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Bantams in flux
Bradford City
v Darlington
Coca-Cola League Two
Saturday
27th February 2009, 3pm
Another disappointing season, despite the
large following and the successes of not too many seasons ago. Manager
Stuart McCall quit earlier this month and it didn't come as a surprise,
with their home form particularly bad. Peter Taylor brings his experience for a club with big expectations.
Man
to watch Michael Boulding Striker struggled with
illness but still among the goals for the Bantams in limted appearences.
Away seats (unreserved and
plentiful) in the Coral Windows Stadium are in the T L Dallas Stand
behind the goal. Prices are £20, OAP £14, students £15, under 16
£12.
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Full match preview on the D@rlo
Uncovered website.
Bradford
City FC
Intersonic Stadium, Valley Parade, Bradford BD8 7DY
(01274) 773355 (Main Office) or 770022 (Ticket Office)
History: Founded 1903, out of the decline of Manningham rugby
club, they were elevated to Div 2 status and won the title within
five years. By 1911, the caused a FA Cup upset by beating Newcastle
and also reached fifth in the top division. The 1984 Div 3 championship
win was overshadowed by the terrible fire at the final home game
against Lincoln, which saw the loss of 56 lives in May 1985. The
Bantams in 1999-2000 reached the Premiership and stayed up under
manager Paul Jewell, who was mystifyingly dismissed by the ambitious
chairman Geoffrey Richmond. His "moment of madness" in spending
to survive eventually crippled the club financially and they were
lucky to remain in business. Subsequent relegations have followed
and now they find themselves in the bottom division.
Record Attendance: 39,146 v Burnley, FA Cup, 1911
Capacity: 25,136
Last season:
Honours: Div 2 champions 1907-1908, Div 3 champions 1984-1985,
Div 3 North champions, 1928/1929
Record victory: 11-1 v Rotherham Utd, Div 3N, 1928
Defeat: 1-9 v Colchester Utd, Div 4, 1961
Nickname: The Bantams.
Colours: Amber and Maroon
Manager: Peter Taylor
Chairman: Julian Rhodes
Players in:
Zesh Rehman (QPR),
Simon Ramsden (Rochdale),
Gareth Evans (Macclesfield),
Michael Flynn and Matt Glennon (both Huddersfield)
Players out: Graeme Lee (Notts Co),
Barry Conlon (Grimsby),
Paul Heckingbottom (Mansfield),
Karl Nix (Mansfield),
Paul McLaren (Tranmere),
Joe Colbeck (Oldham),
Famous fans/connections: Stuart McCall, Bobby Campbell,
John Hendrie, Peter Beagrie, Dean Windass, Stan Collymore (players),
Chris Kamara and Paul Jewell (managers); Robbie Blake, Barry
Conlon, Paul Heckingbottom, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, Matt Clarke (played for
Darlo). Actors Peter Firth, Eddie Peel, George Layon, Hather Peace,
Christopher Smith (Emmerdale), John Helm (football commentator),
Joe Johnson (snooker player - all fans).
Click for Streetmap
of ground |
A relatively easy trip from Darlington.
From the North East take A1 southbound to join A1/M1 link then join M62
westbound. From M62 exit at Junction 26. Take M606 towards Bradford. At
end of motorway take the last exit onto Rooley Lane (signs Leeds/Bradford
Airport). McDonalds is now on your left and it's over the traffic lights
at Asda and turn left at roundabout into Wakefield Road. Stay in middle
lane, over two roundabouts, (signs to Shipley and Skipton) on to Shipley
Airedale Rd (A6037) which then becomes Canal Road. Just after Tesco (on
left) turn left into Station Road (A6177) and left again into Queens Road.
Up hill to third set of traffic lights and turn left into Manningham Lane.
After the Gulf garage (on left), take first left into Valley Parade for
Stadium. Parking isn't easy, so suggest in the city centre. For the city
centre pubs, follow City Centre signs, then A650 Keighley/Skipton & ignore
earlier signs for the ground. The pubs are close to Morrison's supermarket
& there's a multi-storey there - only 5-10 mins from the ground.
Cosy Cars 01274 545555
Union Taxis 01274 737474
LOW Private Hire 01274 600000
Darlington
FC Supporters' Club
Coach 11.30am, £11.
Contact: 01325 243911. Payment for each coach trip must be either
paid for in full before travel, or a 50% non-refundable deposit
paid in advance. Anyone wishing to travel on the coaches must join
before the day of travel
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Trains: The Intersonic
Stadium at Valley Parade is less than a mile from Bradford's Forster
Square Station and about a mile and a half from the
Bradford Interchange Station, further into the city centre in
Bridge Street. It's a straightforward walk from the Forster railway
station - almost opposite into Midland Road across from the station
entrance and the ground is on the left, or you can take the A650 Manningham
Lane and turn right down the hill. The Interchange station is further
into the heart of the city, and incorporates the bus station - buses
to the ground from stand B12.
(SUGGESTED TRAIN TIMES UPDATED)
Darlington 09.13 via Leeds (10.07) 10.22 arr Bradford Interchange 10.42.
Return: Bradford Interchange 17.34 via Leeds (17.58) 18.12-York (18.35) arr Darlington 18.58. Fares: Off peak day return £28.70.
Sheffield: 10.21-(11.02, Leeds ) 11.22 arr Bradford Interchange, 11.42. Rtn: 17.34 via Leeds (17.58) 18.11-arr 18.51. Fare: Off peak day return, £9.70.
London Kings Cross: 09.10 via Leeds (11.35) 11.51 arr 12.10; return 18.04 (18.28) 18.40-arr 21.15. Fares: Off peak returns from £84.70, £75 advance return.
Birmingham New Street: 09.03 via Leeds (11.02) 11.22-arr 11.42; return 17.34 via Leeds (17.58) 18.11-arr 20.07. Fares: Off-peak return £48.70.
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Real aleBradford has lots of pubs too and there are some good recommendations
for pubs on the Bradford
CAMRA site and also the BBC's
Bradford going out page
>The
Corn Dolly, 110 Bolton Road
A former Bradford "pub of the year," and handy for the ground.
Black Sheep and Everards beers. DAFTS recommended.
Click for streetmap
The Fighting Cock, 21-23
Preston Street Seving 12 real ales and ciders, if 15 minutes
walk from the city centre.Click for streetmap
The
New Beehive 171 Westgate
Edwardian gas-lit pub and hotel on the B6144 (Howarth Road) and 10 minutes
walk from the ground.
Click for map
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Near Ground:
The Old Red Lion, Great
North Road
For those that aren't at all fussy, the same street as The New Beehvie
has The Star, which was a riot of local "characters"
on a previous visit, and the even less salubrious The Boy & Barrel.
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No shortage of places for a decent
curry in Bradford, so pointless listing them all, but there are
a few tips on the tourism
site. There is a fish shop - Bowland Street Fisheries
1a Bowland Street - a few minutes walk from the stadium.
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