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City to train with Spanish stars
6:30am Saturday 12th July 2008
City will be rubbing shoulders with Barcelona during their pre-season jaunt to Scotland.
Stuart McCall’s side will be training alongside the likes of Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, who are using the same complex at the University of St Andrews.
For the second year running, Barcelona will play two warm-up games against Scottish sides.
And having been so impressed with the training facilities on offer, they are once again basing themselves near the historic golf links.
Barcelona are making a six-day trip to Scotland and will play Hibernian and Dundee United. They are taking part in eight training sessions at the St Leonard’s complex at St Andrews.
Bantams secretary Jon Pollard said: “It will be good for our players to be training in the same facilities and have the chance to watch world-class performers in action. You never know, they might be able to pick up something from it!”
City could be faced with unexpected crowds surrounding the training pitches. Last year, an army of autograph-hunting football fans turned up at the university to watch Barcelona’s superstars put through their paces by Frank Rijkaard.
After losing out both domestically and in the Champions’ League, the Dutchman has since been replaced as coach by Pep Guardiola, who was just as keen to include St Andrews in the Spaniards’ pre-season programme.
Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said: “We are happy to come back to St Andrews, taking into consideration that the experience from last year was more than positive.
“The facilities, the weather, the logistics – everything contributed to work in perfect conditions. They exceeded all of our expectations.
“I can confirm that the players were satisfied with the experience and are looking forward to coming back again.”
Spokesman Carlos Naval added: “The players will be training morning and afternoon and then will have a chance to relax in the evening.”
Barcelona face Hibs at Murrayfield on Thursday, July 24 – the day after City play Dundee. The Catalans then meet Dundee United on the Saturday when McCall’s men go to Motherwell.
Your Say YourBradford
Freddy, Greengates says...
10:02am Sat 12 Jul 08
audal, waikikamukau says...
10:06am Sat 12 Jul 08
keeponclucking, Bradford says...
11:20am Sat 12 Jul 08
Edinburgh -bantam, Edinburgh says...
11:30am Sat 12 Jul 08
The Scottish media should raise City's profile because of Stuart's past association with Rangers.
The Motherwell match should prove a good test because they are at the same stage in pre-season preparation.
lost in space , space says...
11:49am Sat 12 Jul 08
Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
1:05pm Sat 12 Jul 08
lost in space wrote:I think 'Lost in Space' is already suffering from Jet Lag. Only get 1200 for Morcambe away.
does anyone know if the club are putting on coaches to the scottish matches it would be a grate idea to get a few thousand fans up there but on the down side i know its a good 6 or 7 hours drive plus isnt one of the games midweek,
KnightMcCall, East Morton says...
1:27pm Sat 12 Jul 08
It's good to see how little you actually know about football and football related issues.
KnightMcCall, East Morton says...
2:51pm Sat 12 Jul 08
Freddy, Greengates says...
5:40pm Sat 12 Jul 08
July 23 Dundee v City(19:30)
July 25 Motherwell v City(15:00)
The admission charges are reduced to £10. and £5.(Concession)
Motherwell play in Claret&Amber, so it would be nice to possibly see Citys' New Away strip?.
I think that a coach trip could be viable to the Motherwell match. But as the Dundee match is in the evening, it would be a long early morning return.
Car trips would be the best way to travel,but to go by train would probably require staying at a Bed&Breakfast,becaus
e of no return trains in the evenings.
I do not have any info. on the Hibs.(Edinburgh)v Barcelona match on Thursday 24 July.Perhaps Edinburgh-Bantam could advise?.
Freddy, Greengates says...
5:48pm Sat 12 Jul 08
Motherwell v City July 26 Sat.(15:00)
keeponclucking, Bradford says...
6:24pm Sat 12 Jul 08
Edinburgh -bantam, Edinburgh says...
6:57pm Sat 12 Jul 08
Freddy wrote:Hibs v Barcelona k.o. 7.45pm at Murrayfield Stadium.
'Lost in Space'--The matches scheduled to date are:-July 23 Dundee v City(19:30)July 25 Motherwell v City(15:00)The admission charges are reduced to £10. and £5.(Concession)Moth
erwell play in Claret&Amber, so it would be nice to possibly see Citys' New Away strip?.I think that a coach trip could be viable to the Motherwell match. But as the Dundee match is in the evening, it would be a long early morning return.Car trips would be the best way to travel,but to go by train would probably require staying at a Bed&Breakfast,be
cause of no return trains in the evenings.I do not have any info. on the Hibs.(Edinburgh)v Barcelona match on Thursday 24 July.Perhaps Edinburgh-Bantam could advise?.
