Pre-season fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2372524,00.html?
Wed 13 July 2011 Silsden AFC A 7.45pm
Fri 15 July 2011 Matlock Town A 7.45pm
Tue 19 July 2011 Guiseley A 7.45pm
Fri 22 July 2011 Bradford (Park Avenue) A 7.45pm
Sun 24 July 2011 Bolton Wanderers H 3.00pm
Sat 30 July 2011 Carlisle United H 3.00pm
===========================
Player news
GARRETH EVANS SET TO SIGN FOR ROTHERHAM
(He signed the same day Friday June 3rd)
According to the Rotherham Advertiser, ex-City striker Gareth Evans is set
to join League Two rivals Rotherham United. The 23-year-old is expected to
join on a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
Evans was released by Bradford City last month following the expiry of his
contract with the club. He was signed from Macclesfield Town in July 2009
for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region £30,000. In his two
seasons at Valley Parade, Evans made 85 appearances and scored 14 goals.
---
June 9th
Wrexham are set to sign striker Jake Speight from Bradford City on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old scored six goals in 36 appearances last season, with one of those goals coming during a short loan spell at Port Vale.
Speight was given a 12-week prison sentence for assault in July 2010, shortly after joining Bradford from Mansfield Town for £25,000.
"He's a proven goalscorer," said Wrexham manager Dean Saunders.
"He'll do well for us. We need players like him."
Saunders has been looking to sign a striker since losing last season's top-scorer Andy Mangan to Fleetwood Town in May.
Speight, who had a year left on his contract with League Two side Bradford, will finalise the move on Thursday. He will officially join the club on 1 July.
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website…
EXHIBITION NEARING ITS END
Any Bradford City supporters still to enjoy the 'When the F.A Cup came home'
exhibition at the Bradford Industrial Museum have only until Sunday 12 June
2011 to do so before it finishes for good.
The exhibition, which celebrates the centenary of the Bantams' epic 1911 F.A
Cup victory over Newcastle United, aims to illustrate how the team, staff,
supporters and wider community all played their part in arguably City's
greatest ever achievement.
Items on show at the exhibition include match shirts and the match ball from
the final against Newcastle, plus a selection of winners' medals from the
1911 City side.
There is also numerous items of memorabilia on display that have been taken
from City's journey through the various rounds of the competition on their
way to the final.
The Bradford Industrial Museum is situated in Eccleshill, Bradford, and is
open on weekends - Saturday and Sunday - between the hours of 11:00am and
4:00pm.
Admission into the exhibition is free.
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
BANTAMS AWARDED CARBON TRUST STANDARD
Bradford City has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action
on climate change by measuring, managing and reducing its carbon footprint
by almost 15%.
The Carbon Trust Standard recognises organisations for real carbon
reduction. Based on a rigorous, independent assessment, it certifies that
organisations have measured, managed and reduced their carbon emissions
across their own operations and are committed to reducing them year on year.
Bradford City is only the third professional football club in the World to
achieve this accolade with Manchester United's Old Trafford and the Reebok
of Bolton Wanderers previously achieving the Standard. It is an achievement
of which the Club is rightly very proud and feels it is in top-class company
in being awarded the Carbon Trust Standard.
Bantams Director, Roger Owen said: "We're delighted to have achieved the
Carbon Trust Standard. It is a great way of showing that we are on the front
foot when it comes to carbon management best practices and gives us an
opportunity to communicate our environmental credentials with integrity to
those that matter.
"Bradford City set out on the path to reduce its energy costs to enable more
money to be available for playing budgets to produce a successful side. We
are delighted that we are able to achieve the cost-cutting aims while
cutting our carbon emissions and, being one of the most talked about
companies in Bradford, that we can now highlight to all supporters the
importance of making carbon reductions. Going through the assessment process
to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard has helped us to reduce our carbon
footprint, make essential cost savings and will help us to stay competitive
and ahead of the game in the future."
The Club achievement also marked another first for the Carbon Trust Standard
as the cost of the assessment process was sponsored by another local
company, Pitts Wilson Electrical. The Club could foresee real benefits from
both a cost and reputation perspective of pursuing the Standard, but with
difficult financial restrictions, PWE stepped-in to cover the costs
involved.
PWE's Managing Director, Mark Flude said earlier today "We were delighted to
be able to support Bradford City with their endeavours to reduce its carbon
emissions and release funds for the further development of the Club. We hope
that our support will mean the Club can continue to achieve the benefits of
greater cost reductions while the community at large benefits from the
Club's reduced carbon footprint."
Harry Morrison, General Manager of the Carbon Trust said "Achieving the
Carbon Trust Standard shows that Bradford City FC is taking serious and
credible steps to manger their carbon footprint. Based on a rigorous,
independently assessed methodology, the Carbon Trust Standard allows
organisations to talk with integrity to their stakeholders, consumers and
investors about what they are doing to reduce their carbon emissions. We
congratulate the Club on its achievement."
===========================
Ready for a cup run?
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9067645.Bradford_City_boss_Jackson_up_for_the_cup_next_season
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9067645.print/
Bradford City boss Peter Jackson up for the cup next season
7:50am Tuesday 7th June 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Jackson wants to end City's knock-out jinx and deliver a long-overdue cup run for the fans.
The club have been starved of success in the cup competitions while tumbling down the divisions.
City's last memorable cup win was back in January 1997 when Chris Waddle's outrageous 40-yard lob helped topple Everton.
Jackson knows the impact that a big cup day out can have on a lower-division club and their supporters. He took Huddersfield to Chelsea in the FA Cup third round – and would love to do the same with his home-town team.
He said: "I want us to do as well as we can in all competitions next season and that includes going well in the cups.
"We need a cup run in terms of finances for the club and the huge interest and buzz that it can bring.
"I've been away to Chelsea with a previous club and it was a fantastic experience, both for the fans and the players. We also made a lot of money that day.
"Financially a cup run can make such a difference and I can't emphasise enough that every penny counts here.
"A decent draw away to a Premier League club can pay the wages for a year." In the 14 years since City's FA Cup giant-killing at Goodison, supporters have grown used to seeing the Bantams trip at the first hurdle.
City did not win a single tie in the competition between 2000 and 2005.
The only minor knock-out excitement in recent years came two seasons ago when Stuart McCall's side reached the area semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Jackson added: "You need that little bit of luck as well. That year Huddersfield went to Chelsea they played Welling then Worcester City first.
"We had Colchester away last year in the first round. It was one of the hardest away trips you could get, especially with the travelling as well.
"Colchester or Chelsea? That's the luck of the draw. But I can promise that we'll be up for the challenge."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9070523.Jackson_calls_for_united_front_from_Bradford_City_fans
Jackson calls for united front from Bradford City fans
7:00am Wednesday 8th June 2011
By Connor Murphy
Peter Jackson insists City's fight for survival is not over yet.
Despite avoiding a brush with disaster on and off the pitch, the Bantams boss has called on supporters to stick together for the future health of the club.
Administration and a move to Odsal had both been on the cards before the owners struck a deal to buy the office block adjacent to Valley Parade.
Meanwhile, Jackson steered his side away from the Football League trapdoor, and he hopes fans will do their bit by signing up for season tickets.
He said: "I'm sure there will be a good reception to the new offer, even on the back of a disappointing season.
"We need the fans to get behind us, and they did that last season when times were tough.
"It's been difficult but hopefully the threat of moving to Odsal and the possibility of administration will really bring people together.
"You can see we could've gone out of business if everything hadn't been sorted out.
"Money was really tight and we have just escaped so it's important we stick together as a group of supporters, players and staff."
As part of City's latest cut-price offer, adult season tickets cost £195, with youngsters aged 11 to 16 paying £87.50. The prices are £150 or £75 respectively in the TL Dallas Stand.
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9073173.Bradford_City_will_entertain_you_next_season___Lawn/
Mark Lawn backs Bradford City to entertain next season
7:00am Thursday 9th June 2011
By Connor Murphy
Joint-chairman Mark Lawn has urged supporters to snap up City's cut-price season tickets with the promise: we will entertain you.
An attacking outlook has become one of the key priorities as boss Peter Jackson embarks on an off-season overhaul.
Having scored just 43 goals last season, the club are looking for a clean break from the cagey style employed by previous manager Peter Taylor.
Non-league hot-shot Ross Hannah has already arrived, after scoring 52 goals for Matlock last season, and Lawn expects more striking talent to soon follow him through the door.
He said: "Peter Jackson will be looking to play a more entertaining style of football next year, and that's something to look forward to.
"He's made one signing already, and although Ross has been a player at a lower level, anyone who scores as many goals as he did last year has an eye for goal.
"He's looking at other attacking talent he can bring in too and is speaking to players and agents all the time."
===========================
Friday, June 10, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Jacko / New season ticket deal / Friends of BCFC / Office buyback
Finally, Jackson appointed Bradford City manager
6:30am Wednesday 25th May 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Jackson was today given the City job for keeps and admitted: That must be the longest job interview in British football.
Eighty seven days after replacing Peter Taylor in a caretaker role, Jackson has signed a one-year deal at the helm. His assistant Colin Cooper, who arrived a week later, is also staying on.
The former City skipper has now promised to put everything into dragging the club out of the doldrums after their lowest finish since 1966.
"The Peter Taylor era has gone now," he said. "I will be judged on my team, my results and my performances and I'm really excited by what's ahead.
"This club cannot go any lower and the most important thing is to build for the next couple of years. There has been far too much doom and gloom surrounding the place and that's got to change."
==========================
May 31st...
NEW DEALS TO WOO BACK BRADFORD CITY FANS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Bradford City will officially relaunch their season tickets tomorrow as
preparations crank up a gear for the new campaign.
Adult tickets will cost £195 – which works out around £8.50 a game – with
youngsters aged 11 to 16 paying £87.50. Under-11s go free subject to the
usual conditions.
Fans choosing to watch from the TL Dallas Stand will pay £150 or £75. There
will also be suite upgrades for the corporate areas, including the Bantams
Bar, for an extra £110 or £55.
City have also set up an easy payment plan, allowing fans to spread the cost
over the season. Supporters will pay nine monthly installments of £26 (£13
for juniors) between August and April at a total cost of £234.
With the recent off-pitch turmoil put to bed, the club can concentrate on
attracting fans back to Valley Parade once more.
The deal will run for six weeks until close of business on Saturday, July
16. After that, adult prices will revert to £275.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow from the ground and details can also be found
online at the club's website www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
===========================
Friends set to provide cash lifeline to Bradford City
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9055037.Friends_set_to_provide_cash_lifeline_to_Bradford_City
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
BANTAMS WIN BOARDROOM OF THE YEAR - AGAIN!
For the third year in succession, Bantams officials have a reason to
celebrate after retaining their title of League 2's Boardroom of the Year at
the Official Football Hospitality Awards.
After picking up the award at the end of the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons,
City made it a hat-trick of wins this Thursday evening during a ceremony at
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molinenux Stadium.
Decided by directors of fellow League 2 clubs, the award is given to the
football club who is deemed to have offered the best overall boardroom
experience to officials from visiting clubs.
Upon receiving the award, the Bantams were praised for their friendly and
welcoming attitude shown towards visiting directors throughout the whole of
the 2010/2011 season.
Club Director Graham Jones, who picked up the award along with Associate
Director Mark Richardson, admitted he was delighted to see City win for the
third year on the trot.
"It's an incredible achievement for the football club and a nice reward for
the team's efforts throughout the season": said Mr. Jones.
"To win this award for the third year in succession makes it even more
special.
"I hope the fact that we have won this now three times shows that we really
aim to make everyone who attends a match at the Coral Windows Stadium feel
welcome, not just home supporters."
===========================
Bradford City shareholders buy office block to ease rent worries and avert move to Odsal
6:30am Tuesday 24th May 2011
By Simon Parker
City are staying at Valley Parade next season after the owners pulled off a deal to buy the office block.
Joint chairmen Julian Rhodes, Mark Lawn and fellow shareholder Professor David Rhodes have set up their own parent company, BC Bantams Limited, to purchase the building and take over control of the club.
The deal, which was completed late on Friday, eases the overheads burden on City which had threatened their existence at their 108-year home.
It will come as a huge relief to fans, who feared they could be forced to watch football at Odsal from August.
City claim they would not have been in a position to pay the May wages at the end of the week if the deal had not gone through.
Julian Rhodes, who opened talks with previous owners Prupim in January, confirmed: "We're saving the club a hell of a lot of money. It also gives us complete flexibility because it means the club can pay rent when it can afford to do so.
"It alleviates all our more pressing problems. I'm not saying it solves everything but it means we will be here for next season."
---
Additional article
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9043764.Relief_as_Bradford_City_chiefs_toast__good_Friday__agreement/
===========================
The Bantams will host Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in late July in
one of six now confirmed pre-season fixtures for City this summer.
Along with the previously announced Carlisle United home fixture, the
Bantams will welcome Owen Coyle's Bolton to Bradford on Sunday 24 July 2011
(kick off 3:00pm).
The Bantams will kick off their preparations for another season on Wednesday
13th July 2011 at Silsden before moving to face Matlock two days later.
As part of the agreement that saw James Hanson move to the Coral Windows
Stadium nearly two years ago, City will then eventually play their
long-arranged fixture at Guiseley on Tuesday 19 July 2011.
The trip to Horsfall Stadium to face Avenue for the annual Tom Banks
Memorial Trophy fixture, which City won last season, will be sandwiched
between the Bolton and Carlisle match on Wednesday 27 July 2011.
===========================
Bradford Show Price Matters
ATTENDANCES STAY HEALTHY AS BRADFORD SHOW PRICE MATTERS
By Paul Newman (The Independent)
The Football League Column: Bradford City's example shows what can be
achieved with a sensible pricing policy
Figures released last week showed a drop in Football League attendances this
season, yet support for the fourth-most successful competition in Europe is
still impressive.
More than 16 million spectators watched Football League matches in 2010-11,
which will be bettered only by the Premier League, the Bundesliga and La
Liga. A six per cent drop on last season's 50-year high is put down to the
difficult economic climate.
Championship matches were watched by more than 9,500,000 fans at an average
of 17,389. Leeds topped the list, with average gates of 27,299, while
Scunthorpe were the only Championship club to average fewer than 10,000.
Southampton, League One's best supported team, averaged 22,160, which was
more than 18 Championship clubs, while Sheffield Wednesday (17,817),
Charlton (15,582) and Huddersfield (13,728) all broke the 10,000 mark.
