Bradford City A.F.C. season 2008–09

Infobox Football club season
club = Bradford City

season = 2008–09
manager = flagicon|SCO Stuart McCall
chairman = flagicon|ENG Julian Rhodes
flagicon|ENG Mark Lawn
league = Football League Two
league result =
cup1 = FA Cup
cup1 result =
cup2 = Carling Cup
cup2 result = First Round
cup3 = Johnstone's Paint Trophy
cup3 result = First Round
league topscorer =
season topscorer =
highest attendance =
lowest attendance =The 2008–09 season will be the 106th season in Bradford City A.F.C.'s history, their 94th in The Football League and 96th in the league system of English football. Their 10th place finish in 2007–08 will mean it will be their second successive season in League Two. It covers a period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

Background

Stuart McCall had been appointed Bradford City's new manager ahead of the club's 2007–08 League Two campaign. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6679253.stm
title=McCall named new Bradford manager
date=2007-05-22
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=BBC Sport] He had targeted promotion during his first season, [cite news
first=Simon
last=Parker
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1456117.0.mccall_ill_have_failed_if_we_dont_go_up.php
title=McCall: I'll Have Failed If We Don't Go Up
accessdate=2007-12-03
date=2008-07-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] but the club were in the bottom half of the league until after the New Year, and could only finish tenth, 16 points outside the play-off spots. McCall released 13 players at the end of the season, [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2234555.0..php
title=Johnson one of 13 axed by City
date=2008-04-29
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] and also lost his captain, David Wetherall, who decided to retire, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7254349.stm
title=Wetherall poised to hang up boots
date=2008-02-20
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=BBC Sport] and Luke Medley, who turned down a new contract in favour of a return his home in London. [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2318877.0..php
title=Medley turns down City offer
date=2008-06-05
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] McCall added four new signings, Jonathan McLaughlin, [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2260010.0..php
title=City snap up goalkeeper
date=2008-05-09
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] Chris Brandon, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7428993.stm
title=Bradford bag midfielder Brandon
date=2008-05-31
accessdate=2008-07-01
publiser=BBC Sport] Paul Arnison and Graeme Lee during June as he attempted to build a team to win promotion. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7462051.stm
title=Bradford City seal Arnison switch
date=2008-06-18
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7482167.stm
title=Bradford swoop for defender Lee
date=2008-06-30
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=BBC Sport]

Review

Pre-season

City returned to pre-season training on 1 July 2008, with a fifth new player, after Tranmere Rovers midfielder Paul McLaren signed a two-year deal.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7483599.stm
title=Tranmere's McLaren joins Bradford
date=2008-07-01
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=BBC Sport] Two weeks after pre-season training started, City played their first friendly when they lost 3–1 to Farsley Celtic, with the only City goal coming from a Barry Conlon penalty. City's side included several trialists, including goalkeeper Nick Colgan, Korey Nix, brother of City midfielder Kyle, and Rory Boulding. Rory's elder brother Michael, who had also been training with City, was unable to play because of an injury. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3211960.Ankle_injury_rules_Boulding_out_of_Celts_defeat/
title=Ankle injury rules Boulding out of Celts defeat
date=2008-07-17
accessdate=2008-07-17
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] The second pre-season came three days later, when City defeated Bradford rivals Bradford Park Avenue 3–1, selecting a squad which included a number of youth team players. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/3219073.McLaren_benefits_from_pain_game/
title=McLaren benefits from pain game
date=2008-07-20
accessdate=2008-07-20
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] City's third friendly was a 2–1 defeat to another West Yorkshire-based non-league side Guiseley, who featured former Bradford player David Brown on trial. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/3223044.Evans_gets_second_chance/
title=Evans gets second chance
date=2008-07-22
accessdate=2008-07-22
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] City embarked on a short tour of Scotland, where they defeated Dundee 1–0 but lost 4–0 to Motherwell. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/3543731.McLaren_has_lucky_escape/
title=McLaren has lucky escape
date=2008-07-23
accessdate=2008-07-23
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/7527292.stm
title=Trialists help Well dump Bradford
date=2008-07-26
accessdate=2008-07-26
publisher=BBC Sport] During the tour, the club signed brothers Michael and Rory Boulding on free transfers.cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3546165.McCall_delighted_to_sign_Boulding_brothers/
title=McCall delighted to sign Boulding brothers
date=2008-07-24
accessdate=2008-07-24
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] Upon their return to England, City lost their next friendly 2–1 to Burnley. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3559283.Late_winner_cruel_on_in_form_Evans/
title=Late winner cruel on in-form Evans
date=2008-07-31
accessdate=2008-08-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] Following his form in several trial games, including a string of saves against Burnley, goalkeeper Rhys Evans, who had played on loan the previous season with City, became City's latest signing on 1 August 2008.cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3563000.Rhys_earns_his_keep/
title=Rhys earns his keep
date=2008-08-01
accessdate=2008-08-01
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] Three days later, City's next friendly resulted in a 1–0 victory against League One side Oldham Athletic. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3567305.Daley_s_pace_has_Oldham_on_the_run/
title=Daley's pace has Oldham on the run
date=2008-03-03
accessdate=2008-03-03
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] The final pre-season friendly was played behind closed doors, when City lost 2–0 to Sheffield Wednesday, with a team made up of juniors and reserve players. A day before the start of the season, McCall signed defender TJ Moncur on loan from Fulham as cover at right back. The agreement gave Bradford the option to sign Moncur, who had also played seven games on loan the previous season, on a permanent contract once the loan finished on 3 January 2009.cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3580841.Moncur_back_for_second_loan_spell/
title=Moncur back for second loan spell
date=2008-08-08
accessdate=2008-08-09
publisher=Telegraph & Argus]

