2022–23 Bradford City A.F.C. season explained

Club:	Bradford City
Season:	2022–23
Chairman:	Stefan Rupp
Manager:	Mark Hughes
Stadium:	Valley Parade
League:	League Two
League Result:	6th
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	First round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Second round
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Round of 32
League Topscorer:	Andy Cook (23)
Season Topscorer:	Andy Cook (26)
Highest Attendance:	22,756 vs Leyton Orient, 8 May 2023, League Two
Lowest Attendance:	5,394 vs Hull City, 9 August 2022, EFL Cup
Largest Win:	3–0 vs. Stevenage (17 September 2022)
Largest Loss:	0-3 vs. Leyton Orient (3 December 2022
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Prevseason:	2021–22
Nextseason:	2023–24

The 2022–23 season was the 120th season in the existence of Bradford City Association Football Club and the club's fourth consecutive season in League Two. In addition to the league, they also competed in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy.

Pre-season

On June 8, Bradford City announced their pre-season schedule, which included a six-day training camp in Murcia.^[1] A sixth addition to the calendar was later confirmed, against Derby County.^[2]

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
1 July 2022	Bradford Park Avenue	A	2–0	Chapman 34', Harratt 64'	2,583
9 July 2022	Derby County	H	0–2	—	4,218
16 July 2022	York City	A	4–1	Scales 13', Cook 24', Angol 47', Harratt 80'	2,411
19 July 2022	Sunderland	H	2–0	Osadebe 51', Walker 74' (pen.)	4,022
23 July 2022	Chesterfield	A	0–3	—	2,408
26 July 2022	Eccleshill United	A	2–3	Roberts (2) 6', 32'	—

Competitions

League Two

See main article: 2022–23 EFL League Two.

Matches

On 23 June, the league fixtures were announced.^[3]

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
30 July 2022	Doncaster Rovers	H	0–0	—	19,368
6 August 2022	Barrow	A	2–3	Young 65', Cook 90+5'	4,012
13 August 2022	Newport County	H	2–0	Smallwood 7', Chapman 53'	16,704
16 August 2022	Colchester United	A	0–1	—	3,011
20 August 2022	Hartlepool United	A	3–1	Banks 6', Cook (2) 65', 90+2'	5,103
27 August 2022	Crewe Alexandra	H	0–0	—	16,541
3 September 2022	Walsall	H	2–1	Cook 41', Young 45'	16,433
10 September 2022	Mansfield Town	A	Postponed^[4]
13 September 2022	Tranmere Rovers	A	2–1	Cook (2) 3', 75'	5,864
17 September 2022	Stevenage	H	3–0	Cook (2) 6', 56', Wright 62'	16,917
24 September 2022	AFC Wimbledon	H	2–2	Banks 4', Oliver 90+5'	17,186
1 October 2022	Harrogate Town	A	2–1	Cook 15' (pen.), Wright 73'	2,505
8 October 2022	Stockport County	H	0–1	—	18,615
15 October 2022	Salford City	A	1–0	Cook 13'	3,924
22 October 2022	Grimsby Town	A	0–0	—	8,020
25 October 2022	Swindon Town	H	1–1	Wright 31'	16,728
29 October 2022	Crawley Town	H	1–1	Pereira 55'	16,510
8 November 2022	Mansfield Town	A	2–1	Smallwood 30', Cook 53'	7,650
12 November 2022	Sutton United	A	2–0	Cook 37', Banks 51'	3,323
19 November 2022	Northampton Town	H	1–3	Cook 90+2' (pen.)	18,666
3 December 2022	Leyton Orient	A	0–3	—	8,671
10 December 2022	Gillingham	A	Postponed^[5]
17 December 2022	Rochdale	H	Postponed^[6]
26 December 2022	Carlisle United	A	0–1	—	8,296
29 December 2022	Harrogate Town	H	1–0	Wright 1'	17,056
1 January 2023	Salford City	H	3–2	Oliver (2) 8', 27', Eisa 68'	17,521
10 January 2023	Rochdale	H	1–2	Eisa 29'	17,061
14 January 2023	AFC Wimbledon	A	0–0	—	8,383
21 January 2023	Carlisle United	H	Postponed^[7]
24 January 2023	Stockport County	A	0–0	—	8,991
4 February 2023	Mansfield Town	H	1–1	Cook 29'	18,755
11 February 2023	Stevenage	A	3–2	Derbyshire 49', Cook 56' (pen.), Walker 86'	5,037
14 February 2023	Tranmere Rovers	H	2–0	Walker 43', Cook 74'	15,482
18 February 2023	Barrow	H	0–1	—	17,071
25 February 2023	Doncaster Rovers	A	1–0	Cook 71'	10,655
28 February 2023	Gillingham	A	2–0	Smallwood 27', Cook 49'	6,273
4 March 2023	Colchester United	H	2–0	Cook 90+3', Banks 90+6'	20,383
7 March 2023	Walsall	A	0–0		4,951
11 March 2023	Newport County	A	1–1	Cook 36'	4,411
18 March 2023	Hartlepool United	H	2–2	Cook (2) 49', 78'	18,137
21 March 2023	Carlisle United	H	0–0		17,653
25 March 2023	Crewe Alexandra	A	Postponed^[8]
1 April 2023	Grimsby Town	H	3–2	Gilliead 7', Walker 62', Cook 81'	19,011
7 April 2023	Crawley Town	A	0–0		3,644
10 April 2023	Sutton United	H	3–1	Banks 12', Chapman 63', Cook 71'	17,769
15 April 2023	Rochdale	A	3–0	Stubbs 5', Ebanks-Landell 74' (o.g.), Banks 82'	5,726
18 April 2023	Swindon Town	A	0–1		7,413
22 April 2023	Gillingham	H	2–2	Cook (2) 48', 84' (pen.)	18,501
29 April 2023	Northampton Town	A	2–1	Cook 30', Crichlow 90+4'	7,786
3 May 2023	Crewe Alexandra	A	2–3	Cook 46', Walker 55'	6,123
8 May 2023	Leyton Orient	H	1–1	Halliday 43'	22,756

