2014–15 Bradford City A.F.C. season

Bradford City
2014–15 season
Co-chairmen Mark Lawn and Julien Rhodes
Manager Phil Parkinson
Stadium Valley Parade
League One 7th
FA Cup Quarter-Finals
(knocked out by Reading)
League Cup Third Round
(knocked out by Milton Keynes Dons)
Football League Trophy First Round
(knocked out by Oldham Athletic)
Top goalscorer League:
Billy Clarke (13)
All:
Billy Clarke (14)
Highest home attendance
24,321 - vs. Reading (F.A. Cup)
Lowest home attendance
5,373 - vs. Dartford (F.A. Cup)
Average home league attendance 15,639
Home colours
Away colours
← 2013–14 2015–16 →

The 2014–15 season was Bradford City's 112th season in their history, their 100th in the Football League and 102nd in the league system of English football. It was their second season back in League One after finishing 11th in the previous year.

Pre-Season News

After finishing 11th in the 2013-14 Football League One campaign the Bantams kept the majority of the squad for this season. However captain Gary Jones, winger Garry Thompson, midfielder Nathan Doyle, defenders Matthew Bates and Nathan Curtis were all released along with youth players Jack Stockdill, Louie Swain and Jack Bentley.

Bradford signed midfielder Matthew Dolan on a 1 Year permanent deal after spending the 2013-14 season on loan from Middlesbrough.[1] Also defender Rory McArdle signed a new 3 Year deal with the club. Midfielder Billy Knott signed for Bradford on a 2-year deal after being released from Sunderland, who is described as a 'high-intensity' and 'high-energy' styled player.[2] Bradford made their 3rd Summer signing ahead of the new campaign by signing midfielder Gary Liddle, after he was released by Notts County.[3] Defender Stephen Darby signed a new 3-year deal with the club, who was also appointed as the club's new captain for the 2014-15 season.[4]

It was announced that Blackburn Rovers would visit the Bantams in a pre-season friendly. A day after this news was announced the annual match against Guiseley was revealed to be played on 15 July. Bradford will also travel to Northern Ireland for a pre-season tour as they did in the previous year. There they will face University College Dublin and Shelbourne F.C..

Another pre-season friendly match was confirmed on 29 May, it was announced the club would travel to Morecambe's Globe Arena on 2 August. That will be the first of two matches played within just over a week between the two clubs after they were both drawn together for the first round of the Football League Cup, which will be played in the week commencing 11 August again at the Globe Arena.

Pre-season and friendlies

Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
12 July 2014 Guiseley A 3–0 Clarkson (2) 13', 44', Dolan 27' —
15 July 2014 U.C.D A 2–3 Clarkson (2) 41', 54' —
19 July 2014 Shelbourne A 4–0 Sheehan 22' (pen.), Clarke (2) 29', 53', De Vita 76' —
26 July 2014 Blackburn Rovers H 0–0 — —
2 August 2014 Hartlepool United A 1-1 Clarke 72' —

League One

Matches

The fixtures for the 2014–15 season were announced on 18 June 2014 at 9am.[5]

The first game of the season saw City host Coventry City, the Bantams took the lead through a James Hanson goal however Coventry battled back to equalize through Reda Johnson. Bradford were awarded a penalty which Alan Sheehan converted, Johnson then netted for Coventry in the 89th minute only for Hanson to score a header from a Jason Kennedy cross in the 90th minute to ensure Bradford won their opening game for the first time in 6 years. The next game against Walsall ended with a 0-0 draw however the following game saw the Bantams win 3-1 against Crawley Town, Bradford took a lead early in the second half through a Hanson goal. Crawley equalized shortly after through Joe Walsh. Billy Knott fired the Bantams ahead before Mason Bennett wrapped the game up with a 3rd goal for Bradford. However the unbeaten run was short lived as Peterborough United came away with a 1-0 victory with City unable to score. Bradford's final game in August was a 2-0 win over Rochdale. Rochdale went close early on but former player Jason Kennedy slotted home a scrappy goal to give the Bantams the lead, 6 minutes later Hanson scored his 4th league goal of the season to ensure that City came away with the points.

