Andrew Davies ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of career helping Bradford City climb up leagues

8:10am Saturday 14th July 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Andrew Davies during yesterday’s pre-season training session Andrew Davies during yesterday’s pre-season training session

Andrew Davies geared up for City’s “massive” season by insisting his decision to stay was a risk worth taking.

The former Premier League centre half admits he has gambled by opting for another year in League Two. He snubbed rival interest from clubs in higher divisions to make the permanent switch to Valley Parade.

But Davies dismisses any suggestion that his career has taken a step backwards.

He reckons the Bantams have put a smile back on his face – and is confident his decision to remain will be vindicated by results.

Davies said: “People say I have taken a bit of a risk coming into League Two. But they were saying the same last time and if I was willing to do it then, why not again?

I’ve always believed that I can be a very good player when I’m fit and feeling good. I know this season is going to be a big one for me

Andrew Davies

“I’m 27 and I’ve got plenty of years ahead of me. I can’t see another season playing games at a big club like this being anything else but a positive.

“I was at Stoke in the Premier League but didn’t play a lot of games. I was always a little bit down and wasn’t myself around friends and family.

“A lot of people over the past year have said they’ve never seen me smile so much.

“I went away and had a good think about things but it was quite an easy decision to stay.

“I’d like to think my best years are the next three or four. Hopefully they can be with Bradford if we can just get out of this league.”

Davies, who became a big favourite with the fans during his loan stint, has no complaints with cranking up the expectation level for the campaign ahead.

He said: “We are all in the firing line – the players, fans, manager and coaches. This season is massive for us and we all need to pull in the same direction.

“I don’t think this is a great league. We’re getting a good team assembled and if we’re all together, I can’t see why this can’t be the season when Bradford get promoted.”

Davies made 32 appearances last term, 30 of them for City – the most he had played in a season since 2007-08 with Southampton. He only featured in 26 games in the three years in between.

Having finally put himself back on the map, he has promised there is plenty of improvement to come.

Davies said: “I’ve always believed that I can be a very good player when I’m fit and feeling good. I know this season is going to be a big one for me.

“I’ve worked harder than I’ve ever done this summer, running on my holidays and making sure I’m in the best possible shape.

“I need another full season under my belt. This is the year when I get better and it’s so important that happens.”

Comments(16)

Stafford Heginbantam says...
11:33am Sat 14 Jul 12

All our seasons are massive. Lets hope this coming season gives us something to cheer about!

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Peter Beagrie Is Mint says...
11:50am Sat 14 Jul 12

What a refreshing attitude to being a professional footballer. Hungry for success, willing to work hard to get it in the bottom league. Top Man!!

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COLATS says...
11:57am Sat 14 Jul 12

Nice words andy let's hope this is the year, I agree that this league is there for the taken. Rothrum & that other little team spending all that money, it doesn't work???? We just need some luck on the injury front and we can do it? Think I'll nip in to ladbrokes and take the 20 to 1 on offer.

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mickyoi says...
12:15pm Sat 14 Jul 12

This suggests that if we get promoted he's willing to stay with us. A top player at this level and right up to the championship. Ctid

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Rambo says...
12:38pm Sat 14 Jul 12

Peter Beagrie Is Mint wrote:
What a refreshing attitude to being a professional footballer. Hungry for success, willing to work hard to get it in the bottom league. Top Man!!
Ulike a certain other 34 year old who seems to be keeping us hanging on until his agent can get him a better paid bench warming position elsewhere.

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city down south says...
2:34pm Sat 14 Jul 12

COLATS wrote:
Nice words andy let's hope this is the year, I agree that this league is there for the taken. Rothrum & that other little team spending all that money, it doesn't work???? We just need some luck on the injury front and we can do it? Think I'll nip in to ladbrokes and take the 20 to 1 on offer.
Should have got the 30/1 when the odds came out! Seemed too good at the time so i shoved £20 EW on, hopefully i will be collecting this year.

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Correctness says...
2:35pm Sat 14 Jul 12

Rambo wrote:
Peter Beagrie Is Mint wrote: What a refreshing attitude to being a professional footballer. Hungry for success, willing to work hard to get it in the bottom league. Top Man!!
Ulike a certain other 34 year old who seems to be keeping us hanging on until his agent can get him a better paid bench warming position elsewhere.
Exactly - nobody else wants me so better off at City than the dole.

