Latest news with #AntoniSarcevic
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
AFC Wimbledon v Walsall: League Two playoff final
Update: Date: 2025-05-26T12:55:57.000Z Title: Preamble Content: The last match of the English domestic season sees Wimbledon return to the scene of their most famous coup. Not 2016, but 1988. Walsall looked nailed on to be automatically promoted only to lose their way as the season dragged on. Walsall were 30 seconds from automatic promotion until Antoni Sarcevic's 96th-minute winner for Bradford to usurp them. Here is their redemption arc but the good people of Earlsfield and Morden will be roaring on their Dons. Kick-off is at 3.01pm, join me.
Irish Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Irish football stars celebrate Bradford City promotion
SOME of the Irish members of the recently promoted Bradford City football club got together for a photo as they celebrated the Bantams' move up to Sky Bet League One. On May 3, Antoni Sarcevic's 96th-minute wining goal sealed the team's promotion as they beat Fleetwood Town 1-0. A celebration event took place earlier this month in City Park and Centenary Square, which began with an open-top bus parade from the University of Bradford Stadium which led into the city centre. Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Beverley Mullaney celebrates Bradford City FC's promotion with some of the club's Irish stars (Pic: Christian Oldcorn) The players and management team greeted the crowds and give speeches to the fans before enjoyed a private function hosted by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Beverley Mullaney. 'As a Bradford City fan I'm absolutely delighted that they have been promoted,' Ms Mullaney said. 'The squad and supporters so deserve this after the season that they have had. 'This is such a big deal for the club, the city and the district.' The leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe said she was 'thrilled' that the team have 'won through'. 'They've delivered a wonderful gift to the city,' she added. Regarding the recent celebrations, she said it was a 'fabulous opportunity for supporters and players to celebrate together following what has been an incredible season'. 'This moment promises to live long in the memories of all of us,' she added. Bradford City's chief executive officer, Ryan Sparks said the team has high hopes for the future. 'We sit here today as a proud Sky Bet League One club, and we are all excited for our future.' See More: Bradford City, Celebrations, Football Club, Promotion
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
EFL play-off winners decided with big-money promotion hopes on the line
The Championship, League One and League Two play-off finals will take place at Wembley at the end of May, with 12 teams battling out for three precious promotion spots After a dramatic end to the regular seasons, 12 teams from across the EFL will be battling it out for promotion from their respective divisions. Some will be happier to be there than others, but all 12 have a chance to end their campaign with Wembley glory over the bank holiday weekend at the end of the month. In the Championship, Leeds and Burnley had confirmed automatic promotion before the final day, while Sheffield United and Sunderland were already assured of a play-off place. They have been joined there by Coventry and Bristol City, with the latter enduring a nervous wait as rivals Blackburn couldn't find the goal they needed to pip the Robins to sixth place. Stockport, Wycombe and Charlton had each locked down a play-off spot before the final round of League One fixtures, after Birmingham and Wrexham finished first and second respectively. The final spot has gone the way of Leyton Orient, whose final day win at Huddersfield saw them finish three points clear of Reading. There was late drama in League Two, with Bradford snatching the final automatic promotion spot in stoppage-time when Antoni Sarcevic scored a dramatic winner against Fleetwood. That saw them join Doncaster and Port Vale in the automatic spots, with former league leaders Walsall forced to settle for the play-offs along with Wimbledon, Notts County and Chesterfield. The play-offs begin on Thursday night with Bristol City's first leg against Sheffield United in the Championship, while the second-leg matches run from May 12-17 across the three EFL divisions. The finals take place at the end of the month - May 24 for the Championship, May 25 for League One and May 26 for League Two - and here's how Mirror Football 's writers expect things to go. Daniel Orme Championship: Sheffield United League One: Leyton Orient League Two: AFC Wimbledon Despite their rotten run of form that ended up costing them automatic promotion, the Blades still remain the best of the rest in the Championship. They have quality in abundance - their 28 league wins throughout the campaign evidence of that. They should certainly have enough to get the job done. While the Blades' might disprove the theory that momentum is not everything when it comes to the playoffs, Leyton Orient might actually fit in with that. Richie Wellens' side come into their semi-final having won each of their last six league games. They've also got the league's top goalscorer Charlie Kelman at their disposal so must be favourites to earn a spot in the Championship. Ironically, none of the contenders in the League Two playoffs contenders come into the semi-finals in any real form. Walsall's collapse has been stark and, while Notts County have been inconsistent over recent weeks. The same could be said for