The EFL fixtures were finally announced this morning and the start of the 2017/18 season is now just under two months away. Here we look at some of the key fixtures of League One side Bradford City. After a heartbreaking play-off final loss at the hands of Millwall last season, Stuart McCall and his men will be hoping to go one better when the new season comes around.
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Here are your 2017/18 Bradford City @SkyBetLeagueOne fixtures! #BCAFC
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) June 21, 2017
Bradford City vs Blackpool (05/08/17)
The Bantams will begin their 2017/18 Sky Bet League One campaign at home to Blackpool. While the newly promoted side may pose a stern test to Stuart McCall’s men on the opening day of the season, the significance of this one lies more in the importance of picking up that illusive three points at the first time of asking. While teams can make up ground later down the line, any genuine promotion hopefuls ideally don’t want to be left with the task of playing catch up from day one.
Before the fixtures were released, City fans were asked on Twitter whether they were hoping for a home or away fixture first up. 73% voted home. 73% have got their wish and will now be hoping that the players can get the job done on the Valley Parade turf, putting them right in the mix from the very start.
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The fixtures are released at 9am tomorrow morning! 😜
Would you rather us be at home or away on the opening day?#BCAFC
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) June 20, 2017
Bradford City vs Fleetwood Town (26/09/17)
26th September sees a repeat of one of last season’s League One play-off semi-finals. It was the Bantams who came out on top over two legs on that occasion, thanks to a solitary headed goal from defender Rory McArdle in the first leg at Valley Parade.
It will be interesting to see how both sides match up again this season and this is where the importance lies. After both narrowly missed out in the play-offs, both clubs will be hoping to go one better in 2017/18 and make their way into the Championship. How these sides compare in terms of squad strength and form by this point in the season will be interesting to see and could be a big hint as to whether either or both are looking likely to be promotion contenders for the remainder of the season.
Bradford City vs Peterborough United (26/12/17)
Yet another home game. The significance of this fixtures lies not only in the opposition, a potential promotion rival, but also in the date.
Boxing Day is one of English football’s most popular days of the season and can see bumper crowds across the country. Valley Parade is no different. Boxing Day often sees a large crowd at Valley Parade, a ground which already enjoys very healthy attendances for the level of football it’s at. The sea of claret and amber will be hopeful of roaring their side on to a festive three points.
Additionally, by this point in the season it will be clear which general area of the League One table clubs are looking likely to be battling for in the second half of the season. The Posh always tend to be up and around the top half meaning three points on Boxing Day could prove to be essential in stopping a promotion rival from getting one over on the Bantams.