League Two play-offs

See main article: 2023 English Football League play-offs.

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
14 May 2023	Semi-final 1st leg	Carlisle United	H	1–0	Walker 18'	20,575
20 May 2023	Semi-final 2nd leg	Carlisle United	A	1–3	Derbyshire 106'	15,401

FA Cup

See main article: 2022–23 FA Cup.

Bradford were drawn at home to Harrogate Town in the first round.^[9]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2022–23 EFL Cup.

Bradford were drawn at home to Hull City in the first round and to Blackburn Rovers in the second round.^{[10] [11]}

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
9 August 2022	Round 1	Hull City	H	2–1	Cook (2) 39', 44'	5,394
23 August 2022	Round 2	Blackburn Rovers	H	1–2	Cook 18'	7,821

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2022–23 EFL Trophy.

On 20 June, the initial Group stage draw was made, grouping Bradford City with Burton Albion and Sheffield Wednesday.^[12]

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
30 August 2022	Group game 1	Sheffield Wednesday	H	3–1	Young (2) 36', 75', Harratt 83'	6,092
4 October 2022	Group game 2	Leicester City U21	H	2–2 (2–4(p.)	Oliver 11', Sutton 49'	2,564
18 October 2022	Group game 3	Burton Albion	A	0–4	—	549
22 November 2022	Second round	Salford City	A	0–1	—	578

Squad statistics

No.	Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		EFL Cup		EFL Trophy		Total <		--Includes play off games.-->	Discipline <		--Includes play off games.-->
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	Harry Lewis	39	0	1	0	2	0	4	0	46	0	2	0
2	DF	Brad Halliday	40	1	1	0	2	0	2	0	43	0	10	1
3	DF	Liam Ridehalgh	19	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	21	0	5	0
5	DF	Matthew Platt	38	0	1	0	2	0	1(1)	0	42(1)	0	9	2
6	MF	Richard Smallwood (c)	38	3	1	0	2	0	2	0	43	3	9	0
7	DF	Tolaji Bola	2(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2(1)	0	0	0
8	MF	Emmanuel Osadebe	1(3)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1(3)	0	0	0
9	FW	Andy Cook	33(8)	28	0(1)	0	2	3	0(1)	0	35(10)	31	5	0
10	FW	Jamie Walker	16(3)	4	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0	14(4)	3	6	1
11	MF	Alex Gilliead	35	1	1	0	2	0	2(1)	0	40(1)	1	3	0
12	MF	Scott Banks	14(8)	4	0(1)	0	2	0	1(1)	0	17(10)	4	4	0
13	GK	Colin Doyle	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	DF	Timi Odusina	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	7	0	0	0
16	MF	Ryan East	5(10)	0	0(1)	0	0(2)	0	2(2)	0	7(15)	0	0	0
17	DF	Luke Hendrie	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	4	0	1	0
19	FW	Vadaine Oliver	8(21)	2	0(1)	0	0(2)	0	4	1	12(24)	3	1	0
20	MF	Harry Chapman	25(4)	1	1	0	2	0	2	0	30(4)	1	5	0
23	FW	Matt Derbyshire	3(2)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3(2)	1	0	0
24	DF	Romoney Crichlow	22(5)	0	1	0	2	0	1(1)	0	26(6)	0	4	0
25	MF	Kian Scales	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	FW	Dion Pereira	8(6)	1	1	0	0	0	1(2)	0	10(8)	1	1	0
29	GK	Heath Richardson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	FW	Abo Eisa	8(5)	2	0(1)	0	0	0	0(1)	0	8(7)	2	0	0
33	FW	Dara Costelloe	8(2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8(2)	0	2	0
34	FW	Thierry Nevers	0(5)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0(5)	0	1	0
35	DF	Ciaran Kelly	0(3)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0(3)	0	1	0
36	DF	Sam Stubbs	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	4	0
40	MF	Adam Clayton	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	2	0
n/a	DF	Bobby Pointon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Players out on loan for rest of the season
4	MF	Yann Songo'o	2(12)	0	0	0	0(1)	0	4	0	6(13)	0	1	0
14	DF	Matty Foulds	18	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	21	0	0	0
21	FW	Jake Young	3(4)	2	0	0	1(1)	0	3	2	7(5)	4	2	0
22	DF	Oscar Threlkeld	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	DF	Finn Cousin-Dawson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	FW	Charlie Wood	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Players left during the season
n/a	FW	Lee Angol	5(9)	0	1	0	0(2)	0	1(2)	0	7(13)	0	5	0
n/a	FW	Kian Harratt	0(5)	0	0	0	1	0	2(1)	1	3(6)	1	0	1
n/a	DF	Fiacre Kelleher	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
n/a	DF	Reece Staunton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
n/a	MF	Levi Sutton	4(13)	0	0	0	0(1)	0	3	1	7(14)	1	2	0
n/a	FW	Tyreik Wright	12(3)	4	1	0	0	0	1	0	14(3)	4	3	0
align="left"	-	–	Own goals	–	1	–	0	–	0	–	0	–	1	–	–

