MK Dons began the 2024/25 season with a 2-1 home defeat to Bradford City at Stadium MK.
The visitors effectively took a two goal head-start as Alex Pattison and a Sam Sherring own goal gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with just five minutes on the clock.
Alex Gilbey grabbed a goal back for the hosts, but although the Dons created multiple opportunities, there was no way through for the home side as they slipped to defeat on the opening day.
The game began with a pre-match presentation marking the changing of the guard at Stadium MK.
The Dons’ opening day game came the day after it was announced that Pete Winkelman had sold the club 20 years on from founding MK Dons, with both Winkelman and the club’s incoming chairman Fahad Al Ghanim presented pitch-side before the game started.
Mike Williamson handed first league starts to seven of his summer signings, but former Dons boss Graham Alexander sprung on a surprise on his previous employers as Bradford made a rapid start.
Tyreik Wright laid the ball back to midfielder Pattison, who took one touch to made space for a shot before firing a long range shot beyond Tom McGill’s fingertips and in to give Bradford a second minute lead.
Just three minutes later, Bradford would pull further ahead. Wright’s first-time cross was intercepted by debutant defender Sherring, but the former Northampton man’s sliced clearance ended up in arcing it’s way into his own net to give the Yorkshire club a 2-0 lead with five minutes played.
MK Dons were threatening to get swept away, but the hosts managed to calm things down and with 20 on the clock, they cut the deficit. A slick pass by Callum Hendry released Gilbey, who skipped away from Brad Halliday, ran into the box and placed a low strike past Bradford’s Sam Walker.
This was the cue for the Dons to seek more, with a low deflected strike by Hendry kept out by Walker moments later.
MK Dons had their moments going forward, but Bradford still had something on the counter, although Andy Cook’s effort would miss the target, while the Dons were also lucky lost possession on the edge of their box didn’t lead to one of three Bradford players doing more than see shots blocked.
In first half stoppage time, MK Dons came very close to an equaliser, with Walker making a flying save to keep out Hendry and Gilbey have a shot blocked.
Something nearly opened up for the Dons in the early moments of the second half, with a covering defender doing just enough to put off Hendry, allowing Walker to claim the loose ball.
Bradford responded by nearly finding a way through themselves, with the ball falling for Cook, only for the striker to see his shot blocked by goalkeeper Tom McGill.
Stephen Wearne then inadvertently sent a cross away from goal when well placed, before a strike from Gilbey took a big deflection that nearly helped the ball creep into the back of the net.
An open game saw Wearne blast over when he reached the box before Jack Tucker ended up heading a Pattison cross-shot narrowly over his own bar.
MK Dons introduced Matt Dennis and the substitute would have a few opportunities, with one strike from range blocked and another deflected behind, before Wearne fired over from a cross by Aaron Nemane.
Dennis would see a shot saved by Walker, with Gilbey firing over the rebound, but after that, the Dons began to find the going harder in the final moments.
One last chance fell their way when substitute Tommy Leigh rifled over in injury time, but the Dons ran out of time to avoid slipping to an opening day reverse.
MK Dons: McGill – Sherring, Tucker, Lawrence – Nemane (Tripp 80), Kelly, Offord (Carroll 80), Tomlinson – Wearne (Leigh 70), Gilbey – Hendry (Dennis 66)
Subs not used: Harness, Lewington, Harrison
Goal: Gilbey (20)
Booked: Offord
Bradford: S. Walker – Baldwin, Byrne, Kelly – Halliday, Sarcevic (Oliver 85), Smallwood, Pattison, Wright (Odour 70) – Cook (J. Walker 70), Kavanagh (Shepherd 85)
Subs not used: Doyle, Walker, Young, Pointon
Goal: Pattison (3), Sherring (og 5)
Former Northampton loan star Bowie has signed for Scottish side Hibernian.
Bowie, 21, has signed a 4-year contract with the Edinburgh-based side after joining for an undisclosed fee from previous parent club Fulham.
The Scotsman had a successful two seasons on loan at Sixfields, scoring 14 goals in 81 appearances to first help Northampton win promotion from League Two in the 2022/23 season and then comfortably achieve survival in the 2023/24 campaign.
Bowie’s career has also seen him win caps for the Scotland under-21s team.
The move to bring Bowie to Edinburgh makes him the 8th arrival at Easter Road for the new campaign as Hibs look to improve upon last season’s 8th place finish in the Scottish Premiership.
Hibernian FC Head Coach David Gray told the club’s official website of his delight to bring Bowie to the club.
He said, “Kieron is an exciting Scottish talent, and we’re thrilled to bring him to the Club.
“He can play anywhere across the front three and his pace and power will give us an extra dimension going forward. He has all the attributes to be a success in this league.
“Players of Kieron’s ability and potential are always in high-demand, so to sign of player of his calibre shows the ambition that we’ve got here.”
The Northamptonshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) has thanked communities in the county for their support and solidarity during the events of recent days after a recent protest.
The statement came after a week which saw Northampton the site of protests on Wednesday (07/08). A list of sites circulated by a far-right blogger on Telegram had suggested Northampton was to be the site of a protest, which saw a larger group of anti-racist protestors gather at the same location.
The main area took place around Kettering Road and Clare Street on the edge of Northampton Town Centre.
Three people were arrested for public order offences, but the event passed off peacefully, and as none of the original protesters turned up, the crowd that gathered eventually dispersed without incident.
Reflecting on the week, Northamptonshire’s RLF acknowledged things had been a challenging week but that they were pleased at co-operation between all partners in managing the situation.
