The Bradford City Onion

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

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

L2 v Barnet (h) Sat August 27th ko 3pm W4-2

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

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

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2376580,00.html

Pictures

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

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

Signings & Loans

http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=8&aid=14&dir=2011/August/Friday26

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The "Social media COrner"

All updates rehashed from Derm Tanner on Twitter @tannerman774
Kyel Reid (winger) has signed a two year deal. Reid not currently match fit.
Syers to see knee specialist next week to see when he can take knee brace off.
Cooper taking training tomorrow and will then sit down with Parkinson and discuss future.
Currently we do not have permission to talk to Benson @ Charlton. If the deal isn't sorted by Wednesday it isn't happening. Other irons in the fire.

WSC
http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/7654/38/

Wells on Jacko and international call up
http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20110827/SPORT01/708279965

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

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

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

Match report

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9220824.The_Mitchell_and_Hanson_show_is_top_entertainment_for_Bradford_City_fans/

The Mitchell and Hanson show is top entertainment for Bradford City fans
7:40am Monday 29th August 2011
By Simon Parker

Bradford City 4 Barnet 2

By the end of the season, Colin Cooper's stint in charge will be consigned to the briefest of footnotes.

But however quick his 15 minutes of City fame flashes by, it should be remembered for one significant outcome.

This was the afternoon that James Hanson reminded everyone what an attacking force he still is. Or perhaps that should read, his team-mates suddenly woke up and remembered that the big man can only flourish if he actually gets some decent service.

The knives have been out for Hanson in the opening month. With the much-trumpeted new era making such a stalling start, the centre forward has been an easy target for criticism.

He has looked a marooned, frustrated figure scratching around for any scraps to come his way. It was no surprise if his confidence was on the wane.

Peter Jackson had noticed it when he gave what turned out to be his final press conference on Thursday. He wanted to see more devil in Hanson's play; something to scare defenders.

Twenty-four dramatic hours later and Cooper had his arm round Hanson with a pep talk about everything the targetman was good at.

Cooper said: "Big James has been disappointed with the way the season has started considering he had a smashing pre-season.

"So I had a word with him on Friday to remind him of his strengths. He's 6ft 3in, he can run, he can jump and he makes it hard for defenders.

"If I was playing against him I wouldn't have enjoyed when he's on form.

"He deserves a massive pat on the back because he worked his socks off and got his reward."

Both Hanson's goals came courtesy of Chris Mitchell crosses. The Scot, whose free-kick also paved the way for Guy Branston's header, gave a passing masterclass on his return to the team.

Cooper admitted that the biggest problem they had with Mitchell was where best to play him. He's certainly not an out-and-out right winger but his range of passing is clinical.

The temporary boss had told his team to ping the ball into the box for Hanson and give him the kind of opportunities that he craved. Nobody was listening more keenly than Mitchell.

He said: "I'm not going to take players on, that's not my game. I like to get balls in the box and luckily Hanson was in the right place at the right time.

"You see from our goal-kicks that he always wins his fair share of headers. Coops just told me to get plenty of shots and crosses in for him.

"I ended up with three assists and he got his two goals, which will hopefully kick-start his season."

The first goal was trademark Hanson – and could not have come at a more opportune moment.

He had already tested keeper Dean Brill twice in a lively start. One of those chances, a header set up by Robbie Threlfall, probably should have gone in.

But, as has been the story each week, City found themselves chasing the game when Ricky Holmes went past Branston too easily and teed up Izale McLeod to put Barnet in front.

Step forward Mitchell and Hanson to the rescue. Within 30 seconds – and before any chins could droop – a delicious cross was plonked on Hanson's head at the far post to steer the equaliser back across the keeper.

The crowd revelled in an open spectacle, though Cooper felt it was too open and made the point forcibly in the dressing room at half-time.

But there was nothing to moan about City's attacking play. The rejuvenated Hanson found a willing ally in Mark Stewart and he harried and hastled Barnet's ropy back four.

Ritchie Jones was in string-pulling mood behind them, while Mitchell looked to put in crosses for fun.

City's breakthrough came four minutes into the second half. Hanson's tenacity earned a free-kick which Mitchell curled into the danger zone to be buried by Branston.

The skipper led the wild celebrations as City milked the moment of leading in a league match for the first time since April.

Barnet could not be written off. McLeod was still a handful and left winger Mark Marshall was prepared to take on all comers as he hugged the touchline.

But a City third five minutes later eased any immediate tension. Jordan Parkes tried to be clever dribbling out of defence, Mitchell read it, seized possession and put Hanson's second goal of the afternoon on a plate.

Stewart made way to a well-earned standing ovation. He had done his job in softening up the opposition and on came Nahki Wells to deliver the killer blow.

Wells, whose only previous appearance was on the opening day, had trumped Michael Bryan for a spot on the bench.

And he seized his chance, toying with Danny Senda on the edge of the box before shifting the ball between his feet and firing past Brill.

Wells then nearly repeated the trick but saw his shot come back into play off the inside of the post.

McLeod did manage to bundle a late consolation past the erratic Oscar Jansson but nobody seemed to notice.

Cooper added: "Whether people think it or not, the players have been working ever so hard for the last ten weeks. This result was a reward for that.

"Confidence is the biggest thing in football and that will do them the power of good.

"Peter leaving shocked us all but the funny thing about football is that nothing changes. Managers will come and go.

"As disappointing as it was for Peter, I told the players they had a game to prepare for and they had to be right.

"Go out there with whatever makes you tick. If it's to raise a glass to Peter, so be it.

"They all deserve a pat on the back."

After another traumatic week at Valley Parade, the fans could finally enjoy a result and performance worth cheering. And, just as importantly, the return to form of City's number one striker.

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

LAWN'S TV CASH CALCULATIONS
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Mark Lawn today told City fans expecting a TV cash bonanza: Forget it.

The club will be on Sky again next week for the JPT first-round clash with
Sheffield Wednesday.

It is their second appearance on live television in the opening month of the
season but Lawn stressed that does not mean the coffers are suddenly
bulging.

City will get a £10,000 fee for staging Tuesday's match – and the
joint-chairman calculated that will merely make up for the loss of revenue
from fans choosing to watch it at home.

And he also revealed that the estimated £100,000 they pocketed for the
Carling Cup derby with Leeds has already gone.

He said: "That money was spent before we even played the game. We used it as
soon as the draw was made and we were told it would be on TV.

"We immediately upped the manager's (playing) budget by £100,000, so that's
gone.

"It's the same with the Johnstone's Paint game next week. People see that
we're on telly again and think we're going to be rolling in it but that's
not the case.

"The money we'll get from TV will barely cover what we're going to lose out
on in gate receipts because you can watch it at home or in the pub."

City's search for a more experienced striker in time for Barnet's visit on
Saturday has so far drawn a blank. But they still have targets in mind.

They will soon be due a payment from Manchester United as part of the
on-going deal with midfielder Tom Cleverley. They are entitled to a cash sum
after ten league appearances for the champions.

Lawn added: "Once again we are having to use money from other income streams
with things like Cleverley and looking to sell youngsters on to clubs."

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

Monday, August 29, 2011

Phil Parkinson appointed Bradford City manager

Phil Parkinson appointed Bradford City manager

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14692940.stm

Former Charlton Athletic boss Phil Parkinson has been appointed Bradford City manager.

Peter Jackson resigned on Thursday after the League Two side picked up just one point from four games.

Parkinson, who has been out of work since he left Charlton in January, has signed a two-year deal at Valley Parade.

A club statement read: "Parkinson was always the club's number one choice to land the position."

The 43-year-old Parkinson played for Bury and Reading before moving into management with Colchester and then Hull.