As of 7 April 2023.

Transfers

In

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Ref
10 June 2022				Undisclosed	^[13]
10 June 2022				Undisclosed	^[14]
28 June 2022				Undisclosed	^[15]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[16]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[17]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[18]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[19]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[20]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[21]
10 July 2022				Free transfer	^[22]
10 July 2022				Free transfer	^[23]
1 January 2023				Free Transfer	^[24]
9 January 2023				Free Transfer	^[25]
19 January 2023				Free Transfer	^[26]
31 January 2023				Free Transfer	^[27]

Out

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Ref
28 June 2022				Undisclosed	^[28]
28 June 2022				Undisclosed	^[29]
30 June 2022				Released	^[30] ^[31]
30 June 2022				Released	^[32]
30 June 2022				Released	^[33]
30 June 2022				Free transfer	^[34]
30 June 2022				Released	^[35]
30 June 2022				Released	^[36]
30 June 2022				Released	^[37]
30 June 2022				Free transfer	^[38]
12 August 2022				Undisclosed	^[39]
15 August 2022		Louie Chorlton		Undisclosed	^[40]
4 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[41]
11 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[42]
31 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[43]

Loans out

Date	Pos	Player	Loaned to	On loan until	Ref
12 July 2022				3 January 2023	^[55] ^[56]
29 July 2022				4 January 2023	^[57] ^[58]
				3 January 2023	^[59]
15 August 2022				1 January 2023	^[60] ^[61]
25 August 2022				1 January 2023	^[62]
14 January 2023				End of Season	^[63]
17 January 2023					^[64]
26 January 2023					^[65]
10 March 2023		Harvey Rowe			^[66]
21 March 2023		Dylan Youmbi			^[67]

