Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Bradford City v Southend United
Let's continue getting in the mood as the Shrimpers face a tough task trying to gain their first league win of the season at Spud Taylor's Bantams on Friday, August 27th; kick-off 19.45. v SHRIMPERSPossible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Phillips, Prosser, Barker, Soares Grant, Easton, Simpson, Spencer, Corr.Subs: Evans, Coughlan, Herd, Zaaboub, Hall, Sturrock, Paterson.OPPOSITION PREVIOUSLYAt Bradford City (14)At Southend Utd. (13)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Bradford City1178.57Southend Utd.646.15Southend Utd.17.14Bradford City00.00Draws214.29Draws753.85GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgBradford City282.00Southend Utd.211.62Southend Utd.130.93Bradford City110.85On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (27 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Bradford City00.00Bradford City1140.74Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.725.93Draws00.00Draws933.33GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgBradford City00.00Bradford City391.44Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.341.26RecordsHighest Aggregate7Bradford City 6 - 1Southend Utd.1958/1959 Highest Bradford City score:6Bradford City 6 - 1Southend Utd.1958/1959 Highest Southend Utd. score:4Southend Utd. 4 - 1Bradford City1976/1977 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2005/2006Sat 10 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 1Bradford CityLeague One Tue 09 AugBradford City0 - 2Southend Utd.League One 1996/1997Sat 12 AprSouthend Utd.1 - 1Bradford CityLeague Division One Sat 05 OctBradford City0 - 0Southend Utd.League Division One 1990/1991Sat 06 AprBradford City2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Fri 28 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 1Bradford CityThird Division 1983/1984Mon 16 AprSouthend Utd.2 - 1Bradford CityThird Division Sat 17 SepBradford City1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division 1982/1983Sat 05 FebSouthend Utd.1 - 1Bradford CityThird Division Sat 25 SepBradford City1 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division 1980/1981Wed 04 MarBradford City2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 12 DecSouthend Utd.3 - 1Bradford CityFourth Division 1976/1977Sat 23 AprBradford City2 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 12 NovSouthend Utd.4 - 1Bradford CityFourth Division 1969/1970Wed 24 SepBradford City2 - 1Southend Utd.League Cup 1968/1969Fri 02 MayBradford City3 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 22 NovSouthend Utd.2 - 0Bradford CityFourth Division 1967/1968Sat 20 AprBradford City2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 25 NovSouthend Utd.1 - 1Bradford CityFourth Division 1966/1967Sat 17 DecBradford City2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 20 AugSouthend Utd.2 - 1Bradford CityFourth Division 1960/1961Sat 01 AprBradford City2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 12 NovSouthend Utd.0 - 0Bradford CityThird Division 1959/1960Tue 29 SepBradford City3 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Mon 21 SepSouthend Utd.2 - 1Bradford CityThird Division 1958/1959Sat 28 MarBradford City6 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 08 NovSouthend Utd.1 - 1Bradford CityThird Division GROUND The term 'a game of two halves' is often applied to a football game; in the case of Valley Parade, a stadium of 'two halves' comes to mind. The ground has been now been completely re-built since the mid 80's, but the initial impression is that one side is twice as big as the other. The Kop End (or now known as the Carlsberg Stand), is a relatively new two tiered stand, that is simply huge and looks quite superb. It once towered over the rest of the ground, but the addition of an additional tier to the Co-Operative Main Stand during 2001 has led to it meeting its once larger neighbour. With the corner between these stands also being filled, one has a truly impressive spectacle.The rest of the ground now looks somehow rather out of place. The Midland Road (East) is a covered single tiered stand, which has windshields to each side. At some other grounds this would look impressive, as it is of a fair size and is free of supporting pillars. However it almost is lost in the shadow of its larger newer neighbours. At the remaining end is the TL Dallas stand which is an odd looking small 'double decker' type stand. This two tiered covered stand has the upper tier largely overhanging the lower tier, giving this 'double decker' effect. There is also an electric scoreboard in one corner of the ground. In the upper tier of the corner of the Co-operative Main Stand and Carlsberg Kop Stands is located a fans flag dedicated to the fans who lost their lives in the Bradford City fire at the ground in May 1985.After many years of being housed in the TL Dallas Stand, away fans are now accommodated in part of the Midland Road Stand at one side of the pitch. The Club decided to do this following a campaign by Bradford supporters, as the Bradford End as it was known before the commercial sponsorship deal, has always been the traditional home end at Valley Parade. (Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)WEATHERSunny intervals and 19c's during the day, should be a good evening; similar on Saturday.However, a wrap-up warning; Bradford is situated at a bootom of a valley, down which a rather cold wind normally prevails.REFThe man in the middle is And he gives an interview here: FIXTURESFriday, August 27th: Bradford v Southend, 19:45. Saturday, August 21st; (all kick-offs 15.00): Aldershot v Stevenage, Barnet v Bury, Cheltenham v Burton Albion, Hereford v Rotherham, Lincoln City v Crewe, Macclesfield v Chesterfield, Morecambe v Gillingham, Northampton v Wycombe, Oxford Utd v Accrington Stanley, Port Vale v Torquay, Stockport v Shrewsbury. BETBradford City (to win) - 11/10, Draw - 12/5, Southend (to win) - 10/3. For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/TRANSPORTBy Train go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/bradford_city_532779/index.shtmlBy Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/bradford_city_549713/index.shtmlBy Coach go here: www.southendunitedmad.co.uk/feat/edw3/bradford_city_533085/index.shtmlPUB AND PIESFor the best drinking around the ground, and we recommend the Corn Dolly, go here:www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/give_the_corn_dolly_a_squeeze_pub_crawl_in_bradford_551715/index.shtml HISTORY Bradford City's 1911 F.A. Cup winning sideFounded in 1903 to introduce the sport to the West Riding of Yorkshire, which until then had been almost entirely inclined towards rugby league. Before they had even played their first game, City were elected to The Football League to replace Doncaster Rovers in Division Two, and took over the Valley Parade stadium, which has been their permanent home ground ever since. The club achieved early success by winning the Division Two title in 1908 and the FA Cup in 1911, both under the management of Peter O'Rourke, before they were relegated from Division One in 1921-22.City suffered a second relegation five seasons later, but when O'Rourke was reappointed as manager before the 1928-29 season, they broke several club records to earn promotion back to Division Two. After eight seasons in Division Two, City returned to Division Three, and they remained in the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system until 1985-86. During that time, they endured several periods of financial hardship, and in 1985, their ground suffered a disastrous fire in which 56 people died, on a day the club and their fans were supposed to be celebrating success on the field.In 1987-88, the club came close to returning to the top division when they missed out on promotion on the final day of the season. However, following relegation back to Division Three, it was not until Geoffrey Richmond became chairman in January 1994 that the club's fortunes were lifted. He helped to take the club to their first appearance at Wembley and subsequently into the Premier League, where they played for two seasons. Following Richmond's self-proclaimed "six weeks of madness" and the collapse of television channel ITV Digital, the club suffered its first spell in administration. Another period under administration followed, and City have dropped through the leagues of professional English football back to the bottom tier of The Football League.For a far more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bradford_City_A.F.C.
