Bradford v Grimsby Preview

Who are they?

Formed in 1903 Bradford’s very first game was a 2-0 defeat to some team called Grimsby Town on the 1st of September of the same year. They won the FA Cup 8 years later and after that I believed they did nothing I bet they even ceased to exist between then and the season they got promoted to The Premier League. Of course apart from one season in 1997 fighting it out with Town before Town lost the relegation battle but won the war. The Premier league was all nice for them as they became the darlings of English football. Their ground was full on occasion and they got to play their better half at Elland Road for a few derby games and that was that even Benito Carbone left.

See the year before. Bradford started as customary favourites and fans were fully expecting to see bangs for their bucks after another season of cut price season tickets was rewarded with another large attendance week in week out. All was going well with McCall and co until February where a winless streak of 9 saw them plummet from nailed on promotion candidates to play off maybes. McCall’s desperation became all to apparent when he cried wolf saying he would leave if Bradford failed to get promoted. Anyway there still here and so was McCall till last week when he left.

“Stand and fail to deliver” as Dick Turpin never said. They are slipping hugely Bradford are a bad run away from joining us in the unholy mess of a relegation battle. Attendances have rather impressively stayed relatively similar to that of the early season optimism but that doesn't help the fact that Bradford are really in trouble. 3 wins since November against the dregs ourselves, Torquay and Darlington are nothing to write home about. Now McCall has left its do or die for Bradford from experience we all know a season after a bad season just tends to be worse.

Bradford fans call it the Wembley of the north rather modestly and they would probably be right if Wembley was a hotch potch of stands of varying ages, constantly changed its name and was virtually empty for every match it hosted but alas its not. Valley Parade as it will always be known to stubborn old me resides ten minute walk north of the city centre but 20 minutes from the train station most will arrive at, Interchange not Forster Square (best get a taxi) Fans if you have been of late are now housed in the Midland Road Stand along the side of the pitch. Views are unrestricted and facilitates are better than in the T L Dallas Stand tickets range from.

Adults £20
OAP's £14
Juveniles £12
Students £15 (This is the price in the home end but they may well not sell them at the away end)

Why not buy The City Gent while your there a good read for £1:50 and is the longest running fanzine in the country.

Dean Windass? The Scottish duo of McCall and John Hendrie, but most importantly Kris Kamara. I know unbelievable!

Gareth Evans. The former Man United youth striker started his career under the brilliant guidance of Dario Gradi at Crewe and did a 1-2 with United and Crewe during his youth days. He is currently a big hit at Valley Parade been joint scorer with James Hanson both on 7 respectfully. More amusing though is that fact that Evans has a fan seeking missile of a right foot ready to take down any of those who get in its way as a fan found out early on this season to his cost. At 21 Evans only previous club was Macclesfield where his 19 goals caught McCall’s attention. This season his goals dried up mid campaign and his 2 at Torquay were his first since the 14th of November but he can certainly fire them in when he’s focused.

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Head to Head

Town have taken just 2 points in 11 games from Bradford.

P58 W18 D13 L27 F 68 A 86

Head-to-Head (81st The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 0 Bradford 3 (Sat 25th Nov 2009)

A 3-0 hammering best forgotten at Blundell Park, which was one of Neil Woods's first games.

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