Bolton Wanderers v Bradford City: From Altrincham to awesome - Josh Neufville's uplifting story
JOSH NEUFVILLE was afforded a reminder late last week of just how far his football journey has travelled in the space of five years.
Back in May 2021, Bradford City’s express wing-back, then just 20, broke his ankle towards the end of a loan spell at National League outfit Yeovil, who were playing a late-season game at Altrincham.
The injury kept Neufville, who had linked up with Yeovil from parent club Luton Town, out for 10 months. He rejoined the Glovers for another temporary stint towards the end of the following 2021-22 campaign.
He had a lot more to smile about on his latest visit to Moss Lane.
Neufville and his Bantams team-mates trained at the venue to break up their long road trip to Exeter last weekend, where Graham Alexander’s side secured their League One play-off spot in relatively pristine fashion.
Tonight, City are back in the north-west, as opposed to the south-west, with Neufville - who has established himself as one of the stand-out operators across League One in 2025-26 - picking himself up impressively and showing a fair degree of resolve and character since that dark day in Cheshire.
It proved a turning point in his career, for the right reasons.
He said: "There were some funny memories going back there, knowing that the last time I left there, it was on a stretcher.
"Obviously winning that game the other day, we're now in a play-off semi-final against Bolton in League One and that (game at Altrincham) was about four years ago.
"You look back on your career and kind of think about those moments and you're also grateful.
"I wouldn't say the fact of not playing again was in my mindset. I think it was more giving me a reason to work hard off the field. Obviously, when you're younger, you don't look at your career as serious and you're probably not as professional.
"So I feel that's allowed me to be more professional and knowing that your career can be (over) like that in an instant.
"So that's probably what I do, day-to-day, now. I look to live right in the best way possible."
Neufville’s story is a good one.
His devout hope is that this evening’s semi-final first leg at Bolton Wanderers proves to be one of three games that City successfully navigate between now and late afternoon on May 24, when the League One play-off final takes place at Wembley.
He knows a fair bit about the home of football, having helped previous club AFC Wimbledon to glory in the League Two showpiece against Walsall last May.
In the early days of his career, things were not so rosy.
The Luton player, who came through Bedfordshire junior club Crawley Green before signing for the Hatters, struggled to make his mark.
He was farmed out to other places on the non-league circuit on loan alongside Yeovil. Other ports of call were Solihull Moors and Woking before later joining Sutton and signing permanently with Wimbledon.
In the tough times, Neufville, supported by family and friends, stayed strong.
Neuvfille, a friend of Leeds United player James Justin - who also started out at Crawley Green - continued: "I think my mindset didn't really change in terms of when I left there (Luton).
"I knew what I could achieve and should achieve. Things didn't go to plan when I was there for a number of reasons, not just injuries.
"My mindset was to get back to where I want to be, obviously the highest level possible as a player.
"And obviously they've dropped down to this division this year and haven't made the play-offs. So it's kind of ironic that I'm looking at that thinking I need to kind of kick on now, and that's obviously a club (Luton) that I won't let go of.
"It's just about having a good mentality. Not about being arrogant or anything, just thinking about what you think you are as a player and backing your ability to kind of go all the way."
Neufville’s belief last summer when he signed for City - despite much interest elsewhere - that the club could make an impact in their first season at third-tier level since 2018-19 was not misplaced faith.
While fellow promoted sides Wimbledon, Port Vale and, to a lesser extent, Doncaster Rovers all found the step up difficult, City were capable of striking out on their own.
The final chapter of this season, like back in 2024-25, has the tantalising potential to be spectacular, if all goes well.
Neufville said: "I think I was quite specific in what I was looking for in a club in terms of personnel, manager and size of the club.
"I wouldn't sign for someone where I thought we were just going to make up the numbers in the division.
"It was the players and the quality of players we signed and the manager as well. It indicates that we should be a team that should be at the top of the table, which we have been. And I think this kind of justifies my reasoning for signing.
"People can have their opinions, but I think I've proved exactly why I wanted to come to the club. So it's credit to the club for us producing what we produce so far." So far..