Tickets from www.hibernianfc.co.u
k/tickets or phone 0844 844 1875
Senseless, Guiseley says...
8:46pm Sat 12 Jul 08
Hope the Scotland trip yields some good results. CTID
Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
9:03pm Sat 12 Jul 08
Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
9:04pm Sat 12 Jul 08
CasualBantam, Gomersal says...
10:23am Sun 13 Jul 08
Mr Sensible wrote:Sod The Scotland - full of rugby leaguers (only pub in England called that for the anoraks amongst you). The place to be in Gomersal is the West End. Nice to see sunny Gummy mentioned though - thanks for the thought!! Anyway, let's see if you are on this forum when we're crowned League Two champions next May! CTID.
Sorry lads had a lie in today. 88 degrees here today and hot. Understand a bit wet around Bradford so should get rid of cobwebs from a lot of the supporters. Had one of your old lads over today for a spot of lunch and had a good laugh at the site. He is going to register for a bit of fun. P.S. I don't think most of you will know where Scotland is, it's not the pub in Gomersal. Might send a couple of quid over for the fighting fund. Glad to see that I command more attention than the Joint Chairs and manager added together so that shows what the club is about, spilt the beer on the keyboard now.
Helen Highwater, Bradford says...
1:28pm Sun 13 Jul 08
'Michael Boulding has been training with Rotherham this week as he looks to secure a return to the Football League after Mansfield's relegation last season.'
Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
3:35pm Sun 13 Jul 08
Waynus, BD6 says...
11:21pm Sun 13 Jul 08
Mr Sensible wrote:You appear to have an alcoholism problem matey! You claim to be in the Caribbean and at 4 o'clock (local time), you state the temperature is 88 degrees! Furthermore, you claim to have spilt beer on your keyboard.
Sorry lads had a lie in today. 88 degrees here today and hot. Understand a bit wet around Bradford so should get rid of cobwebs from a lot of the supporters. Had one of your old lads over today for a spot of lunch and had a good laugh at the site. He is going to register for a bit of fun. P.S. I don't think most of you will know where Scotland is, it's not the pub in Gomersal. Might send a couple of quid over for the fighting fund. Glad to see that I command more attention than the Joint Chairs and manager added together so that shows what the club is about, spilt the beer on the keyboard now.
Shame on you drinking in those temperatures, especially at that time of the morning!
Waynus, BD6 says...
11:44pm Sun 13 Jul 08
Helen Highwater wrote:I also read that on the teletext and again on the Internet. Looks like he has made up his mind to play for a club that could be starting on -15 points. I hope they have offered him loads of money.
Saw this on SkySports
'Michael Boulding has been training with Rotherham this week as he looks to secure a return to the Football League after Mansfield's relegation last season.'
I have seen this tonight too:-
"It is rumoured that Beckett is set to link up with former terriers boss Peter Jackson at Lincoln City F.C"
It appears we don't have a clue what to do about the striker and keeper positions. All our targets are going elsewhere and we seem content to wait until the end of August before we bring in players on-loan to fill these positions.
Scargutt, League Two says...
10:01am Mon 14 Jul 08
Mr Sensible wrote:Not there to work? Has Charlie Dunstone expanded his TalkTalk empire to the caribbean and sent his top door knocker out in the advance party? Last time it was Benidorm with your minder/home help and your mobility chair. You really know how to live it up!
No chance of still on the Forum when crowned league 4 champs, city will fail to make that possible. Taking the yacht out next Sunday so will be missing for 12 - 20 days so looks like some of you will have to post on City instead of me. I am sure you will get less satisfaction. By the way not on holiday just making sure I have not to pay all them taxes of Mr Brown but hope to get over for start of season. Bit overcast today but still in the eighties and had a good day at the races down in Bridgetown yesterday.
tyker, midland road says...
8:10am Tue 15 Jul 08
flight BA2155 heading to Barbado booked months ago and now senseless turns up there--unless they have put sand around the pond on Myrtle Park and he has got himself all confused again.
So although he says he is to be a sailorboy shortly we have 48 hours to get together-- so come on Walter--name your bar, restaurant, hotel or whatever and we'll have a quiet drink.
sadly I doubt he will take up the offer as he will probably have been rushed back home-- someone should know where he lives--it should be empty for a while so maybe someone can put some welcome home banners up for him.
WALTER MITTY LIVED HERE!
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Stuart McCall will be able to watch his City players training alongside Barcelona's superstars
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Freddy, Greengates says...
9:04am Sat 12 Jul 08
No doubt there are many reasons why this is not possible.
To watch Dundee v City; Hibs. v Barcelona, then Motherwell v City: Plus the training sessions of City & Barcelona, makes a tempting football holiday feast for our supporters.