Bradford City midfielder George Lapslie on perspective, family and silver lining with Michael Duff
GEORGE Lapslie and his brother Tom have experienced good and not-so-good times in their professional careers.
In the difficult moments, there's a fair degree of empathy. Like earlier this year.
The Bradford City midfielder found himself out of the first-team squad during the 2025-26 run-in and his elder brother was also struggling for opportunities at National League South side Chelmsford City.
While Lapslie junior had his own issues, he had perspective because his sibling has struggled significantly with injuries throughout his career.
Lapslie told The Yorkshire Post: "I'm in contact with my brother daily. He's now at Farnborough.
"My brother has struggled a lot in his career (with injuries) and it's probably a lot of the reason why I'm so grateful because he's struggled with multiple injuries.
"So if you compare it to what I've had, I've been able to play but I just can't play (not selected) on a matchday compared to not being able to play at all.
"I'm grateful for being able to stay fit and try and help the team when I do get a chance.
"When we speak, we try to keep it unrelated to football. But it came to a point where in March, it was like eight or nine squads in a row where you're not in. Then we're talking about what the future looked like.
"But apart from that, we try and keep it away from football because obviously we're both consumed with football all the time anyway."
The Bantams player has fought his way back into the first-team picture at City and is also hugely grateful for what he's got at a club which is in the Londoner's soul and his family's.
Family is everything to Lapslie and so are City.
His parents are regular visitors to Valley Parade, making the trip up from the south. His nan was also in attendance at the club's EFL Cup win at Leyton Orient earlier this autumn.
There were touching scenes after the game when Lapslie embraced her. His grandfather, who had been a big source of inspiration in his life and a huge supporter, had passed away a few weeks earlier.
The Waltham Forest born player's pride at stepping out in the claret and amber is not the sort that can be manufactured.
When told back in January that his opportunities could be restricted, he backed himself to earn another chance.
Late in the summer window, despite some interest from elsewhere, the 29-year-old did not push for a move.
Although he was brought up at the other end of the country, Bradford feels like home.
He continued: "My eldest is a Bradford fan. I was doing reading with her the other day and the man's name in the book was Brad and she was like: 'oh, Bradford, Bradford!'
"So everything is Bradford at the house. We've got Bradford flags, Bradford stickers. They've (kids) got their Bradford kits, obviously.
"I'm going to follow Bradford for the rest of my life. That's a fact and I'll be very surprised if my eldest doesn't as well.
"My parents probably come up twice a month to come see us. So we get together quite a bit."
Used pretty sparingly by former Bantams chief Graham Alexander last season and in the first part of the current one, Lapslie is doing his level best to impress the new 'gaffer,' Michael Duff.
Despite spending time on the periphery, Lapslie's relationship with Alexander remained a good one. But it was not lost upon him that a change of manager could work in his favour.
In all competitions, he has started four of City's last five matches. His goal in Saturday's FA Cup rout against Marine was his first in over a year.
Lapslie acknowledged: "When the gaffer (Alexander) left, some people did make comments to me and said: 'maybe I bet you're happy about it'.
"But I wasn't; I'd got on with Graham. But obviously, with a new gaffer coming in, there are more opportunities and I was excited about that. I'm grateful because this gaffer has given me a couple of opportunities.
"I think I've done okay and I think more opportunities will come. So, yes, I'm excited and still believe that I can make it really work here."
While Lapslie was left out of Duff's first match-day league squad for the home game against Stevenage on October 17, there was a silver lining.
After naming his side, Duff bumped into Lapslie with his young family at Valley Parade. What could have been an awkward moment turned into a positive conversation as the pair got to know each other and had an extended chat with his young family present.
Lapslie continued: "It speaks volumes about him as well, to take the time to get to know my daughters because he could have easily just moved on there and he didn't. He took the time to get to know us. So yes, I'm really grateful for that."