Jackson was appointed as permanent manager of Bradford in May, following a three-month period as interim boss.

But the 50-year-old decided to quit following a poor start to the campaign, saying it would give the Yorkshire club the "best possible chance for the rest of the season".

Bradford began life after Jackson by beating Barnet 4-2 on Saturday.

========================
From BCFC website

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2435136,00.html

Parkinson appointed City boss

Following intense media speculation, Bradford City Football Club is delighted to officially announce the appointment of Phil Parkinson as their new first team manager.

Parkinson was always the club's number one choice to land the position, which has been vacant since the departure of former City captain Peter Jackson four days ago.

The 43 year old, who has signed a two year contract, will start his job with immediate effect.

Colin Cooper, who led City to their first win of the season against Barnet at the weekend while in temporary charge, will prepare the side for Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie with Sheffield Wednesday to enable Parkinson to fully settle into his new role.

After a successful 15 year playing career as a tough-tackling midfielder with Southampton, Bury and Reading, Parkinson took his first steps into management with Colchester United in 2003.

Despite having the lowest average attendance in the division, Parkinson led Colchester to the Championship with a second place finish in the 2005/06 League 1 season.

Parkinson also led Colchester to the F.A Cup 5th round on two seperate occasions during his three years at Layer Road.

His amazing achievements with the U's earned him an exciting opportunity to manage Hull City, with the Tigers reportedly paying Colchester £400,000 for his services.

Unfortunately for Parkinson, his time at Hull didn't work out according to plan and he left the KC Stadium in December 2006.

He wasn't out of work for long, however, as he was quickly appointed as Alan Pardew's assistant at Charlton Athletic around a month later.

After nearly two years in the role at The Valley, Parkinson was appointed caretaker manager following Pardew's departure in November 2008.

Parkinson did enough to impress the Charlton board during the one month he was in temporary charge as he was given the job on a full time basis on New Year's Eve.

With confidence in the squad at a severe low at the time though, he was unfortunately unable to prevent Charlton slipping out of the Championship. His Addicks' side did end the season with only one defeat to their name out of their last eight matches as they left the division with their heads held high.

Parkinson also ensured that their was no relegation hangover in his squad for the following season as Charlton started their 2009/10 League 1 season with six successive wins.

He eventually led Charlton to a 4th place finish at the end of the regular season - only two points off an automatic promotion spot - and therefore a place in Play-Offs.

Despite pushing opponents Swindon Town all the way in both legs of their Play-Offs semi-final, Parkinson's Chalrton eventually suffered the agony of losing out on penalties.

Unfortunately for Parkinson, Charlton were unable to carry their promotion-chasing form into the following season as they suffered a slow start to the 2010/2011 campaign.

Parkinson eventually left The Valley in January 2011.

The Chorley-born coach will now join the Bantams after taking part in some scouting duties in recent months for Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.

Parkinson will be formally introduced to the squad this morning before turning to the main task in hand - helping to push the Bantams up the League 2 table.

The board and staff of Bradford City would like to take this opportunity to wish Phil every success in his new role at the football club and ask all Bradford supporters to give the new management team their full support.

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

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2435590,00.html

Parkinson comes highly recommended says Lawn

City joint-chairman Mark Lawn says there were a number of reasons why new City boss Phil Parkinson came out on top in the search for Peter Jackson's replacement.

Lawn admits that Parkinson's name was always prominent in City's thinking when they began looking for a new manager thanks to several glowing recommendations from figures within the game.

He has revealed that the club's board were also won over by Parkinson's high levels of professionalism, motivation and work-rate.

Lawn said: "Phil was recommended to us by a lot of people high up in the football fraternity.

"He has a reputation within the football fraternity of being an extremely hard-worker

"His name also came top of our list when we were having a meeting to discuss Peter Jackson's successor a few nights ago.

"He was the first person that we interviewed as well - he was always top of our list.

"He came across as a very professional man - driven, motivated and he wants to do well.

"I honestly think that if there hadn't of been a change of ownership at Charlton (Athletic) during his time there then he probably would still be there now."

While clearly exciting by the prospect of Parkinson at City's helm, Lawn has urged supporters to give the new manager time to get settled into the job and mould the squad into his image.

Lawn says that City have not written this season off by any means, however, and with Kyel Reid's signature already secured, the joint-chairman has confirmed that Parkinson will be given a budget to bring in more new players.

"I still think that Bradford fans should look at this as a rebuilding season," explained Lawn.

"I think if we can get around the edge of the Play-Off zone then I think that will be a good season for us.

"I think you will see that Phil is going to be bringing in some new players and I think they will be the sort of players that we excite the fans."

========

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2435180,00.html

Name: Phil Parkinson

Date of Birth: 01/12/67

Place of Birth: Chorley, Lancashire

Phil Parkinson was officially unveiled as Bradford City's latest first team manager on Monday 29 August 2011.

Below is a brief look at his journey through football before his arrival at Valley Parade:

Please see
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2435180,00.html
for the full article

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Breaking news: Jacko resigns

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2432065,00.html

Peter Jackson leaves Bradford City

Posted on: Thu 25 Aug 2011

Bradford City Football Club would like to draw supporters' attention to the following official club statement:

At a club board meeting today, the football club can confirm that First Team Manager Peter Jackson tendered his resignation. This was duly accepted by the board.

Peter told the board that in light of the poor start to the season, he felt that to resign now would give the club the best possible chance for the rest of the season.

The board would like to thank Peter for his hard work in keeping the club in the Football League last season, and wish him well in his future endeavours.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14670814.stm

Peter Jackson has quit as manager of League Two Bradford City.

Jackson, 50, was appointed as permanent manager of Bradford in May, following a three-month period as interim boss.

However, a run of three defeats in the league, including Saturday's 1-0 loss at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, has led Jackson to tender his resignation.

"He felt that to resign now would give the club that best possible chance for the rest of the season," said a statement on the club website.

Jackson offered to resign during a club board meeting on Thursday, which the board accepted.

As a player Jackson had two stints at the Bantams, making 336 appearances in a total of 10 years at the club.

Following his retirement from playing in 1997, another former club, Huddersfield Town, offered him his first managerial post.

He was sacked in 1999 to make way for Steve Bruce but was re-appointed four years later, where he won promotion from the old Division Three in his first season back in charge.

In 2007 he became manger of League Two side Lincoln City when they were bottom of the Football League.

Five months later however, Jackson was diagnosed with throat cancer, which left his assistant Offy Onuora in charge until the following January, but the managerial team were sacked in September following a run of bad results.

After Peter Taylor left Bradford in February this year, Jackson was placed in interim charge of the side, leading them to four wins in 14 games and an 18th-place League Two finish last season.

This success meant that Jackson was given the job on a permanent basis earlier this summer, but with his side without a win this season, he handed in his resignation to the Bradford City board.

Jackson is the first manager in the top four divisions to relinquish his position this season.

Friday, August 05, 2011

BBC's matchday pricing survey : Were City too honest or too stupid?

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2376580,00.html

Next game
Sat Aug 6 Aldershot Town H ko 3pm

Got adobe PDF reader? See the fixtures here
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/staticFiles/3/7a/0,,10266~162307,00.pdf

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

Loans

Aug 3rd : Apparently we've just signed Defender Liam Moore from Leicester on a months loan, with a possibility of extending it to 6 months.

Aug 5th : Spurs Swedish Keeper Oscar Jansson will sign on a months loan, with a view to a permanent deal.

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

The "Social media COrner"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2011/08/guy_branston.html

Not sure if this has been posted already or not. Branston himself replies to some of his critics on the discussion board after the article, think his comment is around comment 35 or so...

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

30 years on...

