BfB

Their contracts North of the Border having expired yesterday Bradford City have completed the double signing of Falkirk’s Mark Stewart and Chris Mitchell, with the Scottish pair doubling manager Peter Jackson’s total number of summer signings to date.

23-year-old Stewart – a striker who can also play wide midfield, similar to Gareth Evans – has scored 23 league and cup goals from 48 starts (and 42 sub appearances) since emerging through Falkirk’s youth ranks to make his debut in August 2006. Between 2008-2010 Falkirk and Stewart were playing in the Scottish Premier. Last season in Division One, Stewart netted 17 times.

The versatile Mitchell, a year younger than Stewart, is chiefly a midfielder but can also play out wide and in either full back position. Capped by Scotland Under 21s, Mitchell had started only 20 games from Falkirk, coming off the bench a further 23 times.

The pair arrive at Valley Parade as part of new chief scout Archie Christie’s brief of bringing in young players and grooming them so they hopefully become good enough for a first team place. Initially it would appear they won’t necessarily form part of Jackson’s first eleven plans – though a good pre-season is an incentive for every player looking to begin the season in the team – and be looked upon to come in as the season progresses.

Meanwhile City’s backroom restructuring has been continued with the arrival of Matt Alexander – son of the late Macclesfield manager Keith – joining as a scout and Wayne Allison arriving as coach. As a player Allison was infamously a target of Geoffrey Richmond in October 1997, when City were on the hunt for a striker. Then-manager Chris Kamara – unhappy at his Chairman’s interference and keen to retain his pride – insisted he’d prefer John McGinlay. So ‘Supa John’ signed and proved dismal, while Allison moved to Jackson’s Huddersfield and became a cult hero.