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gspot01 says...
3:27pm Sat 14 Jul 12

Excellent attitude to match his talent. He is better then this standard so hats off to him for realising when he is happy rather then chase the money. I imagine a clause which allows him to leave if we don't get promotion which he deserves through loyalty.

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mickyoi says...
5:54pm Sat 14 Jul 12

He doesn't need a get out clause. He signed a one year deal so can walk anyway if we get promoted or not.

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Freddy says...
9:02am Sun 15 Jul 12

Great Aggressive Attitude from Andrew.
*
My reservation is, can he keep his aggression focussed, to avoid getting Yellow/Red Carded-again-?.
*
Plus if he does achieve this coming Season--and The Club achieve their GOAL. Will he be able to remain with City, if a Club from a Higher League, puts in an offer for his transfer?.
*

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COLATS says...
9:52am Sun 15 Jul 12

city down south wrote:
COLATS wrote:
Nice words andy let's hope this is the year, I agree that this league is there for the taken. Rothrum & that other little team spending all that money, it doesn't work???? We just need some luck on the injury front and we can do it? Think I'll nip in to ladbrokes and take the 20 to 1 on offer.
Should have got the 30/1 when the odds came out! Seemed too good at the time so i shoved £20 EW on, hopefully i will be collecting this year.
Hope we are both collecting? Never saw the 30/1

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Waynus1971 says...
11:08am Sun 15 Jul 12

Freddy wrote:
Great Aggressive Attitude from Andrew.
*
My reservation is, can he keep his aggression focussed, to avoid getting Yellow/Red Carded-again-?.
*
Plus if he does achieve this coming Season--and The Club achieve their GOAL. Will he be able to remain with City, if a Club from a Higher League, puts in an offer for his transfer?.
*
Firstly Freddie, other than the skirmish against Crawley (who did buy their way out of this league, COLATS), Davies was unfortunate with the red's he received. His first couple of red cards had nothing to do with 'aggression' and was more to do with the interpretation of the rules of tackling and what these days is/is not acceptable.
.
Also, if Davies does achieve his and our goals this season, he will simply have a choice. Sign a new deal with us or move on. If we don't achieve promotion, he is likely to be off, simply because we wouldn't be able to afford to keep him. Remember, he only signed a 1yr deal so neither party are committed to anything after this coming season.

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
2:41pm Sun 15 Jul 12

To reiterate waynus' points, the 2 reds prior to the Crawley debacle were abominations. One was a comical slip with AD completely off balance and a collision occured. There wasn't even an attempt to play the ball because it wasn't a challenge, just a coming together. Remove that and the other 'bad' decision and AD's disciplinary record is very good for a CH.

@correctness, if you're going to continue on with this weak rubbish you insist on at least let it make sense. Go read the 'signing on' comment again and try apply it in the 'correct' place next time.

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Correctness says...
7:53pm Sun 15 Jul 12

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
To reiterate waynus' points, the 2 reds prior to the Crawley debacle were abominations. One was a comical slip with AD completely off balance and a collision occured. There wasn't even an attempt to play the ball because it wasn't a challenge, just a coming together. Remove that and the other 'bad' decision and AD's disciplinary record is very good for a CH. @correctness, if you're going to continue on with this weak rubbish you insist on at least let it make sense. Go read the 'signing on' comment again and try apply it in the 'correct' place next time.
Lets make an excuse for all the games City lost last season and substitute a win and they would have been promoted. You just cannot change facts and if you could you no doubt would make a self change to be intellegent.

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
8:40am Mon 16 Jul 12

Once again, no sense and no bearing on anything in the report or subsequent posts. What a cre tin you really are fella.

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fatbloke says...
11:04am Mon 16 Jul 12

gspot01 wrote:
Excellent attitude to match his talent. He is better then this standard so hats off to him for realising when he is happy rather then chase the money. I imagine a clause which allows him to leave if we don't get promotion which he deserves through loyalty.
Such a clause wont be needed, sure its only a 12 mth contract.

There may be somethig that triggers a pay rise and further 12 mths if we win promotion!

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