Head Coach: John Kear
John Kear is probably the most experienced head coach in this country. His career began at Bramley in 1992 and since then he has held the position at Paris Saint Germain (1995-96), Sheffield Eagles (1997-99), Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants (2000), Hull FC (2005-06), Wakefield Trinity (2006-11), Batley Bulldogs (2011-16) and Bradford Bulls from 2018. And on the international scene he has also been head coach to France, England, Great Britain and Wales (where he has led them to qualification for the 2021 World Cup).
Two matches in his coaching career really stand out in the memory. The first, of course, has to be the shock Challenge Cup win for Sheffield over Wigan at Wembley in 1998. The most dramatic came in 2006. He took over at Wakefield who looked completely doomed to relegation but he led them to four wins in their last 6 matches ending with a shock win over Castleford in the last match resulting in escape from relegation at the expense of Castleford.
That was somewhat ironical because John Kear’s entire playing career was at Castleford, mainly as a winger, from 1978 to 1988.
And, in 2019, he was at it again when his Bradford team knocked Leeds out of the Challenge Cup.
Captain: Steve Crossley
Steve Crossley took over as Bradford
captain in 2019. His first grade career began with hometown club Bradford Bulls
in 2010 with 7 off-the-bench appearances. During the following year he played
for Dewsbury Rams on dual reg as well as making further appearances for the Bulls. In 2012 he signed for
Dewsbury and moved
onto Fev for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In 2015 he signed for Castleford but in
April transferred back to Bradford. He spent the 2017 season with Toronto and
then for 2018 yet again (for the 4th time!) came back to the Bulls. He is an out and out
prop forward, every one of his 157 career
appearances in the starting line-up having been at prop. Including sub
appearances he has played 231 games and has
been an ever present in the Bradford starting 13 in 2021.
He has the remarkable record,
especially for a prop forward, of never having been either sin-binned or sent
off.
Star Man: Joe Brown
Bradford born Joe Brown is a winger or fullback. He is only 22 years old but this year he has established himself as a regular in the team and is currently Bradford’s leading try scorer with 8 tries.
He started at the Bradford Academy
and then joined the Wigan Academy and made his début on dual reg from Wigan with
Swinton in 2018.
In 2019 he played two games on loan
at London Skolars and then ‘came home’ signing for Bradford in mid-season.
In 2016 and 2017 he played for the
England Academy team.
Loans
With the current system of two
week loans it is difficult to find out which players are currently on loan with
a club.
Earlier this season they had Ashton Golding (well known to Fev
fans) and prop forward, Oliver Wilson, on loan from Huddersfield. Fijian winger,
Mitieli Vuliikijapani, was on loan from Hull FC and Ellis Robson from
Warrington.
We believe current loanees are Joe Keyes, a former Bradford
player, from Hull KR and Elliott Wallis, a winger, also from Hull KR
Bradford players, Ethan Hanlon and Bradley Ho, are out on loan
with North Wales and Coventry respectively. Whether either will have returned
before Sunday remains to be seen.
The Fev Connection
There are quite a few notable Fev players from the pre Summer Era who have also played for Bradford. The list includes, amongst many others, Steve Evans, Jeff Grayshon, Charlie Stone and Jimmy Thompson.
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