The most remarkable attendances of all, however, were Bradford City's in
League Two. The Yorkshire club finished 18th – their worst end-of-season
position for nearly half a century – yet enjoyed average crowds of 11,127,
nearly 4,000 more than the second-best supported club, Oxford United. The
Bantams' lowest gate of 10,392 was higher than the best crowd at any other
League Two match.
Bradford's example shows what can be achieved with a sensible pricing
policy. When they were relegated four years ago for the third time in seven
seasons – their first return to the League's bottom division for 25 years –
their gates averaged 8,694. The club reduced season-ticket prices to £138
and the response to what was named as the Football League's marketing
campaign of the year was hugely positive, with 12,200 fans buying season
tickets to boost the average to 13,756.
The average attendance dropped by 1,000 in the second season and by about
the same figure in each of the subsequent campaigns as the players'
performances failed to match those of the fans: in their four seasons in
League Two Bradford have finished 10th, ninth, 14th and 18th.
Since the new pricing policy was introduced, the current season has been the
only year in which season ticket sales fell below 10,000 (to 9,600).
Some 6,000 tickets for 2011-12 were sold (at an advance price of £150 each)
in December last year, putting the club on course to match the 2010-11
figure. David Baldwin, the club's director of operations, said: "We started
the Christmas campaign simply because I had a request from a grandparent
asking: 'Why can't I buy a season ticket now for my grandson for next year
as a Christmas present?' The first year we ran it 2,000 people took up the
option, the second year 4,000 and the third year 6,000."
The final phase of sales for next season will start soon. Prices have not
been announced yet, but the club have always kept the cost below £200.
"Pricing is important," Baldwin said. "You have to realise that in the
current economic climate."
Bradford offer season tickets at half-price to under-16s, while under-11s
are admitted free if accompanied by an adult. "We know that around 18 per
cent of a crowd of 10,000 are under-11s," Baldwin said.
"There's no greater way of promoting future fans than creating a situation
where a dad can bring his son or daughter to a game for free. We hope that
they become Bradford City fans for life."
The club's support is all the more remarkable when you consider what they
have been through since losing their Premier League place 10 years ago. One
of the last clubs to be relegated before the introduction of parachute
payments, Bradford went into administration three years later, which
resulted in their stadium and offices being sold off. They now have to pay
£1.3m a year just to use the premises, including £750,000 in rent for the
25,500-capacity stadium.
"I think the vast majority of fans realise that we're operating in a
difficult set of circumstances," Baldwin said. "We're carrying the costs of
a Championship stadium and operating on a League Two budget."
He added: "We've had fantastic support when you consider the decade we've
had as a club. We have very long-suffering fans and we're desperate to give
them something to smile about in the future."
===========================
DONALDSON BEGINS TALKS WITH OTHER CLUBS
Clayton Donaldson has spoken to Bradford City over a possible move whilst
Carlisle, Chesterfield and Oxford are all interested in the Alex's top
goalscorer.
New Bradford City manager Peter Jackson confirmed today that he spoke to
Donaldson on Tuesday about a move to Valley Parade but admitted they faced a
fight for his signature, suggesting 'eight or nine' clubs have expressed an
interest.
A few clubs we already know are interested include fellow League Two rivals
Oxford United and Gillingham. Oxford's chairman has recently said they'd
like Donaldson in yellow whilst Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler almost admitted
defeat in his pursuit.
Speaking for the first time about his top target, the City chief said: "I've
spoken to Clayton and met him and hopefully I'll be talking to him again.
"Obviously he is expecting interest coming in but we've put our marker down
with Clayton Donaldson. We have to invest in strikers.
"Strikers that can score you 20 to 25 goals a season can push you into the
play-offs. Strikers who get 30 to 35 goals, which Clayton is well capable of
doing, can get you to promotion."
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website…
HANNAH PICKS UP GOLDEN BOOT AWARD
New Bradford City striker Ross Hannah was at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge this
Thursday to collect his Non-League Golden Boot award for the 2010/2011
season.
Hannah earned the honour - given to the player who has scored the most goals
in the whole Non-League pyramid - thanks to his amazing tally of 52 goals
last season for previous club Matlock Town.
The 25 year old picked up his award during the ESPN Soccernet.com National
Games Awards ceremony - the Non-League's own end of the season awards
dinner.
Hannah is also scheduled to pick up the Evo-Stik Premier Division Golden
Boot award at the league's end of season presentation evening at Blackpool
on Saturday 18 June.
===========================
6:30am Wednesday 25th May 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Jackson was today given the City job for keeps and admitted: That must be the longest job interview in British football.
Eighty seven days after replacing Peter Taylor in a caretaker role, Jackson has signed a one-year deal at the helm. His assistant Colin Cooper, who arrived a week later, is also staying on.
The former City skipper has now promised to put everything into dragging the club out of the doldrums after their lowest finish since 1966.
"The Peter Taylor era has gone now," he said. "I will be judged on my team, my results and my performances and I'm really excited by what's ahead.
"This club cannot go any lower and the most important thing is to build for the next couple of years. There has been far too much doom and gloom surrounding the place and that's got to change."
==========================
May 31st...
NEW DEALS TO WOO BACK BRADFORD CITY FANS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Bradford City will officially relaunch their season tickets tomorrow as
preparations crank up a gear for the new campaign.
Adult tickets will cost £195 – which works out around £8.50 a game – with
youngsters aged 11 to 16 paying £87.50. Under-11s go free subject to the
usual conditions.
Fans choosing to watch from the TL Dallas Stand will pay £150 or £75. There
will also be suite upgrades for the corporate areas, including the Bantams
Bar, for an extra £110 or £55.
City have also set up an easy payment plan, allowing fans to spread the cost
over the season. Supporters will pay nine monthly installments of £26 (£13
for juniors) between August and April at a total cost of £234.
With the recent off-pitch turmoil put to bed, the club can concentrate on
attracting fans back to Valley Parade once more.
The deal will run for six weeks until close of business on Saturday, July
16. After that, adult prices will revert to £275.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow from the ground and details can also be found
online at the club's website www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
===========================
Friends set to provide cash lifeline to Bradford City
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9055037.Friends_set_to_provide_cash_lifeline_to_Bradford_City
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
BANTAMS WIN BOARDROOM OF THE YEAR - AGAIN!
For the third year in succession, Bantams officials have a reason to
celebrate after retaining their title of League 2's Boardroom of the Year at
the Official Football Hospitality Awards.
After picking up the award at the end of the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons,
City made it a hat-trick of wins this Thursday evening during a ceremony at
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molinenux Stadium.
Decided by directors of fellow League 2 clubs, the award is given to the
football club who is deemed to have offered the best overall boardroom
experience to officials from visiting clubs.
Upon receiving the award, the Bantams were praised for their friendly and
welcoming attitude shown towards visiting directors throughout the whole of
the 2010/2011 season.
Club Director Graham Jones, who picked up the award along with Associate
Director Mark Richardson, admitted he was delighted to see City win for the
third year on the trot.
"It's an incredible achievement for the football club and a nice reward for
the team's efforts throughout the season": said Mr. Jones.
"To win this award for the third year in succession makes it even more
special.
"I hope the fact that we have won this now three times shows that we really
aim to make everyone who attends a match at the Coral Windows Stadium feel
welcome, not just home supporters."
===========================
Bradford City shareholders buy office block to ease rent worries and avert move to Odsal
6:30am Tuesday 24th May 2011
By Simon Parker
City are staying at Valley Parade next season after the owners pulled off a deal to buy the office block.
Joint chairmen Julian Rhodes, Mark Lawn and fellow shareholder Professor David Rhodes have set up their own parent company, BC Bantams Limited, to purchase the building and take over control of the club.
The deal, which was completed late on Friday, eases the overheads burden on City which had threatened their existence at their 108-year home.
It will come as a huge relief to fans, who feared they could be forced to watch football at Odsal from August.
City claim they would not have been in a position to pay the May wages at the end of the week if the deal had not gone through.
Julian Rhodes, who opened talks with previous owners Prupim in January, confirmed: "We're saving the club a hell of a lot of money. It also gives us complete flexibility because it means the club can pay rent when it can afford to do so.
"It alleviates all our more pressing problems. I'm not saying it solves everything but it means we will be here for next season."
---
Additional article
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9043764.Relief_as_Bradford_City_chiefs_toast__good_Friday__agreement/
===========================
The Bantams will host Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in late July in
one of six now confirmed pre-season fixtures for City this summer.
Along with the previously announced Carlisle United home fixture, the
Bantams will welcome Owen Coyle's Bolton to Bradford on Sunday 24 July 2011
(kick off 3:00pm).
The Bantams will kick off their preparations for another season on Wednesday
13th July 2011 at Silsden before moving to face Matlock two days later.
As part of the agreement that saw James Hanson move to the Coral Windows
Stadium nearly two years ago, City will then eventually play their
long-arranged fixture at Guiseley on Tuesday 19 July 2011.
The trip to Horsfall Stadium to face Avenue for the annual Tom Banks
Memorial Trophy fixture, which City won last season, will be sandwiched
between the Bolton and Carlisle match on Wednesday 27 July 2011.
===========================
Bradford Show Price Matters
ATTENDANCES STAY HEALTHY AS BRADFORD SHOW PRICE MATTERS
By Paul Newman (The Independent)
The Football League Column: Bradford City's example shows what can be
achieved with a sensible pricing policy
Figures released last week showed a drop in Football League attendances this
season, yet support for the fourth-most successful competition in Europe is
still impressive.
More than 16 million spectators watched Football League matches in 2010-11,
which will be bettered only by the Premier League, the Bundesliga and La
Liga. A six per cent drop on last season's 50-year high is put down to the
difficult economic climate.
Championship matches were watched by more than 9,500,000 fans at an average
of 17,389. Leeds topped the list, with average gates of 27,299, while
Scunthorpe were the only Championship club to average fewer than 10,000.
Southampton, League One's best supported team, averaged 22,160, which was
more than 18 Championship clubs, while Sheffield Wednesday (17,817),
Charlton (15,582) and Huddersfield (13,728) all broke the 10,000 mark.
The most remarkable attendances of all, however, were Bradford City's in
League Two. The Yorkshire club finished 18th – their worst end-of-season
position for nearly half a century – yet enjoyed average crowds of 11,127,
nearly 4,000 more than the second-best supported club, Oxford United. The
Bantams' lowest gate of 10,392 was higher than the best crowd at any other
League Two match.
Bradford's example shows what can be achieved with a sensible pricing
policy. When they were relegated four years ago for the third time in seven
seasons – their first return to the League's bottom division for 25 years –
their gates averaged 8,694. The club reduced season-ticket prices to £138
and the response to what was named as the Football League's marketing
campaign of the year was hugely positive, with 12,200 fans buying season
tickets to boost the average to 13,756.
The average attendance dropped by 1,000 in the second season and by about
the same figure in each of the subsequent campaigns as the players'
performances failed to match those of the fans: in their four seasons in
League Two Bradford have finished 10th, ninth, 14th and 18th.
Since the new pricing policy was introduced, the current season has been the
only year in which season ticket sales fell below 10,000 (to 9,600).
Some 6,000 tickets for 2011-12 were sold (at an advance price of £150 each)
in December last year, putting the club on course to match the 2010-11
figure. David Baldwin, the club's director of operations, said: "We started
the Christmas campaign simply because I had a request from a grandparent
asking: 'Why can't I buy a season ticket now for my grandson for next year
as a Christmas present?' The first year we ran it 2,000 people took up the
option, the second year 4,000 and the third year 6,000."
The final phase of sales for next season will start soon. Prices have not
been announced yet, but the club have always kept the cost below £200.
"Pricing is important," Baldwin said. "You have to realise that in the
current economic climate."
Bradford offer season tickets at half-price to under-16s, while under-11s
are admitted free if accompanied by an adult. "We know that around 18 per
cent of a crowd of 10,000 are under-11s," Baldwin said.
"There's no greater way of promoting future fans than creating a situation
where a dad can bring his son or daughter to a game for free. We hope that
they become Bradford City fans for life."
The club's support is all the more remarkable when you consider what they
have been through since losing their Premier League place 10 years ago. One
of the last clubs to be relegated before the introduction of parachute
payments, Bradford went into administration three years later, which
resulted in their stadium and offices being sold off. They now have to pay
£1.3m a year just to use the premises, including £750,000 in rent for the
25,500-capacity stadium.
"I think the vast majority of fans realise that we're operating in a
difficult set of circumstances," Baldwin said. "We're carrying the costs of
a Championship stadium and operating on a League Two budget."
He added: "We've had fantastic support when you consider the decade we've
had as a club. We have very long-suffering fans and we're desperate to give
them something to smile about in the future."
===========================
DONALDSON BEGINS TALKS WITH OTHER CLUBS
Clayton Donaldson has spoken to Bradford City over a possible move whilst
Carlisle, Chesterfield and Oxford are all interested in the Alex's top
goalscorer.
New Bradford City manager Peter Jackson confirmed today that he spoke to
Donaldson on Tuesday about a move to Valley Parade but admitted they faced a
fight for his signature, suggesting 'eight or nine' clubs have expressed an
interest.
A few clubs we already know are interested include fellow League Two rivals
Oxford United and Gillingham. Oxford's chairman has recently said they'd
like Donaldson in yellow whilst Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler almost admitted
defeat in his pursuit.
Speaking for the first time about his top target, the City chief said: "I've
spoken to Clayton and met him and hopefully I'll be talking to him again.
"Obviously he is expecting interest coming in but we've put our marker down
with Clayton Donaldson. We have to invest in strikers.
"Strikers that can score you 20 to 25 goals a season can push you into the
play-offs. Strikers who get 30 to 35 goals, which Clayton is well capable of
doing, can get you to promotion."
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website…
HANNAH PICKS UP GOLDEN BOOT AWARD
New Bradford City striker Ross Hannah was at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge this
Thursday to collect his Non-League Golden Boot award for the 2010/2011
season.
Hannah earned the honour - given to the player who has scored the most goals
in the whole Non-League pyramid - thanks to his amazing tally of 52 goals
last season for previous club Matlock Town.
The 25 year old picked up his award during the ESPN Soccernet.com National
Games Awards ceremony - the Non-League's own end of the season awards
dinner.
Hannah is also scheduled to pick up the Evo-Stik Premier Division Golden
Boot award at the league's end of season presentation evening at Blackpool
on Saturday 18 June.