City v Hull 1981-82 (promotion year) orange ball, snow covered pitch, no shirt sponsor, wearing white at home,Podd, Campbell
McNiven and a young Ellis and Jackson.

John Helm commentating so I assume it was Sunday Soccer or some similar
programme, comes in two parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLfarPGciZw&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufZHoUX-6hA&feature=related

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

From the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14366574.stm

This is an edited summary. Please click the link to see the full article.

CLUBS REVEAL ALL IN SURVEY

Only 11 out of 104 clubs in England and Scotland will offer adults the
chance to enjoy a day at the football for less than £20 during the new
season.

Leeds have the most expensive programme at £4

*******************************
Clubs were asked for their cheapest and most expensive possible matchday
adult tickets, as well as the prices for a cup of tea, a programme, and a
pie in order to work out the price of enjoying a day at the football for
fans without season tickets.
*******************************

Despite the high attendance figures - an average of 352,260 fans attended
Football League fixtures each weekend last season - the chairman of the
Football Supporters' Federation Malcolm Clarke says clubs must work harder
to ensure football does not become too expensive for ordinary fans.

"It's important that football continues to be attractive to the whole
cross-section of society, so it doesn't just become something only
middle-class and upper-class families can afford."

"With Premier League grounds over 92% full on average in each of the last
three seasons, fans are clearly enjoying the football, and the overall
matchday experiences, that are on offer," said a Premier League statement.

Newcastle United were the only club out of the 104 surveyed who did not
reveal their prices.

LEAGUE TWO - BRADFORD MOST EXPENSIVE

Rotherham have emerged as the cheapest team to support in League Two in BBC
Sport's Price of Football survey.

The least expensive ticket to watch the Millers, along with a programme, a
pie and a cup of tea, adds up to £16.30.

"A policy was taken a number of years ago to try not increase ticket
prices," said marketing officer Matthew Young.

The price contrasts with Premier League Liverpool - the most expensive
equivalent in the country - where the same package costs £46.95.

Bradford City is the most expensive day out for League Two fans who intend
to buy the lowest-priced tickets. The least expensive seat at Valley Parade
is £20 before the total cost rises to £27.80 once refreshments and
entertainment are added.

The only question is whether clubs are treading the fine line between
providing value for money, or are profiteering from passion and dedication.

And you can read more of BBC Sport website Editor Stuart Rowson's blog on
the price of football by clicking here Rotherham's pricing structure ensures
that, regardless of the opposition, fans can leave Don Valley with change
from a £20 note.

"A lot of clubs catergorise games, which we don't," explains Young.

"We always charge the same price, no matter who the opposition is.

"Quite often when the big clubs are in town the price goes up. That doesn't
happen at our club."

The next cheapest in League Two at Torquay where fans can pay £16.50 for the
cheapest spots at Plainmoor.

Both Rotherham and Torquay have a range of ticket prices for a given game,
rising from £10 to £18 and £20 respectively.

However there is less of a difference between what spectators in different
parts of the ground pay at other sides in the division.

Bradford and Southend have one ticket price regardless of the position of
the seat, while a pound is enough to upgrade from the cheapest to the most
expensive seats at Accrington Stanley and Hereford.

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

CITY HIT BACK AT BBC SURVEY
By Bill Marshall (T&A)

City have hit back at a survey which shows them to be the most expensive
club to watch in npower League Two.

A pay-on-the-door match ticket costs £20 and, with the price of a programme
(£3), pie (£2.90) and cup of tea (£1.90), an afternoon at Valley Parade
comes in at £27.80.

That total means the Bantams are not only the costliest treat in League Two
but would also put them as equal most expensive in League One (alongside
Leyton Orient), 11th priciest in the Championship (equal with Peterborough)
and only fourth cheapest in the Premier League.

It is less expensive to watch Newcastle and Blackburn (both £17) and Wigan
(£21.60) than to attend Valley Parade.

But City director of operations Dave Baldwin reckons the BBC Sport survey is
grossly misleading.

He said: "The figures quoted by the BBC affect less than eight per cent of
our spectators – and that has been the case for more than five years. About
92 per cent of our audience come in for £8 less."

This more realistic admission price cuts the cost of a day at Valley Parade
to £19.80, which would rank the Bantams as the fifth cheapest after
Yorkshire rivals Rotherham (£16.30), who were the second cheapest overall,
west-country sides Torquay (£16.50) and Plymouth (£17.90) and Barnet
(£18.70).

"We also have offers every week in Friday's back-page solus advert in the
Telegraph & Argus," said Baldwin.

"For example, tomorrow. If a spectator decides, having seen the T&A, that
they want to go to the Aldershot match on Saturday at a cost of £20 for
their ticket, they can retain their match-day stub and with it get a free
ticket for another home game later in the season. We give offers like this
throughout the season."

As a comparison, Huddersfield are the fourth most expensive club to watch in
League One at £26.60 (match ticket £19, programme £3, pie £2.80, cup of tea
£1.80) and Leeds are the 13th most expensive in the Championship at £28.40
(£20, £4, £2.70, £1.70).

The BBC Sport survey concluded that only 11 clubs out of 104 in England and
Scotland (four English divisions plus the Scottish Premier League) offered a
day at a match for less than £20.

The best in the Championship was Watford (£17.50), with Rochdale (£16.20)
and Preston (£17.50) being the best in League One and Inverness Caledonian
(£21.90) the cheapest in Scotland's top flight.

A cup of tea at Crawley will set you back only 50p, while St Johnstone had
the 'best' pies (£1.50) and programmes (£1).

Nine clubs offered a match-day ticket for £10 – Blackburn, Newcastle,
Watford, Rochdale, Preston, Milton Keynes Dons, Rotherham, Torquay and
Plymouth.

In general, clubs in the north west of England proved the cheapest for a day
out. But Liverpool are the most expensive at £46.95 (£39 – £3, £2.95, £2),
followed by Arsenal (£44), QPR (£42.80), Swansea (£42.60), Tottenham (£40)
and Manchester United (£35.60).

John Nagle, head of communications at the Football League, said: "Football
League clubs are working extremely hard to attract the next generation of
fans through a variety of innovative marketing initiatives. As a result,
crowds in recent seasons have been at their highest levels for 50 years.

"Much of the focus is on improving the match-day experience for supporters,
particularly families.

"This has seen the League introduce a programme of 'mystery-shopper' visits
to matches in order to assess the experience and the introduction of the
Family Excellence Award to reward those clubs that are offering a
particularly outstanding day out."

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, added:
"It's important that football continues to be attractive to the whole
cross-section of society, so it doesn't just become something only
middle-class and upper-class families can afford."

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

CITY HIT BACK AT BBC SURVEY
By Bill Marshall (T&A)

City have hit back at a survey which shows them to be the most expensive
club to watch in npower League Two.

A pay-on-the-door match ticket costs £20 and, with the price of a programme
(£3), pie (£2.90) and cup of tea (£1.90), an afternoon at Valley Parade
comes in at £27.80.

That total means the Bantams are not only the costliest treat in League Two
but would also put them as equal most expensive in League One (alongside
Leyton Orient), 11th priciest in the Championship (equal with Peterborough)
and only fourth cheapest in the Premier League.

It is less expensive to watch Newcastle and Blackburn (both £17) and Wigan
(£21.60) than to attend Valley Parade.

But City director of operations Dave Baldwin reckons the BBC Sport survey is
grossly misleading.

He said: "The figures quoted by the BBC affect less than eight per cent of
our spectators – and that has been the case for more than five years. About
92 per cent of our audience come in for £8 less."

