Fans ecstatic at Bradford City win against Arsenal at Valley Parade (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Fans ecstatic at Bradford City win against Arsenal at Valley Parade
1:03am Wednesday 12th December 2012 in News
By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter
Fans celebrate City's victory after the game
They were urged to “keep calm and take it to penalties” – and it was Bradford City’s unrivalled record from the penalty spot that secured a historic 3-2 victory against Premier League giants Arsenal in the club’s biggest game for 12 years.
Jubilant fans last night revelled in Bantams’ return to glory days after witnessing Phil Parkinson’s men win their ninth successive penalty shoot-out to book a place in the Capital One Cup’s semi finals after a pulsating thriller against the Gunners.
An electric atmosphere emanated from Valley Parade as stunned fans, chanting, cheering and beating drums, spilled out of Valley Parade at the end of the game in a sea of claret and amber, full of talk about which top-flight big-hitter City would slay in the next round.
Season-ticket holder Janette Raistrick, 58, of Queensbury, told how she had been praying as Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen – whose 87th minute equaliser had taken the quarter-final tie into extra-time – sent his penalty against the post after earlier misses by Santi Cazorla and Maroune Chamakh.
“I don’t care who we get so long as we beat them,” she said.
Stephen Taylor, 43, of Idle, said he now hoped Bantams’ would draw Chelsea in the next round.
“I think we can go all the way.
“After a night like this, it feels like our name is written on the cup.”
Nervous anticipation had been building in the hours leading up to the game – the club’s biggest since beating Liverpool to stay in the top-flight of English football in May, 2000 – when a high-spirited sea of supporters, many wrapped in striped City scarves, flooded to a bitterly cold Valley Parade from all directions.
Police in fluorescent jackets and officers on mounted patrol could be seen dotted around the ground awaiting the arrival of 23,971 football fans – the club’s largest crowd since February 1960, when 26,227 watched Bantams’ 2-2 draw against Burnley in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
There was no sign of any trouble as increasingly-excited supporters sang, cheered and sounded klaxons as they filtered through the turnstiles.
But the good-spirited, and not unexpected, rivalry was palpable as the Arsenal team coach pulled up outside the ground, when buoyant Bantams' fans chanted ‘who are ya’ and ‘love you City, we do’ as the Premier League big hitters filed into the League Two club’s stadium.
Despite being separated by 65 league places, many supporters were feeling confident their side could claim yet another top-flight scalp after Bantams’ sensational victory on penalties against Wigan in the fourth round of the competition.
And some statistics were in their favour. Gunners’ manager Wenger had never won at Valley Parade – with one defeat and one draw in City’s two years in the Premier League – and Arsenal had only won one of their last nine visits to Bradford.
Before the game, seven-year-old City regular Alfie Johnson, of Eccleshill, visiting Valley Parade with his dad Matt, 35, predicted a 5-0 thrashing, with Nahki Wells to score.
Others hoped Bradford could “keep calm and take it to penalties” – the mantra emblazoned across many a T-shirt hailing the club’s record of eight penalty wins on the bounce.
Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them.
She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 2000.
“I don’t really remember last time, but I was one of the mascots who led the team out.
“We’re hoping they keep calm and take it to penalties!”
Friends Dom Newton-Collinge, 26, of Otley, and Daniel Crann, 25, of Harrogate, said that whatever the result, the atmosphere was a throw back to the club’s glory days.
“It feels like 12 years ago, it used to be like this every week at Valley Parade.
“It feels like the result doesn’t matter,” said Dom.
Season-ticket holder Daniel, who cheered on the team during previous rounds of the competition, added: “It feels like the glory days.
“Based on their performance this far in the cup, it’s looking good for the lads.”
As Arsenal kicked off the first half, the scene was different in nearby pub The Bradford Arms.
Bursting at the doors before the game started, an unlucky handful who were unable to get into the ground watched the match on a big screen.
Before the game, season-ticket holder Mark Pearson, 39, of Knaresborough, said: “It’s great to see a big crowd like this back at Valley Parade. I wish we could see crowds like this every week.”
With a club on such pulsating form, he might get his wish.
Comments(26)
BigFigure
says...
1:51am Wed 12 Dec 12
alfucham
says...
3:54am Wed 12 Dec 12
Well done all down the valley on making all Bradfordians proud
FrenchBantam27
says...
5:14am Wed 12 Dec 12
She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990''
Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL.
( Nice reporting Hannah x)
ifallwerelikemumby
says...
7:41am Wed 12 Dec 12
Well done City
VJ Man
says...
7:51am Wed 12 Dec 12
ifallwerelikemumby wrote:Egg chasers? you are a wag!
City show the egg chasers what real spirit is all about.
Well done City
I bet the nights just fly by in your house with all the witty banter flying around.
zakenterprises
says...
8:12am Wed 12 Dec 12
It just goes to show that Parky was the right man for the job. We just now need to kick on in the league.