AFC Wimbledon but their excellent defensive record - the best in the league - might do them good for a knockout tournament. Felix Keith Championship: Sheffield United League One: Charlton League Two: Chesterfield Sheffield United have stumbled of late, but finished 14 points ahead of the rest in the play-offs for a reason. They will beat Bristol City – who bizarrely finished nearer to the relegation zone than to Chris Wilder's side – and meet Coventry in the Wembley final. I was at Coventry's 3-0 thumping win over Sunderland in March and the Sky Blues have an outstanding record vs the Black Cats, having gone 10 games against them without losing. I fear there could be some more Wembley heartache inbound for Frank Lampard's side, though, with the Blades going up. I fancy Charlton in the League One play-offs. They have the best record against the other contenders, having done the double over both Wycombe and Leyton Orient, and drawn both games against Stockport. Manager Nathan Jones has a lot to prove after failing at Southampton and could cause an upset over Stockport in the final. The League Two play-offs are packed with out-of-form sides. I have no faith in Walsall, who managed to blow a 12-point lead at the top and go 13 games without a win before the last game of the season, which still wasn't enough as Bradford pipped them. Chesterfield went six unbeaten to snatch seventh place and Paul Cook has a lot of experience in these situations, having won four league titles as a manager – two of them in previous spells with Chesterfield. I'm backing the Spireites to cause a shock. Alex Richards Championship: Coventry League One: Charlton Athletic League Two: Notts County Frank Lampard's side have momentum behind them heading into the play-offs and, as we've seen many, many times before, that can be crucial. They showed last term that they can step it up in knockout competitions with their run to the FA Cup Final, have goals throughout the side and, having put a difficult first half to this season behind them, are well placed to make the most of a Sunderland side lacking experience in the semi-finals. Given Sheffield United's history in the play-offs, it'd be a brave person to back the Blades, while Bristol City are very much the underdogs. League One is especially tough to call with all coming into it in good form - particularly Leyton Orient after a fine run of six straight wins. For me the winner is likely to come from the Wycombe-Charlton semi-final, and I'll tip my hat towards the Addicks. They were convincing 4-0 winners against Wycombe on April 21, and have veteran striker Matt Godden enjoying the best season of his career. In League Two, you simply can't back Walsall after how their hopes of not just automatic promotion but the title fell to pieces, while, in contrast to the third tier, none of the four are arriving in their best moment. All things considered, I'm looking at a final between Chesterfield and Notts County, who, with two of the division's top scorers in Alassane Jetta and veteran hitman David McGoldrick, may just edge it. Tom Victor Championship: Coventry League One: Stockport County League Two: Chesterfield The Championship play-offs are packed with clubs who have - with their form - strongly made the case for not wanting promotion. The exception are Coventry, who weren't in the top six at all until March and survived a painful defeat at Luton on the penultimate weekend of the season to win an effective shoot-out with Middlesbrough on the final day. Frank Lampard's squad contains players who experienced the pain of a final defeat just two years ago, and those memories can spur them on. Sheffield United might be some people's favourites after finishing well clear of the other three contenders in the regular season, but the slate has been wiped clean now. As with the Championship, League One has delivered two teams with hefty points totals to the extent that 87 points - enough for the title in 2015-16 and enough for automatic promotion on a couple of occasions since - was only enough for third this time around. Stockport have that honour, but I'm backing their recent experience of promotion to power them through. In League Two, Chestefield went into the final day as long-shots to even make the play-offs after being out of the top seven for the entire second half of the season. Results went their way, though, and the freedom provided to the Spireites could well see them shock teams who finished above them over the course of 46 games. Scott Trotter Championship: Sheffield United League One: Charlton League Two: Chesterfield There is rarely so much on the line or drama as throughout the play-offs. And the added pressure generally ensures promotion isn't easily won by the team to have just missed out on an automatic spot. For the Championship, perhaps Sheffield United are too far beyond their rivals, however. The Blades finished the season 14 points ahead of Sunderland, who lost their final five matches to kill any momentum, 21 points ahead of Coventry and 22 points clear of semi-final opponents Bristol City. In League One, Charlton have already defeated Wycombe and Leyton Orient in recent weeks. Stockport finished above the Addicks, and the sides shared two draws over the course of the season, but Nathan Jones should take the Londoners into the Championship. And in League Two it is difficult to look past Chesterfield. They may have been the final team to make the cut, but enter the play-offs with comfortably the best form as Walsall, AFC Wimbledon and Notts County all stuttered. James Whaling Championship: Coventry League