1907–08 Bradford City A.F.C. season

Bradford City
1907–08 season
ManagerPeter O'Rourke
StadiumValley Parade
Football League Second Division1st
FA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Frank O'Rourke (21)
All: Frank O'Rourke (21)
Highest home attendancec. 27,000 (v Leeds City, 5 October 1907;
v Burnley, 20 April 1908)
Lowest home attendancec. 8,000 (v Stockport County, 22 February 1908)

The 1907–08 season was the fifth season in Bradford City A.F.C.'s history and the fifth successive in the Second Division since their election to the league in 1903.

Background

Main article: 1906–07 Bradford City A.F.C. season
See also: History of Bradford City A.F.C. and List of Bradford City A.F.C. seasons

Bradford City had been elected to the Football League in 1903,[1] since when they had played in the Second Division.[2] They finished 10th in their first season in the league,[3] and followed it with two further mid-table positions.[2] Their best position in the first four seasons came in 1906–07, manager Peter O'Rourke's first full campaign having replaced Robert Campbell in November 1905.[4] He led City to fifth position in 1906–07, helped by a record of 10 victories from their final 14 games of the campaign.[5]

Review

Pre-season

O'Rourke added to his squad which finished the previous season with a string of victories by signing Scottish national goalkeeper Willie Muir from Dundee, centre forward Sam Higginson from Reading and left half Harry Hanger from Kettering Town.[6]

September

Bradford started the season by winning 8–1 at home against Chesterfield,[6] the first time the club had scored more than six goals in a league game.[7] Wally Smith's four goals in the match[8] was also the first time any City player had managed the feat.[7] Despite losing the second game of the season at Burnley, Bradford responded with 1–0 and 3–0 successes against Oldham Athletic and Clapton Orient.[8]

Match results

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1907–08 Football League Second Division
Source: Frost[8]
Game Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance[A] Goalscorers
1 7 September 1907 Chesterfield Home 8–1 14,000 Handley (2), McDonald, O'Rourke, Smith (4, 1 pen)
2 14 September 1907 Burnley Away 1–2 8,000 O'Rourke
3 21 September 1907 Oldham Athletic Home 1–0 17,000 McDonald
4 28 September 1907 Clapton Orient Away 3–0 10,000 Bartlett, Higginson, O'Rourke
5 5 October 1907 Leeds City Home 5–0 27,000 Bartlett, Hanger, McDonald, Smith (2, 1 pen)
6 12 October 1907 Wolverhampton Wanderers Away 0–0 8,000
7 19 October 1907 Gainsborough Trinity Home 7–1 15,000 Hanger, McDonald, O'Rourke (4), Smith
8 26 October 1907 Stockport County Away 1–1 4,000 Smith
9 2 November 1907 Glossop Home 2–1 12,000 Bartlett, Clarke
10 9 November 1907 Leicester Fosse Away 1–2 15,000 Handley
11 16 November 1907 Blackpool Home 3–0 11,000 McDonald, O'Rourke, Robinson
12 23 November 1907 Stoke Away 0–3 5,000
13 30 November 1907 West Bromwich Albion Home 0–0 18,000
14 7 December 1907 Grimsby Town Away 1–0 2,000 Handley
15 14 December 1907 Hull City Away 2–0 9,000 Bartlett, Smith
16 21 December 1907 Derby County Home 3–1 17,000 Bartlett, Handley (2)
17 25 December 1907 Barnsley Home 2–0 18,000 O'Rourke (2)
18 26 December 1907 Fulham Home 1–3 25,000 Smith (pen)
19 28 December 1907 Lincoln City Away 4–2 2,000 Bartlett, Handley, McDonald, Smith
20 1 January 1908 Barnsley Away 2–1 8,000 Handley (2, 1 pen)
21 4 January 1908 Chesterfield Away 1–1 2,000 O'Rourke
22 18 January 1908 Oldham Athletic Away 0–4 18,000
23 25 January 1908 Clapton Orient Home 1–0 10,000 Smith
24 1 February 1908 Leeds City Away 1–0 25,600 McDonald
25 8 February 1908 Wolverhampton Wanderers Home 6–2 16,000 Higginson (2), McDonald, Smith (3)
26 15 February 1908 Gainsborough Trinity Away 5–1 4,000 Handley (3), O'Rourke (2)
27 22 February 1908 Stockport County Home 5–0 8,000 Clarke, Handley, Higginson, McDonald, Smith
28 29 February 1908 Glossop Away 2–2 2,000 O'Rourke (2)
29 7 March 1908 Leicester Fosse Home 1–5 17,000 McDonald
30 14 March 1908 Blackpool Away 1–2 3,000 McDonald
31 21 March 1908 Stoke Home 6–0 14,000 Clarke, Handley, O'Rourke (3), Smith
32 28 March 1908 West Bromwich Albion Away 2–3 7,000 O'Rourke, Smith
33 4 April 1908 Grimsby Town Home 1–1 16,000 Bartlett
34 11 April 1908 Hull City Home 2–1 16,000 Smith (2)
35 17 April 1908 Fulham Away 2–0 40,000 Handley, O'Rourke
36 18 April 1908 Derby County Away 3–2 14,000 Hanger, Higginson, McDermott
37 20 April 1908 Burnley Home 2–0 27,000 Handley, McDonald
38 25 April 1908 Lincoln City Home 2–0 12,000 McDonald, O'Rourke