C.T.I.D.
Avro
says...
10:07am Wed 12 Dec 12
webess
says...
10:23am Wed 12 Dec 12
Avro wrote:Too right!
Well done, well done, well done, and with a pittance of a player budget in comparison!
Most players in the Arsenal squad get paid more each than the entire City Squad.
Great result for the lower leagues and The Bantams in particular.
Brannigan
says...
11:11am Wed 12 Dec 12
TBS
says...
11:37am Wed 12 Dec 12
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
Keighley Exile
says...
11:44am Wed 12 Dec 12
Rambo
says...
12:28pm Wed 12 Dec 12
TBS wrote:It did say 1990. Been edited since then.
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
-------
Apparently our whole annual wage bill is £1.2 million. Even Chamakh who came on for Arsenal gets £2.4 million a year. Figure that out....
If I were an AFC fan I'd be livid they're paying players such massive amounts, and ones with top pedigrees (Podolsky has 100 caps and 40+ goals for Germany) to see them pi$$ about like they did last night like they. But thats the Premier League all over aint it?
wobbley-bob
says...
12:31pm Wed 12 Dec 12
TBS wrote:Psst!....It's been edited since FrenchBantam27's post, you complete knob..
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
Apologies are in order it seems.
webess
says...
1:11pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Rambo wrote:It's not just Arsenal fans who're overpaying for "talent". Everyone with a Sky Sports subscriptions is paying the price too..
TBS wrote:It did say 1990. Been edited since then.
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
-------
Apparently our whole annual wage bill is £1.2 million. Even Chamakh who came on for Arsenal gets £2.4 million a year. Figure that out....
If I were an AFC fan I'd be livid they're paying players such massive amounts, and ones with top pedigrees (Podolsky has 100 caps and 40+ goals for Germany) to see them pi$$ about like they did last night like they. But thats the Premier League all over aint it?
Reality50
says...
1:38pm Wed 12 Dec 12
elzy123
says...
3:05pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Our 2 sons are CTID supporters, and Jules has converted 2 of his mates who were all at Valley Parade last night which for three 17 year olds was a major investment of money as we live in sunny Bedfordshire. What can we say it was a fantastic value for money!!!
Also a big big hand for those Bradford supporters who went and commiserated with the Arsenal players it made us look world class which we are!
Scargutt2
says...
3:24pm Wed 12 Dec 12
wobbley-bob wrote:She would have surely been -4 years old in any case, not -6 as claimed, or has that been edited too?
TBS wrote:Psst!....It's been edited since FrenchBantam27's post, you complete knob..
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
Apologies are in order it seems.
pweibj67
says...
3:28pm Wed 12 Dec 12
so does this mean we can finally sign winger Neilson on three-year deal!!
this saga has been the most read for the last 3 years!!
ctid
dorny1971
says...
4:35pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Scargutt2 wrote:Nope - it's just your crap maths.
wobbley-bob wrote:She would have surely been -4 years old in any case, not -6 as claimed, or has that been edited too?
TBS wrote:Psst!....It's been edited since FrenchBantam27's post, you complete knob..
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
Apologies are in order it seems.
tinytoonster
says...
6:00pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Scargutt2 wrote:who gives a sh-it?
wobbley-bob wrote:She would have surely been -4 years old in any case, not -6 as claimed, or has that been edited too?
TBS wrote:Psst!....It's been edited since FrenchBantam27's post, you complete knob..
FrenchBantam27 wrote:It actually reads 2000 you complete fool!
''Face-painted fan Bethany Dimmock, 18, who has the middle name Amber as a Bantams’ tribute, was one of them. She was a mascot at the club’s Premier League clash against the Gunners on September 9, 1990'' Is it any wonder she doesn't remember....she was minus 6years old when she was there...PMSL. ( Nice reporting Hannah x)
Apologies are in order it seems.
stick to the story which is celebrating a great win!!
vikksy
says...
6:02pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Richard W.Bennett
says...
6:21pm Wed 12 Dec 12
mik1884
says...
7:08pm Wed 12 Dec 12
mik1884
says...
7:09pm Wed 12 Dec 12
mik1884 wrote:PS I am a Derby County Fan ..but love City
Well done Bradford City you did yourself and the city proud Good Luck in the Semi Final ..
Rambo
says...
9:17pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Wouldn't mind Villa to be honest. 40,000 crowd at their place and another full house at VP, not too far to travel either.
Don't want Swansea. Long trip and they're playing great football at the moment. Similar with Chelsea - long and expensive midweek journey and they wouldn't mess around like Arsenal did.
I actually don't want Leeds. The novelty of playing them has been lost with the recent games and security costs controlling their rabble would be astronomical.
Boro? Hmm. Not far again to travel, not as exciting as a Premier League team but probably the easiest of a very difficult set of possible opponents. Also a change for revenge for the play offs in the late 80s.
pockman says...
1:17am Wed 12 Dec 12