Date Opponents H/A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance League
position
9 August 2014 Coventry City H 3-2 Hanson (2) 27', 90', Sheehan 49' (pen.) 14,621 4th
16 August 2014 Walsall A 0-0 4,520 8th
19 August 2014 Crawley Town A 3-1 Hanson 49', Knott 62', Bennett 77' 2,225 2nd
23 August 2014 Peterborough United H 0-1 13,546 8th
30 August 2014 Rochdale A 2-0 Kennedy 60', Hanson 66' 4,758 4th
6 September 2014 Yeovil Town H 1-3 McArdle 26' 12,601 5th
13 September 2014 Swindon Town H 1-2 Thompson 10' (o.g.) 12,486 8th
16 September 2014 Milton Keynes Dons A 2-1 McLean 24', Clarke 26' 7,139 5th
20 September 2014 Colchester United A 0-0 3,524 6th
27 September 2014 Port Vale H 1–1 Yeates 45' 12,703 9th
4 October 2014 Crewe Alexandra H 2–0 McLean 72', Liddle 74' 12,386 7th
12 October 2014 Barnsley A 1-3 Kennedy 1' 10,499 7th
18 October 2014 Sheffield United H 0-2 14,784 11th
21 October 2014 Bristol City A 2-2 Clarke 20', Routis 85' 12,548 12th
25 October 2014 Oldham Athletic A 1-2 Halliday 45' 5,832 12th
1 November 2014 Doncaster Rovers H 1-2 Stead 45' 13,348 14th
15 November 2014 Preston North End A 2-1 McArdle 26', Yeates 86' 10,302 13th
22 November 2014 Gillingham H 1-1 Legge 56' (o.g.) 12,434 12th
29 November 2014 Leyton Orient H 3-1 Knott 42', Clarke 79', Stead 81' 12,489 10th
13 December 2014 Chesterfield A 1-0 Clarke 57' 6,809 10th
20 December 2014 Scunthorpe United H 1-1 McArdle 32' 12,831 8th
26 December 2014 Fleetwood Town A 2-0 Hanson 42', Morais 81' 4,278 5th
28 December 2014 Notts County H 1-0 Knott 41' 14,518 5th
10 January 2015 Rochdale H 1-2 Stead 32' 13,571 5th
17 January 2015 Yeovil Town A 0-1 4,009 6th
31 January 2015 Colchester United H 1-1 Morais 77' 13,917 8th
7 February 2015 Port Vale A 2-2 Hanson 41', Morais 65' 5,205 9th
9 February 2015 Milton Keynes Dons H 2–1 Clarke 57', Hanson 70' 11,948 6th
18 February 2015 Leyton Orient A 2–0 Hanson (2) 21', 32' 4,760 7th
21 February 2015 Walsall H 1-1 Clarke 51' 13,534 6th
24 February 2015 Swindon Town A 1-2 Clarke 54' 6,812 6th
28 February 2015 Peterborough United A 0-2 6,494 8th
3 March 2015 Crawley Town H 1-0 Zoko 9' 11,683 8th
10 March 2015 Coventry City A 1–1 Yeates 69' 8,566 9th
14 March 2015 Notts County A 1–1 Stead 45' 5,166 9th
21 March 2015 Fleetwood Town H 2-2 Stead 10', Routis 50' 12,963 12th
28 March 2015 Oldham Athletic H 2-0 Clarke (2) 71', 90' 14,010 10th
31 March 2015 Chesterfield H 0-1 12,551 10th
3 April 2015 Doncaster Rovers A 3-0 MacKenzie 55', Clarke 64', McMahon 90' 8,592 7th
6 April 2015 Preston North End H 0-3 16,032 9th
11 April 2015 Gillingham A 0-1 5,221 9th
14 April 2015 Bristol City H 0-6 12,609 11th
18 April 2015 Sheffield United A 1-1 Clarke 83' 21,879 12th
21 April 2015 Scunthorpe United A 1-1 Clarke 63' 3,176 10th
25 April 2015 Barnsley H 1-0 Stead 17' 15,560 8th
3 May 2015 Crewe Alexandra A 1-0 Clarke 23' 7,608 7th

