Russian plans 2,000-mile mission to see Bradford City at Wembley

10:00am Monday 28th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Tate, T&A Reporter

Dmitry Nechiporenko Dmitry Nechiporenko

The magic of the Bradford City’s glorious cup run has now reached St Petersburg in Russia, where keen Bantams’ fan Dmitry Nechiporenko has just booked his flight to London in the hope of a Wembley ticket.

And he was even kindly offered help with getting a visa by City joint chairman Mark Lawn, after avidly supporting the team for 13 years.

“The story of my City support began when I saw a Premiership game between Bantams and Tottenham Hotspur on TV,” said Dmitry, 33.

“This day Stuart McCall equalised in dying moments. I really felt that this club is something special, it was 1999.

“Next year Bradford City came to St Petersburg for Intertoto Cup game against Zenit from my native city.

“I met the team at airport and supported Bantams at Petrovsky stadium and I also met with Geoffrey Richmond and other directors in one of the local hotels.”

From that point Mr Nechiporenko became a devoted St Petersburg Parader and came to Bradford in 2002 to see matches at home against Sheffield United and away at Millwall. And he was really impressed by the warm welcome from Bradford folk and the club.

“Jon Pollard, club secretary at that time, met me at airport and was very kind to bring there a City shirt with my name and helped me during my stay. Unfortunately I didn’t see City win during this visit,” said Mr Nechiporenko, now a sports journalist. “And on Friday, I’ve received an e-mail from Mark Lawn where he asked me about possible help about my visa. I said that my visa is OK and now the biggest worry is getting a ticket for Wembley.”

Mr Nechiporenko said he felt that the kind e-mail showed how close the owners and management are to the fans. In previous years he was one of many fans who donated money to keep Bradford City alive.

“I hope to see a win coming back after more than ten years and am so excited about it,” he said.

He arrives in Bradford on February 23.

Comments(33)

Ian H 1971 says...
10:15am Mon 28 Jan 13

I'm sure that Dmitry will get the best possible welcome upon his arrival in Bradford. Let's hope we can send him home happy with a legendary win!

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BigFigure says...
10:29am Mon 28 Jan 13

Dmitry= Legend. Perhaps he could sit next to Charlie?

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beardedclam says...
12:27pm Mon 28 Jan 13

The season ticket brigade won't like this. "A non season ticket holder getting a Wembley ticket, how dare he"

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_Size3_ says...
12:42pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Good to see you're still flying the Claret & Amber for us in Russia Dmitry.

Oh and beardedclam, Dmitry has more right to a Wembley ticket than half of our season ticket holders, lol.

Hope we can reward your crazy support with another record-book entry, Dmitry!!

Size3

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shoesmaker4 says...
1:04pm Mon 28 Jan 13

well done dmitry hope you get your wish and good look to

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Rambo says...
1:26pm Mon 28 Jan 13

beardedclam wrote:
The season ticket brigade won't like this. "A non season ticket holder getting a Wembley ticket, how dare he"
FFS. Dimitry has shown an active interest by keeping in touch on the various message boards for the last 14 years or so, and has made many friends along the way. And he's probably been to more games than some of the people who are pestering me for tickets.

At any time over the last 10 years he could have thought sod it but no, he didn't.

Example - there are armchair fans who support the likes of Man United who've never been to VP who are now asking me to get them Wembley tickets. These are the sorts of people who should be made to get to the back of the line if they want in.

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_Size3_ says...
1:27pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Mate - I think it was tongue-in-cheek....I don't think those were beardedclam's thoughts....just highlighting that there are tools out there like that haha.

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Rambo says...
1:29pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Oh, if it was meant like that I apologise. Just been a bit annoyed today with trying to sort out arrangement for the day and all that.

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Rambo says...
1:29pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Oh, if it was meant like that I apologise. Just been a bit annoyed today with trying to sort out arrangement for the day and all that.

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RuggerTyke says...
1:34pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Dmitry!

Best of luck in getting it asorted, I'd get Putin involved if need be!

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dick snyder says...
1:48pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Well, I am coming over from New Jersey for the game, so perhaps that is worthy of note. I do follow the team rather closely!

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bahamianbantam says...
1:49pm Mon 28 Jan 13

I've been a supporter since 1967 - I have been through thick and thin (mostly thin!). I was at the Feethams when we won promtion for first time in 40 years! I was at Cambridge when we went up to Division Two in 1985. I was there for Play Off Final 1996 - unfortunately in Arizona for Wolves game. Now live in Bahamas and just tried to rearrange flight and bl&$ dy BA quoted me £2, 000 to change flight. Keep all informed

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bantamchris says...
2:17pm Mon 28 Jan 13

So he hasn't been in 10 years and now he wants a ticket.Glory supporter springs to mind ;)

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_Size3_ says...
2:25pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Troll, lol

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gentlemanbob says...
2:26pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Hi Gents

Hope your Dream comes true Dmitry
Have a safe journey over and hope you
have a great time

Yours

Gentelmanbob

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macca1969 says...
2:51pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Hope to see ya there dimitry, if so I'll buy you a good English pint. If there is such a thing in London. Good luck

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White-Wrose says...
3:24pm Mon 28 Jan 13

All the very best wishes to you Dmitry, I hope you make it to the game. My wife and I are flying in from southern Spain at reasonable cost courtesy of Ryanair :-)

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"get over it!" says...
3:43pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Dmitry is a legend, also a well known city fan! deserves a ticket more than most people, posts regular on the banter boards and was a regular on Boy from Brazil. This guy wont just be off to Wembley either, he will squeeze all the surrounding games in too.
We need more people like this!