===========================
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Manager Still not settled / Odsal (again) / New training ground agreement
===========================
May 11
BANTAMS SHORTLIST DOWN TO TWO
Bradford joint-chairman Mark Lawn says the vacant manager's job at Valley
Parade is "between two and always has been".
It's understood interim boss Peter Jackson and Dagenham manager John Still
are in a straight head-to-head battle to take over the reins next season.
But Lawn has stated that no decision will be made until the club's stadium
crisis has been resolved.
Lawn told the Telegraph and Argus: "We're in a state of flux at present.
I've told Peter Jackson and Colin Cooper to look at things as though they
will be the management team.
"We haven't made our decision yet and can't do that until we sort out the
bigger situation.
"More people have applied and some of them are established names as well.
But it's whether we go down that route or not.
"I think for Julian (Rhodes) and myself, it's between two and always has
been. Whether we would start to re-interview or not, I don't think so."
Speaking about the Bantams' woeful season - the club's lowest league finish
in 45 years - Lawn added: "There's nothing I can do about it now. I made the
wrong choice (of manager).
"Hindsight's a wonderful thing and you'll still get fans turning round and
saying they didn't fancy Peter Taylor for the job. But 99 per cent would
have picked him."
---
Still happy at the Daggers
...
However John has already sat down with Chairman Dave Andrews and discussed the season ahead. He has an idea now of the budget for 2011/12 and has began talking to his current players about their futures at the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Stadium as well as identifying the players he wants to bring in.
"I've read that I've been linked with some big and well supported teams in the last few days", Said John.
"However, I've made it clear to the Chairman that I'm perfectly happy at Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and my work is already in preparation for next season".
===========================
May 14
Talks to keep City at Valley Parade will step up a gear over the next few days.
Jack Tordoff has been brought in as a mediator in the negotiations to solve the club's problem with the stadium overheads.
City have confirmed that delicate discussions with the stadium's two landlords have already begun and more are planned as they look for a solution to suit all parties.
David Baldwin, City's director of operations, confirmed: "There have been discussions already and there are meetings planned within the next week."
The presence of former chairman – and long-time club sponsor – Tordoff will add a more objective approach around the table as they look to hammer out a deal with Gordon Gibb, whose family pension fund own the stadium, and office block landlords Prupim.
===========================
May 16
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9028463.Winter_of_content_beckons_for_Bradford_City_players/
Winter of content beckons for Bradford City players
7:10am Monday 16th May 2011
By Simon Parker
Mark Lawn reckons City's "Premier League" training base next season will stop anyone grumbling.
The club have struck a long-term deal with Woodhouse Grove School to use their facilities alongside Apperley Bridge.
City will continue to train on the outdoor pitches at Rawdon Meadows but can now work on the school's artificial surfaces and in their indoor sports hall. A state-of-the-art fourth generation pitch will also be ready from January.
Lawn said: "It's a great deal with Woodhouse Grove and we've had to sign a 12-year lease to get it.
"It's going to be as good a training facility as the Premier League. The players won't be able to moan about the training ground now.
"But we will still use the same pitches down there because they are good pitches. The trouble is that sometimes it floods, although not as much as people exaggerate.
"Nine times out of ten, the problems come from the ground freezing up, not flooding. But then a frozen pitch will be a frozen pitch wherever you are.
"But now we'll have a proper facility inside. And it's a private school so they're not scrimping on what they are putting on."
The training facilities are not dependent on whether City stay at Valley Parade or not. But the players will be able to eat there, which cuts out the need to drive back to the stadium for meals after sessions.
Lawn added: "We'll have full use of the swimming pool, gyms, physio facilities, a feeding area and sprung indoor sports hall. And the current 3g (artificial) pitch is being lifted two metres so there is no risk of flooding.
"We'll have inside and outside training, which is the most important thing in the winter. The players will train and eat there and then go home – they will only need to come to the ground for matchdays.
"They can do one session, eat, then train again in the afternoon. You couldn't do that very easily before because you had to come to and from Valley Parade.
"You look at the gym facilities and they are better than any round here. So there are no excuses."
===========================
NEW TRAINING FACILITIES AT WOODHOUSE GROVE
Bradford City have secured a deal for state of the art new training
facilities from the start of next season.
The Bantams have agreed a 12-year lease agreement with local school
Woodhouse Grove to allow the League Two side to use the state of the art
indoor facilities during spells of poor weather.
City will have access to the school's artificial playing surfaces, indoor
sports hall, swimming pool, gym and physio facilities.
Chairman Mark Lawn believes the new facilities will also curb any complaints
from the playing staff.
He said: "It's going to be as good a training facility as the Premier
League. The players won't be able to moan about the training ground now.
"You look at the gym facilities and they are better than any round here. So
there are no excuses."
===========================
May 15
Q&A WITH BRADFORD CITY'S JOINT CHAIRMAN MARK LAWN
By Simon Parker (T&A)
With the club's dire financial situation and a potential move away from
Valley Parade the hot topics of discussion among City supporters, T&A
reporter Simon Parker asks joint-chairman Mark Lawn the questions the fans
want answering.
SP: Let's start with the obvious question. Are the club any nearer in
succeeding in reducing their Valley Parade overheads?
ML: It's at a delicate stage but we are moving forward.
Commercially, we've signed a contract and he's (Gordon Gibb) got every right
to want to stick to that. But then we can't stay at Valley Parade, that's a
fact.
The offer of staggering payments we've put to both landlords is that they
will be far better off if we get to the Championship. They won't be far off
what they're getting now if we are in League One; if we reach the Premier
League, they'll be smoking cigars.
SP: Obviously these negotiations have to be settled quickly, one way or the
other. Have you got a specific deadline day in mind?
ML: I feel that we've got to get this done by the end of the month, really.
Mid-June is the maximum point but I'd like to have it sorted out before
then. If we can't be at Valley Parade for some reason, we need to inform the
Football League.
SP: You have kept the Football League updated with developments. Do you
sense any sympathy with the club's current dilemma?
ML: Their new chairman said at the last chairmen's annual conference that
the league cannot keep going as it is now. He thinks that by 2015 or so, the
league could be as much as £1.5 billion in debt.
We're not in debt right now but we'll be heading that way unless we do
something about it. We know what's going to happen if things don't change
and we're trying to be pro-active.
If you've got a millstone round your neck, do you try swimming with it – or
do you cut the rope?
SP: Is it true that the club have been talking to an administrator?
ML: There's not been an administrator involved but we have taken legal
advice, as you've got to do. At present, we're okay but we can see problems
looming quickly.
SP: Presumably you would lose the sponsorship deals currently tied to Valley
Parade if you had to leave. How would this affect you financially?
ML: Funnily enough, a few of them have talked about staying with us if we
have to move. I'll be speaking to the Bulls, obviously, about what happens
on our matchdays. We wouldn't be moving to Odsal unless it was financially
better.
But while we're just saying Odsal at the moment, we haven't talked to
anybody else yet. Bradford's metropolitan area is massive and there are
other stadia.
SP: I understand that City would not be allowed to use the terraces at Odsal
because the club have been in the top two divisions for more than three
consecutive seasons since the Taylor report. How would you get round this?
ML: There are 5,600 seats there already and we own 25,000. We own the Valley
Parade seats, floodlights, the generator, the lifts, the sound system and
anything else that is loose. If we go from here it will be an empty stadium,
not a football stadium. Those seats could be replaced back at Odsal.
SP: City sold around 6,000 season tickets during December. How are those
supporters affected by what might happen and when will tickets go back on
sale?
ML: That's a question that's unfeasible for me to answer until we decide
where we're going and what we're doing. But we understand those loyal fans
and we'll make sure we do the best for them.
We need to get things sorted out so we can put season-ticket sales back on
again. You cannot buy one at the moment. It's not fair for me to sell a
ticket unless you know where we're going to be.
SP: You have said the manager's situation cannot be sorted out until the
club's position is resolved. But you have allowed Peter Jackson to draw up
the retained list and target new players?
ML: If we sign any players now, we're signing players any manager would
want. He's identified them but the ones we're talking to anybody would be
looking at.
SP: Are these players put off because of the uncertainty surrounding City?
ML: I think some of them would like to know where we are playing. And so
would we.
SP: What will happen to Valley Parade itself should City decide to move out?
ML: It's not our responsibility once we've gone but you've just got to look
at Thrum Hall. When Halifax rugby left it, I think they had a call-out every
week for a fire or vandalism because someone had broken in. That could
happen here quite easily without the security. It will be a shell if we go.
SP: Do you have any idea how much it would cost to clear the site for
redevelopment?
ML: We talked to the Council and apparently Valley Parade is built on
contaminated land. They say it would cost £3.5m to get (the stadium) down
and clear it up. The land would be worth £2.5m but those are only their
figures, not mine.
SP: And what about the knock-on effect for the city centre and Manningham
itself?
ML: Bradford Council say they are doing Manningham up so they certainly
don't want to be leaving the stadium empty. And who is the biggest visitor
attraction in the area?
People come into the city, drive down the main arterial route on Canal Road
and see the stadium. What are they going to see if we've gone?
SP: There are some big decisions to be made. But how tough would it be to
walk away from City's home?
ML: I know the history of this football club and the sentiment that
surrounds this stadium with the fire. It may mean making some harsh
decisions but if we go into the Conference while we are here then we do not
exist. So let's sort something out now so we make sure that the club can
carry on.
===========================
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Post Season News #1
Date: Wednesday 11 May 2011 at 11:00AM.
26th ANNIVERSARY OF BRADFORD CITY TRAGEDY WILL BE HELD TO
REMEMBER THE 56 WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
By Tanya O'Rourke (T&A)
A memorial service in Centenary Square will remember the 56 lives lost in
the Bradford City fire disaster.
The bells at City Hall will chime Abide With Me and You'll Never Walk Alone
to mark the start of the service, which will be conducted by the Lord
Mayor's chaplain, the Very Reverend David Ison and Bradford City AFC
chaplains, the Reverend Jimmy Hinton and the Reverend Paul Deo.
It will be held on Wednesday from 11am to mark the 26th anniversary of the
blaze which ripped through Valley Parade as Bradford City played Lincoln in
their last home match of the season in 1985.
Relatives and friends of those who lost their lives or were injured in the
fire are expected to attend the service.
The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill, and wife Gillian will
welcome to the city the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Geoff Kirby, and his
wife Valerie, and the Sheriff and Lady of Lincoln, Roy South and his wife
Sandra. Senior politicians and managers from Bradford Council and Bradford
City will also attend.
Councillor Hill said: "It is fitting we remember on May 11 each year all
those who died in this tragedy.
"It touched the lives of virtually everyone in the district in some way and
people need to reflect and mark the occasion."
Flags will be flown at half mast, the sound from the big screen will be
switched off and work will stop on City Park while the service takes place.
===========================
SYERS NAMED PLAYER'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bradford City midfielder David Syers has been named the players' player of
the year in his first season with the club.
The 23-year-old has been a big hit at Valley Parade, establishing himself as
a firm fans' favourite since arriving from Harrogate Town in the summer and
signing his first professional contract under previous City manager Peter
Taylor.
Syers, whose former clubs also include Ossett Albion and Farsley Celtic, has
made a total of 39 appearances and scored 10 goals.
===========================
===========================
According to the Radio Leeds special on City last night (Tuesday) with Derm, Dave
Baldwin and Jason McKeown, DB said that it would involve another CVA which
he said was very different to actual administration. It would still cost us
a penalty 10 points though.
You can listen to the Radio Leeds Special on 'Listen again' at www.bbc.co.uk/leeds
Listen Again
Tues 10/05/11 West Yorkshire Sport 18:00 hrs.
===========================
The following video has appeared on BBC's sports page, i've no sound in the
office so i can't hear what they are saying - however it looks like there is
a nostagic look at BCFC at the start.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13336752.stm
It is only 11 years since Bradford City were in the Premier League.
The club spiralled into financial strife and ever since the Bantams have
been slid down the leagues.
After yet another disappointing season, the Bantams only just avoided the
drop to the Blue Square Bet Premier, talk around Valley Parade is of more
financial problems and a threat to leave their home of over a century.
Late Kick Off's Andrew Toft investigates.
===========================
DOHERTY IN BRADFORD EXIT
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Tommy Doherty tonight left Bradford City after it was agreed to pay up his
contract a year early.
Peter Taylor's biggest signing of last summer played only 21 times and has
not featured since December 28.
---
The football club can confirm that midfielder Tommy Doherty's contract with Bradford City has been cancelled by mutual consent.
Doherty, 32, signed a two year contract with City upon his arrival at the Coral Windows Stadium last July, but he will now leave the football club with immediate effect.
The former Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers playmaker made 21 appearances in total for the Bantams, including 18 games in League 2.
The football club would like to thank Tommy for all his efforts during his time as a Bradford player and wish him all the best for the future.
---
There's an interesting write-up by BfB.
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/
subject
"The Doc departs leaving Bradford City reflecting on lessons it never learns"
===========================
From Bantamsfan.co.uk
It looks like keeper Lenny Pidgeley has played his last game for the club
following the expiry of his contract. The ex-Chelsea stopper was signed by
Peter Taylor in October last year after an impressive outing for the
reserves.
His contract was initially for two months but Taylor extended it until the
end of the season. He went on to play for us 22 times and he was on the
bench today's disaster against Crewe.
Pidgeley himself posted the following messages twitter this evening: "Having
my last night in Bradford, its been emotional thank u all Bantams fans 4 ur
support!!! Peace out xxx" and, "Wow some quick kind responses there really
appreciate it, let's say I've left the club with mutual consent!!!"
===========================
May 3rd
ELLISON LEAVES BRADFORD CITY
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City have allowed Kevin Ellison to go back to Rotherham.
The winger was signed on loan by Peter Taylor in February until the end of
the season.
But Ellison, who is out of contract in the summer, has been hampered by a
thigh injury which he suffered at the end of March and has missed the last
nine games.
He made seven appearances for City, six of them starts, and scored the
winner against Wycombe on his debut.
===========================
DOHERTY EXIT COULD KICK OFF VP EXODUS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Jackson is ready to wield the axe through City's squad - even if he is
no longer manager.
Jackson has drawn up the retained list which will be announced once the
final game has gone.
Nearly a dozen players are out of contract in the summer and the interim
boss has warned that change is on the way.
He said: "There will be quite a few players leaving the club. In our
position it needs change.
"It has to happen because this season has simply not been good enough.