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
5 Sheffield United 46 19 14 13 66 53 +13 71 Qualification for League One play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
6 Chesterfield 46 19 12 15 68 55 +13 69
7 Bradford City 46 17 14 15 55 55 0 65
8 Rochdale 46 19 6 21 72 66 +6 63
9 Peterborough United 46 18 9 19 53 56 −3 63
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2015. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
  1. ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League Championship.

FA Cup

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
9 November 2014 Round 1 Halifax Town A 2–1 Stead 50', Morais 53' 8,042
7 December 2014 Round 2 Dartford H 4–1 Clarke 10', Stead 31', Morais 58', Yeates 59' 5,373
3 January 2015 Round 3 Millwall A 3–3 Knott (2) 6', 76', Nelson 70' (o.g.) 5,470
14 January 2015 Replay Millwall H 4–0 Hanson 8', Stead 17', Halliday 39', Knott 57' 11,859
24 January 2015 Round 4 Chelsea A 4–2 Stead 41', Morais 75', Halliday 82', Yeates 90+4' 41,014
15 February 2015 Round 5 Sunderland H 2–0 O'Shea 3' (o.g.), Stead 61' 24,021
7 March 2015 Round 6 Reading H 0-0 24,321
16 March 2015 Replay Reading A 0-3 22,908

League Cup

The draw for the first round was made on 17 June 2014 at 10am. Bradford City were drawn at away to Morecambe.[6]

Round 1 saw the Bantams take on Morecambe at the Globe Arena, a hard fought game was decided in the last 10 minutes as Aaron McLean came off the bench to score the winner for Bradford. The second round draw saw Bradford pulled out alongside arch rivals Leeds United at Valley Parade. The Bantams went 1-0 down late in the game to 10 men Leeds however a 20-yard strike from Billy Knott a minute later leveled the score before James Hanson score the winner another 2 minutes later.

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
12 August 2014 Round 1 Morecambe A 1–0 McLean 83' 2,395
27 August 2014 Round 2 Leeds United H 2–1 Knott 84', Hanson 86' 18,750
23 September 2014 Round 3 Milton Keynes Dons A 0–2 5,707

Football League Trophy

Bradford were drawn against Oldham Athletic in the Football League Trophy. Bradford fielded a changed side from recent weeks and were unable to overcome the League One side eventually going out of the cup thanks to a late winner from substituate Jordan Bove.

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
2 September 2014 Round 1 Oldham Athletic A 0-1 2,535

