BRADFORD CITY
LAST SEASON
LEAGUE ONE 24th FA CUP Second Round
LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER Eoin Doyle (11)
FANFILE KEITH WILDMAN @Therecordcafe
The big talking point among the fans is whether, after Edin Rahic’s ruinous 18-month ownership saw us plummet to League Two having been in a final at Wembley and minutes away from the Championship, we can get shot of all the players who make this our best-paid squad since the early 2000s before they drag us into non-league. The player I’d happily drive to another club is all of them. I’d pay for a 16-seater minibus and drive the 16 contracted players as far away from Valley Parade as the fuel tank would allow. Then I’d pay to fill it up again, keep driving and pay the ferry fee, too. This season will be different because Rahic was forced out, because we now have a manager who is proven at this level, and because it isn’t scientifically possible for it to be any worse.
The best away ground is definitely Morecambe’s. It’s Bradford-on-sea, with great pies in the ground. I’ve still not Googled where Forest Green is. The pantomime villain will be anyone to do with Salford – the new Crawley, Rushden & Diamonds, Fleetwood...
I won’t be happy unless we start to play 4-4-2 with wingers and a big man up top next to a fast little tricky chap. Look out for midfielder Danny Devine. He made his senior debut in 2016 but he’s 21 now. League Two could be his big opportunity this season.
The best club social media account is @Thewidthofapost, which is pretty balanced and fair-minded.
The signature local dish is easy to guess in Bradford. My personal pick is a mutton masala (very hot) from the Sheesh Mahal.
The other recommendation for away fans is to look at the buildings. The ones that didn’t get flattened in the 1960s date from when Bradford was the richest city in the country. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that Gary Bowyer [below] has a good League Two track record. He does seem fairly cautious, but that served us well with Phil Parkinson.
If he left, he should be replaced by a golden statue of Phil Parkinson. We’ll finish in May.