The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Is football a business or a sport?




Conlon: Return
Conlon: Return

Grimsby v Bradford Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 24/11/2009

I WOULD firstly like to clear up the confusion created by the OS and say the game against Bradford will be played at Blundell Park on Tuesday 24th November 2009, KO 7:45pm. For more fixtures best check the BBC or something as the club don't seem to have a clue.

I WOULD firstly like to clear up the confusion created by the OS and say the game against Bradford will be played at Blundell Park on Tuesday 24th November 2009, KO 7:45pm. For more fixtures best check the BBC or something as the club don't seem to have a clue.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Bradford (h)


Neil Woods is now at the helm after being promoted from first mate. The experienced youth manager has breathed success in the youth sector of the club for years now and after 6 games of slow but steady progress Woods has been given the chance he deserves. The players have got the man they wanted in charge of the team and it’s now time for them to repay him, Fenty and us after seasons of turgid displays and professional ineptitude.

So now the club has a man in charge, the speculation and rumours can finally stop and maybe a little bit or stability can return to a club which has struggled to find such a thing since the turn of the millennia. Bradford are up next in our struggle for survival and though town have yet to win at home since the sunny days of September Woods has been able to put his fingers in the damn of our Titanic of a defence.

Who are they?

Their History

Formed in 1903 Bradford were born from Manningham Rugby League Club which their representatives and the Bradford Observer wanted to increase the profile of association football in the largely rugby league dominated area of West Yorkshire. They were immediately elected to Division Two without having played a game and it was a good choice as Bradford found themselves in the top flight 5 years later and in 1911 won their first and only honour the FA Cup. In 1922 Bradford drop out of the top tier before returning briefly in 1999 since then it’s been nothing but a horror show which puts ours to shame.

Last Season

Having started as promotion favourites Bradford fans must have been waiting for the glory the believed they deserved for showing such faith in the club the season before. McCall had become accustomed to the job in hand and had constructed a team who in flashes showed real skill and all seemed well in hand as Bradford looked to be closing in on a top two place come February. After that Bradford imploded a sequence of 9 games without a win saw them plummet and looking for merely a play off spot and all was exacerbated by McCall’s attention seeking cries that he would quit if Bradford failed in their quest for promotion. In the end Bradford finished just outside of the play offs and McCall was talked down from the ledge and all are now ready to try again this year but with a much smaller budget.

This Season

Bradford haven't started as well as last campaign they'll hope to improve on last years final months instead. Currently sitting spot bang in midtable (12th if you struggled in maths like myself) Bradford’s high of the season was a scintillating 5-4 win over Chesterfield at Saltergate. While it couldn't get any worse than the hammering Notts County handed out to them on the opening day buoyed by the arrival of Sven and several millions from god knows where the Magpies duly spanked the Yorkies 5-0. Currently the Bantams are struggling much like ourselves the too haven't won since September and have won twice away from home in the league all season.

Key Player

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 5 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. At 21 Evans only previous club was Macclesfield where his 19 goals caught McCalls attention.

Recent Form

TownBradford
DLincoln(a)0-0
DNorthampton(a)0-0
LLeeds (JPT)(a)1-3
LBath (FAC)(h)0-2
DAccrington(h)2-2
Currently 23rd in League Two.
DAccrington(h)1-1
DBournemouth(a)1-1
DPort Vale (JPT)(a)2-2
LNotts Co (FAC)(h)1-2
DMacclesfield(a)2-2
Currently 12th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBradford
Sweeney5
Conlon4
Hanson6

Team News

TownBradford

  • Neil Woods is not expected to make many changes. Barry Conlon though is a possible starter in place of North.

  • Rob Atkinson is still suspended. Paul Linwood will continue in his place.

  • Adam Proudlock, Nathan Jarman and Robbie Stockdale are all still injured.
  • Michael Boulding has recovered from a virus, and could start after coming off the bench on Saturday.

  • Peter Thorne (hamstring), Leon Osborne (ankle) and winger Omar Daley (knee) are all still sidelined.
  • Squads

    TownBradford
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jar man
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    20MFJammal Shahin
    21FWMichael Coulson
    23MFOliver Lancashire
    24DFDamien McCrory
    25DFRob Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    28FWJosh Fuller
    29FWBradley Wood
    31MFNicky Featherstone
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GK Simon Eastwood (on loan from Huddersfield Town)
    2 DF Simon Ramsden
    3 DF Luke O'Brien
    4 MF Michael Flynn
    5 DF Zesh Rehman
    6 DF Matthew Clarke
    7 MF Omar Daley
    8 MF Lee Bullock
    9 FW Gareth Evans
    10 FW Peter Thorne (Captain)
    11 MF Chris Brandon
    12 DF Steve Williams
    13 GK Jon McLaughlin
    14 FW Michael Boulding
    16 DF Jonathan Bateson
    17 FW James Hanson
    18 FW Rory Boulding
    19 MF Jamie O'Brien
    20 FW Leon Osborne
    21 MF Luke Sharry
    22 MF Rory Carson
    23 FW Luke Dean
    24 DF Louis Horne
    25 MF Stephen O'Leary
    26 MF Scott Neilson
    27 MF Simon Whaley (on loan from Norwich City)

    Head to Head

    Grimsby have a poor record against Bradford and have not won for 10 games.

    P 57 W18 D13 L26 F 68 A 83

    Head-to-Head (78th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Bradford 2 Grimsby 0 (Sat 31st Jan 2009)

    Rob Atkinson was sent off in the first half leaving Town with a mountain to climb.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    Two poor teams slogging it out could be a good chance for the team to take advantage of a Bradford team on the slide, let’s hope we start Woods first game in charge with the win we all crave.

    Grimsby 1-0 Bradford.

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