Bradford City

Jamie Raynor
Bradford City commentator for BBC Radio Leeds

Image source, Getty Images

Barrow away on New Year's Day feels like a lifetime ago. English football has a habit of moving on quickly, positive results are at a premium.

As the referee got things underway in Cumbria, little did Bradford City know that 2025 would go on to be their year. It might have taken until the final kick of their season to confirm their six-year-long wait for promotion back to League One was over – but with six minutes gone at Holker Street, hopes of achieving that feat were significantly in the balance.

I'll never forget our BBC Radio Leeds co-commentator that day, former City winger Andy Kiwomya, instantly exclaim with fear that Andy Cook had "done his ACL". You could hear the gasps from West Yorkshire.

The 34-year-old has been this club's go-to man for goals since his arrival in January 2021, at times single-handedly grinding them towards results. 85 goals later, his title of talisman is not misplaced.

To Bradford City and manager Graham Alexander's credit, they found a way to cope without their number nine through the second-half of last season, but it speaks volumes that Cook still ended the campaign as the club's leading marksman with 15 goals.

With such a significant injury came the questions from some: "Will he come back the same?"

As Cook told BBC Radio Leeds in March, that doubt feeds his motivation. The experienced forward has built a career on proving others wrong.

Which is why it's key that all concerned with Bradford City, including Cook himself, must be patient. His importance to this squad should not be understated, even if football does move quickly.

Alexander revealed this week that Cook had intermittently returned to full training, but with hurdles still to overcome.

His stringent rehab schedule has led to a day-by-day routine that has been carried through into the off-season - with plenty of hours spent in the gym at the club's Woodhouse Grove training base.

It's clear from the footage put out by the club's in-house media that Cook has been disciplined with his recovery plan, now more than eight months on.

While we all await the moment Cook steps back out on the Valley Parade turf, it must be done with the utmost care and consideration. If it means another month or two to wait, then so be it.

He still has so much more to show in the colours of Bradford City.

Bradford City defender Curtis Tilt says that a relentless pre-season schedule helped contribute towards their season-opening win against Wycombe Wanderers.

Manager Graham Alexander named seven debutants as the Bantams made their return to League One, including 34-year-old Tilt, and emerged with a 2-1 win against last season's play-off semi-finalists.

The former Wigan and Blackpool man joined City from Salford in the summer, signing a two-year deal and told BBC Radio Leeds: "For us as players, it has been quite easy, (Alexander) will stop and show you clips and we will nail it down.

"From minute one, we knew exactly what the gaffer wanted to do and it's been different from anything I've ever done with the shape. Going into the first game, there were six or seven debutants but we all knew what we wanted to do and where we had to be on the pitch, it's been relentless but enjoyable."

Bradford were 2-0 up in the first 13 minutes on Saturday and Tilt knew the "importance of getting off to a good start".

"It's important collectively and individually, personally I don't change what I do, I know what I'm good at and what my attributes are," he said.

"It's just implementing them on the pitch. Every day is a learning day for me, no matter your age, we can get better as a team and hopefully we can cause some upsets this year."

Click here to listen to the full interview via BBC Sounds.

Jamie Raynor
BBC Radio Leeds journalist

Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has been speaking to the press ahead of the side's League One match against Northampton Town on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the main talking points:

• Alexander revealed forward Andy Cook is back in full training with the group, but on a "one day on, one day off" basis. They remain cautious about the 34-year-old's return, who hasn't featured since New Year's Day when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury to his left knee. The club are not putting a timescale on when he will be back available.

• Midfielders Alex Pattison (Achilles) and Clarke Oduor (concussion) are back in full training after missing Saturday's opening day win against Wycombe, along with defender Ciaran Kelly (groin).

• Defender Aden Baldwin is back from suspension following his red card at Doncaster Rovers in the penultimate game of last season. The offence was not violent conduct, so the 28-year-old has served a two-match suspension.

• After Tommy Leigh's impressive showing in central midfield against Wycombe, Alexander spoke of a frank conversation he had with the 25-year-old at the end of last season. In that conversation, Alexander and Leigh discussed where the player needed to improve and what specific position he would play moving forward. Centre midfield was the agreed position.

• Alexander praised how receptive the club's new signings have been to instruction and feels there's a growing trust within the group. So far, the club have made nine additions during the summer window.

Listen to Alexander's full pre-match press conference and more on BBC Sounds.

