All posts by Aaron Bower

Player Database

#2: Thomas Farnall

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Born: 1876

Bradford City debut: 1 September 1903 v Grimsby Town

Appearances: 26
Goals: 2

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Already possessing Football League experience with Small Heath, wing-half Thomas Farnall was a vital addition to Bradford City’s first-ever league squad of 1903-04.

Signed from Watford – he had also played for Bristol Rovers – Farnall made 26 appearances for the Paraders in total: all of them coming in the club’s first season. He left in 1905 to join Walsall, before later playing for Barrow and Gloucester City.

Player Database

#1: John Beckram

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Born: August 1881

Bradford City debut: 1 September 1903 v Grimsby Town

Appearances: 26
Goals: 8

Profile

John Beckram was born in Sunderland in 1881, and played for Sheffield United before becoming part of the first-ever side to play a competitive fixture for Bradford City.

Beckram has the distinction of owning Heritage Number #1, on account of being the first player listed in the team sheet against Grimsby Town in September 1903 alphabetically.

He was released by the club in the summer of 1905, after failing to make an appearance for City in the club’s second season of 1904-05.

General Blog, Goals Stats/Records/Articles

City record best defensive start to a season for 35 years: since the title-winners of 1984-85

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24 games into the 2019-20 League Two season, and City’s record of just 19 goals conceded is certainly impressive: and that is before you compare it to the club’s recent history in that regard.

Gary Bowyer’s side are already into double figures in regards to clean sheets, and you have to go back into the mid-1980s to find a season that, at the 24-game stage, is better than the class of 2019-20.

In fact, as fate would perhaps have it, it is the last squad that managed to secure a league title who were better defensively: Trevor Cherry’s 1984-85 title-winners, who were promoted from Division Three 35 years ago.

They shipped just 18 goals in their first 24 games on the way to finishing top of the table, just one better than Bowyer’s side have currently posted defensively.

The only other squad to have come close to that since 1984-85 is the class of 2016-17, who conceded 20 in their first 24. That season ended with City making the play-off final, and while defensive resilience at this stage of a season is by no means a guarantee to success, the history books suggest that it certainly could go a long way to determining a high finish in the league.

General Blog

Bradford City in the 2010s: a decade by the numbers

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The 2010s, for Bradford City at least, are now at a close. Saturday’s victory against Mansfield Town was the final game for the Bantams in the decade, with the 2020s beginning against Morecambe on New Year’s Day. With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of City statistically throughout the decade that has drawn to a conclusion.

Games Played

City played 469 league games (including play-offs) during the 2010s, starting with the 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town on January 2nd, 2010: and finishing with that aforementioned game against Mansfield.

The Bantams won 171 of those, drawing 129 and losing 169. That is a win percentage of 36.46%; narrowly over one win in every three games played.

Record Scores

City’s biggest win throughout the 2010s in league football came right back at the start of the decade: on October 30th, 2010. City beat Oxford United 5-0 courtesy of goals from Lee Hendrie, Louis Moult, Dave Syers and a brace from Omar Daley. There have been numerous victories by four goals – both 4-0 and 5-1 – but only one such instance of a five-goal win.

City’s biggest defeat of the decade was bigger than five goals, though – when Bristol City came to Valley Parade in April 2015 and won 6-0. There have also been instances of City losing games by five goals in the decade too; including against Blackpool in April 2018.

Record Appearances

Perhaps unsurprisingly, striker James Hanson holds the record for most appearances made by a City player in league football throughout the 2010s. Hanson played 286 times for City in total, but just 20 of those came in the latter part of 2009, giving him a total of 266 in the 2010s. Stephen Darby is the next highest; the legendary right-back played 200 times in league football for City during the decade.

Record Goals

Hanson also holds the records for most goals in the decade, too. He scored 91 times in all competitions for the Bantams; 83 of them came from January 1st, 2010 onwards. His other eight were in the first half of the 2009-10 season. Hanson’s former strike partner Nahki Wells is next-highest; he scored 53 Bradford City goals during the decade.

Best and Worst Seasons

City’s worst return points-wise throughout the decade came as recently as last season, when a total of 41 points meant the Bantams finished bottom of League One and were relegated to League Two. Excluding the two Premier League seasons, that was the joint-lowest return since 1989-90.

Our best points tally came in 2015-16, when Phil Parkinson’s side finished 5th in League One with a total of 80 points.

General Blog, Team of the Decade

Team of the Decade: the Central-Midfielders (vote two)

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#1173: Gary Liddle
City appearances: 76
City goals: 4

Gary Liddle was one of several players signed by Phil Parkinson in the summer of 2014 to boost the club’s depth in midfield, following the departure of the likes of Gary Jones after consolidating the club’s position in League One.

Liddle had carved out a reputation as a fine lower-league midfielder, and during his time at Valley Parade, he proved to be a shrewd addition. He played a crucial part in the run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 2014-15, and gave many of his fellow midfielders licence to roam forward, thanks to his defensive displays.

#1172: Billy Knott
City appearances: 79
City goals: 8

Billy Knott made his Bradford City debut on the same day as Gary Liddle, as the former Chelsea youngster quickly found his feet in claret and amber. A hugely-talented junior with the Londoners, Knott became a firm fan favourite during his time at City.

That was in no small part due to the goal he scored against Leeds just weeks into his City career, a wonderful long-range effort in front of the Kop that helped the Bantams on their way to a 2-1 win. Knott was just as important in front of goal in the FA Cup run of that season, too.

He scored twice in the 3-3 draw away at Millwall, before notching another one of the goals in the 4-0 replay victory at Valley Parade. Knott played in every single game of the run to the quarter-finals, and was just as impressive in league football, too.

#1007: Nathan Doyle
City appearances: 127
City goals: 2

Nathan Doyle had already enjoyed a short spell with Bradford City in 2006, before returning to the club in the summer of 2012. He would form a magnificent, all-action midfield pairing with Gary Jones that not only inspired City to promotion, but to an unforgettable run to the League Cup final, too.

Doyle’s presence in midfield was just as important in 2013-14, as City consolidated themselves in League One. Though he wasn’t quite as prolific in front of goal as some of the other midfielders that have represented City this decade, his defensive presence was part of the backbone of City’s success under Phil Parkinson.

#1203: Josh Cullen
City appearances: 63
City goals: 1

Loan players are always a gamble – Bradford City’s record alone with them proves that. But few have been as successful or popular as West Ham youngster Josh Cullen. He spent two seasons with City, which coincided with the club coming desperately close to promotion to the Championship under Stuart McCall.

Cullen’s passing, vision and his energy were all reasons why he became such a fond favourite with City fans during his time with the club, and it is perhaps no surprise to see him going on to become a permanent presence in the Championship to this day.