FA Cup

Main article: 1907–08 FA Cup
Source:Frost[8]
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance[A] Goalscorers
1 11 January 1908 Wolverhampton Wanderers Home 1–1 15,100 Handley
1R 15 January 1908 Wolverhampton Wanderers Away 0–1 16,000
A. a b All attendances are approximate.

League table

Main article: 1907–08 Football League § Second Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Bradford City 38 24 6 8 90 42 2.143 54 Division champions
2 Leicester Fosse 38 21 10 7 72 47 1.532 52 Promoted
3 Oldham Athletic[a] 38 22 6 10 76 42 1.810 50
4 Fulham[a] 38 22 5 11 82 49 1.673 49
5 West Bromwich Albion 38 19 9 10 61 39 1.564 47
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b New club in the league

Player details

Source: Frost[9]
Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FW Albert Bartlett 18 7 0 0 18 7
RB Robert Campbell 30 0 1 0 31 0
OR Willie Clarke 22 3 0 0 22 3
LB Fred Farren 30 0 2 0 32 0
OL George Handley 37 16 2 1 39 17
CH Harry Hanger 34 3 2 0 36 3
CH Sam Higginson 35 5 2 0 37 5
CH Gerald Kirk 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK Herbert Kneeshaw 1 0 0 0 1 0
IF Tommy McDermott 4 1 0 0 4 1
FW Jimmy McDonald 36 13 2 0 38 13
DF Jimmy McLean 14 0 1 0 15 0
DF David Melville 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB Jimmy Millar 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK Willie Muir 28 0 2 0 30 0
CF Frank O'Rourke 36 21 2 0 38 21
FB James Roberts 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB George Robinson 37 1 2 0 39 1
FW Wally Smith 34 20 2 0 36 20
GK Martin Spendiff 5 0 0 0 5 0
FW James Vallance 3 0 2 0 5 0
GK Albert Wise 4 0 0 0 4 0

See also

References

  1. ^ Frost 1988, p. 13
  2. ^ a b Frost 1988, p. 168
  3. ^ Frost 1988, p. 170
  4. ^ Frost 1988, p. 65
  5. ^ Frost 1988, p. 176
  6. ^ a b Frost 1988, p. 32
  7. ^ a b Frost 1988, p. 170–176
  8. ^ a b c d Frost 1988, p. 178
  9. ^ Frost 1988, p. 179
Bibliography
  • Butler, Bryon (1987), The Football League 1888–1988 The Official Illustrated History, Macdonald Queen Anne Press, ISBN 0-356-15072-0
  • Frost, Terry (1988), Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988, Breedon Books Sport, ISBN 0-907969-38-0