"I don't know how Graham Alexander has done that... he's done an incredible job."

The Take Me Home team dissect Bradford City's victory against Wycombe Wanderers in their opening League One game and what it could spell for the rest of the season.

Listen to the full episode of Take Me Home and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Bradford City AFC

BBC Radio Leeds are set to continue as the official broadcast partner of Bradford City.

BBC Radio Leeds Sports Editor Jonny Buchan said: "After last season's heroics we are delighted to be following the Bantams journey in League One.

"The partnership with the club is something we value greatly and we look forward to continuing the relationship as City climb up the Football League."

Match commentary, which can also be heard on BantamsTV, will be provided by BBC Radio Leeds and is available via FM and DAB platforms.

"Bradford City AFC is delighted to announce an extension to our deal with BBC Radio Leeds, seeing the local station continue as our official broadcast partner," the League One club said on its website, external.

"Commentator Jamie Raynor will be joined by a cast of former City stars to bring you live commentary of every single home and away game throughout the season."

Jamie Raynor
BBC Radio Leeds journalist

Bradford City boss Graham Alexander has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's opening League One game against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday at 15:00 BST.

Here are the key lines:

• Alexander says his new three-year deal as manager is not a reward for the club's dramatic final day promotion to League One last season but a validation of the work that's been done by himself and his backroom staff. He revealed that club CEO Ryan Sparks had first mentioned a new deal months before.

• Alexander believes there is still a lot of potential at Valley Parade and is passionate that more can be achieved over the next three years.

• The club have made nine signings this window and Alexander says they're still looking to recruit further, specifically on an unnamed area. They're yet to identify that individual.

• He went on to explain their current budget allows for one more addition. "Any more than that, we'll have to trade. We'll have to have outgoings."

• "A couple of individuals" were told on the first day of pre-season it's likely they won't be in Alexander's plans. There is nothing close regarding their departures, with Alexander confirming interest has been shown but deals have not materialised.

• When asked about the use of the loan market, he said the club were open to it but stressed the importance of Bradford owning players and the need for long-term consistency. The club are yet to make a loan signing this window.

• Out-of-contract defenders Paul Huntington, who made 21 appearances last season, and Jack Hunt have both been training with the squad during pre-season. Alexander is yet to decide whether they will be offered deals.

• Defender Neill Byrne is out for at least two months with a knee problem, with fellow defender Ciaran Kelly (groin) and forward Calum Kavanagh (shin) doubts for this Saturday.

Listen to the full pre-match press conference with Graham Alexander and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Bradford City chief executive Ryan Sparks says there has been "huge inflation" in the transfer market as the club ready for their return to League One.

City were promoted on the final day of the season and managed to sign eight players before 1 July as Graham Alexander rebuilds his squad.

But despite Birmingham City and Wrexham winning promotion to the Championship last season, Sparks says there are still other big-spending clubs who have made the third-tier market tricky to negotiate.

Sparks told BBC Radio Leeds: "We wanted to move quickly and have a squad ready for pre-season and we did that. We were always going to have plans regardless of what division we were in.

"It is an intense market, the activity in League One has been like never before, there is huge inflation in the market.

"But we are very happy with what we have done. We have been able to attract players for different reasons and we will continue to do that. The window doesn't close for some time yet.

"Recruitment is really important and there are conversations every day. The process doesn't change but the cost of players does.

"The manager has the final say on players, that will never change as far as I am concerned."

Listen to the full interview and more on Bradford City on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Bradford City boss Graham Alexander says there is a "feel-good factor" at the club as they prepare for a return to League One.

The Bantams beat Championship side Middlesbrough 2-0 in a pre-season friendly last week, with goals from Antoni Sarcevic and Will Swan.

Swan is one of a number of new faces settling in at the club and Alexander is pleased with how his squad is shaping up.

He told BBC Radio Leeds: "We looked incisive and dangerous when we had the ball against Middlesbrough.

"We looked clunky in our first few friendlies but we have eight new players and we are changing their mindsets. It takes time, it's a process.

"We are still not there but the new players are getting more confidence.

"We try to do our due diligence on their characters as people and they have settled in well. It is a good group of players who want to work, it is a good environment to walk into.

"There is a feel-good factor in the club - but we haven't kicked off yet."

City begin their League One return at home to Wycombe on Saturday, 2 August, after their memorable last-day, last-gasp promotion from the fourth tier in May.

Listen to the full interview and more on Bradford City on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

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