Preview: Bradford City v Barrow

16 February 2023

Learn more about Saturday's opponents, the match officials and venue ahead of the weekend's action.

Bradford City vs Barrow
Saturday 18th February, kick-off 3pm
Valley Parade
Sky Bet League Two

Opposition
Bradford were originally a rugby club, founded in 1880 as Manningham Football Club, becoming founding members of Northern Union (Rugby League) in 1895. However, in 1903 they converted from egg chasing to football, securing election into the Football League under the name Bradford City.

Early successes saw them as champions of Division Two in 1907 and Winners of the FA Cup in 1911, due to the Great War in 1914-18, The Bantams lost six former players including FA Cup heroes Jimmy Speirs and Bob Torrance.

In more recent times, Bradford City enjoyed a famous route to the League Cup Final in 2013, making history by becoming the first club from the fourth tier of English football to make the final.

It would be South Wales outfit Swansea City who denied them at the last hurdle. Adding onto this, The Bantams found themselves knocking Chelsea out in the FA Cup Fourth Round two years later, before going on to beat Sunderland in the Fifth Round to seal a spot in the FA Cup Quarter Finals.

The club also just narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship in 2017, defeated by Millwall in the playoff final, before being relegated back to League Two in 2019.

Currently Bradford City sit in 8th place, having won last time out in their home fixture against Tranmere Rovers.

The Venue
Valley Parade was opened in 1886 as a rugby venue and has since been adapted to hosting football, it has been home to Bradford City since 1903.

In 1985, 56 supporters tragically lost their lives at Valley Parade, 54 from Bradford, and 2 from Lincoln City on a day that was supposed to be a celebration of the home side winning the Division Three title. The 56 souls lost on that day will forever be remembered by the footballing world, and a memorial is in permanent residence outside Valley Parade. May they forever rest in peace.

The current capacity of Valley Parade is 25,146, with the record attendance coming in 1911 when 39,146 oversaw Bradford face off against Burnley. Valley Parade has also had other uses such as England international U21 fixtures, Under 19 European Championship Qualifiers, Lionesses and even saw Bradford Park Avenue call it home in 1973/74.

Head To Head
Earlier in the season, Barrow defeated Bradford City 3-2; a game that saw an extremely eventful final 10 minutes.

Ben Whitfield gave The Bluebirds the lead just past the hour mark, but only 2 minutes later current Barrow loanee Jake Young equalised the scoring with a spectacular effort from just inside the area.

Heading into the final minutes of the fixture, Josh Kay fired Pete Wild’s side into the lead. The visitors thought they'd sealed a point when Andy Cook equalised in the 95th minute, before Josh Gordon’s last kick of the game in the 96th minute sent the SO Legal Stadium into elation.

Referee
The man with the whistle at Valley Parade will be Carl Boyeson. He’ll be assisted by Lewis Raper and Jake Topp; Lisa Rashid has been assigned to Fourth Official duties.

You might recognise Boyeson from Barrow’s away draw to Gillingham in October, a fixture which saw Josh Kay give The Bluebirds the lead, assisted by Ben Whitfield, before being pegged back in the 74th minute to a header from Elkan Baggott.

Tickets
Advance tickets are now off sale, but Barrow fans can buy tickets on the day at Valley Parade.

Live Streaming
We are not allowed to live stream games in the UK between the hours of 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday, so this weekend’s game will not be available to domestic supporters.

Barrow fans outside of the UK will be able to access a live stream via iFollow and you can purchase the match in the usual way ahead of kick-off.

Live Commentary
We will be providing live online audio commentary from every game this season as we continue our link-up with BBC Radio Cumbria.

Fans will be able to listen to Cumbria's commentary team to describe all the action as it unfolds.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Victory At Valley Parade For Barrow

18 February 2023

A calmy-slotted finish from Josh Kay in the first half after a brilliant bit of play from Harrison Neal and Ged Garner sees Barrow to victory in Yorkshire

An opening 10 minutes saw chances at either end, the hosts delivered a dangerous ball into the area, but the hand of Andy Cook on the line denied Bradford City the chance of taking an early lead.

