25/08/2001
City 2-1 Coventry
3 games, 3 wins, top of the table "bloody marvellous".
To borrow a phrase from the past, "Do I like that!"
Or thats my interpretation ;)
22/08/2001
POTENTIAL COST OF RELEGATION
Bradford City's relegation to Division One could leave the club £50 million worse off than the top Premier League teams, according to an industry report.
The Bantams, though, had the seventh largest operating profit in the Premier League in the 1999/00 season at £5.3 million and income was up a massive 170 per cent on the previous campaign.
The report, out yesterday, was compiled by analysts Deloitte and Touche and showed that England's 92 professional clubs generated a world-leading £1 billion income.
Paul Rawnsley, one of the report's authors, said: "The average Division One club will see income rise from £8 million to £12 million, but Premier teams will see it go from £39 million to £65 million and the difference at the opposing ends of the leagues could be as much as £60 million."
Bradford City's profit in its first Premiership season is put into context by Liverpool which made an operating loss of £7.8 million, although Manchester United were more than £29 million to the good.
Bradford's future can be glimpsed in the financial performance of Sheffield Wednesday which, when it dropped to Division One in the 1998/99 season, saw income fall by six per cent.
Mr Rawnsley said: "English football's income for 1999/00 grew by £128 to £1,078 million but operating costs rose by £188 million, £127 million of which represented the jump in the clubs' wages and salaries."
Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richmond said the club had lost £20 million with the drop in divisions but costs had also been cut.
He said: "As a club we try not to spend money we don't have and it is noticeable that we have not spent money in the transfer market this year for the first time in many a year.
"We will be operating this year within budget, assisted by the parachute payment from the Premier League to relegated clubs but we have kept last year's squad together and there is considerable confidence that we can get a top six finish or better."
20/08/2001
TRANSFER NEWS: Jim Jefferies today moved in to sign defender Andy Tod on a two/three month loan. So that's another Scotsman to add to our clan/tribe(maybe now we should be wearing ginger-wigs and tam o'shanter's).
20/08/2001
Ostenstad Bradford bound?
OSTENSTAD: Seen training with Bradford
Blackburn Rovers striker Egil Ostenstad could be set for a move away from the club according to sources.
For he has apparently been seen training with first division side Bradford City.
The former Norwegian international has little chance of making the squad this season, barring injuries to a host of strikers, so a move away from the club would be the best for all concerned.
If the stories are true and Ostenstad is training with Bradford City then Rovers are only likely to seek a nominal fee.
Updated 20/08/01
Leeds thugs in disguise.
It was reported that the infamous L**ds hooligans known as the service crew,last season tried to infiltrate the Sunderlands home end by wearing Sunderland shirts to disguise themselves as Mackems , fortunately they were soon rumbled . 
Pompey match report , err sort of !!
So, there I was belting down the M27, 1:15 pm, plenty of time for a jar. I spot a Pompey fan driving in front of me.
I'll follow him, I think to myself. He's sure to be going to the game and know an ideal parking spot. We came in on the Eastern road. He parks up; I roll up behind him, jump out and ask
"Where's the ground"? . He says
"20 minute walk that way mate".
Brilliant!! So off I set towards distant floodlight pylons.
Soaked in sweat, I reach the ground and ask the programme seller for directions to Wetherspoons on Fratton road.
"20 minutes walk that way mate"
Stuff that, as I'm knackered and its 2:00pm and I need lubrication. I purchase a programme and head for the nearest alehouse (The Milton Arms). A lone figure sat in the corner armed with Lager and programme and sporting my City t-shirt, Im eyed with suspicion and curiosity. After a short while one or two of the friendlier Pompey fans make idle chitchat with me over recent loan deals we've had between the clubs.
Whilst outside the window two young Pompey fans are gesticulating wildly at me with semi closed hands as though hold of something and moving them vigorously up and down. My reputation precedes me I thought!!
2:35, Im at the turnstiles and it pisses down relentless until well into second half. I'm whinging to anyone who'll listen that an old stadium like Fratton Park with it's proud history and yet still no effort to put a roof over the away end. The girl in the catering hut seemed to pity me and gave me a bin liner with my chicken balti pie.
"Are the pies that bad" I enquire.
"No, its for you in the rain" she replied.
"Oh" quite obviously she fancied me and didn't want to see my long flowing locks getting soaked (ahem)
Until I got to the seats and noticed every other male wearing a black bin liner! The brazen hussy
I eye the crowd to see who I know and spot Carty bang next to me .We acknowledge the inclement weather then she adds.
"Its a good job its warm though, or I'd be cold!!
Yes Carty, Thats a contender for daft statement of the year award.
Then Tournesol ambles up doing a fine impersonation of the hunchback of Notre Dames, though it soon transpires hes the smart one as his huge cagoule covers not only his whole self but also his rucksack.
At a quarter to three a tribute to Arron Flahavan was respected impeccably by the 400 or so City fans that managed to make the long journey. All that was to be heard was the heavy rain beating the ground. City fans never have any trouble displaying empathy and sharing grief.