The forum is made up of Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Northamptonshire Council, North Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Health Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board and the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
The statement read, “This has been a difficult and challenging week for our communities across Northamptonshire, in particular Northampton, where protests, thankfully peaceful, took place on Wednesday evening.
“We have seen a huge amount of cooperation between all the emergency services, local authority, health partners and the community, and it can’t be underestimated how much work went into making sure the risk to the public was minimised.
“We are immensely grateful to our communities who came together to work with us, and for the support they showed our police and emergency services as they worked hard to ensure public safety. There was some really positive engagement with all those who came together to show their solidarity.
“We would also like to thank all the police officers, firefighters, council, health and other colleagues for their professionalism, dedication and commitment, throughout this challenging week and beyond, in helping to keep our county and those who live and work here safe.
“Alongside the extensive policing operation, firefighters and community safety colleagues were out in the community giving advice and any reassurance they could to residents and businesses, and council teams were on the ground making sure the environment was debris free and as safe as possible.
“Organisations being able to respond and support communities in a speedy, joined up way is what people have every right to expect, and it was good to see people working together in this way.
“We know residents will still be feeling concerned in the light of this week’s events and the ongoing national picture but want to reassure them all partners are continuing to work together doing everything possible to keep our communities safe.”
Northampton Town have signed winger Tariqe Fosu on a free transfer, picking up the former Brentford man after a year without a club.
Fosu has signed a one year contract at Sixfields, and he will seek to make an impression after being unable to find a club for the 2023/24 season.
The 28-year-old is Northampton’s ninth signing ahead of the 2024/25 season, with the deal ratified ahead of the Cobblers’ season opener against Bristol Rovers later today (10/08).
Fosu is a former Ghana international, having picked up 4 caps with the West African nation.
After beginning his career with Reading, Fosu made a breakthrough on loan with Colchester in the 2016/17 season before two seasons as a regular with Charlton Athletic.
Fosu joined Oxford in 2019, making 25 appearances before signing for Brentford in January 2020.
The Ghanian would make 49 appearances in all competitions as helped Brentford win promotion to the Premier League, but he struggled for game time in the top flight, spending the 2022/23 season on loan at first Stoke and then Rotherham.
Cobblers boss Jon Brady told the club’s website that he was delighted to bring Fosu to the club.
He said, “Tariqe has a lot of ability and quality and we are really pleased to welcome him to Sixfields.
“He has pace and is very good on the ball and has the ability to play in a number of positions across the pitch.
“He has played a lot of his football at Championship level and his pedigree speaks for itself.
“Tariqe is a creative, attacking player and we think he is someone who can help take us forward and as such we are sure all supporters will join us in welcoming him to the club.”
A travel guide has been published for this weekend’s concerts at the National Bowl music venue in Milton Keynes.
Dance act Chase and Status play the Bowl today (10/08), while rock act Yungblud will be headlining his festival Bludfest tomorrow (11/08).
Ahead of the shows this weekend, confirmation has come that there will be alterations with roads around the venue closed and enforcement patrols in action against illegally parked cars around the venue. Official car parks are available.
A series of road closures, diversions, temporary speed restrictions and waiting restrictions will be in place around the National Bowl site to facilitate safe access and egress of patrons to the event and to mitigate delays on the highway network.
Drivers are advised to follow the ‘Concert at MK Bowl’ yellow signs as they approach the venue – ignore your sat-nav – and allow extra time for your journey.
There are some official event car parks providing public parking in the immediate vicinity of the Bowl. Spaces can only be guaranteed by advance booking at the charge of £25 cars/minibuses/blue badge holders and £75 coaches. All bookings are subject to a booking fee and must be made via https://parkthecarhere.com
The designated accessible car park is located in the East Car Park (Orange) with the what3words reference trash.watched.remaining.
Car parks are open from 10:00 and close at 02:00 and there is NO overnight parking available. Any vehicle left in car parks after the closure time will be removed at the owner’s expense.
Parking will be on grass and is therefore subject to weather conditions, while there are no electric car charging stations available.
Pre booked tickets are non-refundable while patrons are asked to note that any parking on the day will be subject to availability. Some car parks are also subject to a curfew at the event close and you may experience a slight delay to exit the car park while the road outside is cleared of pedestrians.
Residential areas will be protected and illegally parked cars are at risk of being towed away.
Additional paid parking is available in Milton Keynes City Centre, with the most convenient located near to Milton Keynes Central Railway Station. The station connects to the pedestrian cycleway Redway system, a 25-30 minute (just over one mile) signposted walk to the venue.
‘No Waiting’ restrictions will be in place on the roadways surrounding the Bowl and no drop offs will be permitted. Parking enforcement will be operation and fines will be issued for those ignoring the No Waiting/No Drop Off restrictions.
The official Taxi Rank Drop Off facility is located on Chesney Wold, which will be subject to a one-way system with entry from Summerson Road. Postcode is MK6 1NE while the what3words reference is grief.sunroof.painted.
After the event, it is recommended that the Taxi Rank at Central Milton Keynes Station is used, follow the pedestrian signs for CMK Station. What3words reference is headliner.falls.solution.
The official Drop Off and Pick Up point for Private Hire Vehicles, Family and Friends is located on Kelvin Drive. Postcode is MK5 8NH while the what3words reference is basket.skirt.ambitions. Please note that there is no access to Kelvin Drive off Davy Avenue.
Big Green Coach is operating return coach travel from: Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Colchester, Coventry, Ipswich, Leicester, London Victoria, Luton, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough and Swindon.
Places can be booked by visiting their website Big Green Coach, while they will be parked on the Orange (East) car park with easy access into Gate 6 and Gate 1 (accessible).
