 So I'm Dom Lister. I'm the first team kick man at Bradford City. In terms of as a kick man I basically did my work experience from school at Huddersfield town and Then after the work experience I basically asked there kick man if I could volunteer with him because I found that side of the role Interesting in terms of experiencing what football clubs had to offer So then I worked at Huddersfield just on a voluntary basis for About ten years. I think it was give or take So then After working there for ten years just on a voluntary basis just on match days really I saw the job at Bradford came came up Obviously I made a lot of contacts in that time working in football. So I got asked to apply Obviously applied and I never looked back in terms of actually working at Bradford. I think I started June 2022 which was the first full season that Mark Hughes were in charge So for the past two years I basically just been in this role learning about the club learning about how they operate all the different quirks because Football clubs obviously operate differently My name is Andy, Andy Brailey Me job title is assistant kick man. I actually started with Bradford City in 2017 I was working car parks and then I moved up into Banqueting Then I moved Looking after referees, which I still do and I am now classed as the assistant kick man So today basically what we've done is set up down at the training ground this morning for the players and staff and then Because we're based up at the stadium in terms of the laundry facilities and all the kit operation We come back to the stadium for the day Prep a few more final bits and Then what we'll do is we'll go back down to the Training ground this afternoon collect all the washing from today, etc. That we used Collect the players boots for the game tomorrow and then we'll come back up here and load the van up Ready to set off tomorrow where our jobs here are to make sure that Basically the players and the staff Have everything they need without having to wait for it so they can get on and do their jobs straight away whether it be playing Out in the game They don't want to be a short of a pair of socks or out some players like different things in the roles So it's a matter of finding out who Has what on the regular basis and making sure that they're ready for them basically what we've done This week prepped all this Kit and equipment This is obviously what we take to it To the stadium with us, so it's all about to be loaded into the van The only thing that's missing from here is the shirts themselves and the players match rolls That's because we don't find the team out It's a little bit later on on a Friday afternoon when gaffers confirmed it So it's basically all of this the physio gear And the players shirts and match rolls Yeah See one misconception that people may have The role as a kit man is all you do is hang out shirts But there's so much more that goes into it then obviously what people realize One of most important things here speaker As Andy I'll tell you tomorrow when we're in dressing room. It's the morning of the Walsall game Got a squad now from gaffer What we're going to do is go around make sure we've got all the shirts and And pack all the rolls into the two laundry half my family of Bradford fans my Grandma who passed she were a massive Bradford fan season to get older for 40 plus years My uncle and my grandma were both at the the fire And both had to actually get out the stand when it sat on fire And so obviously it means a lot to me. It's sort of more than a job really Because I've got that personal connection with a club my uncle or my cousins My auntie they all go to most games home and away. So again, it adds a bit more of a personal Touch when you know, we win and I can see them in the away and celebrating and stuff Yeah, it's sort of like more than a job really And if you why sort of Bradford Important to other than it just being a job as well it's more of a family than a job I mean so many people here that Good people You get treated well and basically I enjoy coming. Yeah We've obviously just arrived in the dressing room What I'll do now is just start a look around See what space we're working with counting the amount of pegs So sort of work out the spacing of the shirts Just get a bit of a picture earlier about I'm gonna set up and then we'll start bringing all the gear in and setting up Pags in this bit. So we'll probably set plays up there and stuff up Yeah, so generally what you'll find with the way dressing rooms is obviously they're not up to the standard of The home dressing room as you can see so I've got like broken pegs The paints a little bit patted But that's sort of normal for in a way dressing room really First job that I always do when we get to ground Ready to set up is put the shirts out. It's obviously where the shirts are dictates out of where everything else is gonna go Current gaffer he likes to set us up in satin 11 order so we'll have obviously You keep your defenders you midfielders and your attackers sort of in the order that they're going to be on the pitch And then we'll have your subs in numerical order as you saw when we walked in Some of the pegs are a little bit loose So we always bring with us a screwdriver and it screws just in case The pegs are loose or we need to sort of Replace some so Andy's gonna go around now and tighten up the ones that need tightening up We're talking specifically about Andy Inside his role he's got some cycling shorts was they printed up with his initials He's got an under armor Obviously your match socks and GPS He's got some gloves Slips socks a t-shirt and a quarter zip Every player will have as a minimum a t-shirt quarter zip slips Under socks a GPS and match socks But then in terms of like Individual quirks some players obviously have under armors some have cycling shorts gloves a Few of the boys have like Shimp had guards and straps that will put in the roles for him But again, it's all down to preference and we just make sure everyone's got everything they need We've got all the lad's shirts hung up. We've got the rolls out with the shorts on top So next steps are we're gonna put the lads as flip flops out boots shin pads And then Andy's gonna go around and give all the lads of water and a Luke is it obviously for the game Most players who bring sort of two pairs of boots with them usually One pair of studs and a pair of molds obviously Spends on the playing surface if it rains and and whatnot as to which boots they decide to wear but Yeah, all these will get laid out for them in their sports next to the flip-flops another touch we We add to the dressing room is we've For every player we've got a photo of them during the season usually From a goal or a good moment or a good match that they've been involved in We do this basically just to Make the dressing room feel a bit more like a Bradford City dressing room adds a bit more Sort of a home feel for the for the lads so it's not just white walls or Empty space we do the same way