Promotion would be proud day for former idol Ellis

AS a tricky winger, Mark Ellis spent much of the Eighties supplying a succession of Bradford City strikers with goalscoring opportunities.
Ex Bradford City player Mark EllisEx Bradford City player Mark Ellis
Ex Bradford City player Mark Ellis

The legendary Bobby Campbell, with 121 league strikes still comfortably the Valley Parade club’s top scorer, was one of several to benefit from the supply line provided by Ellis in a nine-year spell that saw the Bantams rise from the basement division to within a whisker of the top flight.

Nowadays, the mop of blond hair that became such a familiar sight down the City left flank may be cut much tighter but the 51-year-old is still providing important assists for his hometown club.

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Not only was it Ellis who, as Guiseley assistant manager, pushed former team-mate Stuart McCall into offering James Hanson a trial in the summer of 2009 but he also played a pivotal role in bringing Nahki Wells to England from his native Bermuda.

The two strikers will this Saturday spearhead Bradford’s push for promotion when Phil Parkinson’s side take on Northampton Town and Ellis admits watching the League Two play-off final will be a proud moment.

“I’d imagine it will be similar to how I felt at Wembley before the League Cup final,” says Ellis, who helps run the Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy (RIASA) in Leeds, to the Yorkshire Post.

“Seeing them both walk out before such a huge game was a great feeling. It was a shame how the final turned out (Swansea won 5-0) but I definitely think Bradford can do it this weekend.”

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Hanson, with 14 goals to his name this season, was spotted by Ellis in conventional circumstances, the 6ft 4in shelf-stacker turned striker having first come to his attention when playing up front for Eccleshill United. Twenty-five goal Wells, however, was an altogether more unusual find that came via RIASA, a football education scheme which provides international students with the opportunity to play and develop their skills in England while also studying for an accredited American degree through Richmond University in London.

Ellis recalls: “Nahki just turned up at my door at Leeds Met (University) along with all the others looking for a chance. They pay their way and hope to showcase their talents by playing in the North East Counties League or the Lancashire League. That is what they want, while their parents are pleased because the lads study for a business degree while here.

“It soon became clear that Nahki had something special. At first, I rang my old Bradford team-mate Greg Abbott at Carlisle and said, ‘I’ve got the new Theo Walcott for you to look at’.

“Greg told me to send him up to Carlisle for a trial. Nahki ended up getting a contract until the end of the season but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out for him. That’s just how it is sometimes but it did mean Nahki got his chance at Bradford.”

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Carlisle’s loss proved to be very much City’s gain as, after a short trial, he signed a one-year contract in the summer of 2011. Ten goals followed in that first season, a tally beaten by only Hanson as the Bantams finished 18th.

Before the end of that first year, Bradford had taken up the option to extend the Bermuda international’s contract before a new three-year deal was signed last September.

“Nahki has done really well and that is great for both my old club and the (RIASA) programme,” says Ellis, who after being forced to retire in 1992 from injury after two years at Halifax Town ran a series of football camps in America.

“I am a Bradford lad and loved my time there as a player so seeing Nahki doing good things for the club has been really satisfying. Hopefully, Bradford can see the value in it as well. There is a lot of untapped talent out there and we get lads joining the programme from all over the world.

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“Many are from America but there are also a few from Hong Kong and Dubai. They all want an American degree but also want to play football in England.

“Nahki doing so well – and particularly during the League Cup run, when Bradford games were shown all over the world – has shown what can be achieved.

“There are some other decent lads, too. Christian Eissele has done really well in Finland and is now with FC Orlando City. I would have loved to see Christian at Bradford, as by now I firmly believe he would be in the first team.

“The problem is Christian has an American passport, which means it is harder to get a visa. Nahki having one from the Commonwealth meant we could get him a chance in England.”

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As if to underline the boost Wells’s impact with Bradford has given RIASA – based at Leeds Metropolitan University and jointly owned by Bantams chief executive David Baldwin – Ellis spent last night casting his eye over another footballing prodigy from Bermuda.

“We are starting to get noticed by a few clubs,” he adds. “They have been in touch to discuss possible link-ups in the future and that is something we may consider.”

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