This more realistic admission price cuts the cost of a day at Valley Parade
to £19.80, which would rank the Bantams as the fifth cheapest after
Yorkshire rivals Rotherham (£16.30), who were the second cheapest overall,
west-country sides Torquay (£16.50) and Plymouth (£17.90) and Barnet
(£18.70).

"We also have offers every week in Friday's back-page solus advert in the
Telegraph & Argus," said Baldwin.

"For example, tomorrow. If a spectator decides, having seen the T&A, that
they want to go to the Aldershot match on Saturday at a cost of £20 for
their ticket, they can retain their match-day stub and with it get a free
ticket for another home game later in the season. We give offers like this
throughout the season."

As a comparison, Huddersfield are the fourth most expensive club to watch in
League One at £26.60 (match ticket £19, programme £3, pie £2.80, cup of tea
£1.80) and Leeds are the 13th most expensive in the Championship at £28.40
(£20, £4, £2.70, £1.70).

The BBC Sport survey concluded that only 11 clubs out of 104 in England and
Scotland (four English divisions plus the Scottish Premier League) offered a
day at a match for less than £20.

The best in the Championship was Watford (£17.50), with Rochdale (£16.20)
and Preston (£17.50) being the best in League One and Inverness Caledonian
(£21.90) the cheapest in Scotland's top flight.

A cup of tea at Crawley will set you back only 50p, while St Johnstone had
the 'best' pies (£1.50) and programmes (£1).

Nine clubs offered a match-day ticket for £10 – Blackburn, Newcastle,
Watford, Rochdale, Preston, Milton Keynes Dons, Rotherham, Torquay and
Plymouth.

In general, clubs in the north west of England proved the cheapest for a day
out. But Liverpool are the most expensive at £46.95 (£39 – £3, £2.95, £2),
followed by Arsenal (£44), QPR (£42.80), Swansea (£42.60), Tottenham (£40)
and Manchester United (£35.60).

John Nagle, head of communications at the Football League, said: "Football
League clubs are working extremely hard to attract the next generation of
fans through a variety of innovative marketing initiatives. As a result,
crowds in recent seasons have been at their highest levels for 50 years.

"Much of the focus is on improving the match-day experience for supporters,
particularly families.

"This has seen the League introduce a programme of 'mystery-shopper' visits
to matches in order to assess the experience and the introduction of the
Family Excellence Award to reward those clubs that are offering a
particularly outstanding day out."

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, added:
"It's important that football continues to be attractive to the whole
cross-section of society, so it doesn't just become something only
middle-class and upper-class families can afford."

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

There endeth the CFML's marmite pre-season summary. We'll be back next post season looking ahead to League One in 12/13.

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

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

squad numbers / Match reports /

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

BPA & Bolton reports

Fixtures

Pre-season
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2372524,00.html

Wed 13 July 2011 Silsden AFC A 7.45pm W7-1
Fri 15 July 2011 Matlock Town A 7.45pm D1-1
Tue 19 July 2011 Guiseley A 7.45pm W3-2
Fri 22 July 2011 Bradford (Park Avenue) A 7.45pm L2-3
Sun 24 July 2011 Bolton Wanderers H 3.00pm L1-4

*** NEW *** Wed 27 July 2011 Hull A 7.45pm
Sat 30 July 2011 Carlisle United H 3.00pm

Full season
Got adobe PDF reader? See the fixtures here
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/staticFiles/3/7a/0,,10266~162307,00.pdf

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2376580,00.html

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

From the Official BCF Website:

At Horsfall Stadium:

Tom Banks Memorial Trophy (Pre-Season Friendly)
Bradford PA (2) 3 R. O'Brien 3, Denton 25, Law 74
Bradford City (2) 2 Rodney 23, 38

Simon Ramsden made a seemingly successful return to action this Friday as an
unfamiliar looking City side lost the annual Tom Banks Memorial Trophy
friendly fixture to near neighbours Bradford (Park Avenue).

Ramsden managed 45 minutes under his belt on his first appearance of
pre-season and barring any reaction to his run-out, he is now believed to be
under consideration for Sunday's friendly with Bolton Wanderers.

By the time of his planned departure during the interval, four of the
matches five goals had already been netted.

Avenue twice took the lead of the match through fierce efforts from Rob
O'Brien and former City defender Sam Denton, with Nialle Rodney twice
equalising for City after both strikes.

With penalties looking increasingly on the cards to decide the trophy as the
second half progressed still on level terms, Avenue substitute Billy Law
finally settled the contest with a neat finish from a tight angle.

Apart from the likes of Luke O'Brien and Lee Bullock, City's squad on the
night was made up largely of development squad members and trialists.

Including Tom Elliott, who recovered from a recent training ground injury,
City fielded as many as six trialists at one time or another.

After featuring between the sticks against Guiseley on Tuesday, Mark Howard
once again filled the goalkeeping position.

Falkirk winger Jack Compton received a run-out on City's left wing, while
French duo Maxime Blanchard, Loic Lumbilla, youngster Callum Bagshaw and
former Bristol Rovers winger Charlie Reece also featured.

Fresh from penning his one year deal with the Bantams, Nahki Wells featured
in the fixture as a second half substitute.

A trio of City's apprentices - Adam Baker, Nathan Lawless and James Nanje -
came off City's bench to take part in the match as well.

The likes of Guy Branston, Chris Mitchell and Mark Stewart were in the
crowd to lend their support to their team-mates, but there was nothing they
could do to prevent Avenue taking an early lead with a truly stunning
strike.

Midfielder O'Brien took aim from around twenty yards and let rip with a
fierce effort that flew past Howard's outstretched arm and right into the
very top corner of the goal.

City's scratch side were understandably taking their time to find their feet
in the early stages of the match against a clearly motivated opposition, but
Compton did go close with a twelfth minute free-kick from just outside the
area.

Ramsden then crossed for Elliott to send a looping header narrowly over
James Coates' crossbar at the far post.

With City now starting to settle into the match, they grabbed an equaliser
around the midway point of the first period.

After capitalising on a loose pass from James Knowles, Compton led a City
counter-attack deep into Avenue territory.

The winger eventually fed Nialle Rodney, who calmly tucked the ball into the
far corner from an angle.

City didn't stay on level terms for too long, however, as Avenue re-took the
lead barely two minutes later.

Avenue's second goal of the night was nearly as good as their first as
former City defender Sam Denton rifled a low free-kick into the bottom
corner from a yard or so outside the area.

As City went in search of their second equaliser of the night, Luke Dean
went close to finding it as his looping effort from outside the area pinged
off the crossbar.

With time ticking towards the interval, the Bantams did indeed crawl
themselves on level terms after Charlie Reece played Rodney into space
behind Avenue's defence.
The striker needed no second invitation and proceeded to clinically drive
home to double his and City's total for the evening.

As a bitty first half an hour or so, Rodney's latest effort seemed to open
up the game more as the half came to a conclusion.

Both Rodney and Elliott had half-chances in the first period's closing
stages to put City in the lead for the first-time, while Michael Duckworth
side-footed narrowly wide from just inside the area at the other end.

City made a host of changes during the interval as Ramsden was removed from
the action.

During the host of half time alterations, Lumbilla, Baker, Bagshaw, Lawless
and Patrick Lacey were introduced as well.

Early in the second period City made another substitution as Wells was
brought on for Compton.

The changes continued for the Bantams as the second period progressed, with
Nanje being brought on for City's other trialist winger Reece.

With Avenue making a number of substitutions as well, the flow of the match
did seem to naturally suffer as a result.

The slightly mixed up nature of the second period seemed to be summed up
when one of Avenue's subs took to the field wearing last season's strip

Wells did show some bright touches after coming on, but the match continued
to lack clear-cut chances after the restart until a moment of magic from
Law.

