Bradford Town vs. Portishead

And so on the 4th day of the eight month the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve my football season restarted. Sadly not with a trip to Mansfield away (possibly the only time in history someone has been sad about not going to Mansfield) but with a nice walk downtown to the Western League and Bradford Town.

With City's first game away at Welling not until the 18th, 6 City fans decided that we should go watch Bradford Town again and enjoy some jars. We convened as is usual before Town games at The Three Horseshoes where summer made a fleeting appearance, so some nice Danish Dynamite was sunk sitting in the gorgeous sunshine.

We walked to the Trowbridge Road ground, and in a first directed driving away fans towards the ground. We arrived to a remarkably full ground (well for Western League, the attendance was 78!), paid and entered.

Lovely new shirts

Bradford were looking resplendent in new blue and white shirts (although do Western League teams really need news kits that often!?) The old wooden/asbestos/corrugated iron changing rooms/tea bar is now sadly too knackered to be of use so is now just a boarded up shell, this has been replaced by some giant metal transport containers, and bizarrely some new dugouts.

While on the subject of facilities, we are no closer to finding out what is happening to the Avon club than we were at this point  (It reminds me of Cherynobl)  so who knows what will happen to a small remaining part of Bradford's industrial past.

Bradford started the half brightly and powered towards the Portishead goal, Matty Minis was still the main forward for Bradford but there were a fair few new faces. Towards the middle of the half, the pre-match refreshments caught up with Palmer, who wandered towards the toilets, while he was occupied a distraught Palmer heard a cheer, as a Bradford player slammed the ball home with a brilliant half volley which caught the keeper off guard and nestled into the side netting. The look on Palmers face as he walked back towards the group was worth the entrance fee alone!

Look at the sky, this is August!

The usual half time walk to the shop for a bottle was observed before the second half commenced. Matt Minis limped off for Bradford and they will hope that the injury is not severe. Minis was replaced, and towards the dying seconds of the game, a ball was crossed, the keeper dropped it and the ball was prodded home from 2 yards. 2-0 Bradford and that was how the game finished.

A good opening day victory for the Town and hopefully the men in black and white will replicate this in two weeks time, once again the Western League did not disappoint, and I am grateful that I could start my season with an entertaining game.

Preseason

Finally the train wreck of a football season is fading in memory and like all football fans the crap moments are being forgotten and the brilliant away days, cracking goals and wins (however, occasional) are bathed in the glow of sepia-tinted glory.

The summer has been interesting with European Championships and the Olympics filling the gap better than the normal break, and thankfully given the awful weather has played havoc with the cricket.

City have lost/let go players from last time, mostly to indifference (although Lee Phillips has dropped too low joining Chippenham (and Egan to) while Marley Watkins joining Hereford is a shame, but to be expected) and some new faces have arrived.

The first preseason game was due to be Crystal Palace, who disgracefully for a full time professional, second division outfit pulled out of the game a day before it was due to be played. Pathetic, and a cause of some anger for City, here's hoping for a crap season for the Eagles! Therefore a hastily rearranged game against Odd Down was played, but the main highlight of the preseason was the game against Burnley at Twerton Park.

Preseason games are weird, nothing depends on them, so it can be hard to get interested. However, the club needs money and it's a chance to see some mates, so along I went. We popped into Charlie's and were very surprised by the number of Burnley fans in there. Overall I was very surprised by the number of people who had travelled from North Lancashire a very good effort from them.

City lined up with new signings Danny Ball (Bristol City youngster), Charlie Griffin (Bath born, but every West Country team ever! Only striker signed on so far though...), Josh Low (Chippenham), Adie Harris (again!!!!) and a few trialists including Kerry Morgan and Aaron Brown.

Basically cannot be bothered to write a report, City performed well against a team from 4 divisions higher, but the class eventually showed in a 3-1 victory (really 2-0, as Adie Harris scored from a drop ball that was meant to be passed back to Brian Jensen in goal but looped over him, so we let Burnley score immediately) but was an encouraging run out for the men in black and white. On the trialists we know Kerry Morgan can perform at Conference South level but he wasn't great, while Josh Klein-Davies had no chance to impress, but given the small squad we will have we need to sign them rather than Aaron Brown who was impressive but is a wing back/full back which we don't need.

