📝 Match Preview: Bradford City (H)

City's season kicks off on Saturday

7 August 2021

The day has finally come as the League Two seasons kicks off with supporters in the ground as we welcome Bradford City to St James Park.

After 522 days since you've been back home without restrictions, a bumper crowd is expected for the visit of the Bantams, who are expected to be in the promotion mix this season.

In order to keep everyone safe, the club has adopted a five point plan, which you can read more about here.

Going into the game, City will be without midfielder Archie Collins and defender Alex Hartridge who both picked up injuries in the final week of pre-season, but Matt Jay is in line to start his first match as new club captain.

The Grecians had a positive first few weeks of pre-season, with wins over Tiverton, Taunton, Weymouth, and Bath City and a draw with Championship side Cardiff City.

Bradford have won six of their seven pre-season matches, which included victories over Doncaster Rovers and Blackburn.

Manager's Thoughts

"We are looking forward to the fans being back and being in full voice," Matt said.

"There will be a full away end and I know our fans always respond well to away fans. They've been away for so long but I know they'll get behind the team."

Bradford City are amongst the bookies favourites and have strengthened well in the transfer window, something which the manager believes this should make for an entertaining contest.

"Derek [Adams] has put together a really strong team, and the work he has done in the past with other clubs will bode well for them. They are a big club and deserve to be in a much higher league."

Hear Matt's interview here 👇

Ticket News

Please purchase tickets in advance for this fixture in order to minimise queues on match day. There is now an option to have an e-ticket sent to your mobile device. To purchase tickets, please click here.

Ticket collections are open from 12pm, so please arrive early to avoid disruption.

Pay on the gate entry for the Big Bank can ONLY be purchased from Stadium Way, therefore please make sure you have bought in advance if you intend to use the Jungle Path.

Tickets will be on sale for our first away game at Leyton Orient, however these sales will cease at 2pm until after the game in order to prioritise match day itself.

Match Day Guide

Many things may have changed since your last visit to SJP, so please take time to familiarise yourself with our new match day guide, which highlights everything you need to know for your return to the ground.

Grab a Grecian

The award winning Grecian returns for the new season at just £3.50.

In this edition, we talk to Matt Jay about his life in football and find out a little bit more about how our player of the year is taking to things as the new captain of our football club.

As always, there is plenty more for fans of all ages to enjoy, including our Academy Drills pull-out feature, which will again run throughout the season with the aim of providing useful and enjoyable sessions for young coaches and the players in the community.

Click here to order online or grab one at SJP on Saturday!

Park Life

Park Life has returned for the new season as the Grecians kick-off the EFL Sky Bet league Two 21/22 season against Bradford City on Saturday.

The show features an in-depth look at Saturday's match with interviews with Matt Taylor and Sam Nombe, a look at our summer signings, a preview on the Bantams and much more.

Take a watch below:

How to watch

In respect of domestic streaming, the EFL will return to the position as was prior to the pandemic. This means supporters in the UK will no longer be able to watch the match from home via iFollow.

Interntional iFollow subscribers will be able to watch the match as per standard pre-pandemic regulations. For more info on coverage of the EFL this season, read here.

We will of course be covering the match across our social media channels, with reaction from Matt Taylor and a player to follow after the game.

Exeter City on social media

Previous Encounter

Exeter City 3-2 Bradford City | February 6, 2021 | St James Park

A second half resurgence from Exeter earned a valuable three points, with Matt Jay’s 79th minute penalty finishing off proceedings. Crankshaw had put Bradford in command on the stroke of half time after Pierce Sweeney cancelled out Vernam’s early strike. Ryan Bowman was also on the scoresheet for the Grecians.

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: City 0 Bradford City 0

City's opening game ends in a draw

7 August 2021

5,605 fans returned to St James Park to see Exeter City open the season with an entertaining 0-0 draw with a battling Bradford City.

Cameron Dawson marked his debut with a series of sensational saves to deny the ever-dangerous Lee Angol and earn a deserved Man of the Match.

Timothee Dieng, Jack Sparkes and Matt Jay tested Richard O’Donnell in the away side’s goal and Nigel Atangana went closest for the Grecians late on, but neither side could quite find the finishing touch.

After a moment’s applause for legendary Manager Terry Cooper and Life-long City fan and East-Devon Grecian John Lee, the 2021/22 season kicked off.

The visitors had the first sniff of goal. Lee Angol sprung the Grecians high line and teased a ball across the face of the Exeter box, though there was no one in in blue to prod home.