"It doesn't faze me to make changes. I'll do what I think is right for
myself or for the next manager who comes in."
Gareth Evans, Omar Daley and Shane Duff are among those whose deals are up.
Tommy Doherty left the club on Wednesday evening after his contract was paid
up with a year still to go.
Doherty played 21 games but had been hampered by an ankle injury. City never
saw the form which twice earned the former Northern Ireland international a
place in the League Two team of the year.
He has not appeared in a squad since Peter Jackson took over and only
featured once for the reserves in that time.
Jackson added: "He hasn't featured since the Cheltenham game in December and
he's one of the high earners at the club. Tommy didn't feature in my plans
moving forward and he was getting a lot of money.
"But I've got a lot of time for Doherty as a person. He's been quite
reasonable (over the pay-off) and we've parted on good terms."
Doherty, who never did interviews with the media, told fans on his Twitter
site: "Thanks for all your best wishes. I wish the club well."
===========================
Further to announcement of today's retained list, and using the excellent
information previously provided by Mark Fowler, this is the list of players
and their fates:
Players released/not retained
7 Omar Daley - 2011
8 Tommy Doherty - 2012 - last year of contract paid up
9 Gareth Evans - 2011
13 Lloyd Saxton - 2011
16 Shane Duff - 2011
19 Jonathan Worthington - 2011
21 Ryan Harrison - 2011
24 Chris Elliot - 2011
25 Chibuzor Chilaka - 2011
27 Louis Horne - 2011
40 Lenny Pidgeley - 2011
Loan players returned to parent club
11 Scott Dobie (on loan from St Johnstone) - 2011
20 Tom Adeyemi (on loan from Norwich) - 2011
26 Kevin Ellison (on loan from Rotherham) - 2011
Players under contract for next season(s)
2 Simon Ramsden - 2012
3 Luke O'Brien - 2012
4 Michael Flynn - 2012
6 Luke Oliver - 2012
10 Jake Speight - 2012
14 Leon Osborne - 2012
15 Lewis Hunt - 2012 - automatically extended following completion of 20
appearances
22 Lee Bullock - 2012
23 David Syers - 2012
28 Robbie Threlfall - 2012
1 Jon McLaughlin - 2013
12 Steve Williams - 2013
17 James Hanson - 2014
Current contract offers
18 Luke Dean - 2011 - offered one year contract
29 Darren Stephenson - second year apprentice - offered six month contract
30 Adam Robinson - second year apprentice - offered six month contract
31 Alex Flett - second year apprentice - offered six month contract
32 Dominic Rowe - second year apprentice - offered one year contract
26th ANNIVERSARY OF BRADFORD CITY TRAGEDY WILL BE HELD TO
REMEMBER THE 56 WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
By Tanya O'Rourke (T&A)
A memorial service in Centenary Square will remember the 56 lives lost in
the Bradford City fire disaster.
The bells at City Hall will chime Abide With Me and You'll Never Walk Alone
to mark the start of the service, which will be conducted by the Lord
Mayor's chaplain, the Very Reverend David Ison and Bradford City AFC
chaplains, the Reverend Jimmy Hinton and the Reverend Paul Deo.
It will be held on Wednesday from 11am to mark the 26th anniversary of the
blaze which ripped through Valley Parade as Bradford City played Lincoln in
their last home match of the season in 1985.
Relatives and friends of those who lost their lives or were injured in the
fire are expected to attend the service.
The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill, and wife Gillian will
welcome to the city the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Geoff Kirby, and his
wife Valerie, and the Sheriff and Lady of Lincoln, Roy South and his wife
Sandra. Senior politicians and managers from Bradford Council and Bradford
City will also attend.
Councillor Hill said: "It is fitting we remember on May 11 each year all
those who died in this tragedy.
"It touched the lives of virtually everyone in the district in some way and
people need to reflect and mark the occasion."
Flags will be flown at half mast, the sound from the big screen will be
switched off and work will stop on City Park while the service takes place.
===========================
SYERS NAMED PLAYER'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bradford City midfielder David Syers has been named the players' player of
the year in his first season with the club.
The 23-year-old has been a big hit at Valley Parade, establishing himself as
a firm fans' favourite since arriving from Harrogate Town in the summer and
signing his first professional contract under previous City manager Peter
Taylor.
Syers, whose former clubs also include Ossett Albion and Farsley Celtic, has
made a total of 39 appearances and scored 10 goals.
===========================
===========================
According to the Radio Leeds special on City last night (Tuesday) with Derm, Dave
Baldwin and Jason McKeown, DB said that it would involve another CVA which
he said was very different to actual administration. It would still cost us
a penalty 10 points though.
You can listen to the Radio Leeds Special on 'Listen again' at www.bbc.co.uk/leeds
Listen Again
Tues 10/05/11 West Yorkshire Sport 18:00 hrs.
===========================
The following video has appeared on BBC's sports page, i've no sound in the
office so i can't hear what they are saying - however it looks like there is
a nostagic look at BCFC at the start.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13336752.stm
It is only 11 years since Bradford City were in the Premier League.
The club spiralled into financial strife and ever since the Bantams have
been slid down the leagues.
After yet another disappointing season, the Bantams only just avoided the
drop to the Blue Square Bet Premier, talk around Valley Parade is of more
financial problems and a threat to leave their home of over a century.
Late Kick Off's Andrew Toft investigates.
===========================
DOHERTY IN BRADFORD EXIT
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Tommy Doherty tonight left Bradford City after it was agreed to pay up his
contract a year early.
Peter Taylor's biggest signing of last summer played only 21 times and has
not featured since December 28.
---
The football club can confirm that midfielder Tommy Doherty's contract with Bradford City has been cancelled by mutual consent.
Doherty, 32, signed a two year contract with City upon his arrival at the Coral Windows Stadium last July, but he will now leave the football club with immediate effect.
The former Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers playmaker made 21 appearances in total for the Bantams, including 18 games in League 2.
The football club would like to thank Tommy for all his efforts during his time as a Bradford player and wish him all the best for the future.
---
There's an interesting write-up by BfB.
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/
subject
"The Doc departs leaving Bradford City reflecting on lessons it never learns"
===========================
From Bantamsfan.co.uk
It looks like keeper Lenny Pidgeley has played his last game for the club
following the expiry of his contract. The ex-Chelsea stopper was signed by
Peter Taylor in October last year after an impressive outing for the
reserves.
His contract was initially for two months but Taylor extended it until the
end of the season. He went on to play for us 22 times and he was on the
bench today's disaster against Crewe.
Pidgeley himself posted the following messages twitter this evening: "Having
my last night in Bradford, its been emotional thank u all Bantams fans 4 ur
support!!! Peace out xxx" and, "Wow some quick kind responses there really
appreciate it, let's say I've left the club with mutual consent!!!"
===========================
May 3rd
ELLISON LEAVES BRADFORD CITY
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City have allowed Kevin Ellison to go back to Rotherham.
The winger was signed on loan by Peter Taylor in February until the end of
the season.
But Ellison, who is out of contract in the summer, has been hampered by a
thigh injury which he suffered at the end of March and has missed the last
nine games.
He made seven appearances for City, six of them starts, and scored the
winner against Wycombe on his debut.
===========================
DOHERTY EXIT COULD KICK OFF VP EXODUS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Peter Jackson is ready to wield the axe through City's squad - even if he is
no longer manager.
Jackson has drawn up the retained list which will be announced once the
final game has gone.
Nearly a dozen players are out of contract in the summer and the interim
boss has warned that change is on the way.
He said: "There will be quite a few players leaving the club. In our
position it needs change.
"It has to happen because this season has simply not been good enough.
"It doesn't faze me to make changes. I'll do what I think is right for
myself or for the next manager who comes in."
Gareth Evans, Omar Daley and Shane Duff are among those whose deals are up.
Tommy Doherty left the club on Wednesday evening after his contract was paid
up with a year still to go.
Doherty played 21 games but had been hampered by an ankle injury. City never
saw the form which twice earned the former Northern Ireland international a
place in the League Two team of the year.
He has not appeared in a squad since Peter Jackson took over and only
featured once for the reserves in that time.
Jackson added: "He hasn't featured since the Cheltenham game in December and
he's one of the high earners at the club. Tommy didn't feature in my plans
moving forward and he was getting a lot of money.
"But I've got a lot of time for Doherty as a person. He's been quite
reasonable (over the pay-off) and we've parted on good terms."
Doherty, who never did interviews with the media, told fans on his Twitter
site: "Thanks for all your best wishes. I wish the club well."
===========================
Further to announcement of today's retained list, and using the excellent
information previously provided by Mark Fowler, this is the list of players
and their fates:
Players released/not retained
7 Omar Daley - 2011
8 Tommy Doherty - 2012 - last year of contract paid up
9 Gareth Evans - 2011
13 Lloyd Saxton - 2011
16 Shane Duff - 2011
19 Jonathan Worthington - 2011
21 Ryan Harrison - 2011
24 Chris Elliot - 2011
25 Chibuzor Chilaka - 2011
27 Louis Horne - 2011
40 Lenny Pidgeley - 2011
Loan players returned to parent club
11 Scott Dobie (on loan from St Johnstone) - 2011
20 Tom Adeyemi (on loan from Norwich) - 2011
26 Kevin Ellison (on loan from Rotherham) - 2011
Players under contract for next season(s)
2 Simon Ramsden - 2012
3 Luke O'Brien - 2012
4 Michael Flynn - 2012
6 Luke Oliver - 2012
10 Jake Speight - 2012
14 Leon Osborne - 2012
15 Lewis Hunt - 2012 - automatically extended following completion of 20
appearances
22 Lee Bullock - 2012
23 David Syers - 2012
28 Robbie Threlfall - 2012
1 Jon McLaughlin - 2013
12 Steve Williams - 2013
17 James Hanson - 2014
Current contract offers
18 Luke Dean - 2011 - offered one year contract
29 Darren Stephenson - second year apprentice - offered six month contract
30 Adam Robinson - second year apprentice - offered six month contract
31 Alex Flett - second year apprentice - offered six month contract
32 Dominic Rowe - second year apprentice - offered one year contract
Monday, May 02, 2011
L2 Sat April 30 15:00 (A) Hereford D1-1
Last fixture
L2 Sat May 7 15:00 (H) Crewe
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
Npower League Two
Hereford U (0) 1 Fleetwood 87
Bradford C (0) 1 Speight (pen) 81
Att: 3,219
Stats: Hereford - Bradford C
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 1 - 2
Shots off target: 3 - 8
Fouls: 9 - 12
Corners: 7 - 1
Ref: David Phillips (Sussex)
Yellow cards:
Hereford U: None
Bradford C: None
Hereford: 1. Adam Bartlett, 2. Ryan Green, 24. Stefan Stam, 5. Michael
Townsend, 34. Joe Heath, 17. Joe Colbeck (86), 16. Kenny Lunt, 18. Nicky
Featherstone (90), 26. Steven Leslie, 32. Robert Purdie (58), 7. Stuart
Fleetwood.
SUBS: 25. Russell Hoult (GK), 4. Janos Kovacs (90), 6. Richard Rose, 9.
Waide Fairhurst (58), 10. Sean Canham, 14. James McQuilkin, 30. Adrian
Patulea (86).
Bradford C: 40. Lenny Pidgeley, 15. Lewis Hunt, 22. Lee Bullock, 6. Luke
Oliver, 28. Robbie Threlfall, 19. Jonathan Worthington, 23. David Syers, 7.
Omar Daley (82), 9. Gareth Evans (59), 17. James Hanson, 10. Jake Speight
(90).
SUBS: 1. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 3. Luke O'Brien (59), 12. Steve Williams (82),
14. Leon Osborne, 18. Luke Dean (90), 25. Chibuzor Chilaka, 27. Louis Horne.
Position: 16th
===========================
Saturday evening match report
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City are safe from the threat of relegation.
So are Hereford after a draw which ultimately suited both sides as they made
mathematically sure of survival with a game to spare.
Jake Speight put the Bantams ahead late on with a penalty but Stuart
Fleetwood levelled with a free-kick three minutes from time.
Thanks to Barnet's defeat at Accrington, both sides will be playing League
Two football again next season.
City carried the early threat against their nervous hosts and could have
grabbed the lead after 12 minutes.
Omar Daley picked off Fleetwood's loose pass to feed Speight but his low
shot was well snaffled by keeper Adam Bartlett.
City tried to use the strong wind behind them and shoot from distance -
Gareth Evans in particular - without further troubling the home goal.
Hereford had a penalty shout turned down after Lee Bullock's challenge on
Nicky Featherstone.
And City had a scare just before the break when Fleetwood failed to make
contact in front of goal after Lenny Pidgeley had pushed out Joe Colbeck's
cross.
It had been a scrappy game with few moments of excitement and the second
half began in the same low-key manner.
Hereford went close in the 66th minute as Steve Leslie nutmegged Lewis Hunt
on the touchline before Fleetwood curled just wide of the far post.
Pidgeley parried from Featherstone as Hereford picked it up and then
unconvincingly pushed away Waide Fairhurst's flick header.
But it was City who broke the deadlock with nine minutes left. James Hanson
was tugged to the floor by Stefan Stam and Speight sent the keeper the wrong
way with a decisive spot-kick.
City's hopes of making it back-to-back wins were dashed six minutes later,
though. Hunt fouled Fairhurst just outside the box and Fleetwood curled a
low free-kick beyond the diving Pidgeley.
That was the last incident as both teams were happy to play out the closing
stages.
===========================
Monday morning match report
It's gift day as Bantams tie up League Two survival
7:00am Monday 2nd May 2011
By Simon Parker
Hereford 1 Bradford City 1
Mark Lawn gave Peter Jackson a present within minutes of making sure that City – wherever they may be next season – are still in League Two.
But the joint-chairman's club tie wasn't the gift that the interim boss really wants.
For that, he will have to wait at least another week. Only once the curtain has come down after the Crewe game will the board finally pass judgement on who will be occupying the hot-seat at Valley Parade, Odsal or wherever.
Jackson's own tie had become a souvenir for one of the 254 away fans who had trekked down to Edgar Street for the point which City had needed before the game to be absolutely 100 per cent safe. Jacko also lobbed in David Syers' shirt as he enjoyed the relief of finishing the job that had begun with a Sunday roast with the players the day after Peter Taylor's swansong against Stockport.
Of course, the interim boss has no intention of walking away now. But his fate – after the final fixture is up – will rest in the hands of the club's powerbrokers.