After the game Palmer seemed to have to burn DVDs for the whole world, so a game of arrows was had, and once again Jim Rollo record appearance holder, legend, captain and all round great bloke proved once again how amazing he is! Sadly less can be said about one of the youth players...however, the season is starting very soon bring on Welling away.

The inaugrual, prestigious, highly anticipated DUYC end of season awards***

 I was going to write an end of season review. However, the season could probably be summed up in one word, so decided that awards were a much better option!!!

Goal of the season
1) Scott Murray - Away at Kettering. A thunderbolt strike by the veteran Scottish winger. The ball was collected on the right wing, he stepped forward and fired a long distance shot which the keeper had no chance with.
2) Adam Connolly - Dagenham & Redbridge (Home) A stunning 20 yard strike, while falling over! Partly chosen as it briefly threatened to put City into the second round proper of the FA Cup, dragging us back to 1-1 and instigating a period of play in which City almost snatched the win.
3) Sean Canham - Ebbsfleet (home) A goal which meant nothing, but was a brilliant half volley.

Pub of the season - A very hard one to judge
1) The White Horse, Twerton. A very close call between this and the second place pub, however, consistent excellence over the whole season, and the darts board just push this into first.
2) The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wrexham - Easily one of the most perfect pubs in Britain, roaring fireplace, multiple handpumps, beer brewed in the backgarden, and free snacks of cheese and blackpudding.  If the Bridge End was in Twerton as well as The White Horse I'd be the happiest man in the world!
3) The Bricklayers Arms, Luton - A superb pub, supporting its local team via a mural etc., multiple handpumps, and enjoyable chalk board in the toilets!

Honourable mentions to: The Crown Inn, Stockport. Head of Steam, Newcastle. The Royal Oak, Wrexham. The Railway Inn, Mansfield. The Mallard, Worksop. The King and Castle, Kidderminster.

Player of the season
1) Andy Gallinagh. I'll admit to have a bit of a crush on Andy, it's as much to do with his hair as anything else! However, in all seriousness the man came on loan from Cheltenham and coincided with our best part of the season, committed in the tackle and inspired a terrace anthem.
2) Sekani Simpson. Simmo has been with the stripes since the Southern League and had a very good season, which given the awfulness of our defence at times is surprising that my top two players have both been defenders.
3) Scott Murray. While his twitter moaning did annoy a few, and he could have picked a pass instead of always shooting, Murray plays with a smile on his face and did offer a threat that was sadly missing through much of the season.

Best awayday
1) Luton - Hillys birthday, ridiculously early start. Many trains, some good food, lots of beers, laughs, decent atmosphere. A good day spent with good people, pretty much spot on!
2) Wrexham - A train ride through some beautiful countryside, a stop at CAMRA's pub of the year in Ruabon, onto Wrexham, with another great pub before the train home and the amusing stops and beer bottle racing that occurred.
3) Gateshead - For pure idiocy of Gateshead on a Tuesday night. For Dave Taylor's super hosting abilities, for getting thrown out of a pub at 3:30, but still taking 2 hours to get home on a "20 minute" walk!

Best Atmosphere
1) Dagenham and Redbridge (Away) - A blessing that D&R underestimated the likely travelling support meant that the stripes were crammed into a small, family stand at the side of the pitch, led to everyone joining in (even if just clapping) which in turn created a cracking atmosphere, that put the D&R fans to shame.
2) D&R (Home) - Despite a bitter comment by a sad, lonely man (With credit to Hilly for the words!) a loud atmosphere created, which the tv company should have heard if it wasn't for some shamefully placed microphones to prevent another Newport problem for them!
3) Gateshead (Home) - Last game of the season, so last chance to work through some songs, a few news ones tried, amusing Flying Pickets tributes and a win all created a good deal of noise.

Favourite moment of the season
1) Lee Phillips 93rd minute equaliser at Braintree Town. Just watch the youtube clip to see how much it meant to me! City still had a faint bit of hope at that part of the season, from being 1 up to 3-1 down, to Marley and Russell changing the game, to Lee rising and scoring (last time he scored as well!) to a proper celebration. Amazing.
2) Dagenham & Redbridge (Away) - The whole game, City took it to the 4th Division outfit, and almost snatched the win. If Jamie Cook's long range lob had gone in there would have been pandemonium on in the stands.
3) Telford (Home) - The best City played all year, we ripped Telford apart, had 25 shots at goals, recorded a good 3-1 victory and the rugby lost. Was a perfect day.




