The brand new kits were the first tell-tale sign to Alan Nevison that things had changed at Valley Parade.

Nevison has rejoined City's youth development programme after seven years working with the Manchester United academy.

He had left his home-town club at a time when the centres of excellence were shamefully neglected by those up top. Walking back through the doors, he immediately noticed the difference.

"The changes are unbelievable," said Nevison. "They've been drastic but fantastic and it's definitely going the right way.

"I remember being here before with the under-tens working for Steve Smith and Ron Futcher and we had to wear the same training kit as the builders making the stands. All the lads were having to wear extra large tops to play in.

"Now there is new kit and new minibuses to take the boys around and the infrastructure is all there. We just need to work on the detail a bit more." Nevison is already passing on the tips he picked up from United, where he worked alongside Rene Meulensteen, who moved on to become manager of Danish club Brondby.

"It was a fantastic experience at probably the best academy in the country but it was the right time for me to take on a little bit more responsibility. I'm a Bradford lad and a lifelong fan so it was good to come back.

"It's obviously an eye-opener compared with Man United but you need to create the right environment whatever the facilities. At United, it was always positive and they knew when to give the kids their freedom as well as when to provide that disciplined structure.

"There's really good stuff going on here already, the coaches are very strong and the players are a good standard for a centre of excellence.

"We now have to set our standards and try to be the Manchester United of centres of excellence and we aren't that far away. Then the next stage is to be an academy."

Youth development officer Peter Horne still has a photo taken before a match of a City age-group side with sleeves hanging down over their hands. It is an effective reminder of the huge strides that have been made below the surface in the past couple of years.

Alongside Nevison, another welcome arrival is the club's first Asian coach, Pav Singh, who is taking charge of the under-11s. He is also instrumental in the council-run project in the Bradford 3 district to encourage more young players from the inner city.

Horne said: "Employing Pav is a massive step for us. I've known him a lot of years through football circles and he's a great guy with a superb enthusiasm for his job.

"He has a lot of contacts round Bradford and will provide a link into the Asian community, which is so important. He understands the culture and language and parents may feel more comfortable talking to him.

"Getting Alan on board is another massive coup because he is a brilliant coach of younger players. Again it shows the crucial part that youth will play in the club's future.

"This business is all about ticking boxes and it is only the facilities that are holding us back in our aim to become an academy. Thankfully we get great support from the guys at Soccer City Thornton, Marley, Thornton School and Hanson.

"Without them it would be absolutely horrendous but they provide us with confidence to move forward and plan things. Hopefully there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

Nevison will focus on the younger age groups - the crucial catchment area if City are to produce their own talent.

He has already held bridge-building sessions with junior clubs in the area and is establishing tighter links with Ian Ormondroyd's community department to look out for players in schools.

Horne added: "We don't saturate the market with scouts sitting round doing nothing. Some clubs local to us have 40 to 50 scouts and you get two or three turning up at the same match, which seems pointless.

"We have a good, small team of 15 who know what they're looking for. We haven't got staff coming out of our ears but people are now taking Bradford seriously."

At least six youngsters from the centre of excellence are tipped to be offered scholarships this season - the biggest intake for many years - which illustrates that standards are rising.

Ultimately, though, the proof of the pudding is how many home-developed players make it all the way to the first team.

"We've already seen Joe Colbeck and Joe Brown and I seriously believe Simon Ainge will get his chance soon," Horne said. "But I know there was one game last season when seven of the squad were products of the youth system. How many other clubs can say that currently?

"We need to keep that production line going. One day we'll have five or six quality players out there who are not only playing for us but attracting interest from other clubs.

"That's what we are striving for because it's the lifeblood. If you are able to sell one player for £1m or so then everything is all right.

"And from what we've got coming through, I don't think we'll be too far from that within the next three years."

  • A development centre for goalkeepers kicks off on Saturday, September 30 at Apperley Bridge (10am). Call Nevison on 07949-584372 for further details.