New season, New Team takes a look at the six new teams to join Sky Bet League Two for the 2019/20 season.
The next team that we profile is Bradford City, who came down from Sky Bet League One in the 2018/19 campaign.
About Bradford City:
Founded: 1903
Stadium: Valley Parade
Nickname: The Bantams
Founded in 1903, Bradford City were immediately elected into the Football League Second Division where they found initial success. They won promotion in the 1907/08 season and went on to win the FA Cup in 1911. The club had a number of promotions and relegations within the Football League throughout the 20th century and had success in the 1980s under the stewardship of Roy McFarland. The 1998/99 season saw the club seal a place in the Premier League which was a return to English football’s top league for the first time in 77 years. Having fallen into administration in 2004 and 2007, the club found its way back into the fourth tier of English football. In 2013, under Phil Parkinson, they reached the League Cup final where they took on then Premier League side Swansea City but fell to defeat. After finishing bottom of Sky Bet League One with 41 points their fate back in League Two was confirmed last season.
The manager: Gary Bowyer
Manchester-born Gary Bowyer spent time as a player with Hereford United, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United before moving into management with Carshalton Athletic. He then moved into a coaching role in the youth setup at Blackburn Rovers and spent time as caretaker manager at Ewood Park before being appointed as full-time manager and he remained in that role for two years. June 2016 saw Bowyer appointed as manager of Blackpool with the aim of taking the club back into League One. Bowyer managed to achieve just that at the expense of the Grecians in the 2016/17 League Two play-off final at Wembley stadium in what was a 2-1 win for the Tangerines. Bowyer then stepped down from his role at the beginning of the 2018/19 campaign after steering the club to a top-half finish in League One in the 2017/18 season. March 2019 saw Bowyer take his next step in management and he did that with Bradford City. With the club fighting to stay in the league, the 47-year-old was unable to keep them up but will aim to take Bradford back into League One in 2019/20.
The dangerman: Eoin Doyle
The Irishman came through the ranks at Shelbourne before moving onto Shamrock Rovers and then Sligo Rovers in his native Ireland. He then opted to move to Scottish side Hibernian where he spent two years before moving to Chesterfield. Doyle then moved to Wales to join Cardiff City, but he was only there a short time before turning a loan move into a permanent one with Preston North End. He would then spend time with Portsmouth and Oldham Athletic before switching permanently to Bradford in August 2018. Despite being relegated with the Bantams he was the club’s top scorer for the season with 11 goals.
2018/19 season in review
Position: 24th
Average attendance: 16,130
Top scorer: Eoin Doyle
A difficult campaign for the Bantams ultimately saw them relegated from Sky Bet League One after amassing 41 points from 46 games. Their fate was confirmed on April 19, 2019 after a 2-0 defeat away at Coventry City.
Previous meetings
Exeter City 4 Bradford City 1: March 16, 2013
A positive day for the Grecians saw them race to a two goal lead when Matt Duke let a Craig Woodman corner slip into the net before Lawson D’Ath headed home. After the break, Kyel Reid netted for Bradford, but goals from Scot Bennett and John O’Flynn ensured the Grecians would take all three points.
Bradford City 0 Exeter City 1: November 17, 2012
Jamie Cureton’s goal was the difference between the two sides as the Grecians picked up a well-earned three points at Valley Parade. Matt Oakley nodded the ball down to the striker before he swept home to score just before half-time.
Exeter City 1 Bradford City 0: March 14, 2009
City picked up a narrow win at St James Park thanks to a 20th minute goal from Dean Moxey. The City man crossed from the left, but it took a deflection off Paul Arnison before looping over the head of Rhys Evans in the Bradford goal.
Head to head
Exeter City wins: 15
Draws: 11
Bradford City wins: 15
Fixture release day is on Thursday, June 20, tune in from 9am to find out when City will face the Bantams in the 2019/20 campaign.