Squad statistics

No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1GKEngland Jak Alnwick 100000001000
2DFEngland Stephen Darby 45080201056071
3DFAustralia James Meredith 38(2)080301050(2)050
4MFEngland Matthew Dolan 3(10)00(2)01(1)0105(13)020
5DFEngland Andrew Davies 28060000034060
6DFRepublic of Ireland Alan Sheehan 13(10)130201019(10)141
7FWEngland Aaron McLean 7(6)2001(2)1109(8)310
8MFEngland Gary Liddle 39(2)170200048(2)1110
9FWEngland James Hanson 31(7)96(1)1210(1)039(9)1120
10FWRepublic of Ireland Billy Clarke 32(4)133(3)1300(1)038(8)1470
11MFEngland Billy Knott 31(9)3832(1)10041(10)740
12GKEngland Ben Williams 12(2)080300023(2)000
13FWIvory Coast Francois Zoko 3(13)10(5)000003(18)140
14MFRepublic of Ireland Mark Yeates 26(14)32(5)2101030(19)540
15DFScotland Gary MacKenzie 9(2)10000009(2)110
16FWEngland Jon Stead 27(5)685000035(5)1120
17MFEngland Jason Kennedy 17(3)21(1)0301022(4)230
18DFSwitzerland Christopher Routis 16(2)20(3)0101018(5)231
19FWEngland Oliver McBurnie 0(7)00(1)01(1)0102(9)000
20MFPortugal Filipe Morais 22(8)383200032(8)651
22GKEngland Matthew Urwin 00000(1)0000(1)000
23DFNorthern Ireland Rory McArdle 4337(1)0301054(1)382
24MFEngland Oliver Burke 200000002000
25MFScotland Andy Halliday 20(5)15(2)2000025(7)330
28FWEngland Mason Bennett 5(6)100100(1)06(7)100
29DFEngland Tony McMahon 4(4)10000004(4)120
34FWEngland Reece Webb-Foster 0(1)0000(1)0000(2)000
36MFEngland Dylan Mottley-Henry 0(1)00000000(1)000
-FWBurundi Mo Shariff 0(1)0000(1)0000(2)000
-GKEngland Jordan Pickford 33000001034012
-–Own goals –2–2–0–0–4––

Statistics accurate as of 3 May 2015

Transfers

In

Date Pos. Name From Fee Ref
16 May 2014 MF England Matthew Dolan England Middlesbrough Free [1]
30 May 2014 MF England Billy Knott England Sunderland Free [2]
9 June 2014 MF England Gary Liddle England Notts County Free [7]
19 June 2014 DF Republic of Ireland Alan Sheehan England Notts County Free [8]
27 June 2014 FW Republic of Ireland Billy Clarke England Crawley Town Free [9]
5 August 2014 GK England Ben Williams Scotland Hibernian Free [10]
5 August 2014 FW Burundi Mo Shariff England Queens Park Rangers Free [10]
5 August 2014 GK England Matthew Urwin England Blackburn Rovers Free [11]
8 August 2014 MF Portugal Filipe Morais England Stevenage Free [12]
8 August 2014 DF Switzerland Christopher Routis Switzerland Servette Free [13]
26 January 2015 MF Scotland Andy Halliday England Middlesbrough Undisclosed [14]

Loan In

Date Pos. Name From Until
21 July 2014GKEngland Jordan PickfordEngland Sunderland30 June 2015[15]
12 August 2014FWEngland Mason BennettEngland Derby County14 October 2014[16][17]
17 October 2014FWEngland Jon SteadEngland Huddersfield Town30 June 2015[18][19]
17 October 2014MFScotland Andy HallidayEngland Middlesbrough26 January 2015[14][20][21]
22 November 2014FWIvory Coast Francois ZokoEngland Blackpool30 June 2015[21][22]
2 February 2015DFScotland Gary MacKenzieEngland Blackpool30 June 2015[23]
24 February 2015MFEngland Oliver BurkeEngland Nottingham Forest24 March 2015[24]
13 March 2015GKEngland Jak AlnwickEngland Newcastle United30 June 2015[25]

Loan Out

Date Pos. Name To Until
18 November 2014FWEngland Aaron McLeanEngland Peterborough United30 June 2015[26][27]
27 November 2014MFEngland Matthew DolanEngland Hartlepool United31 December 2014[28]
22 January 2015FWScotland Oliver McBurnieEngland Chester19 February 2015[29]
12 March 2015MFEngland Jason KennedyEngland Carlisle United11 April 2015[30]
26 March 2015DFRepublic of Ireland Alan SheehanEngland Peterborough United30 June 2015[31]