*** Disclaimer, the DUYC awards are neither prestigious nor anticipated!

Final game delight

Having decided after the Stockport game that I was to watch no more away games this season, the arrival of Gateshead at Twerton Park signalled the final game for me of a season that has, at times been pretty depressing.

The day also corresponded with Palmers birthday, so he managed to get someone else to do the filming for him and was joining us on the terraces. We had a few at the White Horse and made our way to the ground. Gateshead had brought a few fans, and there were some interesting costumes on display! Scott Murray has recently announced his intention to retire at the end of this season, so he was handed a final start at Twerton.

Murray has sometimes been a bit whiney on twitter, but he always plays with a smile on his face and seems to genuinely enjoy playing, and has been a consistently good performer for City in the last two seasons.

Rather typically City saved one of their best performances till the last home game, when it was all a bit too late. But this is not a criticism, as it was nice to see, and I think everyone had a bit of a boost from the game. City took the lead within 5 minutes, when Murray picked up the ball, ran at the fullback and crossed, Alex Russell cleverly flicked the ball back into the middle of the box, it then broke to Adam Connolly who hammered the ball home.

The early goal clearly gave City a confidence boost as we attacked quickly again, and Watkins was felled in the box and Steve Bratt (the awful wanker who ruined the Alfreton game) gave a penalty. Marc Canham stepped up and tucked the penalty away. 2-0 within 8 minutes, this was unexpected but gave us all a chance to exercise our vocal ranges and enjoy singing and feeling good.

The feeling got even better when on 13 minutes, when Murray danced past the full back before teeing up Andy Gallinagh who scored with a neat finish. 3-0 within 13 minutes! If only we could have played like this all season! City had another chance that Sean Canham should have scored, but the half time whistle blew with the score still at 3-0.

Very early in the second half Murray floated over a perfect cross which Sean Canham headed home. 4-0, and the pisstaking songs were in full use 4-0 to the part-timers etc etc., It was very pleasing to see the crowd enjoying themselves after a season of seeing people depressed.

This being City though, we couldn't see it out at 4-0, and Gateshead did manage to get two back, but the stripes still won, and the victory moved us off of the bottom of the table for the first time since August.

While this season has been a slog in places, I have already sent off my season ticket renewal, and know that within a couple of weeks I will be pining for Twerton Park and my football fix. August brings a new season and the chance for a more successful season. UTC!

It reminds me of Cherynobl

With City playing away at Darlington, and having promised myself after Stockport that I wouldn't go away until next season (City got a 2-2 draw by the way), I decided to go and watch Bradford Town again to enjoy Western League hospitality.

5 of us were going, so after a few refreshments at The Three Horseshoes we headed down to Trowbridge Road for the game against Oldland Abbotonians. Oldland are a club based in nearby Bristol, next to Oldland Common, and that is all I know about them really, having never been to Oldland I cannot say much more!

Town have lost Matty Cooper since I last watched them, and given his knack for scoring important goals we discussed what impact it would have, but given he has moved for family reasons good luck to him.

Town were playing some very nice football, and could have raced into an early lead with a couple of good chances narrowly going over, or being saved by the keeper. Bradford were showing an intent around the box that has sadly been missing from recent City games, and a few of the moves were very nicely executed, including a wonderful interchange between Minnis and his new partner, that should have led to the lead.

Instead, following the trend of this season, Oldland in their first real attack managed to find the back of the Bradford net with a shot flashed past the keeper. 0-1 to Abbotonians. Bradford carried on attacking, but a little bit of the verve had gone out of their play and the game went into halftime 0-1.

At this point we decided to go into the old Avon Club to purchase a can of beer. Here a little bit of history is needed. Bradford on Avon despite its picturesque nature, has historically been a working town, originally making its money from the wool trade, and there are many wool mills left in the town (sadly they are all flats now) then the economy moved onto rubber with Moulton Rubber being the towns main employer, in time Moulton Rubber were taken over by Avon Rubber. The rubber factory ran a club for the workers, which is the Avon Club which is part of the area that contains the football facilities. Originally the club was well used, and often full with the company subsidising the beer and ensuring events were held. However, with the rubber company leaving Bradford the club fell onto hard times and closed suddenly last year.