In the meantime he is looking for any clue about their thinking; any hint in which way the board are swaying.
"Maybe Mark giving me his tie is an indication," he smiled at the end of a draw that turned out superfluous following defeats for Barnet and Lincoln.
"Mark always said that we will discuss (the job) after the Crewe game. It needs to be done.
"We've got a retained list that needs doing after the final game as well. There are ten players out of contract and that needs addressing."
The fact that the decision will not be made until the season is complete might suggest City are waiting for another club's manager. John Still's odds remain very short in second place with the bookies.
Lawn wasn't giving anything away after Jackson hot-footed it into the Hereford boardroom.
"Peter's just come in and asked me again," he said. "But I've told him that nothing will happen until the end of the season.
"We'll see where we are and where we are playing.
"But it's just a massive relief to be safe. We've got a lot of problems in the summer that we've got to sort out and that's the first duck down."
Accrington, City's nemesis the previous Saturday, turned out to be everyone's heroes after dispatching second-from-bottom Barnet. Hereford were also safe thanks to a hat-trick from one who slipped through City's fingers.
"We could have bought Jimmy Ryan but Stuart (McCall) didn't want him," Lawn sighed. "Can you believe that?"
But it seemed churlish to look back on what might have been on an afternoon that ultimately suited everyone.
Understandably, Hereford were by far the happier of the two sides.
When Jamie Pitman stepped up from physio to manager, they were rock bottom with only five points from ten games. To survive with 90 minutes in hand represents a turnaround worth the post-match jubilation.
For City, it's rather different. Nobody in their wildest nightmares would have started the season with the sole aim of holding on to a place in League Two by the end of April.
This team was supposed to be leaving the division by the front door; not struggling to avoid dropping out through the back.
But given the overall wretchedness of the past eight months, survival became the only realistic goal. Jacko, at least, can say he's done his job – which is more than can be said for many in that dressing room.
Monday's breathless win over Aldershot meant that City needed eight results to go against them to be dragged down with Stockport.
It was never going to happen, though there were more than a few butterflies as news of early goals elsewhere filtered through.
Lincoln and Northampton quickly jumped in front and even the general relief at seeing Accrington's first flash up was soon followed with a groan heralding a Barnet equaliser.
Watching Hereford's antiquated scoreboard – which must almost date back to the day Ronnie Radford sunk Newcastle with that FA Cup rocket – was the most interesting part of a first half that had the feel of a friendly.
Hereford, in particular, looked lethargic and so nervous that they produced only one shot – and that came from a drop ball on the halfway line that was returned to Lenny Pidgeley with rather too much zeal.
City had the chances at least, with the best falling to Jake Speight after Omar Daley had picked off a loose crossfield pass. Speight struck it well enough but keeper Adam Bartlett smothered.
The strong wind made a scrappy affair even worse, with both sides resorting to hopeful long balls. Luke Oliver and Lee Bullock, again relishing his new defensive role, lapped them up eagerly.
Bullock got away with one lunge on Nicky Featherstone but otherwise Hereford were as toothless as anything City have faced all term.
The draw, which everyone was happy with, looked nailed on.
Hereford became marginally more effective with the introduction of Waide Fairhurst as a second striker with half an hour to go. The previously anonymous Stuart Fleetwood suddenly gained a bit of support.
But it was City who struck first with nine minutes left after James Hanson cashed in on hesitancy between left back and centre half. Stefan Stam tugged him down in the box and Speight rescued another fruitless display with a belting penalty.
Hereford looked in disarray and fearing the prospect of living on their nerves for another week.
But then Lewis Hunt clipped Fairhurst and Fleetwood took advantage of a badly-positioned wall to curl the free-kick round Pidgeley.
Back-to-back wins had been snatched away.
Jackson could have done with the victory on his CV as decision time nears. The interim boss, though, has played his part in rescuing a wreck of a season.
"It's a little bit flat," he admitted. "I know we got the point we needed but it should have been three. But we would have settled for this before we left Bradford. I'm pleased for the fans that we didn't have to rely on other teams and the players did it the hard way.
"I'm just so proud of coming in to a club that was heading to the next tier and flipped it about."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9002309./
Bradford City pay delay highlights dire financial plight
7:20am Monday 2nd May 2011
By Simon Parker
City are bracing themselves for a "rocky" summer ahead after sealing league survival as it emerged that the April wages were held up.
Saturday's point from Hereford ensured the Bantams are safe from the drop with a game to spare.
But the club's growing financial troubles were highlighted again by a delay with the pay roll.
Joint-chairman Mark Lawn confirmed: "The wages have been paid a little bit late this month but money's tight and we've told them that."
Read the full story in today's Telegraph & Argus
===========================
===========================
MICHAEL FLYNN'S SEASON LOOKS TO BE OVER DUE TO INJURY
April 25th
Midfielder Michael Flynn went off injured after 36 minutes of the 2-1 win
over Aldershot Town.
The club has confirmed as expected that he damaged his right hamstring when
he challenged Aldershot's Danny Hylton for the ball.
The nature of this type of injury suggests he will miss Saturday's game at
Hereford United at the very least, but it is highly likely that he'll sit
out the last two games of this dreadful season.
The Welshman will be assessed by the clubs physio Damian Buck on Wednesday
morning.
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
April 26
SPECIAL PRAISE FOR CITY GROUNDSMAN
Bantams groundsman Michael Doyle has been acknowledged by the Football
League after keeping the Valley Parade playing surface in tip-top condition
throughout the 2010/2011 season.
Doyle was narrowly beaten to the overall League 2 Groundsman of the Year
title by Chesterfield's Anthony Haywood, but along with Shrewsbury Town's
Richard Barnett, he has been highly commended in the divisional awards.
After another season when extreme weather pushed pitches to their limits,
the efforts of ground staff across the country has now been recognised by
the Football League.
The Football League Groundsman of the Year Award 2011 is handed out by the
Playing Surfaces Committee and is designed to recognise the importance of
the quality of pitches and to acknowledge Head Groundsmen and their staff.
The awards are determined initially using marks from referees and away
managers for each game and are then followed by detailed pitch inspections
and a review of management operations. These visits were carried out in late
March and early April.
Ewan Hunter of Nottingham Forest is the winner of the npower Championship
accolade and Carlisle United's David Mitchell scooped the award for npower
League 1.
===========================
Lawn hits out at Bradford Council
April 25th
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8991442.Crisis_point_for_Bradford_City/
===========================
Nice article and local news video from the Yorkshire Post on the FA Cup
centenary.
Shortened link
http://bit.ly/fb2zgF
Full link
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/video_exactly_1
00_years_on_the_tragedies_that_befell_bradford_s_fa_cup_winning_team_1_33242
46
===========================
L2 Sat May 7 15:00 (H) Crewe
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
Npower League Two
Hereford U (0) 1 Fleetwood 87
Bradford C (0) 1 Speight (pen) 81
Att: 3,219
Stats: Hereford - Bradford C
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 1 - 2
Shots off target: 3 - 8
Fouls: 9 - 12
Corners: 7 - 1
Ref: David Phillips (Sussex)
Yellow cards:
Hereford U: None
Bradford C: None
Hereford: 1. Adam Bartlett, 2. Ryan Green, 24. Stefan Stam, 5. Michael
Townsend, 34. Joe Heath, 17. Joe Colbeck (86), 16. Kenny Lunt, 18. Nicky
Featherstone (90), 26. Steven Leslie, 32. Robert Purdie (58), 7. Stuart
Fleetwood.
SUBS: 25. Russell Hoult (GK), 4. Janos Kovacs (90), 6. Richard Rose, 9.
Waide Fairhurst (58), 10. Sean Canham, 14. James McQuilkin, 30. Adrian
Patulea (86).
Bradford C: 40. Lenny Pidgeley, 15. Lewis Hunt, 22. Lee Bullock, 6. Luke
Oliver, 28. Robbie Threlfall, 19. Jonathan Worthington, 23. David Syers, 7.
Omar Daley (82), 9. Gareth Evans (59), 17. James Hanson, 10. Jake Speight
(90).
SUBS: 1. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 3. Luke O'Brien (59), 12. Steve Williams (82),
14. Leon Osborne, 18. Luke Dean (90), 25. Chibuzor Chilaka, 27. Louis Horne.
Position: 16th
===========================
Saturday evening match report
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City are safe from the threat of relegation.
So are Hereford after a draw which ultimately suited both sides as they made
mathematically sure of survival with a game to spare.
Jake Speight put the Bantams ahead late on with a penalty but Stuart
Fleetwood levelled with a free-kick three minutes from time.
Thanks to Barnet's defeat at Accrington, both sides will be playing League
Two football again next season.
City carried the early threat against their nervous hosts and could have
grabbed the lead after 12 minutes.
Omar Daley picked off Fleetwood's loose pass to feed Speight but his low
shot was well snaffled by keeper Adam Bartlett.
City tried to use the strong wind behind them and shoot from distance -
Gareth Evans in particular - without further troubling the home goal.
Hereford had a penalty shout turned down after Lee Bullock's challenge on
Nicky Featherstone.
And City had a scare just before the break when Fleetwood failed to make
contact in front of goal after Lenny Pidgeley had pushed out Joe Colbeck's
cross.
It had been a scrappy game with few moments of excitement and the second
half began in the same low-key manner.
Hereford went close in the 66th minute as Steve Leslie nutmegged Lewis Hunt
on the touchline before Fleetwood curled just wide of the far post.
Pidgeley parried from Featherstone as Hereford picked it up and then
unconvincingly pushed away Waide Fairhurst's flick header.
But it was City who broke the deadlock with nine minutes left. James Hanson
was tugged to the floor by Stefan Stam and Speight sent the keeper the wrong
way with a decisive spot-kick.
City's hopes of making it back-to-back wins were dashed six minutes later,
though. Hunt fouled Fairhurst just outside the box and Fleetwood curled a
low free-kick beyond the diving Pidgeley.
That was the last incident as both teams were happy to play out the closing
stages.
===========================
Monday morning match report
It's gift day as Bantams tie up League Two survival
7:00am Monday 2nd May 2011
By Simon Parker
Hereford 1 Bradford City 1
Mark Lawn gave Peter Jackson a present within minutes of making sure that City – wherever they may be next season – are still in League Two.
But the joint-chairman's club tie wasn't the gift that the interim boss really wants.
For that, he will have to wait at least another week. Only once the curtain has come down after the Crewe game will the board finally pass judgement on who will be occupying the hot-seat at Valley Parade, Odsal or wherever.
Jackson's own tie had become a souvenir for one of the 254 away fans who had trekked down to Edgar Street for the point which City had needed before the game to be absolutely 100 per cent safe. Jacko also lobbed in David Syers' shirt as he enjoyed the relief of finishing the job that had begun with a Sunday roast with the players the day after Peter Taylor's swansong against Stockport.
Of course, the interim boss has no intention of walking away now. But his fate – after the final fixture is up – will rest in the hands of the club's powerbrokers.
In the meantime he is looking for any clue about their thinking; any hint in which way the board are swaying.
"Maybe Mark giving me his tie is an indication," he smiled at the end of a draw that turned out superfluous following defeats for Barnet and Lincoln.
"Mark always said that we will discuss (the job) after the Crewe game. It needs to be done.
"We've got a retained list that needs doing after the final game as well. There are ten players out of contract and that needs addressing."
The fact that the decision will not be made until the season is complete might suggest City are waiting for another club's manager. John Still's odds remain very short in second place with the bookies.
Lawn wasn't giving anything away after Jackson hot-footed it into the Hereford boardroom.
"Peter's just come in and asked me again," he said. "But I've told him that nothing will happen until the end of the season.
"We'll see where we are and where we are playing.
"But it's just a massive relief to be safe. We've got a lot of problems in the summer that we've got to sort out and that's the first duck down."
Accrington, City's nemesis the previous Saturday, turned out to be everyone's heroes after dispatching second-from-bottom Barnet. Hereford were also safe thanks to a hat-trick from one who slipped through City's fingers.
"We could have bought Jimmy Ryan but Stuart (McCall) didn't want him," Lawn sighed. "Can you believe that?"
But it seemed churlish to look back on what might have been on an afternoon that ultimately suited everyone.
Understandably, Hereford were by far the happier of the two sides.
When Jamie Pitman stepped up from physio to manager, they were rock bottom with only five points from ten games. To survive with 90 minutes in hand represents a turnaround worth the post-match jubilation.
For City, it's rather different. Nobody in their wildest nightmares would have started the season with the sole aim of holding on to a place in League Two by the end of April.
This team was supposed to be leaving the division by the front door; not struggling to avoid dropping out through the back.
But given the overall wretchedness of the past eight months, survival became the only realistic goal. Jacko, at least, can say he's done his job – which is more than can be said for many in that dressing room.
Monday's breathless win over Aldershot meant that City needed eight results to go against them to be dragged down with Stockport.
It was never going to happen, though there were more than a few butterflies as news of early goals elsewhere filtered through.
Lincoln and Northampton quickly jumped in front and even the general relief at seeing Accrington's first flash up was soon followed with a groan heralding a Barnet equaliser.
Watching Hereford's antiquated scoreboard – which must almost date back to the day Ronnie Radford sunk Newcastle with that FA Cup rocket – was the most interesting part of a first half that had the feel of a friendly.
Hereford, in particular, looked lethargic and so nervous that they produced only one shot – and that came from a drop ball on the halfway line that was returned to Lenny Pidgeley with rather too much zeal.
City had the chances at least, with the best falling to Jake Speight after Omar Daley had picked off a loose crossfield pass. Speight struck it well enough but keeper Adam Bartlett smothered.
The strong wind made a scrappy affair even worse, with both sides resorting to hopeful long balls. Luke Oliver and Lee Bullock, again relishing his new defensive role, lapped them up eagerly.
Bullock got away with one lunge on Nicky Featherstone but otherwise Hereford were as toothless as anything City have faced all term.
The draw, which everyone was happy with, looked nailed on.
Hereford became marginally more effective with the introduction of Waide Fairhurst as a second striker with half an hour to go. The previously anonymous Stuart Fleetwood suddenly gained a bit of support.
But it was City who struck first with nine minutes left after James Hanson cashed in on hesitancy between left back and centre half. Stefan Stam tugged him down in the box and Speight rescued another fruitless display with a belting penalty.
Hereford looked in disarray and fearing the prospect of living on their nerves for another week.
But then Lewis Hunt clipped Fairhurst and Fleetwood took advantage of a badly-positioned wall to curl the free-kick round Pidgeley.
