Bradford City currently sit third in League One following the first half of the 2025-26 season.
With 46 points, the Bantams have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the division this year.
Furthermore, City have managed to make the University of Bradford Stadium (Valley Parade) a fortress with the team winning nine games at home so far this season.
However, for a large period, it appeared that the Bantams would never reach this stage and would instead be rooted in the depths of League Two forever.
This piece outlines how the club rebuilt themselves, and were able to construct themselves into a good team under current manager Graham Alexander.
Our journey starts with the 2022-23 season, the opening full season of Mark Hughes’ reign at the club.
Following an arguably disappointing season that had seen the club finish 14th in League Two, City had a squad reconstruction in the summer of 2022 bringing in over a dozen new players including Richie Smallwood.
Smallwood would go onto captain the team as the side secured a sixth place finish in the league, with club legend Andy Cook picking up 28 goals in this campaign.
This finish was primarily built on the Bantams’ away form, with City winning eleven games and picking up 39 points on their travels.
However, it would be away from home where all the side’s hard work would be undone with a 3-1 defeat to Carlisle United in the second-leg of the League Two playoffs (3-2 on aggregate) eliminating any possibility of promotion.
But, even with this semi-final defeat, there arguably was hope of Bradford City picking themselves up, and pushing themselves into the 2023-24 season (where promotion would once again be the aim).
If there had been hope at the start of the 2023-24 season, it was quickly diminished with the Bantams’ start to the campaign.
A run of six games without a win in League Two stretching the start of September to the start of October saw Mark Hughes relieved of his duties and, with the club 18th in the league, midfielder Kevin McDonald was put in charge of the club on an interim basis.
Under McDonald, the club were able to put together a three-game winning streak and drew with Wrexham at the University of Bradford Stadium following a spectacular finish from Adam Wilson in the closing stages of the game.
But, two straight league losses and a loss in the FA Cup to Wycombe Wanderers saw the midfielder’s interim run come to an end.
Enter Graham Alexander. The manager had been at MK Dons earlier in that season, but was sacked following his start to season.
Therefore, at Bradford City, the Scotsman arguably had an opportunity to prove he could deliver on big expectations and to show he could be successful as a manager after setbacks.
Following two consecutive losses against Barrow and Notts County respectively, the Bantams went on a six-game winning run between November and December, which restored hope among supporters heading into Christmas.
What followed can be described as something of a blip. Just two wins in January, with neither of those coming in the league. Instead, three losses and two draws were carried out, deflating some of the optimism present prior to Christmas.
February was bright, with three wins in a row (including against Wrexham at the Racecourse), but March challenged supporters and the club like nothing had under Alexander up to this point.
After a positive start to the month away at Accrington Stanley with a 3-0 win, Bradford lost four in a row, conceding 13 times and scoring just once (which came in the 5-1 defeat to Mansfield Town at home).
In the final of this losing run, at fellow Yorkshire outfit Harrogate Town, the game was arguably dominated by Town with the Bantams unable to gain a foothold in the game for large periods.
Following this game, some supporters were calling for protests, which took place prior to City’s game against Tranmere Rovers at home.
For the club, this was arguably a huge moment. With protests taking place and bad form present, those high up in Bradford’s hierarchy had some huge choices to make.
They could have relieved Alexander of his duties, and once again recruited another manager. But, it was clear. This formula had not worked.
Whether it be Derek Adams, Hughes, or another manager, sacking the manager had short-term gains but, arguably, in the long-term, it did not lead to benefits.
With this present, the club did not relieve Alexander of his duties. Instead, they put trust in his choices and decisions.
Furthermore, owner Stefan Rupp issued an open letter to supporters aiming to look at the situation present, whilst also aiming to relate to supporters, and build hope.
What was needed was togetherness from all sections of the club at this time.
Following protests, open letters, and countless other calls from supporters calling for improvement, Alexander suddenly made it click.
From the game against Tranmere Rovers until the end of the season, Bradford City did not lose a single game and drew just once to Grimsby Town in a run which saw the Bantams win six times in seven games.