However, the bowls club and football club remain, and have to have an area which sells alcohol. So despite the bar being locked behind shutters, still with bottles and everything to run a bar there, the football club sell cans from just in front of the shutters. It is an eerie sight, and one which prompted Palmer to comment that it was "like Cherynobl" when we saw the dusty chairs gathered around tables etc, but not used. There are old team photos on the walls, including a brilliant 1994 team shot, where Bradford are wearing Blackburn Rovers kit, right down to the red lace ties at the neck.

Having asked what was happening with the clubhouse, apparently they are willing to sell it, but also all the land adjacent, which as its a big plot of land will be very expensive. So no clearer on what was to happen we went outside to watch the rest of the game.

Bradford piled on the pressure, and from a cross from a freekick Bradford managed to score. Leading to number 5 for Oldland screaming "Who was marking that cunt?!" to which Palmer bellowed from the sidelines "You were, and less of the language there are children present." Superb, I do love non league football!

Nearing the end of the game, Bradford crossed the ball into the box again and Matty Minis continued his fine goalscoring form, despite his lacklustre performance he rose highest and powered his header home. 2-1 to Bradford and that was the way the game was to finish. Yet again Bradford had provided a welcome distraction, and our mood was further buoyed when we heard City had come from 2-0 down to score two goals in the last 10 to drag Darlington down with us.

Easter Monday against Gump

Since last writing City had actually won again, away at Tamworth, however, like the Barrow win I wasn't there! So despite travelling around the country like the littlest hobo I still haven't seen City win since Barrow away last season, which the ticket still in my wallet reliably informs me was 26th March 2011.

So with the second game of the Easter weekend against nearby Gloucestershire club Forest Green Rovers at Twerton Park, the fans reconvened at Twerton Park, or soon to be something else Park as the stadium draw was to be held at half time.

This though was not the most exciting part of the game for me, I am now officially happy, as I am on the front cover of City's programme! I have finally made it to the big time, and have achieved all I need to in my life.

My 15minutes of fame!

The game was played in miserable weather, where once again I praised the Popular Side roof and thanked my lucky stars that I wasn't in the uncovered away end, where a sizeable chunk of the 219 away fans were still standing.

FGR weren't starting with Reece Styche which was a bonus as I had been saying all week that he was bound to score against us. City were playing ok, although offering nothing going forward. In a game of sod all importance, there came one of the worse clashes I have seen all season. On 18 minutes Marley Watkins went up for a header, and I'm not sure if it was a clash of heads or a deliberate elbow, but suddenly Watkins was awash with blood. The blood was pouring from the front and back of his head. Marley went off to I assume have stitches put in, however, they obviously couldn't stem the flow and Murray replaced him on 24.

The game was drifting towards a nothing sort of first half, before on 44 minutes Lewis Hogg played a horrendously bad pass back towards Glyn Garner, who had no chance of getting there, Yan Klukowshi (who started his career at City, but has since played in America, and is FGR's top goalscorer) got to the ball first, rounded the stranded Garner and slotted the ball into the net. 0-1 and a ridiculous goal to concede.

At half time the draw for "Name the Stadium" was done, and the winning name was "Mayday Trust Park" which is as good as we could have hoped for. It retains the name Park, and is a worthy cause to gain some publicity (http://www.maydaytrust.org.uk/) however, I and the other stripes will still be calling the ground Twerton Park, I imagine the only one who will call it Mayday Park is Mark Stillman the stadium announcer.

City continued to toil in the rain, but for all their attempted football they were toothless in the final third and as per the rest of the season we were truly blunt in attack. The rain continued, Josh Egan came on and managed to get over half an hour of game time. While he didn't actually show much, a lot of people have high hopes for young Egan, and hope a more sustainable approach will lead to future City squads based on youthful, locally based players. It maybe pie in the sky, but who knows.

Reece Styche came on, and surprise surprise he scored. 0-2 and this was how the game finished, City had no real clear chances on goal, and a depressing game ended.

