By Jake Verity

Some summer, right?

Or rather, an agonising wait to get back through those turnstiles, to finally see League One football after so long away from it. It’s been 2,282 days. Or 36,512 football matches, if that helps you grasp the length of time since we last saw League One football at Valley Parade.

That time has felt like an eternity, but this summer has gone surprisingly quickly.

And in this summer of comebacks, where Oasis returned to stages across the country and the Lionesses bounced back from adversity before roaring to victory, the greatest return of all, for over 19,000 of us, will be witnessing Bradford City vs Wycombe Wanderers.

Perhaps it’s slightly ambitious framing, but who cares? We are back, and we can resume our ultimate goal: aiming for Championship football, which has eluded us for over 8,000 days.

Though this might be the summer of Oasis, there’s no more looking back, almost definitely not in anger. We’ve done enough of that in the past few seasons.

It’s time to look forward, and this week, the club did exactly that as…

Alexander the Great Extends

By awarding a three-year deal to Graham Alexander and Chris Lucketti, the club made a real statement of intent. For me, the biggest question on my mind right now isn’t so much about how the campaign will pan out, but more about where we stand in the summer of 2028.

The best outcome, in my view, would be the stability of Alexander and Lucketti in the dugout, providing an antidote that finally ends a decade defined by our obsession with short-termism. And, of course, another England victory in the Euros would be the perfect bonus.

I mention both Alexander and Lucketti because they are a team who have delivered success together. Like Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin, we have a manager and assistant who have achieved our ultimate goal of promotion.

But it is so much more than that. They truly understand this football club.

That’s not to criticise previous managers. Many have tried, some more admirably than others to take us up, but ultimately failed.

The former Premier League manager. The academy graduate. The central midfielder turned manager. The caretakers. The club legend. The steady choice. And, of course, the one we’d struggle to replace with anyone more successful.

Maybe the problem was that, other than Stuart McCall, we never tried to hire the right person who gets this club like we do.

Because it’s by cultivating an atmosphere of togetherness, a bond with supporters, and a dedication to hard work that we’ve found our way back into League One under Alexander.

As Bradfordians, we respond well to those who get us. I’ve said this many times in previous articles.

After all, we’re grafters who want to see our players apply themselves in the same way. Too many have shirked the responsibility of our shirt in recent years, whether through lack of interest or effort.

Under Alexander, neither is acceptable. It’s no surprise that this approach has brought success.

To draw on that comparison once again, it’s a similar mould to the one used by Phil Parkinson. His squads had undeniable talent, but they were built on an ethos grounded in the spirit of the Bradfordian. Our identity flowing through our club, from the touchline to the terraces.

Perhaps that’s why we fell short under Mark Hughes? That was a good season, with talented players and some great moments. But steel, grit, and resolve were lacking, especially at Carlisle.

But again, less on the past and more on the future…

Because Bradford’s Back

This weekend, thousands will flood the city, recreating the scenes first painted just over three months ago as a river of claret and amber ran down North Parade.

And how we have missed it.

The togetherness, the scenes of emotion at the end of last season, made our love for this football club feel worthwhile. That day was more than a 96th-minute winner. It was a release of emotion that those of us who had suffered for too long were desperate to see.

Remember: we aren’t here just for glory. If we were, we’d have left a long time ago. We’ve followed our beloved club trapped in the basement of the Football League, with little hope and high expectations. Now, we return to a division where expectations are hard to define.

The club has set a high bar over the summer. But in reality, anything above 21st place is a good outcome.

That should not be the limit of our ambition.

And it isn’t. Signing a Premier League midfielder on a three-year deal. Poaching one of a League One rival’s top players. Appointing a three-time League One champion as captain. It all raises the bar.

We’ve practically recruited a new starting XI, filled with captains and Players of the Year. Let’s not forget the player who featured in both legs of last year’s League One play-offs, for a team that finished third and missed out on the Championship by just five points.

It’s good to be a Bradford City fan again. Let’s enjoy that, because we’ve spent so long wanting this feeling. After a summer of joy, fuelled by promotion, we now understand what’s at stake. It’s no longer about just getting back to where we feel we belong. It’s not about simply avoiding the drop. It’s about trying to win every match we can and seeing where that takes us.

It’s a cliché in football, but we can truly play forty-six cup finals, with some pressure off, for a change as we’re no longer the big club.

If you look at the maths, it’s quite simple.

