Bradford’s Heroics, What Dreams are made of

On the 4^th May 2012 Bradford City ended their 2011/12 League 2 campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Swindon Town to cement their place in 18^th position in the fourth tier of English football.

Having not spent a penny in the summer transfer window, hopes among the Bradford faithful for a successful season were quiet, maybe minimally optimistic.

So what were the aims for the 2012/13 season?

Well according to ‘The Width of a Post’, a Bradford City blogging site, their fans all had similar views before a ball was kicked this season.

“I don’t see why the play offs should be out of the question.”

“My heart says play offs all season flirting with the automatics, and my head says mid table/top half and flirting with the play offs.” 

“I will predict that City will finish 6^th and let the lottery of the play-offs decide whether, at the start of the 2013-2014 season, Bradford will be walking out as a League One club.”

The play offs. So, a successful, exciting season ahead then?

An exciting season or not, what was to come, couldn't have been predicted by the most optimistic Bantams fan.

In 1998, the Rhodes family took over Bradford City, they injected several million pounds into the club and with the likes of Peter Beagrie, Lee Mills and Robbie Blake, The Bantams were promoted to the Premier League. With a remarkable survival in their first season back in the top flight, the second wasn't to be the same. After a huge financial gamble didn't pay off, relegation loomed all season and when the inevitable finally became reality, the club were hooked onto a downward spiral. In six years the club had gone from Premier League stardom to the basement of the Football League.

The Bantams currently lie 10^th in League 2, only two points off of the play off places, so promotion is a realistic possibility with 19 games still to play.

But last night, Bradford went into a League Cup Semi-Final Second Leg with Aston Villa of the Premier League with a 3-1 lead. 

Hang on, semi-finals?! How did they get there?

First Round:

Notts County 0-1 Bradford City (AET)

Alan Connell’s curling effort in the fifth minute of added time was enough to send Bradford through to the second round of the Capital One Cup. In a game that County dominated, the Bantams defended heroically before giving Notts a real kick in the teeth to snatch a late, late winner.

Second Round

Watford 1-2 Bradford City

Bradford shocked Championship outfit Watford in their back yard as two late goals did the business for the Bantams. Kyel Reid cancelled out Ikechi Anya’s opener with a powerful striker before Garry Thompson struck from 15 yards to clinch a memorable victory for those that made the long journey from West Yorkshire.

Third Round

Bradford City 3-2 Burton Albion (AET)

City once again came from behind to send themselves into the last 16 of The League Cup. A Nahki Wells double in the last seven minutes of time saved the club from exit as Burton went 0-2 up inside the first half. But a spirited display took the tie to extra time where Stephen Darby found the bottom corner to send the 4,000+ crowd home dreaming of what could be.

Fourth Round

Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bradford City (AET), Bradford won 2-4 on pens

Bradford’s wonderfully defiant defensive display remarkably earned the League Two club a place in the Quarter Final of the Capital One Cup. Blocks, tackles and bravery for 120 minutes was enough to take the tie with Wigan to a penalty shoot out where Shaun Maloney and Jordi Gomez missed the decisive kicks.

Quarter Final

Bradford City 1-1 Arsenal (AET) Bradford won 3-2 on pens

Bradford City shocked European giants, Arsenal at Valley Parade in front of 23,000 fans to send them into the semi-final of the League Cup. Garry Thompson volleyed the hosts ahead before Thomas Vermaelen headed home after 88 minutes. Bradford managed to hold on through extra time and take the tie to penalties. Santi Cazorla, Marouane Chamakh and Vermaelen were the guilty culprits this time, as Bradford recorded arguably the biggest result in the club’s history.

Semi – Final, First Leg

Goals from Nahki Wells and Rory McArdle gave Bradford an astonishing 2-0 lead. Andreas Weimann pulled one back for the Birmingham club but Carl McHugh headed in Gary Jones's corner two minutes from time to make it very much advantage Bradford going into the second leg.

So, “little Bradford City” from the fourth tier of English football had made it to the last four of the competition. Giants such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur had been knocked out an earlier stage than Bradford. Scenes like this had only previously been seen on teenager’s gaming consoles in West Yorkshire.

Bradford’s success shows that major foreign investment isn't crucial to success and that every single one of the 92 Football League clubs can reach the heights that Bradford have, on a low budget and that grit, determination and team spirit can enable clubs to endure the success that some believe, belongs only to the ‘big boys.’

I’m sure the majority of the Football League will be cheering on Bradford come the 24^th February in their final against either Swansea City or Chelsea and after their remarkable cup run, who’s to doubt that they can’t just go on and win the tournament? Whether they do it or not remains to be seen, but it seems that the glory days have finally returned to Valley Parade.

Liam Horler