we put flags up as well just to add to that effect And all our travel gears you can see is branded up for that purpose as well Just so when the lads arrive, they know it's sort like a Bradford City dressing room next part Walkout jackets for the starting 11 Basically all the outfielders Get one of these put out on their pegs And they obviously wear it during the walk out and and then After they've walked out they'll all throw them back in this tub and I'll repack them ready to go home Always got to make sure that the Bradford Badges there nice and neat with the JCT 600 and the the macron as well Final touches now In terms of for the lads We basically just go around each each peg Make sure the shirts are nice and straight the collars are neat Sleeves aren't rolled up and we make sure the Lead to badge and the flamingo land sponsor is showing We're one of the only clubs. I believe in the country that do this. So each player Gets a heritage number which is assigned Based on the order that they've played for Bradford City So all the players shirts once they've made their debut will go and get The heritage numbers embroidered into the shirts. So again, it sort of It adds a bit more meaning to the player because Each player gets their own unique number and that's theirs forever. So I think all the lads like that and It just means a little bit more what we've got basically here is like a nutrition station You got a variety of stuff really you've got some hydrate drinks and tablets Obviously helps a lot stay hydrated during the game You've got some sweets bananas. I'm obviously just snacks Again, just keep some topped up after the pre-match meal You've got some red bulls. I think that's mainly used obviously for the caffeine And then just some chewing gum And we're going to set up the waters as well. So basically during The game and at half time before the game except so lads will just come here and grab whatever they need Well fun during the game. We're virtually fully set up now ready for the game We've set up the physio beds here. So Obviously if the lads need any treatment before the game strapping stuff like that. We've got the two beds there We've got the boot skip here again any lads if they've brought more than one pair of boots might just put them straight in before the game Obviously Andy's done all his hard work now. So he's having his dinner As touched on before we've got the nutrition station again ready for when the lads arrive in case You want to top up on any drinks or supplements And then obviously you've got the main Dressing room area where the lads will get changed. So we've obviously got the shirts flip-flops boots shin pads walk-out jackets for the start in 11 and then Got the tactics for the if when The gaffer arrives Obviously all Paul is tactics on there and go through Through a few bits with the lads. We've set up in the dressing room Now we're just setting up the bench area As you can see I've laid out the bids for the subs And then what we've got here is the blood bag Within this we basically keep spare shirts shorts and socks of different sizes in case there's a blood injury whilst The players are on the pitch coming together or whatnot We have a hat in there in case it's sunny for the goalkeepers So that stays with me on the bench And we've got this which would collect the walk-out jackets in and we also put any spare kit that the subs might take off when they They come on to the pitch Just over here, we've got the big bag which the coaches will use During the warm-up. So you've got different colored bids We've got flat markers cones Within here we have got Just more supplements. We've got waters Caribou sport drinks, hydrate drinks, fuel gels, red bulls, just more of what we showed in the dressing room In case obviously during the game players need to top up on anything And we always pack with us the big subjackets in case it drops cold Obviously some of the boys will ask for the coax And they're just always on hand if we need them. They just finished up. What was a hectic game and swept up We always like to leave a dressing room how we found it So we're gonna get back to the bar and have some of it to eat and get back to Bradford So we went to and all down within I think 20 minutes and you're thinking Is it gonna be a bad day at the office? But To be fair to the lads they Sort of up to the game sort of put it behind them obviously we got that go back from cookie which were Really good at the back stick And then I mean personally from the bench. I thought I could feel the momentum building And then obviously Jamie went and got the second which took us into half time nicely And then funnily enough for the third goal Me and Andy were in the dressing room Because just after half time we like sort of pack up what we can get ahead for after the game and We just heard a roar from the dressing room. So we both sprinted out Had a look to the right all of this little city fans. We're going crazy We looked at scoreboard and then we just started celebrating. So Yeah, obviously got a bit nervy towards the end with us ending off, but every every single player put 110% in and held on for a good win Obviously we're a tight-knit group anyway, but like Obviously with with a win like that it just It brings everyone closer together. Everyone's put 110% in staff and players and obviously the fans the fans back us week in week out most most weeks it's sold out away ends and Obviously the really vocal you can hear them from the sideline and especially when we score the scenes in the way It's always amazing. So it's just nice to appreciate them at the end and Obviously clap them for that amazing support When it comes to football fans are all Important, but with sort of six thousand ish football fans. Yeah, our fans seem to compete really well with them But from the sort of sideline, you know, you stood next to the gap He stood next to the other lads who are on the bench. How much can you hear their sport? How much do you think it drives the team on during games? It definitely drives them on. I mean Like just being sat on the bench like the subs talk about it some of the staff talk about it sometimes And obviously you can feel the momentum shift when the fans start getting behind the lads and as you say Usually away from home we're outnumbered, but The Bradford fans are generally always louder than the home fans It really helps the lads and that's probably why we've got quite a good away record as well Just because of how good the support is away from home. We're back at VP now The time is half eight Last job to do after we've unloaded we separate the washing out Into different piles ready to put in the wash Because this all has to be turned round now on Monday ready for the game on Tuesday at Barrow Final step now before we get to go home We're gonna put two washes on towels and all the warm-up kit and that just gets us ahead then For Monday, so that's the end of our day once we've done this and Good win good day three points and everyone's happy