camped in Bantam territory.
Assombalonga, Kevan Hurst and Prosser all went close to levelling.
With City penned in, it seemed only a matter of time before a Southend equaliser despite some magnificent resistance.
The visitors needed a break – and got it thanks to the luckless Prosser. Atkinson teased and tormented Chris Barker and whipped in a cross that
bobbled up ominously on the cut-up surface.
Prosser attempted to clear it first time but sliced instead and left his keeper rooted to the spot.
City had never won at Roots Hall until last year. Suddenly the prospect of back-to-back triumphs in deepest Essex loomed large.
Southend boss Paul Sturrock, determined to break the curse of being named manager of the month before the game, went for broke. He had four
strikers on the pitch for the last 20 minutes.
City had plenty more defending to do and were finally undone when Ryan Cresswell emerged strongest from a scrum of players on the end of Hurst's
corner. Parkinson's pleas alleging foul play on Duke fell on deaf ears.
The late momentum was all with the home side and McArdle produced the tackle of the match with a goal-saving intervention on Tomlin.
But just as the 210 travelling fans prepared to salute another huge result, City's weary troops did not react to Smith's booming kick. Tomlin
did, despite Darby's best efforts, to ensure the points were shared.
Parkinson admitted: "Their second goal was purely down to tiredness on our part but I'm not going to criticise.
"It was tough after the Arsenal game but we've got such an honest group of players that they just keep going.
"You could see in the dressing room before kick-off, they were saying themselves they knew the importance of this game. They knew we had to push
ourselves and go again.
"Of course you're down when you don't win after being two up. But this was a good point and I can't tell you how proud I am of these lads."
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Brentford - FA Decision
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20696090
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10104538.Bradford_City_s_week_just_gets_better_and_better/?ref=rss
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10104538.Bradford_City_s_week_just_gets_better_and_better/?ref=rss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20712896
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Burns Unit Appeal
Ebay auction
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bantams-Banter-T-Shirt-Signed-By-Alan-Davies-Bradford-City-Legends-/200864799711?
Auction ends 21 Dec, 2012 11:48:15 GMT
One of a kind Bantams Banter t-shirt.
Signed by Bradford City legends; Bobby Campbell, Dean Windass, John Hendrie, Ian Ormandroyd, Jamie Lawrence and Gordon Watson.
Also signed by Comedians Alan Davies and Keith Dover of TV and podcast fame.
All signatures added on THAT night, when Bradford City beat Arsenal!
T-shirt kindly donated by Bowler Clothing
100% of proceeds will go to Bradford Burns Unit Appeal.
===========================
Bradford City boss Parkinson to give youth a chance in FA Cup replay
7:20am Monday 17th December 2012
By Simon Parker
Phil Parkinson may dip into City's youth ranks to face Brentford Tuesday after calling the FA Cup replay "a game we don't need".
The Bantams chief intends to rest as many of his regulars as possible ahead of the demanding League Two schedule over Christmas.
Saturday's 2-2 draw at Southend has left them in fifth.
Parkinson has been given the green light by the board to make mass changes for the trip to Griffin Park after stressing that the promotion bid
must not be affected.
City were reinstated in the FA Cup on appeal after they had been kicked out for fielding Curtis Good in the first game when he was not cleared to
play.
Parkinson agreed with the principle of City fighting their corner but he refuses to jeopardise the games coming up by using players who have
already spent more minutes on the pitch than any others in the country.
He said: "I told the chairmen they did that appeal to get justice for the club because it was a wrong decision. They did not do it to chase more
money in the FA Cup.
"And they said that if I want to play the whole youth team, then I can do that and give them experience in this game. I need to look after the
(senior) players.
"I totally understand why they appealed because it was a ridiculous decision to throw the club out. But it was a game we didn't need."
Parkinson will employ the likes of Ricky Ravenhill, Alan Connell, Ritchie Jones and Zavon Hines – who gave a lively cameo in the last 20 minutes
on Saturday. Kyel Reid also travelled with the squad to Essex and is set to be involved.
But other untried youngsters will beef up the squad.
Parkinson said: "The fans who travel down there should know that I will always put a team out who can do the club justice.
"However Curtis can't play, Tom Naylor can't play, Craig Forsyth can't play and Ross Hannah will be back with us next week but he can't play
because he wasn't registered in time before the first game.
"All the players who need a game will play and I'll try my best to give everybody else a rest. The chairmen are more than happy with that.
"We'll give everyone we can a game and some of the youth team."
Hannah plays the final game of his three-month loan at Grimsby on Friday. The striker has netted eight times for the promotion-chasing Blue
Square Bet side and is likely to be a permanent target when the transfer window opens next month.
Parkinson was chuffed with City's display at Southend, despite seeing them blow a two-goal lead in the last ten minutes.
Nahki Wells put City ahead with his 15th of the season before Luke Prosser's own goal seemed to have clinched a fourth away win. But Southend hit
back through Ryan Cresswell and Gavin Tomlin's injury-time leveller.
Parkinson said: "Of course we're disappointed not to win it but I can't be critical of anyone. It's a great point for us against a good side. I
can't praise the lads enough."
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Help rename the Kop!
Bradford City Football Club is pleased to announce the launch of a new stand partnership.
A number of local businesses have joined together with the Bantams in a joint sponsorship proposition to take over what was formally known as the
Carlsberg Stand at the Coral Windows Stadium.
These organisations have chosen to support the club in a three year deal, in addition to this they have all agreed to allow the fans to rename
the stand.
So a huge thank you from Bradford City to the following organisations for there commitment and support...
Complete IT Systems
Multi Point Locks
Autoelectro
CMI Logistics
Petherbridge Bassra
Mittons
Mittons Aftercare
Robert Watts Estate Agents
If you'd like to get involved and rename your stand, please vote below. The closing date is December 22nd, and anyone who registers will go into
a draw to win a 2012/13 season ticket worth £199 - so get involved today!
Please click HERE to make your choice!
http://www.pulse.co.uk/on-air/pulse-sport/rename-the-kop-and-win-a-season-ticket/
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Early Christmas present
Christmas is just around the corner, and Bradford City have decided to give its supporters an early present!
The club have purchased as many as 2,000 tickets for this Saturday's (22 December 2012) npower League 2 match at Wycombe Wanderers and plan to give them out as presents to fans as a thank you for their superb support this season.
Each ticket will be FREE of charge.
Tickets will be limited to two per person and can be picked up from the Bantams Ticket Office now during its opening hours (9:00am - 5:00pm).
As well as this amazing match ticket deal, City supporters will also be able to secure coach travel to Adams Park for only £10.00 per person.
Again, this will be available from the Bantams Ticket Office.
It is not compulsory, however, for supporters to buy coach tickets to enable them to qualify for free match tickets.
Subject to availability, coach tickets and match tickets will be available from the Bantams Ticket Office until this Friday (21 December 2012).
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