Back-to-back wins had been snatched away.
Jackson could have done with the victory on his CV as decision time nears. The interim boss, though, has played his part in rescuing a wreck of a season.
"It's a little bit flat," he admitted. "I know we got the point we needed but it should have been three. But we would have settled for this before we left Bradford. I'm pleased for the fans that we didn't have to rely on other teams and the players did it the hard way.
"I'm just so proud of coming in to a club that was heading to the next tier and flipped it about."
===========================
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9002309./
Bradford City pay delay highlights dire financial plight
7:20am Monday 2nd May 2011
By Simon Parker
City are bracing themselves for a "rocky" summer ahead after sealing league survival as it emerged that the April wages were held up.
Saturday's point from Hereford ensured the Bantams are safe from the drop with a game to spare.
But the club's growing financial troubles were highlighted again by a delay with the pay roll.
Joint-chairman Mark Lawn confirmed: "The wages have been paid a little bit late this month but money's tight and we've told them that."
Read the full story in today's Telegraph & Argus
===========================
===========================
MICHAEL FLYNN'S SEASON LOOKS TO BE OVER DUE TO INJURY
April 25th
Midfielder Michael Flynn went off injured after 36 minutes of the 2-1 win
over Aldershot Town.
The club has confirmed as expected that he damaged his right hamstring when
he challenged Aldershot's Danny Hylton for the ball.
The nature of this type of injury suggests he will miss Saturday's game at
Hereford United at the very least, but it is highly likely that he'll sit
out the last two games of this dreadful season.
The Welshman will be assessed by the clubs physio Damian Buck on Wednesday
morning.
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website...
April 26
SPECIAL PRAISE FOR CITY GROUNDSMAN
Bantams groundsman Michael Doyle has been acknowledged by the Football
League after keeping the Valley Parade playing surface in tip-top condition
throughout the 2010/2011 season.
Doyle was narrowly beaten to the overall League 2 Groundsman of the Year
title by Chesterfield's Anthony Haywood, but along with Shrewsbury Town's
Richard Barnett, he has been highly commended in the divisional awards.
After another season when extreme weather pushed pitches to their limits,
the efforts of ground staff across the country has now been recognised by
the Football League.
The Football League Groundsman of the Year Award 2011 is handed out by the
Playing Surfaces Committee and is designed to recognise the importance of
the quality of pitches and to acknowledge Head Groundsmen and their staff.
The awards are determined initially using marks from referees and away
managers for each game and are then followed by detailed pitch inspections
and a review of management operations. These visits were carried out in late
March and early April.
Ewan Hunter of Nottingham Forest is the winner of the npower Championship
accolade and Carlisle United's David Mitchell scooped the award for npower
League 1.
===========================
Lawn hits out at Bradford Council
April 25th
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8991442.Crisis_point_for_Bradford_City/
===========================
Nice article and local news video from the Yorkshire Post on the FA Cup
centenary.
Shortened link
http://bit.ly/fb2zgF
Full link
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/video_exactly_1
00_years_on_the_tragedies_that_befell_bradford_s_fa_cup_winning_team_1_33242
46
===========================
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
L2 Southend (a) Friday April 15th Ko 7.45pm L0-4
Next fixture
L2 Burton (h) Tue April 19th Ko 7.45pm D1-1
L2 Sat April 23 15:00 (A) Accrington
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
Stats: Southend - Bradford C
Possession: 53 - 47%
Shots on target: 8 - 5
Shots off target: 4 - 2
Fouls: 11 - 16
Corners: 8 - 6
Ref: Mark Brown (E. Yorkshire)
Yellow cards:
Southend: Ferdinand (32 min.)
Bradford C: Threlfall (61 min.)
Southend: 1. Glenn Morris, 2. Sean Clohessy, 5. Graham Coughlan, 23. Chris
Barker, 16. Luke Prosser (75), 7. Anthony Grant, 31. Kane Ferdinand, 8.
Craig Easton (83), 12. Ryan Hall, 10. Barry Corr, 20. Harry Crawford (71).
SUBS: 24. Rhys Evans (GK), 17. Louie Soares, 19. Miguel Comminges, 21. Blair
Sturrock (71), 25. Teddy Nesbitt (75), 28. Kyle Asante (83), 30. Alex
Woodyard.
Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 3. Luke O'Brien, 22. Lee Bullock, 6. Luke
Oliver, 28. Robbie Threlfall, 20. Tom Adeyemi (63), 23. David Syers, 19.
Jonathan Worthington, 9. Gareth Evans (83), 4. Michael Flynn, 11. Scott
Dobie (64).
SUBS: 40. Lenny Pidgeley (GK), 10. Jake Speight (64), 14. Leon Osborne (63),
25. Chibuzor Chilaka, 30. Adam Robinson, 31. Alex Flett, 32. Dominic Rowe
(83).
===========================
NPower League Two
Southend U (2) 4
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 5,217
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City were crushed 4-0 at Roots Hall tonight to stay locked in the fight for
survival.
Jon McLaughlin's reflex save kept out a Graham Coughlan header before
Southend took the lead from the penalty spot.
Luke O'Brien, forced to play right back, fouled Harry Crawford and Barry
Corr slammed the spot-kick past the diving keeper.
As Southend took control, Luke Prosser headed over from close range. But the
Shrimpers grabbed their second two minutes before the break, Anthony Grant
firing home from 25 yards with a slight deflection off Jon Worthington.
City did improve straight after the break and Tom Adeyemi was denied at the
near post. Scott Dobie missed a great chance when he tried to round the
keeper from Michael Flynn's pass.
But any slight hope of a comeback disappeared after 65 minutes when Kane
Ferdinand headed Southend's third.
Four minutes later, the Shrimpers sealed the deal with the outstanding Hall
bagging his second after a blunder from McLaughlin.
Robbie Threlfall fired a late free-kick against the bar before clearing off
the line from Coughlan in stoppage time.
===========================
DALEY BACK WITH BRADFORD CITY
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Omar Daley has returned to City from his loan with Rotherham.
The winger was back in training with the Bantams this morning (Saturday) ahead of
Tuesday's important home clash with Burton.
===========================
STUART McCALL'S MOTHERWELL REACH SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
Motherwell secured a comfortable passage through to the final of the
Scottish Cup as a three goal first half blitz from Stuart McCall's men saw
them breeze past St Johnstone (3-0) at Hampden.
The Steelmen will now look to replicate the triumph of 1991, and the three
goal victory over the Perth side gives the former Bantam the chance to lift
silverware within the first six months of his Fir Park reign. They will
return to Hampden next month to face either Celtic or Aberdeen in the final.
McCall said: "First and foremost I'm absolutely delighted to be in the
final. I think we probably merited it but I looked at the clock after 25
minutes and we were 2-0 up and not really played to be honest. We got a goal
from a set-piece and a bit of individual brilliance from Jamie Murphy. I
said prior to the game we had players in the team like Murphy who could
produce a bit of individual brilliance and he certainly did that."
"Without being too negative, we could have played better in the first 45
minutes. St Johnstone had a lot of possession but the third goal was a
terrific goal, a good lay-off from Franny (Jeffers) and a great finish from
Sutty. The bits of excellence we got the two goals from and Lasley and
Murphy just went wide of the post. We played in little spells, if these
little spells are good enough to get you goals then great. In fairness to St
Johnstone they certainly deserved a goal in the second half but, all in all,
job done."
===========================
L2 Burton (h) Tue April 19th Ko 7.45pm D1-1
L2 Sat April 23 15:00 (A) Accrington
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
Stats: Southend - Bradford C
Possession: 53 - 47%
Shots on target: 8 - 5
Shots off target: 4 - 2
Fouls: 11 - 16
Corners: 8 - 6
Ref: Mark Brown (E. Yorkshire)
Yellow cards:
Southend: Ferdinand (32 min.)
Bradford C: Threlfall (61 min.)
Southend: 1. Glenn Morris, 2. Sean Clohessy, 5. Graham Coughlan, 23. Chris
Barker, 16. Luke Prosser (75), 7. Anthony Grant, 31. Kane Ferdinand, 8.
Craig Easton (83), 12. Ryan Hall, 10. Barry Corr, 20. Harry Crawford (71).
SUBS: 24. Rhys Evans (GK), 17. Louie Soares, 19. Miguel Comminges, 21. Blair
Sturrock (71), 25. Teddy Nesbitt (75), 28. Kyle Asante (83), 30. Alex
Woodyard.
Bradford C: 1. Jon McLaughlin, 3. Luke O'Brien, 22. Lee Bullock, 6. Luke
Oliver, 28. Robbie Threlfall, 20. Tom Adeyemi (63), 23. David Syers, 19.
Jonathan Worthington, 9. Gareth Evans (83), 4. Michael Flynn, 11. Scott
Dobie (64).
SUBS: 40. Lenny Pidgeley (GK), 10. Jake Speight (64), 14. Leon Osborne (63),
25. Chibuzor Chilaka, 30. Adam Robinson, 31. Alex Flett, 32. Dominic Rowe
(83).
===========================
NPower League Two
Southend U (2) 4
Bradford C (0) 0
Att: 5,217
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City were crushed 4-0 at Roots Hall tonight to stay locked in the fight for
survival.
Jon McLaughlin's reflex save kept out a Graham Coughlan header before
Southend took the lead from the penalty spot.
Luke O'Brien, forced to play right back, fouled Harry Crawford and Barry
Corr slammed the spot-kick past the diving keeper.
As Southend took control, Luke Prosser headed over from close range. But the
Shrimpers grabbed their second two minutes before the break, Anthony Grant
firing home from 25 yards with a slight deflection off Jon Worthington.
City did improve straight after the break and Tom Adeyemi was denied at the
near post. Scott Dobie missed a great chance when he tried to round the
keeper from Michael Flynn's pass.
But any slight hope of a comeback disappeared after 65 minutes when Kane
Ferdinand headed Southend's third.
Four minutes later, the Shrimpers sealed the deal with the outstanding Hall
bagging his second after a blunder from McLaughlin.
Robbie Threlfall fired a late free-kick against the bar before clearing off
the line from Coughlan in stoppage time.
===========================
DALEY BACK WITH BRADFORD CITY
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Omar Daley has returned to City from his loan with Rotherham.
The winger was back in training with the Bantams this morning (Saturday) ahead of
Tuesday's important home clash with Burton.
===========================
STUART McCALL'S MOTHERWELL REACH SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
Motherwell secured a comfortable passage through to the final of the
Scottish Cup as a three goal first half blitz from Stuart McCall's men saw
them breeze past St Johnstone (3-0) at Hampden.
The Steelmen will now look to replicate the triumph of 1991, and the three
goal victory over the Perth side gives the former Bantam the chance to lift
silverware within the first six months of his Fir Park reign. They will
return to Hampden next month to face either Celtic or Aberdeen in the final.
McCall said: "First and foremost I'm absolutely delighted to be in the
final. I think we probably merited it but I looked at the clock after 25
minutes and we were 2-0 up and not really played to be honest. We got a goal
from a set-piece and a bit of individual brilliance from Jamie Murphy. I
said prior to the game we had players in the team like Murphy who could
produce a bit of individual brilliance and he certainly did that."
"Without being too negative, we could have played better in the first 45
minutes. St Johnstone had a lot of possession but the third goal was a
terrific goal, a good lay-off from Franny (Jeffers) and a great finish from
Sutty. The bits of excellence we got the two goals from and Lasley and
Murphy just went wide of the post. We played in little spells, if these
little spells are good enough to get you goals then great. In fairness to St
Johnstone they certainly deserved a goal in the second half but, all in all,
job done."
===========================
Thursday, April 14, 2011
L2 Torquay (h) April 9th Ko 3pm L0-3
Next fixture
L2 Southend (a) Friday April 15th Ko 7.45pm
L2 Burton (h) Tue April 19th Ko 7.45pm (£1 ticket deal - see below)
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results
===========================
Match report
Syers admits Torquay had it too easy
7:20am Monday 11th April 2011
By Simon Parker
David Syers surveyed City's heaviest home loss of the season to Torquay and admitted: "We made it too easy for them."
The Bantams dropped back to 17th place and saw the gap to the League Two drop zone trimmed again to six points after Saturday's 3-0 beating.
It was a demoralising defeat against the fifth-placed Gulls after the win at Macclesfield in midweek had seemingly lifted them clear of any danger.
Midfielder Syers said: "We were playing against two very different teams. You cannot underestimate how much confidence Torquay have.
"We kept the ball pretty well for the first 20 minutes but then got ourselves into a bad situation.
"Every time we got a bit of momentum, we seemed to give them a goal. It was just too easy for Torquay to sit back and have chances.
"We'd have a good little spell and then concede again. It just takes the wind out of you.
"We're 40 games into the season and you can see the difference between a side that's used to winning and one that has been losing like us.
"It becomes harder and harder to keep going when things go against you."
Syers had one of City's few shots as they missed the presence of James Hanson up front. The striker at least has a chance of recovering from his hamstring injury to face Southend on Friday.
Peter Jackson had no complaints with the heavy scoreline. The interim boss conceded: "That's probably the first time since I've been manager when we've been outplayed for most of the game.
"We're bitterly disappointed in terms of how we got beaten. This team are so up and down and that's why another manager has lost his job, because they've not been good enough this season.
"Everyone was full of confidence after the way we played the other night. But it's important you perform and get points in front of your home fans.
"It's all right going to Macclesfield and playing well in front of 400 (City fans) but to get turned over at home is hard to take and adds pressure. It's a lonely place when you're 3-0 down with ten minutes to go."
Jackson revealed that Lewis Hunt was not included for personal reasons.
===========================
Bradford City fans are quids in again
6:30am Thursday 14th April 2011
By Simon Parker
City are repeating their £1 ticket offer for fans for Tuesday's crunch Valley Parade clash with fellow strugglers Burton.
The club slashed prices against Stockport in February and a whopping 15,332 crowd saw them edge home 3-2 in a thriller.
The Bantams are now ready to do the same for their game against the third-bottom Brewers.
Director of operations David Baldwin said: "It's another proverbial six-pointer and we want to drum up as much support as possible."
Tickets go on sale this morning and must be bought in advance by 5pm on Monday. The offer will not apply on match day because of police requirements.
===========================
From the club programme from last Saturday
Mike Harrison
editor - The City Gent
I know that few City fans buy a programme at the match these days, so many of you might have missed this gem of a gaffe that appeared in the Torquay one last Saturday.
