Legends of bradford city fc

Bradford City FC

The Best Players of the Last Decade

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Introduction

Defenders

Strikers

Goalkeepers

Midfielders

Others

IntroductionWelcome to the Bantams Past museum opened in 2006. In this presentation we are celebrating the best players of the last decade from super stoppers such as Gary Walsh to Star Strikers like Dean Windass. In the last ten years the club has gone up to the Premier League and then back down through all four divisions. Through Highs and lows and under several different managers and chairmen.

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Gary WalshGary Joined City in October 1997 from Middlesbrough for around £500,000. Gary won the Clubs Player of the Year award in his first season and was soon established as Number 1. He played a pivotal role in City’s promotion to the premiership in 1999 and was a regular as they began their top flight campaign. Gary is well known for a horror mistake against Manchester United with the score at 0-0 gifting Teddy Sherringham with a sitter and subsequently giving away the match. Fortunately Gary made very few errors during his time at the club.

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Appearances 133

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Matt Clarke• Matt Clarke only played 38 games for City,

most of them during their unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation from the Premiership in 99-00. Although his performances and consistency gave him the reputation of one of the most promising stoppers in the game. Clarke was linked with Arsenal, Everton, Spurs amongst others after a string of fine performances but he was eventually sold to Crystal Palace for a fee of £1.35 Million.

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David Wetherall• David Wetherall is now in his Ninth and final season at

the club. David was signed from neighbours Leeds for £1.4 Million in June 1999 and was the hero when he scored the winner against Liverpool to keep City in the premiership in 2000. David is renowned for his consistency in Central Defence often playing a full season as an ever present and was made captain after Stuart McCall left. David will take up a Coaching role with the club when he hangs up his boots at the end of this season having already managed the team as caretaker boss at the end of Last Season.

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Mark Bower• Mark Bower has been at the club as a

Professional since 1998 but was here also as a Youth player before that. After Years of playing in the reserves including during City’s premiership Years Mark became a regular first teamer in 2002 partnering Wetherall and has missed few games since except for a short spell out of the team earlier this season. Mark is a model of consistency and gives 100% every time he pulls on the Claret and Amber.

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Andy O’Brien

• Andy made 133 appearances for the Bantams between 1994 and 2001 before being sold to Newcastle for a club record fee of £2 million. Andy was part of the promotion team of 98-99 and the survival effort of 99-00. His solid performances meant that other clubs became interested and he was sold after City were relegated from the premiership.

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Wayne Jacobs• Wayne Jacobs never won any awards for

skill or class but the now assistant manager was the most reliable player in the changing rooms for over ten years. He made 319 appearances at City in defence mostly Left back and was in and out of the team for

most of his time at Valley Parade.

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Stuart McCall• The biggest Legend in the History of Bradford City.

Stuart had his first stint at the club between 1982 and 88 and his quality was soon spotted and he moved onto Everton and later Rangers. Stuart returned in 1998 and was the driving force behind City’s rise to the top playing as Captain throughout their promotion campaign and two years in the Premiership. In central Midfield Stuart was always the most committed player on the pitch and now demands that same commitment out of his players as Manager. Stuart made over 400 appearances for Bradford and is truly a City Legend.

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Peter Beagrie• Peter Beagrie may be remembered mostly

for his acrobatic goal celebrations but he was as skilful a player as the club has seen in the last decade. Operating on the left wing Peter was the catalyst for many of City’s goals which sealed their promotion and also their survival. He also scored his fair share, many of them from free kicks and penalties. Beagrie was voted as City’s best player of the 90’s and took his rightful place in the clubs Hall of fame.

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Jamie Lawrence• Jamie Lawrence was another star of City’s

Premiership adventure. He was a speedy right winger who could beat anyone on his day and would excite the crowd every time he got the ball at his feet. Jamie was also known for his exuberant hair styles which would go from Purple to Red and white and various other colours week by week. The Jamaican International played 156 games for the Bantams between 1997 and 2003.

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Dean Windass

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Deano is the Clubs third highest scorer of all time with 76 goals in two Spells which included 16 whilst in the Premiership. Dean joined for £950,000 from Oxford in 1999 and returned in 2003 after spells with Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. Windass was a fans favourite for his on field antics and ability to wind up the opposition and their fans most weeks but his goals were of a greater importance as City tried to halt their slide down the divisions. Dean left to join hometown club Hull City in 2007.

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Benito CarboneCarbone will be regarded as the clubs mosthigh profile signing in modern history. Benitowas a top class Premiership Striker when hewas signed in 2000 and his £40,000 a weekcontract signalled just how far the club had Gone. Although the club didn’t live up toexpectation, Carbone did and his superiorquality showed throughout. Unfortunately theclub was unable to sustain that level offinances after they were relegated andCarbone moved on after less than twoSeasons in Claret and Amber.

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Lee MillsLee Mills was City’s top scorer as they were promoted to the Premiership in 1999. HeWas the clubs first ever £1 Million signing when Paul Jewell purchased him from Port Vale. He scored 29 goals in 65 appearances including one against Wolves on the final day to secure promotion.Lee didn’t get many starts in the Premier League and was sold to Portsmouth for £1.35 Million in 2000.

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Robbie Blake

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Robbie Blake formed an unrelenting partnership with Lee Mills as City were promoted to the premiership. His 20 goals and excellent link up play were one of the main factors in Paul Jewell's side. He was constantly linked to moves to premiership clubs but remained with City until they were relegated and joined Burnley.

Paul Jewell

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Paul Jewell became manager in 1998 succeeding Chris Kamara and took City to the premier league with promotion in his first full season in charge. Paul had played for the club for ten years also and his success as a manager continued as against all odds he kept them in the premiership.

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Julian Rhodes

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Julian Rhodes is the saviour of Bradford City. He has been the backbone of the club since the nineties and as Geoffrey Richmond led the assault on the premiership Rhodes and his family were the real backers with the finances to progress the club and then in recent years save the club from going out of business. He is now joint chairman along with Mark Lawn and his business acumen is again taking the club forward.