During the 2022/23 campaign, current Carlisle United manager Mark Hughes led Bradford City to the League Two playoffs with the side having an impressive season.
However, the Bantams lost 3-2 to the Cumbrians in the semi-finals of the playoffs, meaning that the club remained in the fourth tier of the EFL for another season.
This article lists the starting lineup that Mark Hughes decided to adopt in the semi-finals of the 2022/23 playoffs.
During his time at Bradford City in the 2022/23 season, Harry Lewis featured 48 times for the Bantams in the league whilst keeping 18 clean sheets and pulling off 117 saves.
Furthermore, after making 31 appearances for the outfit in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, the 28-year-old joined Carlisle United and featured 41 times during his time at the club.
Meanwhile, the goalkeeper left the Cumbrians joined Mansfield Town within the 2025/26 January transfer window and featured three times.
Within his first season at Bradford City, Brad Halliday featured 46 times for the Bantams in the league whilst netting a single goal and picking up five assists.
Following this, the right-wing back made 122 appearances for the outfit and contributed to their 2024/25 automatic promotion before leaving in the middle of the 2025/26 season to join Dundee FC, where he featured 11 times last season.
After joining Bradford City in January of the 2022/23 season, Sam Stubbs featured 21 times for the Bantams in the league.
Following this, the central defender made a further 34 appearances for the outfit in the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old featured 33 times for Shrewsbury Town last season after impressing and making 46 appearances for Cheltenham Town in the 2024/25 season.
Within his first loan spell at Bradford City from Huddersfield Town in the 2022/23 campaign, Romoney Crichlow featured 36 times for the Bantams in the league.
After making 32 appearances for Peterborough United in the 2023/24 season, the 26-year-old featured 15 times for Dagenham & Redbridge whilst on loan in the first half of the 2024/25 season.
Following this, the former Plymouth Argyle man in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, made 12 appearances in his second loan spell at the Bantams, whilst contributing to the outfit gaining automatic promotion to League One.
Meanwhile, after being released by the Posh, Crichlow featured 18 times for Barnet in the league last season.
During his second season at Bradford City, Liam Ridehalgh featured 30 times for the Bantams in the 2022/23 campaign.
Following this, the 35-year-old made a further 35 appearances for the outfit in the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, the former Tranmere Rovers man is currently a free agent after leaving Guiseley AFC by mutual consent in January of the 2025/26 season.
Within the 2022/23 season at Bradford City, Alex Gilliead featured 44 times for the Bantams in the league.
Furthermore, the 30-year-old made 48 appearances for the outfit in the 2023/24 season.
Following this, the central midfielder featured 49 times for Shrewsbury Town in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons.
Before going on loan to Carlisle United in January of the 2025/26 campaign, where he made 41 appearances whilst contributing to them reaching the National League Playoffs.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old is currently a free agent after being released by Shrewsbury Town at the end of last season.
During his time at Bradford City in the second half of the 2022/23 season, Adam Clayton featured 16 times for the Bantams in the league whilst scoring three goals.
Following this, in the 2023/24 campaign, the 37-year-old made 29 appearances for Rochdale within the National League before retiring at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the former Doncaster Rovers man was manager of Matlock Town in the 2025/26 season until he was relieved of his duties.
During the 2022/23 season, Richard Smallwood featured 52 times for the Bantams whilst netting three goals and picking up six assists.
Furthermore, the 35-year-old made 104 appearances for the outfit in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, whilst arguably being an integral part of the Bantams automatic promotion to League One.
Following this, the central midfielder featured 32 times for Tranmere Rovers in the first half of the 2025/26 campaign before going on loan to Bristol Rovers, where he made 15 appearances.
Meanwhile, the former Hull City man is currently a free agent after being released by Tranmere at the end of last season.
Within the 2022/23 season, Jamie Walker featured 27 times for the Bantams whilst netting five goals and contributing to a single assist.
Furthermore, the 32-year-old made 79 appearances for the outfit in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons whilst netting 10 goals and picking up 11 assists.
Meanwhile, the central attacking midfielder is currently at Grimsby Town, where he featured 51 times last campaign.
During the 2022/23 season, Andy Cook featured 52 times for the Bantams whilst netting 31 goals and picking up eight assists.
Following this, the striker made 90 appearances for the outfit whilst netting 37 goals and picking up 13 assists. Before he joined Grimsby Town in the middle of the 2025/26 season, where he featured 25 times and netted seven goals, as well as contributing to two assists.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old is currently a free agent after being released by Bradford City at the end of the season.
Within the 2022/23 campaign, former Crystal Palace loanee Scott Banks featured 36 times for the Bantams whilst netting six goals and picking up six assists.
Furthermore, the 24-year-old permanently moved to German side St. Pauli, where he made 16 appearances within the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.
Following this, during the 2025/26 season, the former Dundee United man was on loan at Blackpool and Barnsley where he featured 42 times whilst picking up eight goals and five assists.
The right winger is currently under contract at St. Pauli until the 30th of June 2026.
