Bradford City wing-back Josh Neufville has opened up about the more aggressive nature of football in Yorkshire compared to the south. The 25-year-old, who joined the Bantams from AFC Wimbledon last year, spoke this week about adapting to the demands at Valley Parade.
Neufville's comments come as Graham Alexander's side sit 11th in League One with six points from four games. Their record shows two wins and two losses, with a goal difference of zero after scoring and conceding four times. The team's recent form reads LLWW, and they are four points behind early leaders Huddersfield Town.
Josh Neufville was born in Luton and spent his formative years in southern football. His move north to Bradford City has been a distinct change. "I'd say it's completely different," Neufville said. "That's more of a fan-owned club but this is a lot different." He explained that the pressure from supporters in Yorkshire is more intense, with a bigger demand on players to press and move the ball quickly. Neufville noted that in southern games, fans can be less aggressive about results on the sidelines. He said he enjoys playing in front of the Bradford City faithful and actually relishes the increased pressure.
The wing-back also pointed to a tactical difference. He observed that in Yorkshire matches, the ball is often played forward to the striker much quicker than in games he experienced in the south. This aggressive, direct style is something he has had to adapt to since his arrival.
Manager Graham Alexander has been mindful of Neufville's physical condition. The player had a very short break last summer after winning promotion with Wimbledon in the League Two play-off final. He had less than a month off before joining Bradford City and was immediately thrust into action. "Josh came in off the back of a three-week summer and was basically playing in the hardest position physically for us at wing-back," Alexander said.
The club is hopeful that a longer preparation period this year will help Neufville maintain his energy levels throughout the campaign. Neufville himself acknowledged that the shortened off-season may have contributed to a dip in his form at times last season. He said he feels sharper now but admits that performance ultimately depends on match days. He works diligently off the pitch to maintain his ability to play consecutive games.
The interview followed a tough period for City, who suffered consecutive defeats including a home loss to Cambridge United on Tuesday that prompted some booing from the Valley Parade crowd. Neufville referenced a similar tough run last January when the team lost three games in a row. He said the squad proved then that a difficult spell does not define a season. It is normal to have wins and losses, he added, and going through a campaign invincible is rare.
Neufville's mindset is firmly on winning. He stated clearly that he does not see value in merely participating without securing victory. His individual accolade as League One Player of the Month in September last year is a marker of the impact he can have when at his best.
The Bantams will look to get back on track in their next League One fixture. They travel to face Notts County on September 12th. County currently sit 10th in the table, one place above Bradford City, setting up a closely contested match. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the table shapes up in our standings section. The team's current position, just outside the top ten with a balanced record, shows there is everything to play for as they aim to close the gap to the early pace-setters.
