Bradford City v Harrogate Town - Jon Stead looking forward to Valley Parade return

AT the age of 37 and resident at his 12th professional club, Jon Stead is entitled to know a good dressing room when he sees one.
Harrogate Town's Jon Stead.Harrogate Town's Jon Stead.
Harrogate Town's Jon Stead.

The Yorkshireman was blessed to experience it at former club Bradford City – where the Harrogate Town forward returns tonight.

Stead was a senior professional alongside the likes of Stephen Darby, Rory McArdle, Gary Liddle and someone who he may well line up against this evening in Billy Clarke and the esprit de corps was up with there with the best.

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Fun times were to be had and a story was penned when City reached the last eight of the FA Cup in 2014-15 under the watch of a solid citizen and highly capable manager in Phil Parkinson.

Former Bradford City striker Jon Stead.Former Bradford City striker Jon Stead.
Former Bradford City striker Jon Stead.

Stead is now part of another beguiling tale at Harrogate, a club who are making their own modern-day history. They hope to write another page this evening.

On his time at Bradford and spying similarities with his current side, Stead told The Yorkshire Post: “It was the perfect time. I had gone back to Huddersfield and things weren’t working out for me there and I was not playing much football.

“I had a brief loan spell at Oldham which did not go well either and I was thinking: ‘Where do I go from here? Where is the next step?’

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“When Bradford came up, the manager and assistant were my type of people and very similar to the gaffer now. They were honest and direct and knew what they wanted from you and expected some loyalty. There was mutual respect and it felt like a good fit. They were a great set of lads and we had some fantastic times.

“The FA Cup was magical. It was a really good move and spun me back in the right direction.

“Bradford have real backing from the support and a loyal strong network of fans and are motivated about having the club at the heart of the community.

“Bradford deserves a club which holds those values. They have got people who are willing to support the club and it speaks wonders for the pull they have got.

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“I am looking forward to the game. There will be some familiar faces behind the scenes as well. Whether I will get to see them, I don’t know. It may be from a distance, it is just recognising people from behind the facemasks!

“Stuart (McCall) looks like he’s got a good solid hard-working mentality back into the club which they had when I was there. With their added quality, they will have a very strong season and we will have our work cut out.

“I remember Stuart at Sheffield United and in tandem with (Neil) Warnock, they were very similar characters in some respects. He would do a lot of the coaching and Neil would have his usual comments on the side.

“For me, Stuart is a perfect character to be a manager and have that right mentality to deal with players.”

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Scanning the fixture list back in high summer, Stead’s eyes instantly gravitated to tonight’s engagement when the season’s itinerary was unveiled.

The cameras may be resident this evening at BD8, but the forward professes disappointment at the fact that fans are not present. Although he believes it may help Harrogate a jot.

Stead added: “It might help us a bit as there would have been 16 to 18,000 home fans. It will be a different atmosphere for us to play in and it might help us a little bit.

“But for our supporters, it is a shame as well and it is a local derby and a great occasion and place to go to see the club make another historic step. It is a frustration, but one that everyone is having to stomach at the minute. Hopefully, with this petition, it can get a bit of leeway.”

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On Harrogate’s start to the campaign thus far – one which saw Simon Weaver nominated for the League Two manager of the month award for September – he continued: “We have been pleased. We were confident going into the season and wanted to prove what we are about and show we can cut it at this level and for a large part of it, we have done.

“It is a breath of fresh air, to be honest. It has been since I have walked through the door.

“We have got a mixture of lads with a bit more experience, but then there are some who were desperate to play at a higher level and extremely talented young players. I think we have got the blend just right and every single one of the lads are proper, honest men.

“That has been the drive on the recruitment side and that comes from the top and the manager and Thirls (Paul Thirlwell) who want the type of people around them that they can work and have honest conversations with – and know what they are going to get. I think we have got that in abundance.”

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Doing his bit in City’s remarkable Cup run in 14-15 – Stamford Bridge et al – will always ensure that Stead belongs to a special part of the club’s history.

Reminiscence is never a chore.

He added: “It was a brilliant run.

“The goal against Sunderland was nice in exorcising a few demons and the Chelsea game was incredible. Even going back to the earlier rounds, the Halifax games was such a tough game and we managed to get over the line to set us on our way.

“The only thing that would have been nice is if we had an extra day before the Reading game as a Saturday league game and a Monday replay was a bit tough with a smaller squad.

“That definitely hindered us and gave Reading the upper hand,” he said.

“But what a time for the club on the pitch and off it.

“The financial impact was really needed at that time was great for the club.

“Every year at the (Chelsea) anniversary, people bring it up and I never get tired about talking about it.”

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