I would describe Citys performance as one of those bread and butter, games, one of those games that will not be remembered in the annals of City history but nevertheless a game that at the end of the season may show to be of up most importance. A solid, gritty and workmanlike performance mixed with good organisation and much team spirit. For the first 40 minutes I thought I was watching Mike Harrison the tall City gent fanzine seller and Citygent website editor playing up front for Pompey, he was the spit. Until I spotted Mike to my left and it then became apparent Mike doesnt have alternate employment but does have a look-alike.It was infact Steve Crouch the tall striker for Pompey.
So, the goal, theres me thinking to myself, why is Carbone taking the throw, why is Ward not in the box waiting for a cross, why is Jess in the box who has no Ariel presence and bang! Were one nil up.
Great stuff, bring on the Cov.
JY
Eccleshill Travel club travel news.
Hi folks, the first away game of the season is upon us and its one of those long endurance journeys, always best to get them out of the way early whilst enthusiasm is still high :). After the emphatic victory over Barnsley last Saturday itll be a good test for our team to play Pompey, Fratton Park is always a very tough venue and will also give an insight into how JJs intends to line up away from home for these tough fixtures.
A little extra spice spice will be added due to ex City lads Daz Moore and Lee Mills playing down there and just recently we had Myers and Sharpe on loan to them.
Not so sure whos pulling the strings for Pompey these days, Rix the manager or Redknapp the director of footie?? To all intents and purposes Sharpy was on his way until Harry came to their club then the deal was off? Looks like undue pressure on Rix to me.
The game will also be even more intensely fought because the Pompey lads will want a victory to dedicate to the memory of Arron Flahavan, the keeper that tragically died a little over a week ago.
Travel to Portsmouth.
Saturday 18th August.
Kick of 3.00pm
Match tickets Adults £15 pounds, juniors £8.
Travel directions
Take the M606 to M62 east at j26.
Leave M62 at j42 to southbound M1
Exit M1 at j14 to join M25 anti clockwise.
At j12 join M3.
Exit at j14 to join M27 eastbound
Join M275 into Portsmouth,
At end of motorway take 2nd exit off roundabout and after 0.25 miles turn right into London Road (a2047). After a further 1.25 miles crossing the railway bridge turn left into Goldsmith Avenue. Travel another 0.5 mile and turn left into frogmore Road for the ground
City fans wanting a little lubrication prior to the game could do worse than wetherspoons public house on Fratton Road, several members of the bcfc forum will be meeting in there from 1pm onwards, call in and say hello.
JY.
11/08/2001
Jim Jefferies praised Ashley Ward after his goals helped City to a 4-0 win over Barnsley and then said he almost played David Wetherall up front.
Ward, who has been struggling with a calf strain got his season off to a flier with two penalties either side of half-time as The Bantams cruised to an opening day success.
JJ was delighted with Ward's overall showing, he said: "Ashley was just terrific throughout the whole game and that's the value he is to us.
"I couldn't have asked for a better start than a 4-0 win against one of our Yorkshire rivals. Let's just hope we can continue like that in our next 45 games."
JJ revealed that he had drawn up contingency plans to use Wetherall in attack if Ward had not been fit, but the former Barnsley man passed a late fitness test.
08/08/2001
Huddersfield 0 Bradford City 0
A lack-lustre performence yesterday by both squads, however city fielded a youth/trialists squad(with the exception of a few seniors),whereas Huddersfield played a full strentgh squad, just goes to show how poor Huddersfield really are.
05/08/2001
News of the tragic death of Portsmouth's 25-year old goalkeeper Aaron Flanavan in a car crash in Bournemouth last night has shocked the football world.
City's goalkeeping coach Mark Prudhoe said he was stunned by the news and his immediate thoughts were for Mr. Flanavan's family and everybody at Portsmouth Football Club who were close to him.
Said Prudhoe, "Aaron had everything going for him. He had been in the wings for so long but got his break when Russell Hoult left Pompey. The news is so tragic."
Portsmouth's first home game of the season is against City in just under two weeks time.
03/08/2001
Carbone set for first pre-season outing
Benito Carbone will play his first pre-season game for City 04/08/2001 against Blackburn, while David Wetherall will continue his fitness fight.
The Bantams play their only home pre-season match, against newly-promoted Blackburn Rovers, and Carbone will feature, having missed the trip to Northern Ireland to be in Italy with his ill son.
Meanwhile, Wetherall will be given another run out after playing his first full 90 minutes in Portadown for six months and he could be partnered at the back by Andy Myers, with Jim Jefferies hoping to settle on a defensive partnership ready for the big kick-off.
As in the matches in Northern Ireland, both sides are expected to use a number of substitutes in the second half, although they are both likely to start with what Jefferies and Graeme Souness could regard as just about their first-choice eleven.
The only parts of the ground that will be open will be the two sides; City fans will have both tiers of the redeveloped Sunwin Stand, whilst the visitors will be opposite in the Ciba Stand.
Admission prices are £10 adults, £5 OAPs and £3 juniors.
Trivia Question To encourage visitors to check back often, in this area I'll put a different trivia question each week or even each day. Here's an example of a trivia question:
Q.Who was the first black footballer to represent England in a Full International?
A. Viv Anderson
Q.Who held the British transfer record before Shearer's 1996 move?
A. Stan "The Man" Collymore. |