Furthermore, the club appointed David Sharpe as the new Head of Football Operations, arguably showing City fans that the club was moving in the right direction.
Meanwhile, while the late season push wasn’t enough to push the side into the League Two play-offs (City finished 9th in the table), it did give hope to supporters that maybe, just maybe, something could be happening at the club.
If the Bantams were not to follow the fate of the prior season, a good start to the campaign was imperative, and this is exactly what followed.
Within just three minutes of their opening game against MK Dons, Bradford were 1-0 up. One soon became two following an own goal from Sam Sherring in the fifth minute. What resulted of this was a 2-1 victory, away at a promotion favourite – the perfect way to kick-off the new season.
However, after this, the side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town on penalties whilst also drawing with Salford City before beating Bromley 3-1 at Valley Parade, which was arguably needed to maintain high hopes heading into September.
Meanwhile, a key theme that dominated the first half of the season was a lack of consistency. In September, the Bantams won twice before putting together their only real form of winning consistency in October with a three-game winning run.
But, after this, City had to wait nearly two months for their next league victory, which eventually came against Swindon Town, needed to say the least.
However, the biggest moment in the season arguably came the game after against Notts County, with City losing 3-0.
What followed this defeat can only be described as outrage, with the game seemingly won by five minutes of chaos in the first half where County scored all three of their goals.
If we could put a pinpoint on when this season turned 180 for Bradford City, this would be it. But, at the time, one thing was clear, a positive reaction would be needed to restore optimism in the club.
Bantams fans got exactly what they were looking for over the two festive fixtures on Boxing Day and the 29th with wins over both Port Vale and Chesterfield.
Sure, they were not pretty, but they were wins and that is all that counts on the final league table for the season.
Key to the Vale win was striker Andy Cook, who scored a brace in the victory whilst Antoni Sarcevic played a match-winning role in the Chesterfield game.
However, the club would go onto lose one of its key frontmen, Andy Cook, in the New Year’s Day draw with Barrow with Cook sustaining a cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.
For City fans, this moment was arguably the most devastating news they could have hoped for and one that would live in the minds of them for a long period.
But, it was gave some fans a further desire to win a promotion in honour of Cook and the services he had given to the club prior to his injury. The fanbase desire was there, now, the team just had to earn it.
Following the Barrow game, Graham Alexander’s side established a winning consistency rarely seen in City history with just two losses in 15 games seeing the Bantams break their club record for most consecutive home league wins (10).
What was clear to spot with these games was that not every single game had the most attractive football, but it had the necessary football to win the game at hand, and this is what mattered.
The run brought the Bantams directly into the automatic promotion conversation with Bradford City rising from ninth after the Barrow draw to second following the 3-0 victory against Cheltenham Town.
Could it be? A Bradford side that could actually get out of League Two? Hope within the fanbase was arguably at all time high, with fans praising the team and expressing their pride for what had been done so far. Work was still to be done, but hope had most definitely been restored in the club.
With the Bantams second in the league ahead of a trio to Gillingham, all attention turned to the game as a potential opportunity to go top of the league for the first time in the season.
Furthermore, following Walsall losing to Grimsby in the early kick-off, expectation further increased.
However, Bradford were unable to deliver with a 1-0 loss to the Gills meaning the Bantams did not take their opportunity. Furthermore, another 1-0 loss, this time to Tranmere Rovers at home, meant that a three point gap emerged between City and the Saddlers.
Therefore, arguably for City, closing this gap would be key if the side were to be promoted.
This is exactly what occured the following weekend against Colchester United, with the Bantams winning 4-1 against United in front of 22,000+ fans. Meanwhile, Walsall drew with Gillingham, closing the gap to just one point.
However, following this victory, the problem of consistency appeared to leak back into the City side with the outfit winning just one game (against Swindon Town) prior to the final day.
This saw their chances of winning the league diminish whilst also putting their chances of automatic promotion at risk.
But, there was still one key factor going in Bradford’s favour and this was that Walsall could not seem to win a game.
Whilst the Bantams struggled, the Saddlers did too and, with the Swindon game seeing Bradford overtake Walsall, combined with other results, a one-point gap emerged between City (3rd) and Walsall (4th) heading into the final day.