Jack Sparkes sliced way wide from distance soon after before almost turning provider. A looped ball from the Number 3 fell awkwardly for new club captain Matt Jay to blaze over.

Tim Dieng found himself in the book after twenty minutes. The debutant halted Angol baring down on goal. From the free kick, Bantam’s skipper Niall Canavan headed the ball down just to find Pierce Sweeney lurking on the line to head clear.

Midway through the first half, Cameron Dawson announced himself to the Exeter City faithful with the most outrageous double save.

Callum Cooke feinted on the edge of the Grecians’ box. His left foot effort was stopped by Dawson’s left paw and Agol looked destined to net in the rebound, just for the Sheffield Wednesday loanee to scramble across and tip over.

Angol nearly got through on goal on 35 mins only for Sweeney to deny the striker’s final touch with a wonderful sliding block.

With seconds to go in the half, Sparkes fizzed the Bradford ‘keeper’s gloves before Nombe fired high.

In the opening exchanges of the second half Callum Cooke hooked a free kick into the crowd as the Bantam’s looked to set the tone for the next 45 minutes.

Though Exeter responded with Timothee Dieng forcing the opposition shot stopper down to his left for a comfortable save.

Bradford piled on the pressure. Half time substitute Charles Vernham first coming close, but the visitors were only limited to pot shots from range.

Dieng once again was thrusted in the heart of the action. The ball fell kindly for the debutant whose 30-yard drive stung the hands of O’Donnell.

With 20 minutes left, Sparkes again troubled the Bradford back line with a powerful strike the Bradford keeper kept out, but from the counter- attack the Yorkshire side looked sure to break the deadlock, had it not been for a poor first touch from Striker Angol.

Dawson soon reacted well to rush down Alex Gillead’s close range chance before the Grecians had a glorious chance to snatch the points.

With seconds of normal time to go, a seemingly tame corner from MJ bounced right across the Bantam’s six-yard box. Nigel Atangana only had to connect with a toenail but somehow the chance evaded him.

A League Cup encounter with Wycombe follows on Tuesday evening before the league trip to the capital and Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Exeter City: Dawson, Sparkes, Atangana, Ray, Jay ©, Nombe, Key, Dieng (Kite 75’), Brown (Seymour 79’), Sweeney, Grounds

Subs: Lee, Caprice, Rowe, Dyer, Dodd

Bradford City: O’Donnell, Threlkeld (Vernham 46’), Ridehald, O’Connor, Canavan ©, Cooke, Cook, Gillead (Crankshaw 79’), Watt, Angol, Sutton

Subs: Hornby, Eisa, Foulds, Kelleher, Evans.

Referee: Sam Allison

Ticket News

🎟 Grab tickets for City's season opener with Bradford City

Be at the Park for the new season

4 August 2021

Tickets are on sale for City's 21/22 EFL Sky Bet League Two season opener with Bradford City on Saturday, August 7 and we can't wait to welcome you back!

It will have been 522 days since we’ve been able to welcome you all back to St James Park, to find out what to expect on your return to the stadium, please click here.

Ticket prices for the match are as follows:

Admission prices

Big Bank			Nevada Construction/Optimising IT
Ticket Type	Advance	Gate	Ticket Type	Advance	Gate
Adult	£20	£22	Adult	£27	£28
Senior	£17	£19	Senior	£24	£25
Young Adult 18-23	£17	£19	Young Adult 18-23	£24	£25
Under-18	£8	£10	Under-18	£13	£14
Wheelchair Area	£17	£19	Wheelchair Area	£24	£25
Junior Grecians		---	Junior Grecians		---

How to Buy

To purchase tickets online, please click here. Please note that you will need to log in to purchase.

You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411243 or visit the club shop and reception in person between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. We ask that you please buy online where possible.

Junior Grecians Tickets

Junior Grecians members get access to free match tickets when purchased alongside a paying adult. There are three family friendly areas available at St James Park, section E in the IP Office Main Stand, in Block A of the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand, and a section of the Thatchers Big Bank which is identified by the white barriers).

How to buy

To book Junior Grecians tickets, please make sure you are logged in first. Then select an Adult and either one or two Junior Grecian tickets to the basket. The system will validate you and change the Junior Grecians tickets to free.

Please note that this will not work if under-18 tickets are added, or tickets are selected in non-family areas. If you experience any issues, please email tickets@ecfc.co.uk who can help.

Tickets are limited and it is advisable to book early. Click here to find out more about the Junior Grecians.

Match Hospitality

Fancy watching the match in style? Either for corporate or personal use, our matchday hospitality is one of the best ways to enjoy the ECFC matchday experience.