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Matnab says...
5:27pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Dmitry. Im delighted that it looks like you are getting your visa sorted after the rejection last time.

It has always made me smile when you have posted on Claret and Banter. It is heart warming to see a fan continue to follow from afar despite the disastorous twelve years we have had. Its great to see that you will witness the biggest one off game in living memory.

It may not be worth as much to the club as the promotion to the premiership at Wolves, but to see Bradford City yet alone a fourth tier Bradford City in a major cup final is massive. Hopefully when we win our first game in Europe will be against Zenit and we can all come over and see you!!!

Hope you enjoy the trip.

Regards

Matnab

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Matnab says...
5:30pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Dmitry. Im delighted that it looks like you are getting your visa sorted after the rejection last time.

It has always made me smile when you have posted on Claret and Banter. It is heart warming to see a fan continue to follow from afar despite the disastorous twelve years we have had. Its great to see that you will witness the biggest one off game in living memory.

It may not be worth as much to the club as the promotion to the premiership at Wolves, but to see Bradford City yet alone a fourth tier Bradford City in a major cup final is massive. Hopefully when we win our first game in Europe will be against Zenit and we can all come over and see you!!!

Hope you enjoy the trip.

Regards

Matnab

Report this post »

Matnab says...
5:30pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Dmitry. Im delighted that it looks like you are getting your visa sorted after the rejection last time.

It has always made me smile when you have posted on Claret and Banter. It is heart warming to see a fan continue to follow from afar despite the disastorous twelve years we have had. Its great to see that you will witness the biggest one off game in living memory.

It may not be worth as much to the club as the promotion to the premiership at Wolves, but to see Bradford City yet alone a fourth tier Bradford City in a major cup final is massive. Hopefully when we win our first game in Europe will be against Zenit and we can all come over and see you!!!

Hope you enjoy the trip.

Regards

Matnab

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Matnab says...
5:31pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Ooops
so excited I posted it three times!!

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Dmitry says...
5:58pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Thank's so much for all good words!I really appreciate it & waiting to see you at London and Bradford. I have an intension to see Swansea, Daggers, York & Port Vale games!

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shoesmaker4 says...
6:37pm Mon 28 Jan 13

WELL DONE TOP MAN

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mattpjsmith says...
7:07pm Mon 28 Jan 13

I will also be one of the many non-season ticket holders hoping to **** off the few that want to be part of an exclusive club.

Well done Dmitry ... hope you bring us luck!

twitter - @irishbantams

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Tinybantam says...
7:21pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Hey Dmitriy.....do you ever go to the Jagger Club in St. Petersburg? If you do, I will see you in there soon and we can share a bottle of vodka, especially if City win.

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idlebones says...
12:27am Tue 29 Jan 13

i've already booked my 10000 mile round trip, booked my hotel, and got my fingers crossed for a ticket. I was at Bolton in 85, Wembley in 96, and was at Everton for Waddle's goal , was at home for last game of season when we beat Liverpool. Then I emmigrated and look what happened , City needs me at that game to ensure success, I don't watch them lose.

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richbar62 says...
1:32am Tue 29 Jan 13

"get over it!" wrote:
Dmitry is a legend, also a well known city fan! deserves a ticket more than most people, posts regular on the banter boards and was a regular on Boy from Brazil. This guy wont just be off to Wembley either, he will squeeze all the surrounding games in too.
We need more people like this!
Booked flights from Melbourne, going to Wimbledon, Cup final, and Dag Red games (providing i get tickets).
City fans far and wide coming

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jam1966 says...
7:55am Tue 29 Jan 13

Sure I'm right in thinking that Dimitry was featured on one of the local tv news programmes on our Russian adventure in the Intertoto cup. Made me smile no end to see the Russian branch of our supporters club. Hope you get a ticket mate :)

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GABRIEL.NORDE says...
6:48pm Tue 29 Jan 13

What a lovely letter! Well done Dimitry, I too bought a shirt then just to keep City "alive" and, you can't go wrong for "liking" Bradford folk! We are THE WARMEST! And you will at last see a Bradford WIN...and at WEMBLEY, but before that, I pray you will have a LOVELY few hours when you finally arrive in Bradford.

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Dmitry says...
9:43pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Tinybantam, hen you will at St-Petersburg? One time I was at Jagger and would like to drink with you!

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Dmitry says...
9:44pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Gabrierl Norde, it exists a little mustake here, - I come in London & after final I come to Bradford for Daggers, York and maybe Port Vale games.

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Freddy says...
8:59am Wed 30 Jan 13

*
Quote :-

" ” said Mr Nechiporenko, now a sports journalist."
*
Did wonder if you see any players during your travels in Russia etc. ?
*
I am sure the contacts you have with City and Mark Lawn --would be interested in any observations you may have on your country's players.
*
Well done --for supporting City .
*

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