FROM THE DUGOUT - WITH GRAHAM ALEXANDER

Good morning, Rod, and welcome to our latest issue of City Talk. 

Looking back a couple of weeks, it was my first experience of the fire memorial on May 11th, and on behalf of the club, I would like to thank every single individual who paid their respects to those who tragically lost their lives 39 years ago. 

Now, being a part of our club, and after speaking to so many people there, it is so clear to me how those events have affected the city over the years. I find the emotion and feeling that is still so apparent to you all, gives us a cause to come together. It shows how important life is, and how we should never take for granted the lives we have now, and the opportunities we get to have a brighter future.

After the last game, the players got a well-earned rest, before beginning their off-season programme, which has already started. They know the importance of keeping in good shape - the competition for places will be there, so first impressions can be influential when returning from the summer break. 

We want to create a squad that can compete all the way through an EFL season, with all its difficulties and challenges, and the work done in pre-season will be absolutely vital.

We’ve made great headway with our summer recruitment, bringing in proven winners with excellent quality. Antoni Sarcevic, Neil Byrne, Callum Johnson and Aden Baldwin will certainly help us improve and, along with the squad that finished so strongly, I believe we should look forward with justified optimism.

I love seeing how new players integrate, and the extra buzz it gives a squad when new relationships are being formed. The added competition will always bring out the best in true professionals - they take on the new challenge head on and keep their standards high. 

Our aim is to create an environment where the players and staff all push one another to greater heights, and form a group that is stronger than its individual parts, and the opposition.

I hope the break will also give you the chance to recharge the energy we need from you when the season begins. You will get the opportunity to welcome those new players to our club in pre-season, in the new kit, on the new pitch, ready for a new start. I look forward to seeing you all again soon. Take care.

Graham.

FROM THE TOP - WITH RYAN SPARKS

Good morning, Rod, and welcome to Issue 39 of our City Talk e-newsletter. 

It has been a busy first four weeks of the close season since I last wrote to you, following the end of our Sky Bet League Two season in April. 

We have moved quickly in the transfer market to welcome four new faces to the club, in Antoni Sarcevic, Neill Byrne, Callum Johnson and Aden Baldwin. 

Between them, we have acquired experience - with more than a dozen promotions - leadership and a number of different attributes across the field to allow us to be more dynamic and versatile.

Conversely, we have said goodbye to two players in Ash Taylor and Timi Odusina. We thank both for their services in claret and amber, and wish them the best for the future. I would also like to place on record my thanks to Matty Platt, who recently left the club for Notts County. We wish him all the best for the future.

Our summer work across the club continues, and over the coming month, we will begin to unveil our new playing kits for the 2024/25 season. This year we will start with our away strip and that will be released within the next two weeks. 

Our well-documented pitch renovations are ongoing. We now have a healthy amount of grass coverage on the surface and our groundstaff are more than happy with the process. To add some context, this time last year our pitch had not been re-seeded as a result of our play-off campaign, meaning we are currently around five weeks in front of where we were in 2023.

Off the field, we will be hosting a fans’ forum at the University of Bradford Stadium on Tuesday June 24, with the opportunity for over 400 of you to come down and ask questions to me, Stefan Rupp, Graham Alexander, David Sharpe and Stephen Gent. 

Tickets are available now, free of charge, to 2024/25 season ticket holders and, as always, your input, feedback and engagement is greatly valued and much appreciated. We will be keeping the bar open after we are finished, to watch England take on Slovenia in the European Championships Group Stages, and are looking forward to the evening. To secure your place, head over to our ticketing website. 

Finally, in our continued efforts to remain environmentally sustainable, I am pleased to share that we are currently in the process of installing solar panels on the roof of the University of Bradford Stadium. Scaffolders are currently on site at Valley Parade working on top of The TL Dallas Stand and Bradford Lifts Stand, with the process to, hopefully, be completed within the next six weeks. 

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible for our fans’ forum next month. 

Up the Bantams!

Ryan.

SEASON TICKET UPDATE

We're delighted to see over 13,600 already booking your spot at the University of Bradford Stadium for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign in Sky Bet League Two.

There's still chance to secure your seat for the new season, with season tickets still on sale for supporters now, with the chance to make major savings over the course of the season.

You can join the likes of Andy Cook and Jamie Walker, as well as new signings Antoni Sarcevic and Aden Baldwin at Valley Parade next season for what we hope will be a successful one on the field!

Junior tickets are available for just £35, with an Adult still paying less than £16 per home game with a season ticket, saving over £100 on matchday admission prices over the course of the campaign.

FANS' FORUM

Bradford City AFC will host a fans’ forum at the University of Bradford Stadium on Tuesday June 25, with tickets now available free of charge - on a first-come, first-served basis, exclusively to 2024/25 season ticket holders.

Doors to the event will open at 6pm, located in the McCall and Hendrie Suites at Valley Parade. First team manager Graham Alexander will be joined by Stephen Gent and David Sharpe, as well as Stefan Rupp and Ryan Sparks.

Bradford City stadium announcer Darren Harper will host the evening, with questions from the supporters in attendance posed to the club officials.

The event will finish at 7.30pm, meaning supporters can still watch England's UEFA Euro 2024 Group C clash with Slovenia, with the McCall and Hendrie suites remaining open for supporters to watch the game.

MARKETPLACE

Bradford City's official store has an end-of-season sale well underway, with 50% off selected items and replica shirts discounted even further.

All replica shirts from the 2023/24 season are now down to the low price of just £20. Stock is flying off the shelves so you need to be fast to get your hands on a shirt at their lowest price yet!

This offer is available to supporters on the official website, meaning you can secure the latest deals with your feet up. Alternatively, the offer is also available in-store, with plenty of options on other merchandise.

On our official eBay store, there is plenty of memorabilia to get your hands on, including signed player shirts, match balls and a range of other items perfect for any City fan!

WE'RE ON WHATSAPP

Want a brand-new way to keep up to date with all things Bradford City? Then sign up to our brand new WhatsApp Channel.

The easiest way to get all the latest news and updates directly to your phone, making it easier than ever to ensure you never miss anything ever again.

Whether it be interviews or exclusive content, our new WhatsApp Channel is perfect for all Bradford City fans! Especially in the transfer window, you certainly don't want to miss a notification.

So far supporters on our WhatsApp Channel have received exciting updates, including signing news and a message from City's third summer recruit, Callum Johnson!

PARTNER IN FOCUS: 
SHIPLEY TRANSPORT

Shipley Transport Services are this month's 'Partner In Focus'. The Low Moor-based haulage company are stepping up their involvement with the Bantams, heading into their second year involved with the club.

The 2023/24 season saw them join as a player sponsor, with the 2024/25 season seeing them sponsor City's first summer recruit and seven-time promotion winner, Antoni Sarcevic.

For the upcoming season, Shipley Transport will be on-board as an Official Club Partner, stepping up their involvement massively. Not only will they be Sarcevic's player sponsor, but they will have advertising boards around the University of Bradford Stadium as well as taking up match sponsorship opportunities.

For details on how you can get involved with the Bantams commercially, please email commercial@bradfordcityafc.com.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

citytalk@bradfordcityafc.com

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