Callum Connolly has warned Sheffield Wednesday winning promotion from League One will not come easily to them just because of their historical stature.

Much is expected of the Owls and Leicester City, two big clubs in English football, now they are in the third tier. But Bradford City punched above their weight last season and will be planning to do so against when they are the guests for Wednesday's first home game of the new league campaign, on Thursday (8pm).

Last season Connolly Stockport County, like his new club the Bantams, finished in the play-off places whilst Luton Town, a Premier League club in 2024, missed out.

"It's not as easy to jump straight back up," warned midfielder Connolly. "I know you had Birmingham who romped the league (in 2024-25), but you've seen on Saturday Leicester drawing with Notts County.

"It's a difficult league to get out of.

"Sunderland, they struggled for a couple of years in League One, so it's getting more and more competitive every year. The teams coming up from League Two, there's big investments from them, and with the teams coming down, it's going to make it more competitive.

"I think League One's on the rise.”

The key for clubs falling into the division is "just adapting," he says.

WARNING: Callum Connolly (Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

placeholder image — WARNING: Callum Connolly (Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

"The home games are big, but the away grounds that are tough as well. We struggled at Blackpool when we came down from the Championship with adjusting to League One.

"It's going to be difficult for the likes of Leicester and Sheffield (Wednesday). I think they already know that with how they've recruited but everyone's looking forward to playing them.

"Leicester were Premier League champions a few years ago (2016). They're big occasions.

"Every game you need to be at your maximum, but a Sky game under the lights at Hillsborough is a big occasion for a footballer, so hopefully the lads are all geared up to try and get the three points.

FAN POWER: Sheffield Wednesday (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

"I've played Hillsborough a few times and it's obviously a great stadium. They want to be bouncing back up to the Championship straight away."

Some players try to pretend no game is more important than another, but Connolly's reference to the Sky Sports cameras was telling.

"It does (motivate you) a little bit," he admits, "but I think it's in the back of your mind, really.

"It's just another day in the office, so we won't prepare any differently."

And the presence of the Owls and 2021 FA Cup winners Leicester, and their big fanbases, should only add to the excitement in League One.

"I think the EFL is growing year in, year out," says Bradford manager Graham Alexander. "The quality is really high – coaches, players, stadiums, all that sort of thing.

"You see talent right throughout the divisions and you could see good games all over the country.

"When I went up to manage Motherwell I was looking at Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and thinking it could be a brilliant learning expedience managing in front of 50 or 60,000 (crowds in Glasgow).

"The level of the division can attract players but then we have to fight against these fish."