Bradford City v Huddersfield Town: Peter Jackson's foot in both camps as 'special' rivalry is rekindled

He will make the short journey up the A641 to a place he knows better than most in Valley Parade on Saturday morning for the resumption of derby rivalries between Bradford City and Huddersfield Town. Two Yorkshire clubs; his two clubs.

The legendary ex-Bantams captain and Town manager - he also briefly managed City - travelled along that connecting road back on May 3.

After attending Town's final game of a desperately disappointing 2024-25 season, Jackson, who works in hospitality on match days, headed home to Brighouse and tuned into City's date with destiny against Fleetwood.

Emotionally, the Bradfordian was back at BD8; and on this of all years, 40 years on from the Valley Parade fire disaster, the stars were aligned and coloured claret and amber.

As thoughts turned to League One after that special afternoon in City's modern-day history, the name of Huddersfield - who are making their first visit to Bradford in nearly 19 years - invariably cropped up with a rivalry now rekindled.

Jackson told The Yorkshire Post: "The day they (City) went up was so emotional, it was incredible.

"I was listening on the radio. I was working at Town, but left early and was just listening to the game and thinking about what it meant from 40 years previously when I lifted the Third Division championship title on that pitch.

"It was just emotional for me, particularly with the year and the documentaries that have been on television about the fire.”

After the fire, Huddersfield were one of the clubs to help City out with some ‘home’ games staged at Leeds Road.

One derby during that period when the Bantams were homeless - at Odsal - remains part of the City-Town story. It's one which has featured a surfeit of goals, shocks, controversy and one dark moment; the infamous Kevin Gray-Gordon Watson game in December 1997.

The goals? Try City's 4-3 win at Odsal in November 1986, with Town triumphing by that same scoreline in Bradford in September 1994.

The stunners? The rock-bottom Terriers' win at Valley Parade during City's 'nearly' promotion season of 1987-88; regarded as a watershed one for all the wrong reasons for the hosts.

Jackson's own big memory revolves around another game in the run-in. When the Town side he was managing shocked a City side striving for the top-flight in a 3-2 triumph in April 1999.

In that campaign, the Bantams held their nerve to reach the big time in May; a time also fateful for Jackson. He was sacked by Town, first time around.

He recalled: "We were about eighth and Bradford were about second or third.

"I always remember that game because Barry Rubery, our chairman then, said that if we won, he'd take us to the European Cup semi-finals somewhere in a private jet.

"He didn't think we'd win because he was looking to get rid of me really. That win changed everything and he then changed his mind and said: 'no, I only said the man of the match would go!'

"Memorable days and they always used to be high-scoring games as well."

Now 64 and with a storied football career to look back on, Jackson is happy to see his two clubs breaking bread again.

His only pang of regret, if there is one, will to be to see them take the stage in front of a packed out Valley Parade as League One clubs.

In his eyes, it really is a derby that is deserving Championship status and few would disagree.

Jackson commented: "Absolutely. I remember when Mark Hughes was in charge of Bradford and recall speaking to him at the end of the season (City finished 14th in League Two in 2021-22).

"On that night, they were having their player of the season awards. This was on a Sunday night.

"Four hundred tickets were sold out within days and at the final game of the season, they had nearly 20,000 with nothing to play for.

"I know a lot of people who support both clubs and some amazing people.

"I remember when Town got to the Premier League and everyone supported Huddersfield. I said to one of the directors, make sure you look after those people who were there and stuck by them when they were playing at Rochdale and Scunthorpe and places like that.

"Town have had a few really tough years, but have had the backing of the owner and board in spending millions on the stadium and a lot of money on players. They have had a massive changeround and you have to hold your hand up to the chairman for spending that much money. And I'm delighted for Bradford as well.

"I know what this game means to both clubs and the rivalry between the two.

"You don't realise how big a local derby it is until you are playing or managing in it or attend it. The atmosphere will be really special, particularly with Bradford on the asurgent after going up."