The replacement attacker drifted inside a couple of City defenders before
nestling an angled drive in at the near post via a major deflection off the
far post.

City nearly found yet enough equaliser, however, only minutes later but
Coates produced a smart reflex save to turn Wells' close range effort onto
his near post.

With City pushing for what would be their third leveller of the friendly,
Nanje fired a yard or so wide from distance after drifting past a couple of
challenges.

BRADFORD CITY
1. Mark Howard
2. Simon Ramsden
3. Luke O'Brien
4. Scott Brown
5. Lee Bullock (C)
6. Maxime Blanchard
7. Charlie Reece
8. Luke Dean
9. Nialle Rodney
10. Tom Elliott
11. Jack Compton

Substitutes:
12. Patrick Lacey for 2 (46)
13. Tim Dittmer
14. Nahki Wells for 11 (53)
15. Darren Stephenson
16. Adam Baker for 10 (46)
17. Nathan Lawless for 3 (46)
18. James Nanje for 7 (57)
19. Loic Lumbilla for 9 (46)
20. Callum Bagshaw for 4 (46)

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

Bolton report
http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/news/bradford_city_1-4_bolton_wanderers_1938?
http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~2400712,00.html?

From the Official BCFC Website...

Pre-Season Friendly.

At Valley Parade:

Bradford C (0) 1 Rodney 71
Bolton W (1) 4 Petrov pen 14, Pratley 65, Davies 87, Klasnic 90.
Att: 2,349 (Visitors 295).

City boss Peter Jackson will have positives to take out of the Bantams'
first home friendly of the summer despite suffering a heavy defeat at the
hands of Premiership side Bolton Wanderers.

BRADFORD CITY
1. Mark Howard
2. Simon Ramsden
3. Luke O'Brien
4. Michael Flynn
5. Guy Branston (C)
6. Steve Williams
7. Dominic Rowe
8. Chris Mitchell
9. James Hanson
10. Mark Stewart
11. Jack Compton

Substitutes:
12. Nialle Rodney for 10 (67)
13. Jon McLaughlin
14. Andrew Burns for 2 (67)
15. Ross Hannah for 9 (83)
16. Nahki Wells
17. Lee Bullock
18. Scott Brown
19. Patrick Lacey
20. Luke Dean

BOLTON WANDERERS
1. Adam Bodgan
2. Gretar Steinsson (C)
6. Fabrice Muamba
10. Martin Petrov
16. Mark Davies
17. Ivan Klansic
20. Robbie Blake
21. Darren Pratley
25. Marcos Alonso
26. David Wheater
28. Mark Connolly

Substitutes:
4. Paul Robinson
5. Gary Cahill
11. Ricardo Gardner for 16 (59)
12. Zat Knight
13. Rob Lainton
14. Kevin Davies for 20 (74)
30. Tope Obadeyi for 6 (59)

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

Peter Jackson felt encouraged by his side's display against Bolton Wanderers this Sunday, with the only frustrating factor of the day for the City boss coming thanks to two late Trotters goals.

On their first appearance at Valley Parade of pre-season, City put up a commendable effort for the majority of the friendly before strikes from internationals Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic in the last three minutes put a slightly unfair gloss on the scoreline.

After the final whistle, Jackson couldn't hide his disappointment at seeing his side marginally spoil their day by conceding those goals,but he felt that a lot could be taken out of the game as a whole.

He said: "I was really pleased with the lads' performance - it wasn't a 4-1 game I felt.

"I think the performance was good, the players' fitness was good, I was just disappointed that they score those two late goals at the end.

"I couldn't really ask anymore of them today. They're a young side, they're a keen side, and I felt there were lots of positives to come out of the game despite the two late goals.

"They brought their full side today, so that meant my boys were playing against full Premiership players out there.

"I thought our fitness levels looked good today against a Premiership side. Pre-season is a lot to do with fitness and I felt we looked good in that aspect.

"I lost count with how many corners we had as well.

"I thought we looked good from corners today. We actually looked like scoring from corners, which I didn't think we did last season.

"I felt we could have scored three times from corners in the first half."

Despite the eventual scoreline, there were several promising performances on show for the Bantams against Owen Coyle's men.

After the match, Jackson took the time to praise some of those performers.

He added: "I thought the centre backs looked a bit shaky the last time they got together at Guiseley, but I thought they formed a good partnership today.

"The power of Guy looked good, and Wilo (Steve Williams) probably had his best match game since I came to the club. Hopefully, Guy's experience seems to be rubbing off on him.

"It was also nice to see the wingers get some crosses in.

Hanson also had another good game. I've told him that if he can give the likes of David Wheater a run for his money, like he did today, then he can certainly trouble defenders in our division.

"He has come back from the summer really focused and looking sharp."

After his first-ever Valley Parade goal following his summer move from Nottingham Forest, Jackson also reserved special praise for City's goalscorer Nialle Rodney.

Rodney's well-taken effort was his fourth in total of pre-season and came barely five minutes after he had been introduced as a second half substitute.

Jackson says the strike is an example of what City fans can hopefully expect from the striker in the future.

"It was an excellent goal. Nialle is very capable of doing things like that,"said Jackson.

"He's got talent and he's a player I really believe in.

"He's another we have brought in to bring pace into the team. I was pleased with the pace and effort of players like Nialle when they came on."

In his post-match press briefing, Jackson also confirmed that both Lewis Hunt and Robbie Threlfall weren't selected because they have been told they are now free to find new clubs ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

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

From the BBC.

BRADFORD CITY BRING IN NAHKI WELLS

Bradford City manager Peter Jackson has given a one-year contract to striker
Nahki Wells after he impressed while on trial with the club.

The 21-year-old Bermuda international, who was released by Carlisle last
season, has been trying to earn a deal since the start of pre-season
training.

"I believe I have the ability to get in the side and score some goals,"
Wells told BBC Radio Leeds.

"I feel that if I'm given the chance I'll take it."

City manager Peter Jackson said: "He has done really well and has got
potential.

"He is one of the quickest players I have seen. When he has come on in
games, he has changed them. We have got a lot to work with at the moment and
I just thought he was worth a chance until the end of the season.

"One thing we talked about all last season was that we didn't have pace in
the side. If you look at the side now then we have a lot of it in the side,
and that's one thing I wanted to improve and we have improved since the end
of last season."

Wells made three substitute appearances for Carlisle last season without
scoring.

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

FULL BACK PAIR SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Lewis Hunt and Robbie Threlfall have both been told they have no future with
City.

Peter Jackson is trying to get the two full backs out of Valley Parade to
free up his budget for more signings.

Neither player was in the squad which performed so well in yesterday's 4-1
loss to Bolton and the City boss confirmed: "We've said to them that they
can go if they find a club.

"But it's extremely hard to do that because there are a lot of players out
there.

"It's important that we try to get some out with the budget as tight as it
is. We're looking to maybe bring more in but obviously we've got to get them
out first."

Luke Oliver was also missing as he recovers from injury but he is not on the
manager's exit list.

Jackson said: "Luke's injured at the moment but he doesn't fall into that
bracket."

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

ON-TRIAL PAIR LEAVE BRADFORD CITY
From the T&A Sports Desk

City trialists Jack Compton and Mark Howard have both left the club.

Winger Compton impressed in the games against Bradford Park Avenue and
Bolton but has now returned to Falkirk and appears unlikely to be offered a
permanent deal.

Keeper Howard has not been offered terms either, despite appearing in the
last three pre-season games.

Manager Peter Jackson is keen to bring in a shot-stopper to provide Jon
McLaughlin with competition for the No 1 jersey.

