It's Just Bantam

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 18 May 2013 at Wembley Stadium
Result	Bradford City 3 Northampton Town 0
Competition	League Two Playoff Final
Hopping	My sixteenth visit to the “new” Wembley and my first game for several weeks (due to work commitments!).  It is the second time I have sat among Bradford City supporters.  The last time was at the end of 2001-2 when I managed to suppress my elation at Igor Balis’ stoppage time penalty winner at Valley Parade as West Brom took a giant step towards a first season in the Premier League.
Pre-match preparation
Bradford City have had a remarkable season, reaching the League Cup Final (and losing to Swansea) and sneaking into the final playoff place.  Both they and Northampton beat higher-placed opponents in the playoff semi-finals.  Bradford may find their Wembley experience to be an advantage, though to be fair that’s what West Brom thought after their FA Cup Semi-Final as they went on to lose narrowly to Derby County at the end of 2006-7.
This match in one sentence
Bradford City nailed the win in the first half-hour and this was as close to a stroll in the park as you could get for a Wembley final.
So what?
Bradford City are promoted to League One.
The drama unfolds
I had chosen the highest-altitude ticket in the stadium and took my place in block 527 high above the half-way line.  Here’s a scene-setter clip taken during the early sparring.  Bradford are in gold and black, Northampton in maroon.  Both sides have half-chances and long throws from Northampton pose an early threat. Bradford City took control of the game in the 15th minute.  An overhit cross from the left fell to Garry Thompson on the right of the penalty box and he chipped it intelligently back to the far post where James Hanson had a fairly simple header to open the scoring.  1-0 after 15 minutes It was only another four minutes before something similar happened.  This time the overhit cross was driven to the near post from the right by Nathan Doyle, and this time Rory McArdle stole a yard of space and glanced a header home.  2-0 after 19 minutes The game was effectively over as a contest before the half-hour mark.  Kyel Reid had acres of space for a left-wing cross which was headed back unselfishly across the 6-yard box by Thompson to Nahki Wells who finished easily.  3-0 after 28 minutes and at half-time The second half was largely forgettable for the neutral.  Northampton keeper Lee Nicholls made a fingertip save to stop a fourth, and although there was plenty of effort.  I took another couple of clips as the party atmosphere grew to my left and the right side dispersed in disappointment.  The last one has Northampton's final chance for a consolation followed shortly by the final whistle.  Final score 3-0
The programme
Something random
For readers not paying attention to my Twitter feed, the reason for my absence from the groundhopping world for a month or so is a change of job.  I made a leap back into a full-time teaching position as Director of Science at a large comprehensive school in Hertfordshire, and so the work-life balance has been disturbed and has not yet reached a new position of equilibrium.  Ofsted turned up on my eighth day!  I will be back in the summer with a readjusted blog, probably with more tangents as I try to make sense of the world of education in England once again.  I have some stories to tell.
Hopping for Moorfields Update
188 goals in 54 matches and the 12th three-goal game of the season.  The day of reckoning is not too far away, sponsors – my enforced recent break means that the final value of each penny-a-goal pledge will be around the £2 mark.
Mars Bar Watch 2013
An utterly outrageous £1.20 for a standard 58g bar in the concession kiosks on Wembley Way.  I think they rioted for less provocation than this in 1789 in Paris, or was that marzipan? I’m not sure.  Earlier this week the Shell service station on Breakspear Way in Hemel Hempstead was running a special offer of 3 standard bars for £1.50.  Capitalism, eh?  Shell must be getting a backhander from the independent dentists.
What Next?
Off to Wembley again for Yeovil Town v Brentford on Sunday!

RU 4 Real

The shadow shows that large parts of the roof are partially transparent

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 1 September 2012 at the New York Stadium
Result	Rotherham United 4 Bradford City 0
Competition	League Two (Fourth tier of full-time professional football in England)
Hopping	This new stadium restores my current “92” and Rotherham become the first team I have seen at THREE home grounds after visits to Millmoor (28/12/02) and the Don Valley Stadium (26/08/08).  I think this is one of the best of the "newest generation" of stadia.
Pre-match preparation
The local newspaper quotes the management as being pleased with Rotherham’s performances up to now this season, even though results have not always gone their way.  They are encouraged by early attendances at the new stadium – this is only the second competitive game there – and hope to keep them high.  Both clubs have their eye on promotion. I also had time before kickoff to walk the short distance for a last look at Millmoor.  When I was last here, Neil Harris and Steve Claridge were among the scorers as Mark McGhee's Millwall beat Ronnie Moore's Rotherham.  I particularly remember Claridge's mildly provocative (and quite justified!) celebration - he had taken a stream of abuse from the home fans and seemed to enjoy scoring right in front of them. Millmoor is being dismantled Millmoor's floodlights are still visible close to the new stadium
This match in one sentence
Bradford City missed chances at crucial moments and therefore found themselves on the end of a sound beating with four well-worked goals and an impressive home performance.
So what?
Rotherham move up to fifth and Bradford City drop into mid-table, but it is still very early days in the season.
The drama unfolds
The stadium clock showed 57 seconds when the net was rippled Michael O'Connor's dipping shot from a central position about twenty metres out.  What a great start for the home side that was.  1-0 Here is a clip from immediately afterwards - Bradford just might have levelled immediately.  The clip also confirms that this is a very smart and well-designed stadium - with over eleven thousand in (and a capacity of twelve thousand), the atmosphere was excellent.  Rotherham are in red. A magnificent tackle (fairly sure it was Ian Sharps) broke up a Bradford break and this was critical in the buildup to the next goal after 34 minutes.  O'Connor got the ball on the left and although his cross missed the strikers in the centre, Gareth Evans was arriving on the right and he scored with a composed finish against his previous club.  2-0 Ben Pringle's curling shot went in off the post ten minutes later to give a scoreline that would have been beyond anyone's expectations.  3-0 Bradford had a goal disallowed for offside before the break - Scott Shearer's save fell for Nahki Wells who blasted the ball into the roof of the net, but the flag was up.  Nothing was going right for the visitors.  3-0 at half time Here is a clip of Rotherham on the attack early in the second half. The second half was always interesting but less dramatic - the damage had been done.  Evans got his second goal of the afternoon with four minutes to go.  4-0 Most of the 2300 away supporters streamed out and the match ended in a joyous celebration of Yorkshire bragging rights.  Final score 4-0 87 minutes on the clock
The programme
Rotherham manager Steve Evans is a man who polarises opinion among football supporters.  He seems to be much loved here at the moment!  In his programme notes he is full of praise for the club chairman whilst at the same time criticising his counterparts at Crawley (Evans’ previous club) and Port Vale, implying that their management of club finances is inferior. I suspect that this is not dissimilar to pouring petrol on a fire.
Something random
There are a number of interesting exhibits at the new Riverside library.  Rotherham’s heritage as a coal mining and metalworking town is covered – the large derelict building (Guest & Chrimes) next to the ground was a leading manufacturer of taps and fire hydrants.  There are also items of memorabilia relating to Arthur Wharton (“the first black professional footballer”) and referee Howard Webb (who has the freedom of the town).  The football club has also loaned the 1996 Auto Windscreens Shield.  Interesting stuff.
Hopping for Moorfields Update
Four goals added to the tally, so the average remains within the bounds of my initial prediction with 41 after 10 games.
What Next?
Newport County is my next “landmark” club as they have switched venues this year.  Maybe next week!  Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for announcements.