August

City started the season with a 2–1 victory at home to Notts County. Striker Peter Thorne, who had been Bradford's top goalscorer in the 2007–08 season, and scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture, scored both Bradford's goals.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7541104.stm
title=Bradford 2-1 Notts County
date=2008-08-09
accessdate=2008-08-09
publisher=BBC Sport] City again lost at the first round stage of the League Cup for the third successive season when they lost 4–0 to West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7541888.stm
title=Huddersfield 4-0 Bradford
date=2008-08-12
accessdate=2008-08-13
publisher=BBC Sport] Thorne, who had been rested to the substitutes' bench for the defeat at Huddersfield, returned for City's second league game when he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory at Macclesfield Town.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7551258.stm
title=Macclesfield 0-2 Bradford
date=2008-08-16
accessdate=2008-08-16
publisher=BBC Sport] City maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2–0 victory against Rochdale on 23 August 2008.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7565149.stm
title=Bradford 2-0 Rochdale
date=2008-08-23
accessdate=2008-08-23
publisher=BBC Sport] It was the first time since the 2001–02 season, they had won their first three games of the season. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3606075._Let_s_not_get_carried_away_/
title='Let's not get carried away'
date=2008-08-20
accessdate=2008-08-24
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Mike
last=Crowther] Michael Boulding opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, before Thorne added his fifth of the campaign. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3617965.Boulding_off_mark_as_City_maintain_100_per_cent_start/
title=Boulding off mark as City maintain 100 per cent start
date=2008-08-23
accessdate=2008-08-23
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Mike
last=Crowther] McCall stated he wanted to sign one more player before the August transfer deadline, before bringing in South African midfielder Dean Furman on loan from his former side Rangers on loan until January.cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3626669.City_sign_Rangers_starlet_on_loan/
title=City sign Rangers starlet on loan
date=2008-08-27
accessdate=2008-08-27
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] City's winning start to the league season came to an end with a defeat to Aldershot Town—the first time the two sides had met. City had taken the lead with Paul McLaren's first goal for the club, but top goalscorer Peter Thorne missed a penalty as City lost 3–2.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7578306.stm
title=Aldershot 3-2 Bradford
date=2008-08-30
accessdate=2008-08-30
publisher=BBC Sport]

eptember

City suffered a second successive defeat, when they were knocked out of another cup by a rival West Yorkshire side from League One. This time it was Leeds United, who won 2–1, in the Football League Trophy in front of 20,128 fans—one of the highest crowds for the tournament. Barry Conlon scored City's goal.cite news
url=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7587877.stm
title=Leeds 2-1 Bradford
date=2008-09-02
accessdate=2008-09-02
publisher=BBC Sport] After two successive defeats, City returned to winning ways by defeating Port Vale 2–0 on 6 September, with goals from Bullock and Thorne.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7588692.stm
title=Port Vale 0-2 Bradford
date=2008-09-06
accessdate=2008-09-06
publisher=BBC Sport] The game marked the first contest between managers Stuart McCall and Lee Sinnott, since McCall was appointed City manager in May 2007, when Sinnott was also in line for the job following his form at Farsley Celtic. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3647126.Sinnott_and_McCall_two_peas_in_a_pod/
title=Sinnott and McCall two peas in a pod
date=2008-09-04
accessdate=2008-09-06
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] Thorne scored another two, as did Michael Boulding, when City added their fifth win from six league games with a 4–1 victory over Exeter City, despite being 1–0 behind at half-time, to go top of the league.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7602050.stm
title=Bradford 4-1 Exeter
date=2008-09-13
accessdate=2008-09-14
publisher=BBC Sport] City lost their unbeaten home start to the season the following week, when they lost 3–1 to Bournemouth, managed by former City player Jimmy Quinn. Joe Colbeck scored City's goal with his first of the season.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7614046.stm
title=Bradford 1-3 Bournemouth
date=2008-09-20
accessdate=2008-09-20
publisher=BBC Sport] City suffered a second successive defeat a week later against another promotion favourite Shrewsbury Town, 2–0. However, the game was marred by an injury to TJ Moncur, who collapsed less than ten minutes after a clash of heads with Graeme Lee and had to be taken to hospital.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7626825.stm
title=Shrewsbury 2-0 Bradford
date=2008-09-27
accessdate=2008-09-30
publisher=BBC Sport]

October

City went a third game without victory with a 1–1 draw with Luton Town. City had been reduced to ten men when full back Paul Heckingbottom was sent off, but just four minutes later Barry Conlon, who had come on as a substitute only a minute earlier, gave City the lead, only for Luton to equalise seven minutes later.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7639320.stm
title=Bradford 1-1 Luton
date=2008-10-04
accessdate=2008-10-04
publisher=BBC Sport] City recorded their first victory in four games by defeating Accrington Stanley on 11 October 2008 despite trailing by two goals with ten minutes to go. Goals by Conlon, Michael Boulding and Thorne gave City a 3–2 victory.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7646966.stm
title=Accrington 2-3 Bradford
date=2008-10-11
accessdate=2008-10-11]

Match results

Legend

League Cup

Transfers

In

ee also

*2008–09 in English football
*The Football League 2008–09

References