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

Friday, July 22, 2011

Match reports...that's about it

Fixtures

Pre-season
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2372524,00.html

Wed 13 July 2011 Silsden AFC A 7.45pm W7-1
Fri 15 July 2011 Matlock Town A 7.45pm D1-1
Tue 19 July 2011 Guiseley A 7.45pm W3-2

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

Full season
Got adobe PDF reader? See the fixtures here
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/staticFiles/3/7a/0,,10266~162307,00.pdf

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2376580,00.html

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

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2382476,00.html

Match tickets for City's Carling Cup 1st round tie against Leeds United are now available on GENERAL SALE to all City supporters.

Peter Jackson's men are due at Elland Road on Tuesday 9 August 2011, kick off 7:45pm.

Tickets for the tie are available to purchase via the Bantams Ticket Office or via the Ticket Office hotline (0871 978 8000). The Bantams Ticket Office will be open from 9:00am this Monday morning.

Every transaction may over the phone will be subject to a £2.00 administration charge.

Admission prices for the tie will be as follows:

Adults: £15.00
Concessions (60 and over): £8.00
Juniors (15 and under): £8.00

The tickets on sale to City supporters at present are for the South Stand at Elland Road.

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

Pre-Season Friendly.

At the ASDA Foundation Stadium.

Silsden AFC (0) 1 Bradley 85
Bradford C (4) 7 Rodney 19, Flynn 24, Wells 36, 55, Green 38, Stephenson 51,
Kerr 66
Att: 1,125

BRADFORD CITY XI
1. Jon Brain
2. Andrew Burns
3. Robbie Threlfall
4. Michael Flynn
5. Adam Robinson
6. Luke Oliver (c)
14. Leon Osborne
8. Scott Brown
9. Nialle Rodney
10. Nahki Wells
11. Jamie Green

Substitutes:
12. Danny Kerr for 11 (46)
13. Tim Dittmer
15. Luke Dean for 4 (46)
18. Mole Kes for 2 (46)
16. Darren Stephenson for 9 (46)
17. Patrick Lacey for 8 (46)
7. Dominic Rowe for 10 (74)

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

From the Official BCFC Website..
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2393390,00.html?

Pre-Season friendly:

At Causeway Lane, Matlock

Matlock Town (1) 1 Joynes 23
Bradford City (1) 1 Hanson 34

Pre-season really got into gear for the majority of Peter Jackson's squad
this Friday as City drew their second friendly of the summer at Evo-Stik
Premier Division side Matlock Town.

After fielding a largely experimental squad for their opening friendly at
Silsden on Wednesday, Jackson chose Matlock's Causeway Lane as the venue to
introduce most of the more senior member of his ranks.

Summer signings Guy Branston, Chris Mitchell, Ross Hannah - who wore the
skipper's armband for the night against his former club - all featured from
the start, while fellow new boys Mark Stewart and Ritchie Jones received
run-outs from the bench.

Trialist Rhys Evans was given the whole 90 minutes in goal as he tried to
earn himself a third spell with the football club. With Jamie Green missing
out due with a bruised calf, the only other trialist in City's squad for the
night, Nahki Wells, played the final twenty minutes or so.

Green's absence meant Dominic Rowe was another to be given the full match
distance as he worked away all match down the Bantams' left wing.

The quartet of Michael Flynn, Nialle Rodney, Robbie Threlfall and Luke
Oliver all missed out, however, after picking up slight knocks against
Silsden.

Simon Ramsden also didn't feature on the night as City ease him back into
action following his injury nightmare last season. Jackson confirmed after
the match that Ramsden should be in line to play in one of City's three
friendlies next week.

In the match itself, following half chances for James Hanson and David Syers
in the early stages, Matlock took the lead through former Bantam Nathan
Joynes.

Joynes, who featured fleetingly for City during a loan spell from Barnsley
nearly four years ago, found himself in the right place inside City's area
to send Chris Bettney's cross into the far corner with a stooping header.

City were nearly handed an equaliser on a plate minutes later, however, when Matlock defender Lee Feathersome's attempted clearance rattled against his own unknowing 'keeper. Hannah tried to capitalise on the error, but the shot-stopper was able to recover and clear the danger.

The Bantams' leveller did come soon after though when Hanson connected with a Mitchell cross to power a downward header into the bottom corner.

The start of the second period saw Stewart introduced into the action for goalscorer Hanson, and he was quickly involved with proceedings when he narrowly fired wide less than a minute into the half.

The chance wouldn't be Stewart's only effort of the night as the lively Scottish striker looked keen to impress early into his City career.

The second half didn't manage to produce any more goals to add to the scoreline, but it did the watching City fans their first glimpse of this Wednesday's new recruit Jones.

The former Manchester United midfielder looked at ease in his first City outing, and enjoyed one decent effort on goal in particular with a looping volley that bounced narrowly wide.

Jackson brought on development squad members Scott Brown and Andrew Burns, as well as young midfielder Luke Dean, as the half progressed.

With time almost up, It was another substitute who would been at the heart of the game's final chance when Jones found Wells in space behind Matlock's defence with a finely timed pass.

The Bermudan striker had time to pick his spot, but the home 'keeper seemed to read his intentions and guessed right to palm out the powerfully struck effort.

BRADFORD CITY
1. Rhys Evans
2. Lewis Hunt
3. Luke O'Brien
4. Lee Bullock
5. Guy Branston
6. Steve Williams
7. Chris Mitchell
8. David Syers
9. James Hanson
10. Ross Hannah (c)
11. Dominic Rowe

Substitutes:
12. Mark Stewart for 9 (46)
13. Tim Dittmer (GK)
14. Ritchie Jones for 5 (63)
15. Luke Dean for 7 (78)
16. Nahki Wells for 10 (68)
17. Scott Brown for 8 (78)
18. Andrew Burns for 2 (73)

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

Overtime pays off for Bradford City players
7:00pm Monday 18th July 2011
By Simon Parker

Peter Jackson has praised the extra factor behind City's pre-season regime.

Jackson increased the schedule to get the squad fitter this year and has been impressed by the results.

City are into their fourth week of training – more than any of their rivals.

But Jackson believes the combination of a long schedule and long days is already paying dividends.

He said: "I'm really pleased with how pre-season has gone so far in terms of the fitness of the first team. The standards have been set in how we want to do things.

"The players have shown a fantastic attitude. They've turned up and had a real go from day one. Last year I felt some of them just went through the motions. That's not happening this year."

Jackson is convinced that spending more time together at the new Woodhouse Grove HQ will create a tight-knit group. He said: "I think being here all the time has brought everyone closer together.

"Some are not getting home until 7.30pm because we are having long sessions. But it's not a punishment. We're here to work, here to get fit and here to progress as a club."

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

VP open day pictures

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2394396,00.html?

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

Pre-season Bradford City forum
3:20pm Friday 15th July 2011
By Simon Parker

Fans will get the chance to quiz City boss Peter Jackson and a couple of his new signings on the eve of the big kick-off.

A pre-season forum is taking place on Wednesday, August 3 in the McCall Suite at Valley Parade.

Jackson will be joined on the panel by Guy Branston and Ross Hannah. Director Roger Owen will also be there alongside Mark Neale, chairman of the Friends of Bradford City who have organised the event.

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

From the Official BCFC Website...

Pre-Season Friendly

At Nethermoor Park, Guiseley.

Guiseley AFC (2) 2 Davidson 22, Rothery 29.
Bradford City (1) 3 Syers 27, Stewart 48, Hanson 56.

Peter Jackson's Bantams twice came from behind to pick up their second
victory of pre-season in an entertaining and keenly-fought contest at near
neighbours Guiseley.

For their third friendly of the summer, the Bantams fielded their third
different trialist goalkeeper of pre-season, as Peter Jackson continues to
search long and hard for another shot-stopper to add to his squad.