Notes and References

1. News: Pre-Season Schedule Confirmed . 8 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 8 June 2022.
2. News: Bantams To Host Derby In Pre-Season Friendly . 22 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 22 June 2022.
3. News: 2022/23 Fixtures Released . 23 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 23 June 2022.
4. News: Fixtures Postponed As Mark Of Respect . 10 September 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 9 September 2022.
5. News: Gillingham Clash Postponed . 14 December 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 10 December 2022.
6. News: Match Postponed: City v Rochdale . 18 December 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 17 December 2022.
7. News: Match Postponed: City v Carlisle . 23 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 21 January 2023.
8. News: Crewe Clash Postponed . 21 March 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 17 March 2023.
9. News: Harrogate At Home In FA Cup First Round . 18 October 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 17 October 2022.
10. News: First-Round Opponents Confired . 23 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 23 June 2022.
11. News: Carabao Cup Round Two draw confirmed . 11 August 2022 . English Football League . 10 August 2022.
12. News: Carabao Cup And Papa John;s Trophy First Round Details . 20 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 20 June 2022.
13. News: Osadebe Lands As Latest Summer Signing . 10 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 10 June 2022.
14. News: Bantams Bag Title-Winning Young . 20 May 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 20 May 2022.
15. News: Odusina Becomes A Bantam . 28 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 28 June 2022.
16. News: City Complete Chapman Capture . 17 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 17 June 2022.
17. News: East Moves North To Join Bantams . 27 May 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 27 May 2022.
18. News: City Snap Up Saints Stopper . 16 May 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 16 May 2022.
19. News: City Secure Platt Signing . 23 May 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 23 May 2022.
20. News: City Swoop For Smallwood . 22 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 22 June 2022.
21. News: Walker Agrees Permanent Contract . 9 May 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 8 May 2022.
22. News: Brad To Bradford . 11 July 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 10 July 2022.
23. News: City Capture Frontman Oliver . 11 July 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 10 July 2022.
24. News: Sought-After Kelly To Join Bantams . 14 December 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 12 December 2022.
25. News: Derbyshire Arrives In Yorkshire . 31 December 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 30 December 2022.
26. News: City Capture Clayton . 19 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 19 January 2023.
27. News: City Secure Stubbs Signing . 31 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 31 January 2023.
28. News: Hornby In Permanent Colchester Move . 28 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 28 June 2022.
29. News: Watt Signs For Salford . 28 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 28 June 2022.
30. News: Six Bantams To Depart . 13 May 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 13 May 2022.
31. News: Pools sign Callum Cooke . 7 July 2022 . Hartlepool United FC . 7 July 2022.
32. News: Gareth Evans signs for Radcliffe . 12 September 2022 . Radcliffe FC . 10 September 2022.
33. News: Caolan Lavery signs for the Iron . 24 September 2022 . Scunthorpe United FC . 22 September 2022.
34. News: Imps Secure O'Connor Signing . 13 June 2022 . Lincoln City FC . 13 June 2022.
35. News: Dale Sign Goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell . 18 May 2022 . Rochdale AFC . 18 May 2022.
36. News: Pools sign Theo Robinson . 14 October 2022 . Hartlepool United FC . 13 October 2022.
37. Web site: Olivier Sukiennicki włączony do kadry pierwszej drużyny . 8 May 2023 . pl . 26 January 2023.
38. News: Imps Secure Vernam Signing . 17 June 2022 . Lincoln City FC . 17 June 2022.
39. News: Staunton In Permanent BPA Switch . 13 August 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 12 August 2022.
40. News: Chorlton joins Hull City Academy . 15 August 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 15 August 2022.
41. News: Kelleher Moves To Colchester . 4 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 4 January 2023.
42. News: Angol Departs For Sutton . 11 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 11 January 2023.
43. News: Sutton Departs For Harrogate . 31 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 31 January 2023.
44. News: City Secure Promotion-Winning Harratt . 2 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 2 June 2022.
45. News: Harratt Returns To Huddersfield . 4 November 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 4 November 2022.
46. News: City Complete Crichlow Loan Capture . 21 June 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 21 June 2022.
47. News: City Secure Banks . 8 August 2022 . Bradford City . 8 August 2022.
48. News: O'Shaughnessy Added To Goalkeeping Ranks . 20 August 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 19 August 2022.
49. News: Pereira Returns On Loan . 1 September 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 1 September 2022.
50. News: City The Wright Move For Tyreik . 1 September 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 1 September 2022.
51. News: Wright Returns To Villa . 9 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 9 January 2023.
52. News: Nevers Completes City Loan . 10 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 10 January 2023.
53. News: City Capture Costelloe . 13 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 13 January 2023.
54. News: Bantams Secure Bola Loan . 16 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 16 January 2023.
55. News: Kelleher Heads Out On Loan . 12 July 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 12 July 2022.
56. News: Kelleher Recalled . 3 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 3 January 2023.
57. News: COUSIN-DAWSON DEPARTS ON LOAN . 30 July 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 29 July 2022.
58. News: Cousin-Dawson Recalled . 4 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 4 January 2023.
59. News: WOOD LOANED TO GUISELEY . 30 July 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 29 July 2022.
60. News: Scales In Farsley Loan Move . 15 August 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 15 August 2022.
61. News: Scales Extends Farsley Stay . 31 August 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 30 August 2022.
62. News: Threlkeld Loaned To Oldham . 25 August 2022 . Bradford City AFC . 25 August 2022.
63. News: Young Loaned To Barrow . 14 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 14 January 2023.
64. News: Foulds In Harrogate Loan Switch . 18 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 17 January 2023.
65. News: Songo'o In Walsall Loan . 26 January 2023 . Bradford City AFC . 26 January 2023.
66. News: Harvey Rowe Joins Lion On Loan . 10 March 2023 . Guiseley AFC . 10 March 2023.
67. News: Youmbi Makes Marske United Move . 21 March 2023 . Northern Premier League . 21 March 2023.