On page 8 in the Football league Stat Pack Peter Jackson's record is as follows:
Played 128, Won 41, Drawn 35, Lost 52, Goals For 200 Against 216, Ave pts/game 1.23
This is pretty good going for someone who's acting as interim manager and has only been at VP for less than 2 months!
The next figures give the game away though.
Biggest win City 7 Rochdale 1 (29/11/1958)
Biggest loss QPR 5 City 0 (15/04/1960)
Given that Jacko only turned 50 last week, all this hapened even before he was a twinkle in the eye of his father!
Some numpty has confused Peter Jackson with the Peter Jackson who managed City in the late 50s early 60s. But there again, someone at the club missed this error as well!
Classic!
Mike Harrison
editor - The City Gent
===========================
Hunt refusing to play ball over Bradford City contract
Hunt refusing to play ball over Bradford City contract
7:00am Wednesday 13th April 2011
By Simon Parker
Lewis Hunt won't kick another ball for City – unless he agrees to drop a wage clause in his contract.
The defender was left out completely from the squad that lost to Torquay on Saturday.
And while he will be back in training as usual with his team-mates tomorrow morning, Hunt has been warned that he will not feature again if he is not prepared to renegotiate – something he is not willing to do at present.
Hunt has played 19 games since joining City on a one-season deal last summer. One more appearance would automatically trigger a further year on the same terms.
With next term's budget expected to be much reduced, City will not give him that. They have asked Hunt to drop the clause but the right back has refused to budge.
Peter Jackson said: "Lewis can still be involved and still play if he agrees to pull the clause out. But he thinks we should have stuck by the contract.
"He can change his mind but that's up to the player. I asked him again yesterday and I can't see him doing that.
"It's purely down to monetary terms. I've got one eye on next season's budget and things are going to be massively tight.
"I was willing to talk about a new contract with Lewis but not on the same terms he has now. It's disappointing but that's his choice."
Hunt, who was sidelined for four months with a serious knee injury, strung together a run of 11 straight games leading up to the clean sheet at Macclesfield eight days ago. He had also filled in well as a makeshift centre half.
Speaking to the T&A last week, he said: "It's in the club's hands (about my future). What will be, will be.
"I came up here with high expectations. I really thought we'd do well this season and it's not worked out that way at all."
Jackson watched former Middlesbrough teenager Phil Shead on trial at right back yesterday as the reserves won 1-0 at Port Vale.
But he admits City will have to make do in that role for the remaining six games, with Lee Bullock the most likely to fill in.
The interim boss added: "It's been a problem position since I came to the club but I thought Bullock did okay there on Saturday, although he could have done better with one of the goals.
"It's left us a little bit short, which is not ideal, but one more win will see us safe and ease things a bit."
===========================
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
L2 Macclesfield (a) April 5th W1-0
Next fixture
[ L2 Torquay (h) April 9th Ko 3pm L0-3 ]
L2 Southend (a) Friday April 15th Ko 7.45pm
L2 Burton (h) Tue April 19th Ko 7.45pm
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2332311,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats
===========================
Tuesday evening match report
Happy birthday for Jackson as Hanson goal earns welcome victory
8:30am Wednesday 6th April 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Jackson will today toast his 50th birthday after a win he ranks as one of the best of his managerial life.
City's interim boss got the present he really wanted with three points at Macclesfield last night.
The 1-0 win hoisted the Bantams five places up the League Two table – and revived his own hopes of securing the hot-seat full time after successive defeats against Shrewsbury and Stevenage.
Jackson roared: "I'm delighted for everybody connected with the club because this was a massive win for us. It makes it a wonderful birthday.
"If you rank the five top games in my career as a manager, this is up there as one of them.
"Macclesfield in front of just over 1,000 people will be up there for me personally with the top five victories I've had."
James Hanson headed the only goal but had to limp off later with a slight hamstring injury. He will be struggling to face Torquay at Valley Parade on Saturday.
"That was the one disappointment because I thought Hanson was sharp and back to his old self," said Jackson.
"Everybody was a bit low after Saturday but I knew this team was well capable of getting a result. We had key players back in their positions.
"We thoroughly deserved the victory and could have won by four or five. People will look at the score and think it was a close game but it wasn't.
"We defended well, broke well, got in the right areas and really caused them problems. I can't remember Jonny (McLaughlin) making a save."
The win – City's third during Jackson's seven games in charge – has eased them nine points away from the drop zone.
He said: "We had to beat the teams in and around us after taking two very good teams close without getting anything. We've done that and moved up five places.
"We've gone up to 15th on Peter Jackson's 50th birthday. It's marvellous!
"I'm having a little drink with the staff today and then I'm going out with Mrs Jackson and my beautiful family for a meal. I can enjoy it even more now and I'm so proud of my players."
===========================
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/04/bradford-city-made-half-a-million-profit-in-200910-but-its-not-all-good-news/?
===========================
CASH-STRAPPED CITY WANT RENT TALKS WITH LANDLORDS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
City want to renegotiate the rent with their Valley Parade landlords after
falling late on their last payment.
The club currently pay around £370,000 a year to former chairman Gordon
Gibb's pension fund for the stadium and the same to investment company
Prupim, who own the office block.
The latest quarterly bill was settled a week late because of a cash flow
problem when it was due.
City admit the overheads are hitting finances hard while they remain stuck
in League Two. Joint-chairman Mark Lawn's £2m loan and their £1m chunk from
Fabian Delph's move from Leeds to Aston Villa have been swallowed up by the
team's wage bill.
Director of operations David Baldwin confirmed that they are paying the
price for a failure to win promotion.
He said: "We're trying to be prudent and constantly reviewing outgoings to
see if we can reduce them accordingly.
"Over the last four years we've had (playing) budgets of £1.3m, £1.9m, £1.3m
and £1.5m.
"In reality, the break-even budgets are probably below £1.3m. There are some
big pushes in there, so Mark's extra investment and the Fabian Delph money
have been put in to those because we need to get out of this division.
"When you do that, you can get much greater amounts of money in terms of
advertising and TV rights.
"But four years down the line, we're not out of this division and we've got
to budget according to our measure."
City signed a 25-year lease for the stadium after their second
administration in 2004. But the rent for the ground – and surrounding
offices – is having more and more impact the longer they remain in the
bottom division.
Gibb has been reluctant to hold talks in the past but City are hoping that
he will reconsider their position.
Baldwin added: "We're keen to have discussions with both landlords to see
how we can restructure those rents in order to be sustainable as a feasible
trading service that's not running on deficits.
"We're not running up masses of debt. We've spent the money available to us
and want to make sure going forward that we stay within a break-even budget.
"Other clubs run their stadium for a fraction of the cost of ours. We may
have large crowds but large crowds on a reduced ticket price – and those
numbers have gone down each year.
"We had 12,200 (season-ticket holders) the first time we did the promotion
but are now down to 9,600 last year. That's a lot of income not coming in
over three years and the costs are still creeping up.
"The bottom line is that we're not being alarmist. We're not in debt.
"We're just making sure that we don't get into debt by having expenditure
that we can't sustain."
===========================
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
L2 (A) Stevenage, April 2, 2011. K.O. 3PM. L1-2
Next fixture
(Macclesfield April 5th W1-0 ... report out, hmmm, Thursday)
L2 Torquay (h) April 9th Ko 3pm
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2330112,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats + team info best viewed online
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=294779&cc=5739
Stevenage Bradford City
10(6) Shots (on Goal) 4(2)
6 Fouls 10
5 Corner Kicks 5
3 Offsides 1
64% Time of Possession 36%
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
2 Saves 4
===========================
Saturday evening match report
4:59pm Saturday 2nd April 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Jackson's bid to keep the City hot-seat suffered another setback at in-form Stevenage this afternoon.
The home side clocked up a sixth win on the bounce to leave the Bantams still looking over their shoulders at the bottom, especially with Barnet's impressive win at Burton.
Tom Adeyemi had a half-chance saved by Chris Day in an even start but it went downhill from there.
The Bantams were lucky to escape on 21 minutes as Stacy Long chipped over a stranded Jon McLaughlin but the ball pinged back off the bar.
Stevenage upped the ante more and more as the half wore on and went in front nine minutes before the break from the penalty spot.
Referee Brendan Malone had done City few favours but there were no complaints after Steve Williams bundled over Long and John Mousinho tucked away the spot-kick.
City were second to the ball too often and would have gone further behind right on the interval but for Lewis Hunt who twice cleared off the line in a matter of seconds from home skipper Mark Roberts.
Jackson had a face like thunder as he headed for the dressing room, no doubt ready to deliver a few choice words.
Former City coach Junior Lewis, sitting in the stand behind the dug-outs, would have known how he felt.
Stevenage resumed as they left off and Darius Charles went close with a header after a mix-up between Williams and McLaughlin.
McLaughlin saved well from Darren Murphy before David Syers nearly equalised in the 70th minute. Getting forward for once from his right-back role, his shot on the turn from Leon Osborne's cross was parried by Day and the rebound fell behind the incoming substitute Chib Chilaka.
City were having more of a go and two minutes later Syers made no mistake, squeezing a cross-shot inside the far post for his ninth goal of the season.
Parity lasted just four minutes as Craig Reid's cutback was swept home by an unmarked Darius Charles from ten yards out to restore Stevenage's lead.
Jackson threw on Luke Oliver up front - a position he'd played in an FA Trophy final for Stevenage - and Jake Speight.
And there was one late chance three minutes into stoppage time but Chilaka nodded wide.
===========================
Monday morning match report
Jackson's inherited problems all too plain to see
6:20am Monday 4th April 2011
By Simon Parker
Stevenage 2, City 1
Peter Jackson and Colin Cooper sat in dugout isolation as they idly watched the players warm down.
It would not be too hard to hazard a guess at what they were thinking.
Not that Jackson gave much away in his post-match press conference. The interim boss, usually the bubbliest of characters, struck a flat and listless character in front of the microphones.
Jacko talked of the need to pick the players up for tomorrow's "massive" encounter with Macclesfield. First he has to get his own chin off the floor.
The prize that he is so desperate to claim remains elusively out of reach. Saturday's result had done him few favours and Jackson knew it.
City had finished with a front three of Jake Speight, Chib Chilaka and Luke Oliver.
That's a striker who has not scored for City from open play since August, another who has not got one at all and a centre half thrown forward as nuisance value.
On the same afternoon, Crewe were smashing Cheltenham for eight – nearly a quarter of what City have managed since August! The problems that Jackson inherited are all too plain to see.
Once again the goal that proved City's undoing was self-inflicted after a mistake by David Syers. But, as it has regularly been pointed out, Syers is no natural defender. The fact that he was his side's most potent attacking threat said it all.
Jackson went on the defensive afterwards when questioned about persisting with employing the season's only bright spot as a makeshift right back.
At least Oliver's presence in the closing stages should allow him to restore the natural order to City's formation at Moss Rose.
Ironically Lewis Hunt was the best performer at centre half, a role he continues to fill with the confidence of someone more than just filling in.
But Oliver's return would allow Hunt to resume his usual right-back duties – and free Syers to go foraging from midfield again. Please.
Jon Worthington, too, must be brought back to add some bite to a midfield where Michael Flynn continues to struggle.
Jackson had tried Leon Osborne for the first time but the winger proved as peripheral a figure as he has done through the many opportunities given him by Peter Taylor.
So once again there was little output from City's flanks.
Scott Dobie was pushed up top to partner James Hanson after Jackson lost patience with Speight. But that move didn't work either as the frontmen got nothing out of the uncompromising Stevenage central defenders.
It highlights the size of City's decline that few eyebrows would have been raised by the final scoreline.
Anyone glancing through the programme would have read the warning signs about Stevenage's finishing power.
Last season they won 14 of the last 15 league games on the way to the Conference crown. The year before it was something similar.
So a sixth straight victory at this stage of the season seems par for the course for a side with an unquenchable belief in their own destiny.
Graham Westley and his team put plenty of non-league noses out of joint on their way up. They clearly thrive on rubbing rivals up the wrong way.
"Our success is deeply resented by the many and appreciated only by the few," is the Westley mantra.
No surprise there were a few sparks flying on the touchline with two such combustible characters a matter of metres apart. The fourth official frequently found himself the meat in the sandwich.
Westley was on referee Brendan Malone's case from the off, picking up on any contact with his targetman Darius Charles.
The striker – who can bizarrely also play left back – looked quite capable of handling himself and dished plenty back. But it was the out-of-sorts Steve Williams who bore the brunt of Westley's ire and, predictably, Malone's whistle.
After an early half-chance for Tom Adeyemi, one of City's bolder performers, the game had quickly settled into an expected pattern as Stevenage pounded away.
Stacy Long left Jon McLaughlin grounded with a deft chip that bounced back into play off the bar.
Then City pressed the self-destruct button once again as Williams bundled into Long. Charles knocked in the loose ball but Malone had already pointed to the spot, John Mousinho making no mistake anyway from 12 yards.
City, having held their ground for the first quarter, were starting to creak.
Hunt kept them in it, first getting a vital touch on Long's drive and then twice defying home skipper Mark Roberts with a game of head tennis on his own goalline.
The outlook remained just as bleak into the second half. Williams and McLaughlin got in each other's way to gift Charles a free header, before the keeper made amends with a smart block from Darren Murphy.
City needed a lift from somewhere – and got it from the reluctant right back. Syers burst upfield, took a return pass from Osborne in the box, swivelled and forced the save from a startled Chris Day. The rebound, typically, ran just behind substitute Chilaka.
But there were signs of life and City's extra zip was soon rewarded with an equaliser. Again it was that man Syers who squeezed his shot inside the far post for his ninth goal of the term.
Suddenly a few cracks were appearing in the home psyche; the earlier cockiness of the place drifting away as West Yorkshire voices rang out from the far end.
Could City go on and pinch the win? Er, no. Syers played himself into trouble, Williams was caught on his heels and Craig Reid cut back for Charles to fire in from acres of room.
Having punched the air just four minutes before, Jackson was left pounding the top of the dugout in sheer frustration.
It threatened to get worse as Murphy played in Chris Beardsley. This time fortune favoured the bravery of McLaughlin, the shot pinging off his body and safely away from the gathering red and white shirts.
Still there was one final opportunity for City's B-list frontline. With Day in no man's land, Gareth Evans hoisted the ball hopefully into the box and Chilaka planted a free header two yards wide. Same old story.
