By Gary Jones

Captaining Bradford City to promotion ranks right at the top of my career – and I’m so excited the current squad have the chance to replicate what we did. That this weekend they could have the same amazing experience.

When you sign for this wonderful football club, the enormity of the place, the fanbase, its history – it’s all second to none. For me, it was the ultimate privilege to captain Bradford City. It was such an honour to wear that shirt and it’s something that I never took for granted.

When you walk out at Valley Parade, the atmosphere is so special. The crowd and the way they get behind you – I would feel 10 foot tall. I felt invincible. You know you’re going to lose games along the way, but the fan backing gives you that extra 10 per cent to try even harder.

It’s 12 years ago since we got promoted after beating Northampton Town in the play off final at Wembley. The whole day was magical. After the Swansea cup final defeat three months before, it felt like we had unfinished business. Swansea were obviously a Premier League club, but on the day we didn’t play to our maximum potential. To be able to go back to Wembley so soon, and right all the wrongs that happened in the Swansea game, was a truly brilliant experience.

We treated the Northampton game like a normal match. That was our mentality. It’s important that when you play in a game of that magnitude, you start well, and you start on the front foot. If you can nick an early goal, even better. So obviously for us to nick three goals in the first half an hour was what dreams are made of.

To get to half time 3-0 up – if you could envisage the type of final you want it to be, this was everything you’d have imagined. The last 45 minutes was a professional job. Keep what we’ve got and don’t do anything stupid. We saw it out and the party began. It was such a great occasion.

Then there were the celebrations back in Bradford. I fondly remember the open top bus parade. When we turned that corner into Centenary Square and we saw the mass of people, it was hairs on the back of your neck stuff. These are the memories you want to create. Putting smiles on people’s faces. Creating history. That occasion will live with me for a long time. My kids were young back then, but they still speak about it now.

I’m so desperate for the current team to make similar wonderful memories of their own. I’ve watched them plenty of times this season, especially with summarising many games for BBC Radio Leeds, and I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen.

I think there’s a lot of similarities with this team and the one I played in. Like then, I think this team and supporters have been in sync with each other – which is so important. You’re not going to win every game, but fans know this team will always go on the pitch and try their best. Work their socks off for each other, and the club. And that’s massive. In my experience, having that kind of relationship with the crowd makes a huge difference. 

The squad has a really good mixture of youth and experience. I think Bobby Pointon is a brilliant player. Andy Cook has been out of late obviously. But he’s still around the place and I think that’s significant. He’s sharing his experience, helping the group.

For me, Richie Smallwood has been excellent all season. Yes, in the last two years, he took a little bit of stick – sometimes these players don’t get the recognition they deserve. I think his stock has definitely risen. And you’ve seen in these last few games how much he was missed – his experience, and the way he calms things down. Before the Swindon sending off, he’d played every minute of every game, which says everything about the character he is, and what Graham Alexander thinks of him.

Richie is really good on the ball. His set piece delivery is really good as well. He’s never one to shy away from a tackle or a battle. And the most important part – he’s never one to shy away from wanting the ball. You speak about being brave on a football pitch. That’s being brave. When things aren’t going your way, when you need someone, and you look to your captain, there he is.

This season, Richie has been all these things. I’m delighted for him. It’s also great to see him getting wider recognition like being in the League Two team of the season.

I think Phil Parkinson and Graham Alexander are similar in their approach. They’re both very thorough, and I think they’ve got a lot of charisma – which is important. Graham Alexander has been round the block a few times and knows what he’s doing. Like Phil, he seems to really understand this football club.

I’m sure Graham will be absolutely relishing this opportunity on Saturday, because to get promoted in front of your own home fans is probably the best way to do it. It’s something I was fortunate enough to experience at Rochdale, when in 2010 we got promoted at Spotland by beating Northampton. We had a full house and it’s a day I’ll never forget.

It’s going to similarly be a full house for Bradford City on Saturday. I do think it will be a tough game. Fleetwood have got nothing to play for, but everything to gain. They will want to try and stop Bradford City getting promoted.

But if City can succeed, it will be an unbelievable occasion. I know results have been a little sticky of late, but let’s not get away from how good the home form’s been all season. They just need to get back to what’s been successful.

What has it been that’s made the home form so good? It’s playing on the front foot. It’s getting in people’s faces. It’s getting the crowd on side. It’s winning the first tackle. It’s winning the battle. It’s going out on that pitch and running your socks off. That’s where the success has come from. They just need to do all of that again. If they can seal promotion, they will get to celebrate with supporters – who will be talking about this team for years to come.

So as these players prepare for one of the biggest games of their career, my message to them is simple: you’ve got a chance to create history – go and become legends of this special football club.

Categories: Opinion

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