Following on from Jon Brain at Silsden, and Rhys Evans at Matlock Town,
Former Aberdeen and Arsenal 'keeper Mark Howard was given his own chance
to impress by Jackson at Guiseley.

In front of Howard, City's defence remained largely the same from the back
four that started at Matlock last week.

The only defensive change made by Jackson was at right back, where the
versatile Chris Mitchell - who featured as a right-sided midfielder on
Friday - replaces Lewis Hunt.

Taking Mitchell's place on the right wing is youngster Dominic Rowe, who
collected ninety minutes under his belt on the opposite flank against
Matlock.

Still pushing for a permanent stay at the Coral Windows Stadium, fit again
trialist Jamie Green will occupy Rowe's vacated position on the left wing.

After substitute appearances on Friday, summer signings Mark Stewart and
Ritchie Jones are also given starting berths at Nethermoor Park.

Former Guiseley striker James Hanson returns to one of his old stomping
grounds to partner Stewart up front. The giant striker has also been made
skipper for the match.

Michael Flynn and Nialle Rodney return to the bench after missing out on the
Matlock fixture, while the pair are joined among the substitutes by the
likes of Ross Hannah and trialist Nahki Wells.

Guiseley's squad for the evening contained as many as five former Bantams
- Luke Sharry, Danny Forrest, Simon Ainge and Mark Bower, plus ex-apprentice
Danny Ellis.

BRADFORD CITY
1. Mark Howard
2. Chris Mitchell
3. Luke O'Brien
4. Ritchie Jones
5. Guy Branston
6. Steve Williams
7. Dominic Rowe
8. David Syers
9. James Hanson (c)
10. Mark Stewart
11. Jamie Green

Substitutes:
12. Ross Hannah for 10 (73)
13. Tim Dittmer
14. Michael Flynn for 8 (46)
15. Nialle Rodney for 9 (73)
16. Nahki Wells for 11 (80)
17. Scott Brown
18. Andrew Burns for 4 (65)
19. Lee Bullock for 6 (78)

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

From the Official BCFC Website.

LEAGUE SUBS REDUCED FROM 7 TO 5

Football League clubs have voted to reduce the number of substitutes that
can be named on the team-sheet for matches in the npower Football League
from 7 to 5.

The vote was taken at an EGM at Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

A Football League spokesman said: "This was felt to be a sensible and
prudent step given the financial challenges facing many football clubs and
the commitment made earlier this summer to adopt UEFA's Financial Fair Play
framework."

Clubs will still be permitted to name 7 substitutes in the Carling Cup and
FA Cup and 5 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

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

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/9155831./

Bantams unveil new youth team manager

1:27pm Friday 22nd July 2011

The former head of Rotherham United's youth set-up, Steve Thornber, has been appointed as the Bantams' new youth team manager.

The 45-year-old replaces David Wetherall, who left City last month to take up a position within the Football League.

Thornber, who is based in Halifax, was involved in coaching Rotherham's apprentices for eight years before leaving the Don Valley Stadium at the end of last season.

He also enjoyed a brief spell in caretaker charge of the Millers' first team in September 2009 following the departure of then-manager Mark Robins.

During his playing days, the former midfielder featured for the likes of Swansea City, Blackpool and Scunthorpe United in a 15-year spell as a footballer.

"I was interested in this position as soon as I knew it was available," said Thornber.

"I went to school in Bradford and I am based roughly from around this area, so I know all about the size of this club.

"The training facilties and the development squad that is in place here were all selling points for me."

Thornber's introduction into the coaching set-up at Valley Parade will see centre of excellence assistant manager Alan Nevision promoted up to manager, while Peter Horne – the former centre of excellence manager – will start his new role as head of youth operations.

One of Horne's main duties in the newly-created role will be to ensure a controlled balance over both the youth team and the centre of excellence.

Horne, who had a large say in Thornber's appointment, explained: "Having a seperate head of the youth department was something myself and David (Wetherall) were talking about last season.

"The whole point of a youth team manager is for them to get out on the pitch to help develop and progress young players on their way to, hopefully, becoming professionals.

"It's hard for any manager to do that when they have countless other issues to sort out as well, such as various bits of paperwork, legalisations and regulations.

"We felt it best to remove all the other issues that come from within the youth department, so that our new youth manager can simply coach.

"As soon as we announced that David was leaving, we have a far number of applications for the position.

"People will be surprised by some of the names that applied for the position but I felt sure Steve was the right man for the job as soon as his name cropped up.

"He did an excellent job at Rotherham and has good experience of working within restricted budgets."

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

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

New Hull fixture / Player updates / VP open day

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

New kit / Weatherall leaves /

Fixtures

Pre-season
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

Full season
Got adobe PDF reader? See the fixtures here
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/staticFiles/3/7a/0,,10266~162307,00.pdf

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2376580,00.html

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

New kit

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubShop/0,,10266~2385335,00.html

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

DAVID WETHERALL LEAVES CITY FOR TOP JOB WITH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
By Simon Parker (T&A)

David Wetherall is ending a 12-year era at City after accepting a new job
with the Football League.

Wetherall has been appointed the league's head of youth development and will
take up the post at their Preston headquarters next month.

The 40-year-old joined the Bantams for £1.4m from Leeds in June 1999 ahead
of the club's first season in the Premier League.

He made 330 appearances at centre half for City, despite suffering a couple
of serious injuries, before hanging up his boots in May 2008. He scored 21
goals - including the famous header against Liverpool which ensured the club
stayed up in the top flight.

Wetherall had a spell as caretaker manager while still playing, reluctantly
taking the reins when Colin Todd was sacked in February 2007. But he was
unable to prevent the club from relegation to the bottom division.

He has run the youth team for the past two seasons, flourishing in the role,
before earning the chance to work for the league.

Wetherall said: "It was a difficult decision to leave because I've developed
a great affinity for the place.

"But this is a top job in youth development football. These opportunities
don't come along very often and it is something I couldn't afford to turn
down."

---

It was an offer I couldn't refuse, says Bradford City hero David Wetherall
7:40am Thursday 23rd June 2011
By Simon Parker

David Wetherall today looked towards life beyond Bradford City and admitted: It's going to be strange.

Wetherall is leaving Valley Parade to take up a prestige post as the Football League's head of youth development.

It will end a 12-year spell with the Bantams as captain and centre half, caretaker manager and assistant, first-team coach and – for the last two years – boss of the youth department.

The 40-year-old is excited by the prospect of helping to improve the level of young talent around the country.

But it is still a huge wrench to quit the club he served with distinction on and off the field.

Wetherall said: "Despite this being such a great opportunity, part of me has a certain sadness about it. It's the end of a big chapter in my life. It will be strange not driving into Bradford anymore.

"I've built up a great affinity with the club over the years and that won't change. But an opportunity like this one does not come around often."

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

From the BBC...

BRADFORD CITY SCOUT ARCHIE CHRISTIE EYES CHAMPIONSHIP

Bradford City's new chief scout believes the club will be playing in the
Championship within five seasons.

Archie Christie arrived at Valley Parade on Tuesday after a successful spell
with Dagenham & Redbridge.

He told BBC Radio Leeds: "My target is that in four to five years time we'll
be in the Championship.

"I believe over the next two years we'll have a promotion, and I believe two
years after that we'll have another promotion," he added.

"It'll be with a squad that we've developed over four or five years without
spending any money. It'll take us into the Championship and then we can
compete on a level playing field at our level.

"We're a Championship club at the moment playing in League Two."

The recruitment process will see four scouts employed by the club to bring
in new talent.

"We've quality scouts who know what we're looking for," said Christie.

