Bantams Sign Shane Duff!

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2082766,00.html



The Bantams have clinched their sixth signing of the summer by securing the services of Shane Duff.

The imposing central defender left Cheltenham Town in the summer after over ten years service with the Robins and has now joined the Bantams on a one year deal.

The football club also have the option to extend the deal by a further year should they wish to do so.

Duff had been offered a new contract to stay at Cheltenham, but he has decided to end his association with the Gloucestershire based club to become a Bantam.

After signing his contract, Duff quickly joined up with his new team-mates as they began their second day of pre-season training.

Capped at Under 21 level with Northern Ireland, the 6' 1'' defender will now take his place in Peter Taylor's squad with the aim of securing a place in his starting eleven for the visit to Shrewsbury Town in the season opener.

Duff, 28, was a huge fans favourite at the Abbey Business Stadium during his long spell at Cheltenham, mainly thanks to his hugely impressive and consistent performances at the heart of the Robins defence.

Apart from a brief loan spell at non-league Evensham United in 2001, Duff has spent all his career with Cheltenham before his move to City.

During his time at Cheltenham Town, he was named their Player of the Year in 2004/05 and played an integral part in not only helping them to promotion into League 1 in 2006, but helping to retain their third tier status the following season.

A damaged achilles tendon suffered during the Bantams amazing 5-4 win at the Abbey Business Stadium back in August 2009 robbed Duff of the majority of last season.

After six months on the sidelines however, he returned to full fitness to help the Robins retain their place in League 2 at the back end of the season.

Football clearly runs in the Duff family, as his brother Michael is also a professional footballer at Burnley.

The former Cheltenham captain is also a talented Cricketer and once played at Lords in 2002 at a National Village finals day.

Sounds like another reasonable signing, by the looks of it you are looking to really push ahead this coming season........good luck.

Yep would be good to see the Bantams move up the leagues...

Certainly would, they have a good set-up there and they are Yorkshire folk...........well 25% are anyway.

hoolahoop wrote:Sounds like another reasonable signing, by the looks of it you are looking to really push ahead this coming season........good luck.

Defence is something that was quite shakey last season, it's good to see we've focused on bringing a few defenders in as that is what we've lacked most for the last few seasons.

I am quite positive for the new season, we were quite good last season in scoring terms... But defending...
Lets get into League 1 and get some of the fans back to VP!

When I first heard of this signing I was exceptionally impressed and still am. As Bantamvalley stated last season we were exceptionally shaky and looked very very dodgy at the back with Rehman and Clarke (who for those who have seen them will know they're not exactly Mr Reliable) however Duff apparently is a rock at the back so hopefully this will be a massive boost to our defense.