CITY'S fans are keeping their eyes peeled for today's League Two fixtures being released, one of the highlights of football's summer hiatus.

One thing is for sure, any opening day trip won't be as lengthy as last season, which saw the Bantams visit now-promoted Exeter all the way down at St James Park.

On a bumper day for fixtures, the League Cup first round draw will be made, as will that for the group stage of the Papa John's Trophy.

It is the league games that will be of the most interest, and if it is an away day to start, we look at the most recent ones, which have not necessarily been an omen for the rest of the campaign.

EXETER (2021/22)

Optimism was high in camp after an excellent pre-season which had seen City win six games from seven.

There were no signs of the toxicity that was to envelope the club in the latter stages of Derek Adams' reign on the opening day at St James Park.

And City should have won, with Cameron Dawson's wonder double save keeping out Callum Cooke and Lee Angol.

Andy Cook had a header cleared off the line, while Angol had the City fans cheering until they realised he'd hit the side netting.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Andy Cook was inches away from scoring at Exeter on the opening day last term. Picture: Thomas Gadd.Andy Cook was inches away from scoring at Exeter on the opening day last term. Picture: Thomas Gadd.

The visitors were let off the hook slightly by a dreadful late close-range miss from Nigel Atangana, but otherwise it was a positive afternoon, with Exeter boss Matt Taylor saying: "you can almost guarantee they (the Bantams) will get promotion this season".

That game, and a positive first month, proved a false dawn for City, as they staggered to a mid-table finish, with the Grecians left to toast going up to the third tier instead.

SHREWSBURY (2018/19)

Eyebrows were raised when Michael Collins was promoted from the youth set-up to take charge at City.

I attended his opening press conference, which took place in a primary school classroom on tiny plastic chairs, which seemed unsuitable for the new manager of a football club, to say the least.

But that was all forgotten when the Bantams bagged a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury on the opening day.

George Miller set up Jack Payne to net with a low finish after 20 minutes, before both sides hit the woodwork twice in what proved to be an end-to-end thriller.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jack Payne scores the winner for City at Shrewsbury in 2018. Picture: Thomas Gadd.Jack Payne scores the winner for City at Shrewsbury in 2018. Picture: Thomas Gadd.

That was about as good as it got for the Bantams however, in what turned out to be a disastrous campaign.

Collins was sacked less than a month later, City only won three more away league games all season, and they were relegated from League One in last place.

SWINDON (2015/16)

City could not have made a much worse start to the League One campaign seven years ago, crashing to a 4-1 loss at Swindon.

It all started so brightly too, with Josh Morris opening the scoring for the Bantams after only four minutes.

But crucially, Billy Clarke missed a penalty when he had the chance to put City 2-0 up, and the game went completely downhill for the visitors after the break.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Billy Clarke's saved penalty proved the turning point in a big defeat to Swindon back in 2015. Picture: Dave Evans.Billy Clarke's saved penalty proved the turning point in a big defeat to Swindon back in 2015. Picture: Dave Evans.

Nathan Byrne completed a 16-minute hat-trick for the Robins, before Jon Obika compounded the Bantams' misery by making it 4-1.

Yet Swindon finished that season down in 16th, while thanks to an astonishing late burst of form, City ended up fifth and in the play-offs, where they lost in the semis to Millwall.

BRISTOL CITY (2013/14)

When the Bantams are away on the opening day, they don't tend to be close to home, and so it proved once again in August 2013, when they were packed off to Ashton Gate.

The Robins had only just been relegated from the Championship, while City were fresh faces out of League Two, so it could not have been a much tougher start.

But the Bantams more than held their own in a game full of chances for either side.

Scott Wagstaff netted early on after Nahki Wells had hit the post, but then Wells did score, turning James Hanson's cross into an empty net.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas put the hosts back in front, before Rory McArdle grabbed City a deserved late equaliser, glancing home Raffaele De Vita's corner to secure a 2-2 draw.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Rory McArdle heads home a late equaliser at Bristol City in 2013. Picture: Mike Simmonds.Rory McArdle heads home a late equaliser at Bristol City in 2013. Picture: Mike Simmonds.

And that theme of holding their own saw City finish in a comfortable 11th place in their first season back in the third tier.

GILLINGHAM (2012/13)

It was a lengthy trek for City on the opening day in August 2012, as they headed for Gillingham.

And it was a fruitless nine-hour round trip to Kent, just to make things worse.

Danny Kedwell netted twice to put the Gills 2-0 up, before a Wells penalty gave City hope.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nahki Wells scores a consolation penalty at Gillingham in 2012. Picture: Ady Kerry.Nahki Wells scores a consolation penalty at Gillingham in 2012. Picture: Ady Kerry.

They were finished off by a late Myles Weston strike, as the result made sure their season began in miserable fashion.

Yet it would go on to be one of the Bantams' best campaigns in living memory, as they ended up securing promotion to League One via the play-offs and sensationally reaching the League Cup final.