Bradford City: Wembley memories provide extra currency in banter stakes

Not just among supporters, either, with the Bantams’ surge into the play-off places having also caused those handful of survivors from the heady days of 2013 to take a stroll down memory lane and recount how defeat in the League Cup final was followed by promotion being sealed three months later.

To those in manager Phil Parkinson’s squad not part of the Valley Parade set-up back then, the reminiscences of Rory McArdle, James Hanson et al have become a stick with which to beat their more established team-mates when the banter is flying. Billy Knott invariably leads the mickey-taking, especially since Kyel Reid returned to the club and immediately plonked himself down next to McArdle, Hanson and Stephen Darby on the team coach to away games.

“Knotty likes having a bit of fun over it,” laughed McArdle when speaking to The Yorkshire Post. “He is never quiet and likes to bring a few things up, like his goal against Leeds and how he used to be at Chelsea. He also keeps mentioning Chelsea (in the FA Cup) last season, but we just tell him we were all involved in that as well as going to Wembley.

“If I am honest, we do bring Wembley up from time to time. We always say how nice it was to play there when it had 80,000 fans inside. We also like to tell Knotty about the days when it used to be good at Bradford City before all these southerners came in.”

As for the seating arrangements that see the heroes of 2013 occupy the same table on away trips, McArdle added: “We have always sat together in the middle.

“I signed at the same time as Darbs and new lads tend to knit together. ‘Hans’ has been here forever and I usually sit next to him, although you don’t get much elbow room.

“When Reidy came back (on loan), we were the only lads left from before. He knew us so just slotted in – although he sits with headphones on all the time anyway.”

It is perhaps no surprise that spirits are high at Valley Parade after a seven-game run that has yielded 18 points.

It has taken City from eighth to third, though tonight could see Parkinson’s men slip a place due to Gillingham taking on Walsall.

A win for either will be enough to leapfrog Bradford, who also have a keen interest in how seventh-placed Barnsley fare at home to Oldham Athletic.

Asked how closely he will be following the club’s rivals tonight, McArdle said: “I will probably have a little glance every now and again (at the scores), but it is nothing we can control.

“We have got ourselves in a position now where it is in our hands. We have not really had that all season. A few more wins can cement our position a little bit more.”

Like 20 years ago when City last won promotion from the third tier under Chris Kamara, the club is hitting form at just the right time.

Burton Albion, occupying the second automatic promotion slot, are six points ahead with five games to go, but if the Bantams are to go up then the play-offs – and a return trip to Wembley – looks the more likely route.

“Everyone will be happy if we can get another Wembley appearance under our belt,” added McArdle. “Especially as next year it will give Knotty something else to talk about. If any new lads come in, he can say ‘How good was last year?’”