It was a do-or-die situation, all or nothing. It all came down to the one game. If Bradford won, the Bantams would go up automatically. If Walsall won, and Bradford did not win, the Saddlers would go up automatically. Everything to win, a lot to lose.
With this in mind, attention turned to the final day with Walsall away at Crewe Alexandra and Bradford at home to Fleetwood Town.
City would be backed by a 24,000+ strong support, whilst Walsall took a sold-out away end to Crewe.
With everything set, the football got underway. For a large percentage of the afternoon, it appeared that Bradford would go up with both sides drawing.
But, when Walsall scored in the 59th minute, tension grew around the University of Bradford Stadium. Bradford had to score, City had to win.
Opportunity after opportunity passed, whether it was Jack Shepherd hitting the post or Sarcevic putting over from six yards out. It just did not seem to want to go in for the Bantams.
That was until the 96th minute of the game at Valley Parade. Deep in stoppage time, Tommy Leigh hoofed a ball towards the Fleetwood box, which was then headed away to George Lapslie who hit it. It then deflected off James Bolton on its way through and landed in the net.
Cue scenes around the stadium. As the ball hit the net, every Bradford fan jumped out of their seat, with many hugging fellow City fans in joy. Meanwhile, pitch-side, some Bradford fans had invaded the pitch as the players wheeled away in celebration.
Bradford City had done it, they had found a way to win, through pure hope and grit (and, perhaps, a little luck). It was despair for Walsall, who went onto lose to AFC Wimbledon in the play-off final whilst it was joy for Bradford who were promoted to League One automatically.
It was done, the club had returned to League One after six arguably horrible years in the EFL’s basement division. The mission was complete, the Bantams had done it.
Two promotion celebrations followed the game, one on the pitch after the game and the other at a parade days after the game to celebrate the team’s achievement.
It was the first time the Bantams had been promoted automatically since the automatic promotion to the Premier League in the late 1990s, and engraved Graham Alexander and countless City players in Bradford folklore for years to come.
Fans were unsure what was to come. But, they were sure of one thing, it would be in a division higher.
Entering League One for the first time in six seasons, there was uncertainty about the expectations for the season prior to it starting.
Bradford had a strong summer, with a large focus on bringing in experienced players such as Max Power, Joe Wright, and Curtis Tilt to help improve their chances of promotion.
However, for fans, one aim was clear – survival.
City got the journey to survival underway perfectly on the opening day of the 2025-26 season with a 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers which showed Bradford were back, and were not high to make up the numbers.
Further wins over Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup and Luton Town followed, further showing the Bantams’ strength before a 2-1 win at Stockport County solidified this thought.
Prior to the game, County hadn’t lost at home in 12 games.
However, following a beatdown from Stockport in the first-half, Bradford came out with fight and turned the game on its head with a spectacular save from Sam Walker securing the three points for the Bantams.
Wins over Cardiff City, one of the favourites for promotion, and Huddersfield Town also increased the optimism in the fanbase heading into October.
But, the Bantams appeared to struggle in October and November with just one league win for the outfit across the two months, presenting a challenging period for the side.
However, here, a clear difference was clear to see with fans instead backing the team to improve instead of slamming the team for their performances week after week. Progression, to say the least.
Their patience was soon rewarded with a December run that saw Bradford City lose just once and win four times to reaffirm themselves as a promotion contender.
Now, with Bradford third in the league, a league meeting with Cardiff City on Saturday will arguably be one of the Bantams’ biggest games in League One for years, and will challenge the side once again.
If they can overcome this challenge, then fans may truly start to believe.
With tests against Cardiff, Huddersfield Town, and Lincoln City all to come in January, this month arguably will be imperative in deciding how Bradford view the rest of the season.
However, when compared to just two years ago, the difference in the club is key to see. This is a club that has been truly rebuilt once again, and which has a team and fanbase connected fully for the first time since the Phil Parkinson era.
If this connection and hope can be maintained then, arguably, anything is possible for Bradford City.
