‘Meeting the opposition’ – Bradford City F.C
On Tuesday night, Keith Hill’s Tranmere Rovers travel to Bradford City as they face the Bantams in English Football League Two. This is the Whites’ penultimate away game of the season and recent performances have left a lot to be desired. However, there have been rumours that the top six due to the European Super League will be promoted this season so if Hill’s men can gather together a string of successful results then last season’s unfair demotion can be taken away from memory.
Bradford City will pose their own questions as they aim to have a great end of the season, thus I spoke to Bantams fan and football fans view correspondent Matthew Ward about the club’s on and off pitch positions amongst other subjects.
How long have you been a Bradford City supporter and when/how did you first come across the club?
I have been a Bradford fan pretty much all my life. They’re my local team and my brothers supported them. So I followed suit.
Highest and lowest points in that time?
Highest point was the 2012/13 season where we got to League Cup final and got promoted. Lowest was probably the years we were stuck in League Two up until the 2012/13 season.
Random fact about the Bantams?
The only professional team in the EFL to wear Claret and Amber.
What were your expectations going into the season and what are they now the campaign’s coming to a close?
My expectations were promotion but it’s gone the complete opposite to be honest. I’d say now just try and get a top 10 finish and go again next season.
Bradford City had a change of manager in mid December as Trueman and Sellars came in. What are your thoughts on the duo so far and what have they brought to the club?
Trueman and Sellars have done wonders since they’ve come in. They revitalised the squad and got that passion and enthusiasm back into the players.
Who owns the club and what are your thoughts on them?
The club is owned by a man called Stefan Rupp who is a German businessman. Seems a nice guy appointed a good CEO who seems to have got the behind the scenes backroom working like clockwork again.
Your danger men?
I’d say Callum Cooke, he’s only just come back from injury so will be on the bench but when he comes on he can get things flowing in Midfield. Andy Cook is a handful. Elliot Watt can string passes from quite far.
The last time the two clubs came head to head was when Bradford won 1-0 at Prenton Park on Boxing Day. Thoughts on that game?
Very good from our perspective. Played well and grabbed a valued three points for us at that time.
Score prediction this time round?
I’d say Bradford City 1-0 Tranmere Rovers.
What eleven do you think will line up for the visitors?
Think it will be Richard O’Donnell, Connor Wood, Niall Canavan, Paudie O’Connor, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Elliott Watt, Levi Sutton, Kian Scales, Ollie Crankshaw, Charles Vernam and Andy Cook.
Thoughts on Tranmere? The club in general.
Decent club with decent fans.
What are your thoughts on the Bantams’ January transfer window? Players such as Danny Rowe and Andy Cook were two of the many that came in.
I think January was very important for us and the right business was made. Hopefully going into the summer the same can be done to make a competitive squad.
James Vaughan and Andy Cook may face their former clubs this season? The latter formed a formidable partnership with James Norwood in the National League and now plays his football at the Utilita Energy Stadium.
Vaughan is very dangerous up front. He can be a handful but so can Andy Cook and he’s been that target man we’ve missed for many years.
Striker Andy Cook may come up against his former club, Tranmere, on Tuesday night. He shared a formidable partnership with James Norwood in the National League, even scoring at Wembley in a final that promoted the Whites back to the Football League. ‘He’s been that target man we’ve missed for many years’.