Westley bellowed at the assistant referee as the clock past the agreed four minutes of added time and the prompt whistle produced a chorus of "another one bites the dust" from the tannoy.
Stevenage crowed over another three points; Jackson and Cooper were left to stew on their own prospects. The future remains unsure for all concerned. Attendance: 3,079
===========================
Oliver insists Bantams are not far away from getting consistent results
6:10am Tuesday 5th April 2011
By Simon Parker
Luke Oliver reckons City are "two per cent" off being a decent side.
The big defender is set to swell the ranks at Macclesfield tonight after making his comeback from a hamstring injury in the 2-1 loss against Stevenage.
For Oliver, Saturday was another example of the fine margin between success and failure. Eight of City's last nine defeats have been by a single goal.
He admitted: "It's very annoying because it's not as if we've been thumped too many times.
"I don't think there's a lot of difference between the teams in most games. But maybe we're just lacking that extra two per cent to get the result.
"I personally feel on our day we can beat anyone. We've just not had enough of those days.
"We come away every time thinking the performance wasn't too bad and maybe we'll get it right again the next week. It's very frustrating for everyone."
Oliver is not predicting a nasty sting in the tail of a wretched season – and City can do themselves a huge favour by leap-frogging Macc with a victory.
He said: "We're very confident that we won't get caught up in any relegation battle. But we have to bounce back again tonight and get as far away from the bottom two as we can.
"We want to get into mid-table with a strong finish so things are looking up for next season.
"Over the course of the season, we've probably done better against the better teams.
"It's the points that we've dropped against those lower down which is why we are where we are. We need to correct that tonight.
"It will be a battle and we've got to stamp our authority on them."
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website…
FOOTBALL LEAGUE STRIKE NEW SKY DEAL
The Football League and Sky Sports have signed a new broadcasting agreement
to run for three seasons from 2012/13.
The new deal, worth £195m, will see Sky Sports extend their unrivalled live
coverage of the npower Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint
Trophy into 2015.
The League is also engaged in ongoing discussions with broadcasters
regarding free-to-air match highlights.
Under the new agreement Sky Sports will broadcast, exclusively live, each
season:
- 75 matches from across the npower Football League.
- The npower Football League Play-Offs - including all three Finals.
- 15 matches from the Carling Cup, including both legs of each Carling Cup
semi-final and the Carling Cup Final from Wembley Stadium.
- The Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final and at least two matches from the
preceding rounds.
Sky Sports will also broadcast highlights and clips of the npower Football
League, Carling Cup & Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The agreement encompasses
television, broadband internet, video-on-demand and mobile services.
In announcing the new agreement Football League Chairman Greg Clarke said:
"Sky Sports is a highly valued partner of The Football League and we are
delighted to extend our relationship for a further three seasons. They are a
class act and our clubs will welcome their continued support.
"This has been a challenging climate in which to negotiate television
rights, given the state of the economy and the lack of competitive tension
in the sports broadcasting market.
"I am confident that our clubs will take heart from seeing such a
significant ongoing investment in their competitions, despite a reduced
level of broadcasting income, as it provides financial certainty in
uncertain times."
Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports said:
"Sky Sports has had a long and successful partnership with The Football
League.
"We have seen the growth of attendances, the huge success of the Play-Offs
and some wonderful Carling Cup Finals.
"This new deal will extend the relationship to 2015 and will take us beyond
our 1000th live Football League game.
"Sky Sports will bring viewers more live matches - over 100 a year from
across all divisions and each of The League's competitions - and be the home
of live npower League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy football."
(Macclesfield April 5th W1-0 ... report out, hmmm, Thursday)
L2 Torquay (h) April 9th Ko 3pm
Current table
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_league2.html
===========================
Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10266,00.html
Pictures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2330112,00.html?
"Last Match" Highlights on Bantams Player
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/player/LastMatch/0,,10266~1612005~36,00.html
Links
BBC's end-of-season predictor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/predictor/default.stm
===========================
Match stats + team info best viewed online
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=294779&cc=5739
Stevenage Bradford City
10(6) Shots (on Goal) 4(2)
6 Fouls 10
5 Corner Kicks 5
3 Offsides 1
64% Time of Possession 36%
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
2 Saves 4
===========================
Saturday evening match report
4:59pm Saturday 2nd April 2011
By Simon Parker
Peter Jackson's bid to keep the City hot-seat suffered another setback at in-form Stevenage this afternoon.
The home side clocked up a sixth win on the bounce to leave the Bantams still looking over their shoulders at the bottom, especially with Barnet's impressive win at Burton.
Tom Adeyemi had a half-chance saved by Chris Day in an even start but it went downhill from there.
The Bantams were lucky to escape on 21 minutes as Stacy Long chipped over a stranded Jon McLaughlin but the ball pinged back off the bar.
Stevenage upped the ante more and more as the half wore on and went in front nine minutes before the break from the penalty spot.
Referee Brendan Malone had done City few favours but there were no complaints after Steve Williams bundled over Long and John Mousinho tucked away the spot-kick.
City were second to the ball too often and would have gone further behind right on the interval but for Lewis Hunt who twice cleared off the line in a matter of seconds from home skipper Mark Roberts.
Jackson had a face like thunder as he headed for the dressing room, no doubt ready to deliver a few choice words.
Former City coach Junior Lewis, sitting in the stand behind the dug-outs, would have known how he felt.
Stevenage resumed as they left off and Darius Charles went close with a header after a mix-up between Williams and McLaughlin.
McLaughlin saved well from Darren Murphy before David Syers nearly equalised in the 70th minute. Getting forward for once from his right-back role, his shot on the turn from Leon Osborne's cross was parried by Day and the rebound fell behind the incoming substitute Chib Chilaka.
City were having more of a go and two minutes later Syers made no mistake, squeezing a cross-shot inside the far post for his ninth goal of the season.
Parity lasted just four minutes as Craig Reid's cutback was swept home by an unmarked Darius Charles from ten yards out to restore Stevenage's lead.
Jackson threw on Luke Oliver up front - a position he'd played in an FA Trophy final for Stevenage - and Jake Speight.
And there was one late chance three minutes into stoppage time but Chilaka nodded wide.
===========================
Monday morning match report
Jackson's inherited problems all too plain to see
6:20am Monday 4th April 2011
By Simon Parker
Stevenage 2, City 1
Peter Jackson and Colin Cooper sat in dugout isolation as they idly watched the players warm down.
It would not be too hard to hazard a guess at what they were thinking.
Not that Jackson gave much away in his post-match press conference. The interim boss, usually the bubbliest of characters, struck a flat and listless character in front of the microphones.
Jacko talked of the need to pick the players up for tomorrow's "massive" encounter with Macclesfield. First he has to get his own chin off the floor.
The prize that he is so desperate to claim remains elusively out of reach. Saturday's result had done him few favours and Jackson knew it.
City had finished with a front three of Jake Speight, Chib Chilaka and Luke Oliver.
That's a striker who has not scored for City from open play since August, another who has not got one at all and a centre half thrown forward as nuisance value.
On the same afternoon, Crewe were smashing Cheltenham for eight – nearly a quarter of what City have managed since August! The problems that Jackson inherited are all too plain to see.
Once again the goal that proved City's undoing was self-inflicted after a mistake by David Syers. But, as it has regularly been pointed out, Syers is no natural defender. The fact that he was his side's most potent attacking threat said it all.
Jackson went on the defensive afterwards when questioned about persisting with employing the season's only bright spot as a makeshift right back.
At least Oliver's presence in the closing stages should allow him to restore the natural order to City's formation at Moss Rose.
Ironically Lewis Hunt was the best performer at centre half, a role he continues to fill with the confidence of someone more than just filling in.
But Oliver's return would allow Hunt to resume his usual right-back duties – and free Syers to go foraging from midfield again. Please.
Jon Worthington, too, must be brought back to add some bite to a midfield where Michael Flynn continues to struggle.
Jackson had tried Leon Osborne for the first time but the winger proved as peripheral a figure as he has done through the many opportunities given him by Peter Taylor.
So once again there was little output from City's flanks.
Scott Dobie was pushed up top to partner James Hanson after Jackson lost patience with Speight. But that move didn't work either as the frontmen got nothing out of the uncompromising Stevenage central defenders.
It highlights the size of City's decline that few eyebrows would have been raised by the final scoreline.
Anyone glancing through the programme would have read the warning signs about Stevenage's finishing power.
Last season they won 14 of the last 15 league games on the way to the Conference crown. The year before it was something similar.
So a sixth straight victory at this stage of the season seems par for the course for a side with an unquenchable belief in their own destiny.
Graham Westley and his team put plenty of non-league noses out of joint on their way up. They clearly thrive on rubbing rivals up the wrong way.
"Our success is deeply resented by the many and appreciated only by the few," is the Westley mantra.
No surprise there were a few sparks flying on the touchline with two such combustible characters a matter of metres apart. The fourth official frequently found himself the meat in the sandwich.
Westley was on referee Brendan Malone's case from the off, picking up on any contact with his targetman Darius Charles.
The striker – who can bizarrely also play left back – looked quite capable of handling himself and dished plenty back. But it was the out-of-sorts Steve Williams who bore the brunt of Westley's ire and, predictably, Malone's whistle.
After an early half-chance for Tom Adeyemi, one of City's bolder performers, the game had quickly settled into an expected pattern as Stevenage pounded away.
Stacy Long left Jon McLaughlin grounded with a deft chip that bounced back into play off the bar.
Then City pressed the self-destruct button once again as Williams bundled into Long. Charles knocked in the loose ball but Malone had already pointed to the spot, John Mousinho making no mistake anyway from 12 yards.
City, having held their ground for the first quarter, were starting to creak.
Hunt kept them in it, first getting a vital touch on Long's drive and then twice defying home skipper Mark Roberts with a game of head tennis on his own goalline.
The outlook remained just as bleak into the second half. Williams and McLaughlin got in each other's way to gift Charles a free header, before the keeper made amends with a smart block from Darren Murphy.
City needed a lift from somewhere – and got it from the reluctant right back. Syers burst upfield, took a return pass from Osborne in the box, swivelled and forced the save from a startled Chris Day. The rebound, typically, ran just behind substitute Chilaka.
But there were signs of life and City's extra zip was soon rewarded with an equaliser. Again it was that man Syers who squeezed his shot inside the far post for his ninth goal of the term.
Suddenly a few cracks were appearing in the home psyche; the earlier cockiness of the place drifting away as West Yorkshire voices rang out from the far end.
Could City go on and pinch the win? Er, no. Syers played himself into trouble, Williams was caught on his heels and Craig Reid cut back for Charles to fire in from acres of room.
Having punched the air just four minutes before, Jackson was left pounding the top of the dugout in sheer frustration.
It threatened to get worse as Murphy played in Chris Beardsley. This time fortune favoured the bravery of McLaughlin, the shot pinging off his body and safely away from the gathering red and white shirts.
Still there was one final opportunity for City's B-list frontline. With Day in no man's land, Gareth Evans hoisted the ball hopefully into the box and Chilaka planted a free header two yards wide. Same old story.
Westley bellowed at the assistant referee as the clock past the agreed four minutes of added time and the prompt whistle produced a chorus of "another one bites the dust" from the tannoy.
Stevenage crowed over another three points; Jackson and Cooper were left to stew on their own prospects. The future remains unsure for all concerned. Attendance: 3,079
===========================
Oliver insists Bantams are not far away from getting consistent results
6:10am Tuesday 5th April 2011
By Simon Parker
Luke Oliver reckons City are "two per cent" off being a decent side.
The big defender is set to swell the ranks at Macclesfield tonight after making his comeback from a hamstring injury in the 2-1 loss against Stevenage.
For Oliver, Saturday was another example of the fine margin between success and failure. Eight of City's last nine defeats have been by a single goal.
He admitted: "It's very annoying because it's not as if we've been thumped too many times.
"I don't think there's a lot of difference between the teams in most games. But maybe we're just lacking that extra two per cent to get the result.
"I personally feel on our day we can beat anyone. We've just not had enough of those days.
"We come away every time thinking the performance wasn't too bad and maybe we'll get it right again the next week. It's very frustrating for everyone."
Oliver is not predicting a nasty sting in the tail of a wretched season – and City can do themselves a huge favour by leap-frogging Macc with a victory.
He said: "We're very confident that we won't get caught up in any relegation battle. But we have to bounce back again tonight and get as far away from the bottom two as we can.
"We want to get into mid-table with a strong finish so things are looking up for next season.
"Over the course of the season, we've probably done better against the better teams.
"It's the points that we've dropped against those lower down which is why we are where we are. We need to correct that tonight.
"It will be a battle and we've got to stamp our authority on them."
===========================
From the Official BCFC Website…
FOOTBALL LEAGUE STRIKE NEW SKY DEAL
The Football League and Sky Sports have signed a new broadcasting agreement
to run for three seasons from 2012/13.
The new deal, worth £195m, will see Sky Sports extend their unrivalled live
coverage of the npower Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint
Trophy into 2015.
The League is also engaged in ongoing discussions with broadcasters
regarding free-to-air match highlights.
Under the new agreement Sky Sports will broadcast, exclusively live, each
season:
- 75 matches from across the npower Football League.
- The npower Football League Play-Offs - including all three Finals.
- 15 matches from the Carling Cup, including both legs of each Carling Cup
semi-final and the Carling Cup Final from Wembley Stadium.
- The Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final and at least two matches from the
preceding rounds.
Sky Sports will also broadcast highlights and clips of the npower Football
League, Carling Cup & Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The agreement encompasses
television, broadband internet, video-on-demand and mobile services.
In announcing the new agreement Football League Chairman Greg Clarke said:
"Sky Sports is a highly valued partner of The Football League and we are
delighted to extend our relationship for a further three seasons. They are a
class act and our clubs will welcome their continued support.
"This has been a challenging climate in which to negotiate television
rights, given the state of the economy and the lack of competitive tension
in the sports broadcasting market.
"I am confident that our clubs will take heart from seeing such a
significant ongoing investment in their competitions, despite a reduced
level of broadcasting income, as it provides financial certainty in
uncertain times."
Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports said:
"Sky Sports has had a long and successful partnership with The Football
League.
"We have seen the growth of attendances, the huge success of the Play-Offs
and some wonderful Carling Cup Finals.
"This new deal will extend the relationship to 2015 and will take us beyond
our 1000th live Football League game.
"Sky Sports will bring viewers more live matches - over 100 a year from
across all divisions and each of The League's competitions - and be the home
of live npower League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy football."
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