One: Stockport League Two: Notts County Sheffield United will rightly go into the Championship playoffs as favourites having amassed 90 points but must pick themselves up having been in the title race right up until the last few games. Coventry had no right to be in the shake-up after a dodgy start to the season, but Frank Lampard has been a revelation in the CBS dugout and they will be bouncing into the playoffs given their final-day win over Middlesbrough. They take on a Sunderland side in wretched form having had nothing to play for over the last couple of months. I expect them to come through that and face the Blades at Wembley, and I'm backing the Sky Blues for a first return to the top flight since 2001. Stockport are a club on the up after two promotions in the last three seasons and I fancy them to follow Wrexham all the way ito the Championship. In League Two, Notts County fell away from the automatic promotion race in the final weeks of the season but I fancy them to pick themselves up and, spearheaded by the evergreen David McGoldrick, make it into the third tier.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Thousands gather to celebrate Bradford City League One promotion
Thousands gather to celebrate Bantams' promotion 9 minutes ago Share Save Adam Laver & Charles Heslett BBC News, Yorkshire Share Save BBC Captain Richie Smallwood lifted the promotion shield in front of the fans Bradford City fans have partied in style as Bantams players travelled through the streets in an open-top bus to celebrate their promotion to League One. City scored a last-gasp winner on Saturday to end their six-year stay in League Two. Fans gathered in Bradford's City Park and Centenary Square on Tuesday evening to sing "we are going up", while letting off amber flares. Match winner Antoni Sarcevic told the crowd that while he had been in promoted teams five times before, Bradford City's promotion "topped every single one by a mile". Bradford City players soaked in the atmosphere on Tuesday evening Fans gathered in the centre of Bradford from about 18:00 BST to hear from the players they had been cheering on all season. Among them, soaking up the atmosphere, were family season ticket holders mum Julie Swords, 23-year-old daughter Jess and 21-year-old son Kieran. Ms Swords, 50, said: "I can remember us getting to the Premiership. I don't think it was on this level when we got promoted." The trio said they had been watching Bradford City home and away together for the past five seasons - and even admitted to a tear or two when the Bantams clinched promotion in the last minute on Saturday. Julie Swords celebrated promotion with her daughter Jess and her son Kieran As it happened: Bradford City fans flock to promotion parade Meanwhile, Shawnee Raper, 66, who was with his grandson Joel, said: "With a minute to go, I didn't think I'd see this day. "I can't stop watching the goal. It's lucky I'm not weeping, I've been crying all weekend." Joel said the best thing about the win on Saturday was "everyone going on the pitch" after the full-time whistle. Shawnee Raper and grandson Joel could not believe their eyes when Bradford clinched promotion on Saturday While the fans waited, they were kept entertained by a choir of their fellow supporters - the Bantam of the Opera - who got the crowd singing '"City's going up" to the tune of Give It Up by KC and The Sunshine Band. They also sang All You Need Is Love and Take Me Home, Country Roads in a bid to make sure spirits remained high as possible. The Bantam of the Opera choir got fans bouncing before the players arrived In their open-top bus, Bradford City's players made their way to the city centre from the University of Bradford Stadium. After their 1.5 mile (2.5 km) journey, the bus was greeted at Centenary Square with a roar of emotion from the club's loyal fanbase. The players and manager Graham Alexander all spoke from on top of the bus, before more flares were let off and singing and dancing took place and fans began to drift away. David Sharpe, head of football operations at Bradford City, told the BBC he was "delighted" for everyone associated with the football club, adding that promotion had been "a long time coming". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Bradford clash SUSPENDED with club seconds from promotion as fans storm pitch BEFORE full-time
BRADFORD'S clash against Fleetwood was suspended just seconds before their promotion to League One after fans stormed the pitch. Bradford scored a 97th minute winner to seal third place in League Two and secure a move up the divisions. 4 Bradford fans invaded the pitch BEFORE full-time after a last-gasp winner sealed promotion 4 Antoni Sarcevic's looked to have sealed a place in League One 4 Bradford players urged the fans off as the game was not actually over yet 4 Stewards worked hard as the field was quickly cleared But with the game being just seconds away from finishing, it was brought to a halt as fans prematurely invaded the field. The supporters were delighted after Antoni Sarcevic's strike looked to have sealed a place in League One. The ace was even shown a red card for taking off his shirt in the celebrations. However, the game was technically not over as fans flooded the pitch. Bradford players appeared concerned as they urged supporters to return to their seats. Stewards also worked overtime to clear the field. And after a brief delay, the final few seconds of the match were allowed to resume. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. Most read in EFL The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