Out

Date Pos. Name To Fee Ref
7 May 2014 MF England Garry Thompson England Notts County Free [32]
7 May 2014 DF England Matthew Bates England Hartlepool United Free [33]
7 May 2014 FW England Louie Swain Released Free
7 May 2014 GK England Jack Stockdill England Guiseley Free [34]
7 May 2014 GK England Jack Bentley Released Free
7 May 2014 DF England Nathan Curtis England Ossett Town Free [35]
9 May 2014 MF England Gary Jones England Notts County Free [36]
9 June 2014 MF England Nathan Doyle England Luton Town Free [37][38]
16 June 2014 DF Republic of Ireland Carl McHugh England Plymouth Argyle Free [39]
24 June 2014 MF England Kyel Reid England Preston North End Free [40]
22 July 2014 GK Scotland Jon McLaughlin England Burton Albion Free [41]
25 July 2014 DF England Matt Taylor England Cheltenham Town Free [42]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Dolan Signed Up". Bradford City AFC. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 "City Tie up Deal for Knott". Bradford City AFC. 30 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Liddle Enthused by City Move". Bradford City AFC. 9 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "New Captain Darby Signs Fresh Deal". Bradford City AFC. 9 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Full 2014/15 League 1 Fixture List - Coventry At Home First Up". Bradford City A.F.C. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Morecambe Away In Capital One Cup Round 1". Bradford City A.F.C. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Liddle Joins City". Bradford City AFC. 9 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Sheehan Makes City Move". Bradford City A.F.C. 19 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "City Clinch Clarke Capture". Bradford City A.F.C. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Bantams Secure Double Deal". Bradford City A.F.C. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Urwin Makes It Three". Bradford City A.F.C. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Morais Moves In". Bradford City A.F.C. 8 August 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Routis Makes It Five In A Week". Bradford City A.F.C. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Andy Halliday Makes Bradford Move Permanent". Middlesbrough F.C. 26 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "Pickford Joins On Loan". Bradford City A.F.C. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "The Bantams Bag Bennett". Bradford City A.F.C. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Bennett Recalled By Derby". Bradford City A.F.C. 14 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Stead Returns". Bradford City A.F.C. 17 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Stead Signs Loan Extension". Bradford City A.F.C. 8 January 2015.
  20. ↑ "Halliday Agrees Bantams Loan Move". Bradford City A.F.C. 17 October 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Halliday And Zoko To Stay". Bradford City A.F.C. 22 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "Zoko Joins On Loan". Bradford City A.F.C. 22 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "Bantams Bag MacKenzie". Bradford City A.F.C. 2 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "The Bantams Bring In Burke". Bradford City A.F.C. 24 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "City Sign Alnwick". Bradford City A.F.C. 13 March 2015.
  26. ↑ "McLean Peterborough Loan Move Confirmed". Bradford City A.F.C. 18 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "McLean Extends Peterborough Loan". Bradford City A.F.C. 29 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "Dolan Loaned Out To Hartlepool". Bradford City A.F.C. 27 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "McBurnie To Join Chester On Loan". Bradford City A.F.C. 22 January 2015.
  30. ↑ "Kennedy Completes Carlisle Loan Move". Bradford City A.F.C. 12 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Sheehan Loaned To Peterborough". Bradford City A.F.C. 26 March 2015.
  32. ↑ "Garry Thompson: Notts County sign ex-Bradford winger". BBC Sport. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  33. ↑ "Matthew Bates: Hartlepool sign ex-Middlesbrough defender". BBC Sport. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  34. ↑ "Stockdill signs up". Guiseley A.F.C. 20 July 2014.
  35. ↑ "Former Bradford City Star Signs". Ossett Town F.C. 4 July 2014.
  36. ↑ "Gary Jones: Notts County sign ex-Bradford midfielder". BBC Sport. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  37. ↑ "Doyle Departs". Bradford City AFC. 9 June 2014.
  38. ↑ "Luton Town Sign Nathan Doyle". Luton Town F.C. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  39. ↑ "McHugh Joins Plymouth Argyle". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  40. ↑ "Reid Agrees Preston Move". Bradford City A.F.C. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  41. ↑ "McLaughlin Departs The Bantams". Bradford City A.F.C. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "Taylor Agrees Cheltenham Move". Bradford City A.F.C. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
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