Bradford City v Harrogate Town

[PenfoldClaret]

Just watching this very entertaining game on Sky. Harrogate are my local club. Some good quality football on show. Difficult to believe that there are not quality players in the EFL we can’t identify and sign.

[jdrobbo]

Where abouts are you penfold?

[PenfoldClaret]

Knaresborough

[dougcollins]

Oh dear, City lose in their big derby game.

I'll have some fun tomorrow.

[Quicknick]

Always good to see Bfd Sh1tty lose.

[tiger76]

It's amazing to remember that it was only just over 2 decades ago that Bradford were in the PL, ever since those halcyon days they've tumbled like a stone down the leagues, and there's no obvious sign that success is round the corner for them.

Harrogate are going along nicely in their 1st campaign in the EFL, and another promotion is certainly not beyond their reach.

[jdrobbo]

Knaresborough

Cool, lovely place.

[Colburn_Claret]

Cool, lovely place.

Enjoyed a few pub crawls in Knaresborough, it used to be quite lively on a weekend.
Like everywhere else its suffering sadly

[Rowls]

Knaresborough

Hi Penfold, don't suppose you know John, Peter or Kenny (RIP) from Knaresborough? They're all Clarets from Knaresborough.

Kenny grew up in Starbeck.

[PenfoldClaret]

Sadly not- thought I was the only Claret in town

[rdp2eps]

It's amazing to remember that it was only just over 2 decades ago that Bradford were in the PL, ever since those halcyon days they've tumbled like a stone down the leagues, and there's no obvious sign that success is round the corner for them.

Harrogate are going along nicely in their 1st campaign in the EFL, and another promotion is certainly not beyond their reach.

Back where they belong are Bradford City ...the amazing part was that they ever got to the top flight in the first place ... I think they spent almost 50 years below the 2nd tier up to the mid-80s.

[Quicknick]

For such a big city, their average league position out of the 92 is appalling.

[tim_noone]

For such a big city, their average league position out of the 92 is appalling.

"Size Doesnt Matter" We were appalling once.

[claptrappers_union]

"Size Doesnt Matter" We were appalling once.

And that’s Football, in ten years time, they could be be swapping places with us, but that’s the beauty of English football. You might have a constant with the big six, but when you look beyond the title race, there’s remarkable stories to be told.

[Quicknick]

"Size Doesnt Matter" We were appalling once.

True, but Bfd have been appalling for most of their history.

[LS7]

I like Bradford City. Remember they had a brief revival eg the win at Chelsea, League Cup final, promotion via the playoffs

[LS7]

Any football fan must love Valley Parade. It is the opposite of the Madjeski motorway junction leisure bowl.

[Quicknick]

I admit I like the ground. I used to go with City mates in the early 70s. The 12-terraced Bradford End with the filthiest toilets imaginable behind it was more than atmospheric. What a crew they had back then.

[Erasmus]

Perhaps I shouldn't feel this way, but I seem to have an instinctive antipathy towards these newly created clubs that get into the league just because some rich person wants a bit of fun running a football club. For the most part they don't have the same strong local identity as the more well established clubs. It's not really a 'fairy tale' is it? It's just money.

Along with Harrogate, I would include Salford, Forest Green, Crawley, Fleetwood, Fylde, and Eastleigh. I was really pleased to see Barrow come back, and I would be very happy if they were followed by Hartlepool, Halifax, Notts County, York, Stockport or Torquay. I know some of them have been our rivals in the past, but I always felt a lot of sympathy for our rivals and the supporters who are very much the same as us.

[PenfoldClaret]

Have to disagree Erasmus.
Harrogate Town has a strong local following.
Leeds is the nearest other EFL club and not everyone likes them!
Some of us are happy to make the drive over to Turf Moor but I’m really proud that club local to me has become successful playing very attractive football.
Many of the clubs who have fallen by the wayside have failed because of poor management / lack of investment.
We shouldn’t criticise those who have by their own efforts replaced them.

[Wellsy1882]

Doin alright harrogate

[Erasmus]

It's not by their own efforts though is it? It's down to one person deciding to throw loads of money at it. That's the only reason, and it 's not much of an effort to say, 'Yes, please'. A good local following is fine, but many non-league teams have that and are staying non-league because nobody's throwing money at them.

[LS7]

I know what you mean Erasmus. Like Rushden & Diamonds. Also Gretna in Scotland.

But Harrogate seem to have a good local support and have not been created out of thin air. Lots of proper football fans follow them as a convenient local option.

My local team, Yorkshire Amateur, could do with a
benefactor. I think they have potential to get 1000 fans per week rather than the 50-100 they get at the moment. They have a great ground and a good history and a solid North Leeds catchment. You could see them being a bit of a hipster club like Dulwich Hamlet.

[Quicknick]

I googled them after reading the above post and was surprised to learn that they played at Elland Road after Leeds City folded.