Bradford City’s long winter of discontent since relegation from the Premier League is finally at an end. Promotion from League One is not exactly the most box office of achievements, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. When you couple that with their remarkable run to the League Cup final, you would have to say that Bradford have had one of their most successful seasons. To put their recent achievements into context, let’s take a look at their steepest of declines.
Premier League football lasted two seasons at Valley Parade. The 1-0 win against Liverpool to secure a second season will always be remembered fondly by fans as one of their finest ever moments following their beloved team. The next season money was spent in an attempt to ensure another relegation battle was avoided. Benito Carbone and Stan Collymore in particular were big names that sent out the message – Bradford are here to more than make up the numbers.
Unfortunately, the manager who had kept them up, Paul Jewell, resigned after that survival, leaving his assistant Chris Hutchings in charge. Hutchings only lasted 21 games before getting the sack, and Jim Jefferies was unable to halt the slide.
Benito Carbone’s £40,000 a week wages were nearly enough to cripple the club, and they went into administration twice in as many years, eventually dropping into what is now known as League One. A few respectable finishes merely delayed the inevitable relegation into the third tier, where they had stayed for six seasons until this week’s 3-0 win over Northampton in the League Two play-off final.
Only this season under the tutelage of Phil Parkinson have Bradford displayed signs of a sustained recovery, but do not be surprised to see a resurgence in their fortunes in the coming years. Here is a reminder of their Premier League peak.