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.
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SHRIMPERS
This is going to be a very tough trip for the lads, and they are going to have to play a lot better than Port Vale last weekend, and I would be happy to see them return to essex with a point, I mean, only Torquay at home next week!
Luggy has a full squad to choose from bar centre-back Mark Phillips who has a hamstring problem, and will certainly make some changes from the Wolves game, but what?
Other than giving up dropping son of Paul, so he probably will, and starting with Glen Morris in goal, your guess is as good as mine, but I can't see him picking Prosser.
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Mohsni, Barker, Gilbert, Soares, Grant, Easton, Simpson, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Coughlan, Bouzid, Zaaboub, Hall, Spencer, Paterson.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Having rested players for the midweek Carling Cup defeat against Preston North End in extra-time, Bantams boss Spud Taylor will also make some changes for the evening game al la Sturrock.
Defender Robbie Threlfall is available for selection after serving a one-match ban, former Shrimpers defender Lewis Hunt and midfielder Lee Bullock are in with a shout, but loanee midfielder Tom Adeyemi (shin) faces a late fitness test.
| 10 | Stevenage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | +1 | ||||
| 11 | Bury | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 12 | Cheltenham Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | -1 | ||||
| 13 | Hereford United | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | -3 | ||||
| 14 | Crewe Alexandra | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | +5 | ||||
| 15 | Lincoln City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | -2 | ||||
| 16 | Bradford City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | -3 | ||||
| 17 | Gillingham | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | ||||
| 18 | Oxford United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | ||||
| 19 | Stockport County | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -2 | ||||
| 20 | Northampton Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -3 |
PREVIOUSLY
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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.
Look what happened when we tried to fight for the North Bank!
(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
Sunny 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.
The man in the middle is Paul Tierney from Lancashire.
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.
BET
Bradford 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/
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/bradford_city_532779/index.shtml
By Car go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/bradford_city_549713/index.shtml
By Coach go here: www.southendunitedmad.co.uk/feat/edw3/bradford_city_533085/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For 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 side
Founded 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bradford_City_A.F.C.