Win half of our games, and we should be challenging for the play-offs, based on the League One table last season.

Win a third, and we’d just about stay up.

Do something in between, beat Huddersfield, and we’ll all be fairly happy.

Even losing doesn’t rule out success in this division. After all, our West Yorkshire neighbours lost 20 matches last season, more than they won, and still finished 10th.

Not that we want to copy them, though. Only eight teams lost more games, half of whom were relegated.

If we won one match, drew one match, and lost one match every three games, we’d finish with 60 points. That feels achievable.

There will be tough matches. But we know we can take on any team on our day, and with this improved squad, anything is possible.

With time and investment, this club has gone from a shadow of itself to a towering presence. It now stands tall in a city on its way back. The Bradford Bulls are competing again and we stand proudly on the national stage as the City of Culture.

Bradford? Well, it’s…

Rupp and Coming

If you think back to an open letter that was written to fans in March 2024, Stefan Rupp signed it off saying:

“Hopefully, we can pick up some positive results as we move towards the end of the season, the summer, and the 2024/25 campaign, which I can assure you we will all give everything towards, to ensure it ends how a Bradford City season can and should.”

Oh, how it did. And as a result, the mood has rightly shifted. We are back in the position Rupp found us in when he first arrived. After a long journey, he now has the chance to continue changing the club’s direction and, perhaps, begin to build a legacy.

I don’t want this to sound premature. The pain we endured between 2017 and 2022 is still fresh for many. But this football club has changed, and that progress has only come through stronger leadership at the top.

There is now a proper structure in place. One we can be proud of, and one that is delivering. Our transfer business is smart. The club’s social content is stronger. Commercial operations have stepped up. Whether or not you like the kits, the way they’ve been marketed has clearly improved. We now organise pre-seasons professionally, with fresh and interesting fixtures.

In many ways, what fans have long called for is finally happening. The club is taking initiative. That hasn’t happened overnight, and it’s a credit to Rupp for putting the right infrastructure in place. I’ll also put the credit for this elsewhere, shortly.

At the end of last season, many of us felt a genuine connection to Rupp, especially through the emotion he showed during our promotion. His interview with BBC Radio Leeds earlier this summer was one of the best I’ve heard (credit, as always to Jamie Raynor for his thoughtful questioning).

What made it so powerful was the passion that came through. He spoke about loving the club, the culmination of years of hard work, and the sense of unfinished business.

But the most striking moment came when he compared watching the club grow to being a parent. Have a listen and you’ll hear someone truly invested in our future. I hope we hear more from him this season, not just because he’s the owner, but because he’s genuinely interesting to listen to.

Naturally, the challenge now comes from raised expectations. Talk of a bigger budget that could potentially deliver a top-six finish brings some pressure that perhaps might not otherwise be there.

I believe however we get on, most fans have a lot of goodwill towards Graham Alexander and are happy to be patient. Or at least I hope so. As others have pointed out, remember Parkinson’s famous one win in 21 matches. And he’s done alright for himself, hasn’t he?

But I’m glad to see this football club, and the leadership behind it showing ambition. We’ve rightly criticised when things have gone wrong. But right now, things are going well.

We’ve moved on from a time when relationships needed repairing. We’re a city united that can continue working together, we can keep moving forward and deliver more…

Sparks of Joy

Because if we’re giving credit out, it’s more than fair that some goes to Ryan Sparks.

While the owner is ultimately responsible for the club, the CEO runs it, and it’s important to acknowledge the person who has overseen a hugely successful season.

When things looked bleak after the 5–1 defeat to Mansfield, followed by back-to-back losses to Notts County and Harrogate, the pressure was on. Serious questions were being asked about the future of Bradford City.

Last year, Sparks reportedly flew to Munich to meet with Rupp after this. An open letter followed ahead of a protest that took place before the Tranmere game.

But then everything changed. That remarkable end-of-season run came along. Against all odds, hope took root, like green shoots breaking through cracked concrete. For all supporters played an immense part in changing the course of history. It was ultimately down to decision makers at the club to get it right. And in my view, they did.

For some, the jury may still be out. One good season doesn’t erase the poor ones.

But many of the recent off-pitch improvements should be recognised, and Sparks does deserve praise for them. The ground looks smarter and more welcoming following the installation of new seats. Another sign of a club heading in the right direction, after years of neglect.