As a footnote to the game, I walked back to Oldfield Park in the pissing rain, before seeing some FGR fans try and giving it borderline, Danny Dyer large to some younger City fans. Clearly, they must have said something to someone in one of the pubs in Twerton/Oldfield as out of nowhere a plank of wood waiving mentalist appeared. Cue mayhem, with the man with the plank/club posturing at one end of the ramp while the knuckle dragging Neanderthals were throwing glass bottles and insults.

So man with plank runs to higher ground and swings plank at crowd of FGR fans, wet plank falls from hand, man decides one on fifteen isn't odds he fancies and scarpers, chased by the baying pack. Bizarre.

Richard Brodie what a nob

So with this season of despair finally winding down, City entertained highflying (and high spending) Fleetwood Town. Fleetwood have had a lot of money thrown at them and have amongst their ranks Jamie Vardy who was allegedly the subject of a £ 1 million bid in January that was turned down! Yes, you read that correctly, a non league club turned down a £ 1 million bid for a single player, you could have our whole squad, and the keys to Twerton, Whiteway and Oldfield for that money. Vardy is prolific as well, and currently has over 30 goals this season.

So vastly outspent the men in stripes lined up to face the table toppers, and to be honest the mood was bleak with some scores being predicted of double figures that wouldn't have been that outlandish.

True to the expected form Fleetwood swarmed all over City, with the stripes pegged back in their own half. Fleetwood were creating chances left, right and centre and on 11 minutes Jamie Vardy fired the ball past Garner into the roof of the net. 0-1 how many more would be scored?

With Jamie Cook alone upfront City posed no threat whatsoever, with the isolated front man making no impact and no-one getting anywhere near him to support. From a corner near half-time a short pass was played to Cavanagh who trapped the ball, advanced slightly before unleashing a daisy cutter into the bottom corner, 0-2.

Gethin Jones came on for Simpson at half-time and went to the fullback spot, and had one of his better games this season at right back. Richard Brodie came on after 68 minutes, Brodie is an interesting character, he began his career at Whickham, before joining Newcastle Benfield (http://drinkupyecider.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/diversionary-tactics.html) which helpfully I have been to! After scoring for Benfield against York City in a preseason friendly he joined the Minstermen, he scored a fair few for York before being signed by moneybags and scumbags Crawley Town, he helped Crawley to promotion last year before joining Fleetwood Town this season on loan. Instantly Brodie made an impact and had a shot narrowly deflected wide.

City were defending valiantly, with Jamie Cook heading a Brodie chance of the line, befor Gallinagh hacked one clear with Garner beaten. However, it wasn't to last and City conceding another was only a matter of time. A low cross into the box deflected off of Andy Gallinagh and rolled into the net for an unfortunate own goal 0-3. 5 minutes later, Preece lost the ball on the half way line and Brodie advanced on Garner before firing coolly into the net 0-4.

City suddenly though, rallied and came back at Fleetwood and created more chances in the last 15 than they had in the previous 75! Geth and Hoggy linked up nicely wide on the right and Hoggy's powerful shot was tipped over the bar by the Fleetwood custodian. Shortly after City reduced the arrears when Cooks inviting cross was well met by Adam Connolly who's well placed header beat Davies, 1-4 and that was City's first goal since beating Lincoln 4 games previously.

Now for the title of this piece. Fleetwood despite their superiority were a nasty, niggling bunch of arseholes. We had the obligatory Hoggy bust up, when Lewis locked horns with Mangan. Then Brodie was pinching and pushing Gethin Jones, Geth threw a slight elbow into his stomach and Brodie hit the floor like he'd been shot, embarrassed teammates picked him up, and thankfully Brodie was booked for diving. Why bother? The game was won, there was no need to it, and a pathetic thing to do.

Jones was then cynically stopped by Goodall while breaking down the right (again why?) and in the final minute a Scott Murray free kick found Joe Burnell who fired a decent shot at goal, that the keeper did exceptionally well to save. The game finished 1-4 and the day was done, or so we thought.

While sitting in The Old Crown waiting for Dave Phillips/Palmer, City's cameraman extraordinaire he arrived with a story to tell. While walking across the pitch after the game, he saw Brodie, and unable to resist the temptation, enquired as to his health as he saw that he was so grievously hurt mere minutes before, Brodie couldn't handle the pisstaking from a fans so threatened to "do in" Palmer. Amazing, what a complete bellend, not only a diver but someone who can't handle being told he is!