EFL League One

Sixer’s Bradford Sevens: 10-man Sunderland hang on as promotion rivals lose

by

If we fail to win promotion at the first attempt this season, it may not be because of our inability to keep a clean sheet or hold onto a lead but through a lack of discipline. For the third time this season we had a player sent off and for the second time our keeper has to save a penalty. Listening to Barnes and Benno, the closing minutes of this game was real heart in the mouth stuff. Would we hang on? The final minutes were made just that little bit easier when the hosts also had a player shown the red card. 

Pete Sixsmith was there and as always will bring us his detailed report of what was a nail biting game tomorrow. But for now make do with his instant seven match summary of a game in a league which is anything but boring.

Read more

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground: Bradford City and Valley Parade

by

 John McCormick writes: some 15 years ago, perhaps a few more, I almost went to see Bradford play. It was a Valentine’s weekend and the family had decamped to a hotel in the region, 10 of us altogether, mostly from my wife’s side, for a reunion of some sort. We arrived on the Friday and going to the match was one of the possibilities raised while having  a few drinks on the Friday night. Come the Saturday, no one felt like going. Perhaps that’s not surprising, given that my share of the bar bill alone was in three figures when we checked out on the Sunday.

Pete Sixsmith appears to have had no such problems in getting there:

Read more

Bradford City ‘Who Are You?’: it’s grim up north

by
Jake wants answers

John McCormick, associate editor, writes…. a century ago Bradford was both a new city and an industrial power, able to compete with anywhere in the world. As befitted its status it had two professional football clubs, one of which had won the FA Cup in 1911 by beating Newcastle United, who had won it the previous year.

Then came decline, of the city and of its football clubs. While close neighbours Leeds United became mighty and cross-Pennine rivals in Manchester achieved great things,  Bradford Park Avenue – Len Shackleton’s first club – went from playing in an Archibald Leitch stadium to Sunday league football before returning as far as the Vanarama League (North).

The other club, cup-winning Bradford City, were relegated in the 1920s and never regained their pre-war glory. But, despite trials and tribulations that make our recent troubles seem trivial, they remained in the Football League.

Jason Mckeown* continues their story:

Read more

Bradford City: Guess the Score. You might win a mug. But then again…

by

John McCormick writes:  I was in with a chance of a mug for new baby James for almost an hour on Tuesday, then Oviedo got that red card and everything changed.

And, I suppose, I’d better withdraw myself from this week’s competition as it seems a bit unfair for me to get my guess prediction in before anyone else has a chance. I’d be going for 0-2 (Sinclair and Power) so that scoreline’s open to another reader.

There’s no need for you to feel guilty about taking it and depriving my grandchild; I’m sure James won’t mind waiting. After all, I’ve been saying 2-0 since we were a Premiership club and it still hasn’t happened.  Another two weeks won’t matter.

Read more

Sixer’s Sevens: Peterborough United will be happy with that point

by

Pete Sixsmith  sent a text with about 20 minutes to go: “Oviedo red card. Correct and totally unnecessary” and I began to wonder  how we could hold out against a team that scores at will when we have only one clean sheet to our name. We couldn’t, but we did manage to match them and finish with a point. Should it have been three though, and will tonight come back to haunt us? We’ll find out as this season unrolls.

However, Pete’s instant seven word post-match text suggests there will be more talking points and they won’t all be about Brian Oviedo.

Read more

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Team: Peterborough United

by

John McCormick writes: The time’s right and I saw all of the players Pete mentions below, including George Kinnell, but I have only the most fleeting memories of this game.  So fleeting that the scoreline rings no bells with me, and surely it should.

Could it be that I wasn’t there and I’m suffering from false memory syndrome because I can’t bear to have missed such a score?

There’s no such doubt troubling Pete Sixsmith. He was there. He saw it. And he hasn’t forgotten:

Read more

Sixer’s Coventry City Sevens: 1-1, not enough but could have been worse

by

Pete Sixsmith felt a draw was fair, and listening to Barnes and Benno, Monsieur Salut thought the same. Injuries – Loovens off in the first few minutes, with more to follow – certainly harmed our cause but we must somehow learn how to keep a clean sheet. Pete did not, he assures us, ride naked on Lady Godiva’s horse to the Ricoh but will be writing more fully about being sent to Coventry ….

Read more

The First Time Ever I saw Your Ground: Coventry City, the Ricoh Arena and a glimpse of Highfield Road

by

John McCormick writes: like Pete Sixsmith, I was at Goodison that night. Like Pete Sixsmith I condemned Jimmy Hill for his actions, especially his ‘holier than thou’ attitude afterwards. But, like Pete Sixsmith, I’m old enough to know it serves no purpose to harbour grudges against clubs or fans. It’s better to share some decent beer with them in a decent pub because, when it comes down to it, we supporters are pretty much the same in our hopes, our passions and our disappointments. And maybe in our genes as well; my aunt and uncle moved to the Midlands many, many years ago and there’s a good contingent of McCormicks down Coventry way.

So, like Pete Sixsmith, I hope that those Sky Blues supporters who have kept their faith and regularly make the trip to the Ricoh manage to get their club back.

After we’ve beaten them, of course. There’s not just empathy, there’s rivalry, and long may it continue. Here, Pete’s magnificent twin series on Sunderland’s opposing teams and heir grounds reaches Coventry …

Read more

Coventry City vs Sunderland prize Guess the Score. Seize the chance ahead of Peterborough crunch game

by
There is a prize and City fans are warmly invited to have a go, too. You judge whether it’s a great one

Another big Sunderland following will be on the road this weekend for the visit to Coventry City and the Ricoh, hardly a name with the appeal to any football fan of Highfield Road but the one demanded by the Japanese sponsors of the the sports, hotel and shopping complex where it is situated.

Will the travelling support witness the sort of  Sunderland display that dismissed Rochdale with some ease or the one that stuttered and stumbled at Burton? We’ll see.

Read more