Our off the pitch offering has improved considerably. We undoubtedly have a much stronger commercial outfit that is delivering the revenue this club will need to operate in League One. And with the promotion, there are more opportunities for that to grow.

It’s not just off-the-pitch matters. It’s the footballing ones, too. Alexander’s contract was extended at the right time. Not too early, not too late. A clear improvement on past decision-making around managers.

As Jason wrote back in March last year:

“Sparks merits greater respect. The best thing you can say about the CEO, tasked with the everyday running of the club, is that everything looks so much more joined up now, with everyone working on the same page. You don’t achieve that without effective overall leadership and Sparks is evidently providing it.”

The relationship between fans and the club has healed more quickly than expected. A city galvanised by Graham Alexander, who was ultimately appointed and has been supported by Sparks.

It’s also important to note that the club made some really strong offers last season about the affordability of tickets in that promotion run-in. Sure, this was fan-led in terms of displays and scarf parades (which deserve enormous support) – but the club backed these efforts, got behind them, and made the ticket offers to match. Another thing in my book that Sparks definitely deserves credit for.

In short, I think Jason is right. The club does look more joined up, and it is almost definitely heading in the right direction off the pitch. But most importantly, on it.

A big reason behind this is because Sparks made an excellent decision last year with…

Sharpe Recruitment

Let’s be honest. David Sharpe might be one of the best appointments this club has made in decades, alongside Parkinson and Alexander.

That may sound like an overstatement, but it isn’t. Look at how our squad shaped up last summer compared to previous years. Look how decisive we were in the market.

This summer alone has shown the value of that appointment. Even if we’re signing familiar names from Sharpe’s Wigan days like Power, Humphrys, and Tilt, they’re proven winners at this level and bring real quality.

But it’s not just that. Signings like Jenson Metcalfe are exactly what we’ve been crying out for, a young, talented, slightly unproven player on a permanent deal, the kind of signing that could earn us a profit in the future.

The January window brought George Lapslie and Tommy Leigh, who combined for the 96th-minute winner, and both still have a lot to contribute. Let’s not forget that Lapslie also won League Two Player of the Month in March too.

It’s been widely noted how unusual it is to enter this season without a single loanee.

That may change, but for now, we have a strong, settled squad with genuine League One quality across the pitch and contracts for the next two seasons.

There may be more surprises to come. We’re heading into August with two players in every position and that is down to a strong recruitment plan, no doubt delivered by Sharpe.

The depth is there. Now it’s about adding the final bit of quality through the loan market. Based on the January arrival of Tayo Adaramola, there’s plenty to be excited about if we do bring a loanee in.

But more than anything, we can look also look forward to the return of those heroes of ours who many of us last saw down North Parade, not Valley Parade. And if there’s an incentive to do well this season, that day alone should be more than enough of a reason!

But we mustn’t get carried away. After all, a wise man once said…

Enjoy it, but enjoy it by being…

This is shaping up to be a very exciting season. I’m incredibly optimistic. League One is more open than it has been in years, and we’ve built a squad that can compete.

We’ve got four Yorkshire derbies (no Harrogate!) and four trips over the Pennines to look forward to. There will be bumper crowds, the return of familiar faces, and exciting new signings. Let’s keep this feel-good factor going. However we start, and with August looking tough, we must be patient.

The season won’t be decided in September. There will be patches of poor form, matches that slip away, players who underperform, injuries, penalties, and red cards.

But we’re Bradford City. We’ve seen it all, from 5–4 defeats at Swindon to last-minute winners at Valley Parade. The rollercoaster is about to start again. This time, we’re ready for it.

So enjoy it. Wake up tomorrow excited. Have that pre-match pint with your mates. Soak up the moment the players walk out to thousands of Bradfordians. And when that first whistle blows, remember: we’ve waited years for this.

As for my prediction? I genuinely believe we have the momentum, quality, and experience to give it a proper go. But that’s not what matters at this point. It’s about the moments and memories we’ll create. The chats we’ll have in the concourses. The grounds we’ll visit, and the goals we’ll celebrate.

It’s so good to be back. It is every season. But that additional dimension this year of League One football feels just that bit sweeter.

So enjoy tomorrow. You deserve to. Because we’ve all played our part in getting here, from every song we’ve sung, through to every season ticket we’ve spent our money on.

This season is for you. It’s for all of us.

Our club. Your club. My club.

Welcome back.

Categories: Previews

Tags: BCAFC, League Two