Bradford City Duo Graham Alexander And Josh Neufville Nominated For September EFL Awards

Things are looking pretty bright for Bradford City right now. After what can only be described as a brilliant run of form, a very special duo from the club has caught the eye of the experts. The team's boss, Graham Alexander, and the flying wing-back, Josh Neufville, have both been officially nominated for the big Sky Bet League One monthly awards for September. It’s a massive pat on the back for the whole club and shows that all the hard work on the training ground is paying off. This recognition comes after a fantastic month of football, where the city team really showed what it's made of. Getting nominated for these awards is no small thing; it means you’ve stood out in a league packed with talent.

The gaffer's fantastic September

Let’s talk about the man in charge, the manager, Graham Alexander. A football manager's job is a bit like being a chess grandmaster; they have to think several moves ahead, get the tactics just right, and keep the players motivated. And in September, Alexander played a blinder. He steered his Bantams to three wins out of four games during the month, which is some seriously good form. Two of those victories came on home turf against tough opponents, Huddersfield Town and Blackpool. Winning at home is always sweet, but the team also bagged an amazing 3-1 win away from home. This wasn't just any away game, either; it was at the Cardiff City Stadium, a tricky place to go and get a result. For Graham Alexander to get his team playing with that much confidence is exactly why he's been nominated for the Manager of the Month award. It’s a testament to the strategy and spirit he has brought to the City team, making this September a month to remember for the fans. This manager's nomination for the awards is thoroughly deserved after such a successful period.

Neufville's goal-scoring heroics

Now, onto the player who was on fire all month, Josh Neufville. His job title is ‘wing-back’, which sounds a bit complicated, but it basically means he’s a defender who has to be brilliant at attacking too. It’s one of the toughest roles on the pitch, requiring endless energy. And Neufville has been simply electric. His performances have led to him being nominated for the Player of the Month award. Why? Well, he couldn't stop scoring! He hit the back of the net in that big win at the Cardiff City Stadium, showing he can perform on the big stage. But he didn’t stop there. He also scored a goal in the home victories against Huddersfield Town and Blackpool. That goal against Blackpool was extra special. It was the only goal of the entire game, a proper match-winner that secured all three points for his side. On top of his goal-scoring, he did his defensive duties perfectly. His efforts helped the team achieve its first clean sheet of the season at home. A clean sheet is when a team doesn't concede a single goal, and for a defender, it’s like scoring a hat-trick. It's clear this player had an incredible September, making his nomination for the player awards an obvious choice.

The competition for the awards

Getting nominated is one thing, but winning is another. Both Graham Alexander and Josh Neufville face some stiff competition for these monthly awards. It's a proper lineup of talent from across the league, proving how well this City duo has done to be in the mix. Let's have a look at who else is in the running.

For the Manager of the Month award, Graham Alexander is up against some top bosses:

• Tom Cleverley (Plymouth Argyle)
• Darren Moore (Port Vale)
• Michael Skubala (Lincoln City)

And for the Player of the Month award, the competition for Josh Neufville is just as fierce. It's interesting to see that Darren Moore's Port Vale also has a player up for an award, the striker Devante Cole. Here is the full list of players nominated:

• Devante Cole (Port Vale)
• Jack Marriott (Reading)
• Harvey White (Stevenage)

This just goes to show the high standard of performance needed to even get a nod for these awards. Both the manager and the player from Bradford City are in elite company.

The experts who will decide

So, who actually decides who gets to take home the trophies? It’s not a fan poll or a lucky draw; there’s a panel of experts who know their football inside and out. This makes the awards even more prestigious. On the judging panel for both the manager and player awards is Sky Sports’ very own EFL expert, Don Goodman. Anyone who watches football on TV will know his name. He’s joined by EFL trader Ivor Davies, a man who likely lives and breathes football stats. For the Manager of the Month award, they'll be helped by Danny Wilson, a respected former manager who knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the dugout. Picking the winner of the Player of the Month involves EFL chief executive Trevor Birch. It’s a serious panel for a serious set of awards. The whole City fanbase will be waiting eagerly for the announcement. And they don't have long to wait – the winners for the September awards will be revealed on Friday, October 10th. Fingers crossed for the nominated City duo!