"One scout is ex-Celtic, one is ex-Arsenal. We're not looking for players
for the youth team because Peter Horne has done a stunning and magnificent
job.

"There is a gap between the first team and the youth team, and we're going
to fill that gap.

"We're going to bring in six to eight players who will be part of a
development team that is under my own budget."

And Christie revealed he had already made moves to bring in players.

"I've already signed a 17-year old international who's coming on 1 July," he
said

"I've signed an under-19 international who's coming on 1 July, and I've got
two others coming who are not good enough for the Premiership, but if we
develop them, we'll then take them on."

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

From the Official BCFC Website…

LEEDS TICKET PRICES AGREED

Ticket prices for City's Carling Cup 1st round tie at Elland Road have now
been agreed by the football club and Leeds United.

Match tickets for the tie - set to take place on Tuesday 9 August 2011 -
will cost £15.00 for adults and £8.00 for concessions.

Concessions at Elland Road will be deemed as juniors under 16 and senior
citizens 60 and over.

City fans will be allocated the whole of the South Stand at Elland Road with
the option to also use the South East corner if needed.

The official website will be in a position to supply further information,
such as the first date of ticket sales, in due course.

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

The football club are now in a position to release the admission details for City's two home pre-season friendlies this summer against Bolton Wanderers and Carlisle United.

City are due to host matches against the Premier League and League 1 outfits on Sunday 24 July and Saturday 30 July respectively.

Entry into either one of these fixtures will cost £10.00 for adults and £5.00 for concessions.

There will also be no advance sales for either match - supporters are therefore asked to pay on the turnstiles.

City supporters will have access to the Co-operative Main Stand on an unreserved basis for both matches.

Bolton Wanderers and Carlisle United supporters will be allocated the Betrescue Stand, equally on an unreserved basis.

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

From the YP

Bantams in 'positive' takeover talks with Parkin

Published on Wednesday 22 June 2011 03:26

BRADFORD CITY joint chairman Julian Rhodes has confirmed fresh talks have taken place with millionaire businessman Steve Parkin over his attempts to buy the club.

As exclusively revealed in yesterday's Yorkshire Post, the chief executive of Brighouse-based Clipper Group wants to purchase the Bantams as part of his grand vision to set up a Bradford Sporting Club that would include both the city's senior football and rugby league teams.

Parkin met both Rhodes and fellow joint chairman Mark Lawn at Valley Parade yesterday afternoon in an attempt to move the deal along.

Rhodes confirmed last night: "We have had a meeting with Steve and those talks are on-going. It was a positive meeting that saw a whole host of issues discussed.

"Steve has now gone away and is going to get back to us in the next few days. What we all want is the best for Bradford City. Steve is someone who sees the potential that exists at Bradford City and we all want what is best for the club."

It is understood that, along with Parkin's intention to buy out the existing shareholders, a possible joint venture was also suggested by Lawn and Rhodes that would see all three men work together to drive City forward.

As part of the proposal put forward by City's joint chairmen, Parkin would invest in the Bantams to purchase a third of the shareholding in the League Two club.

This would appear to fly in the face of Parkin's original intention of taking overall control and then installing his own hand-picked management team to run the Bantams on a day-to-day basis.

His grand plan for Bradford sport, which was revealed in this newspaper at the start of last week, would see a similar set-up installed at the Bulls.

The two clubs would also be housed in one stadium with the eventual plan being to build a purpose-built stadium in the city for them both to share.

Rhodes has been on the Valley Parade board since the late Nineties along with his father, Professor David Rhodes, while Lawn joined in 2007. The three men recently bought the office block that stands next to City's home to ease what was, at the time, a crippling rent bill

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

JONES, GRIMES ELUDE CITY
Rochdale midfielder Gary Jones and Millwall striker Ashley Grimes have both eluded Peter Jackson's attempts to bring them to Valley Parade next season. Clayton Donaldson has said he will not play at League 2 level.

As "Boy from Brazil" states "...the City boss seems to be moving onto his Plan B list".

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

From the Official BCFC Website...

SCOTTISH DUO JOIN THE BANTAMS

City have today (Friday) managed to double their purchases for the summer by
completing deals to bring Scottish duo Mark Stewart and Chris Mitchell to
Valley Parade.

The pair, who both featured for Scottish First Division side Falkirk last
season, become City's third and fourth signings of the summer following the
arrivals of Guy Branston and Ross Hannah earlier in the close season.

Striker Stewart, 23, arrives at the Coral Windows Stadium after finishing
last season as Falkirk's top scorer - a feat which also left him as one of
the top scorers in the whole division in the process.

Stewart is known to be comfortable playing in several different
attacking positions including as a winger or a central striker, and has
penned a two year contract with the Bantams.

The arrival of defender Mitchell should add some extra depth to the Bantams'
squad as the Stirling-born full back is familiar playing as either a right
or left back.

Mitchell can also feature as a right winger or central midfielder, with the
City new boy playing several games for Falkirk in that position last season.

The 22 year old former Scottish under 21 international has signed for City
on an initial one year deal.
City boss Peter Jackson, who has been tracking the pair for several weeks,
said: "Mark Stewart is a really exciting prospect and finished as one of the
top scorers in the Scottish First Division last season.

"He has a lot of pace and can easily play down the middle or out wide on
either side."

"He can score a variety of different goals - I've seen him score goals with
his left foot, right foot and his head.

"Chris Mitchell is very versatile and can easily play right back or left
back. He could also do a job for us at right midfield or central midfield,
so he can fill at least one or two positions for us.

"His presence in the squad will be a real benefit for us given his
versatility, and he is extremely hungry and determined to succeed in
England.

"His deliveries from set-pieces should also prove to be a great asset for
us.

"The pair of them are really keen to impress and they are both looking to
the challenge - these are two players that I am really excited about."

Stewart, a former youth player with Celtic, moved to Falkirk in
2006 following a brief spell with Patrick Thistle.

In total, Stewart made 90 appearances for the Bairns - 42 of them coming in
the Scottish Premier League over recent seasons.

Apart from a loan spell with Ayr United during the latter part of the
2009/10 season, his former Falkirk team-mate Mitchell has previously played
all his career at Falkirk Stadium.

Like Stewart, Mitchell has also featured in the SPL for Falkirk.

During his time with Falkirk, Mitchell earned his seven caps at under 21 for
Scotland - five of which came in UEFA Under 21 European Championship
qualifiers.

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

STEVE PARKIN DEAL FOR BRADFORD CITY 'COOLING OFF'
Exclusive By Simon Parker (T&A)

Steve Parkin's bid to buy into City looks to be fading as he admitted: We're
somewhat adrift.

The millionaire businessman had wanted to take over the club from
joint-chairmen Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes and team them up with the Bulls
in one grand sporting organisation.

When his initial offer was knocked back, Parkin was given the chance to come
on board alongside the current owners at Valley Parade as a third investor.

But it appears that the two sides have not managed to find common ground up
to now.

Parkin revealed that his interest in City had been pushed to one side while
he concentrated his efforts on a separate business commitment.

He said: "It's cooled off a little bit. We've had further talks and can't
get to a deal.

"Unfortunately I've got a very big deal going down right now with something
else which I've got to get over the line. That's focusing my mind at the
moment."

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

BRADFORD CITY SIGN SCOTTISH WHIZZ-KID
By Simon Parker (T&A)

Peter Jackson will today sign a teenage midfielder he calls "the best
16-year-old I have seen".

Scotland under-17 international Scott Brown has agreed a two-year deal with
City after making a big impression in pre-season training. The club also
have the option to extend the contract by a further two years.

Six-footer Brown, spotted by chief scout Archie Christie, has already made
one senior appearance for Clyde.