Down the other end, Barrow broke away through Josh Kay and Elliot Newby, breaking into the Bantams box, but the chance fell wide of Harry Lewis' goal for a goal kick.

The Bluebirds opened the scoring in the 25th minute. An attack, launched by a savvy tackle from Josh Kay, saw Harrison Neal thread the ball through to Ged Garner on the right-hand side of the box, who then squared the ball to Josh Kay who calmly slotted past Harry Lewis to send the away end into jubilation.

The Bantams had a chance to equalise the game just 3 minutes later. Andy Cook found himself in the box, getting ready to release his shot at goal, but Sam McClelland was in the right place to brilliantly deny the ball falling into the net.

The Bluebirds broke in the 37th minute through Robbie Gotts, who was chopped down by Bradford's Jamie Walker. Following the free kick into the box, Barrow kept on the pressure. The ball eventually finding Elliot Newby who's curling effort fell just wide of the target.

Pete Wild’s side started the second period brightly and could have even doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute. A chance fell for captain and former Bantam Niall Canavan, who, with his back to goal, twisted to get a shot away, which just trickled wide of the goal.

Not too long after a brilliant corner from Patrick Brough found the header of Ged Garner, who flicked it narrowly over the bar.

Barrow continued to press for a second with multiple opportunities around the hour mark. The first came when Josh Kay delivered a cross into the box, with Ged Garner just shy of catching onto the end of it.

A couple of minutes later, Robbie Gotts saw a curling effort saved well by Harry Lewis, after brilliant set-up play from Elliot Newby.

The home side, backed some 17,000 Valley Parade faithful, started piling pressure on Barrow looking for a leveller. A brilliant sliding challenge from Sam McClelland stopped Bradford’s Dara Costelloe in his tracks before he could release a shot at goal.

Inside the final fifteen minutes, The Bantams came forward on the right, with a dangerous delivery into the box from Josh Banks just narrowly missing Dara Costelloe in the centre of the area.

Bradford continued to attack Paul Farmans’s goal, with Patrick Brough pulling off a sensational block to deny an attempt inside the box.

Barrow kept their hosts to no attempts on target, and leave Yorkshire with three well earned points.

Full Time: Bradford City 0-1 Barrow
Attendance: 17,071 (511 away)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket Info: Doncaster Rovers (A) & Bradford City (A)

1 February 2023

Here's the information you need to book your ticket for February's trips to Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City in Sky Bet League Two.

Doncaster Rovers v Barrow
Tuesday 14th February, kick-off 7:45pm
Eco-Power Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

Doncaster have given Bluebirds fans an allocation of 469 allocation in the Solutions 4 Cleaning North Stand.

Prices:
Adult £20
Senior 60+ £16
18-24 (Young Adult) £16
U17s £5

*As per Doncaster's Safeguarding policy, all U14s must be accompanied by Adult/Senior/Young Adult.

Tickets are on sale until Monday 13^th Feb, with postage available until Sun 5^th Feb, and are sold on the Barrow Ticketing Website. CLICK HERE to get yours now.

Doncaster have 5 accessible parking bays at a cost of £5 available for supporters to purchase in advance from 10 days prior to the game by calling 01302 762576 (option 1)

Regular parking can be pre booked via https://tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk/en-GB/catergories/roversparking from 10 days prior. Parking increases to £6 on the day. Coach parking is £20, payable on the day.

Bradford City v Barrow
Saturday 18th February, kick-off 3pm
Valley Parade
Sky Bet League Two

Bradford have issued a 1167 ticket allocation in the Bradford Lifts Stand.

Prices:

Adults £20 (£25 on the day)
Seniors £18 (£20 on the day)
YP 17-23 £18 (£20 on the day)
Youth 12-16 £10 (£10 on the day)
Junior 11 & under £5 (£5 on the day)

Please note there are no CASH sales on the day, supporters can however log in to Bradford ticketing system by scanning the large QR code, which is located on the wall next to the away turnstile on Midland Road.

Tickets are on sale now until Thursday 16^th Feb with Postage until Sunday 12^th Feb, and are sold on the Barrow Ticketing Website. CLICK HERE to get yours now.