Bradford City chief Rhodes seeking Hollywood ending to real-life Rocky story

7:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes has hailed rank outsiders City's phenomenal achievement in reaching the Capital One Cup semi-finals Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes has hailed rank outsiders City's phenomenal achievement in reaching the Capital One Cup semi-finals

Julian Rhodes reckons City’s “phenomenal” Capital One Cup run would be too far-fetched even for a Hollywood movie.

Phil Parkinson’s Bantams could become the first team from the fourth tier to reach a major Wembley final if they can defend a 3-1 advantage in tonight’s semi-final second leg at Aston Villa.

Joint-chairman Rhodes said it would rank as the greatest moment in the club’s history – and something that might never be equalled.

Rhodes said: “If somebody had given you a film script of what we have done, it would be thrown out. Rocky was more believable than this!

“A team from the Fourth Division who just stayed in the Football League by the skin of their teeth last season now have a realistic chance in the second leg of the semi-finals. It’s absolutely incredible.

“Even if we don’t go through, the team deserve huge praise and recognition for what they have done. It’s a phenomenal effort.

"To get to the second leg of the semis in front with a two-goal cushion ranks up there with some of the greatest achievements this club have ever had.

“It’s the first semi-final since 1911 so we are already making history. Just imagine if we do get through?

“People will point to getting to the Premier League and then staying there as fantastic achievements and they were. But for a one off, a fourth-tier club competing against 91 others, of which 20 are in the Premier League with the huge gulf in finances, to get to the final would be unprecedented.”

Not even the most optimistic fan expected the Bantams to head for Villa Park with a two-goal lead and Rhodes still maintains that the top-flight hosts are favourites to win the tie. But he admits nobody will forget how far they have come.

He added: “I’m not expecting us to get to the final. I’m just going there to enjoy it.

“I’m filled with pride and whatever happens, even if we end up getting hammered, we’ve had some fantastic nights in this competition.

“Every game has been pretty memorable: Notts County away was a great win, at Watford we were a goal down with ten minutes to go – against Burton we were 2-0 down with only seven minutes left.

“Of course the ones that will live long in the memory were Wigan, Arsenal and then the first leg with Villa. But they have all been great games.

“We were all hoping to keep it respectable after the first leg with maybe a draw or only losing 1-0. To be two goals up is beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and it does make it interesting.

“Villa are a Premier League side with some top players and they will come at us. It’s going to be a tough environment – but our lads have stood up to the task so far and who says they cannot do it again?

“I’m so glad the game on Saturday was called off because it allowed us to wrap up some of our key players.

“But if we don’t go through then I’m sure everyone will still have a really good night. The buzz and excitement around the city is great at the moment.

“This is a proper semi-final and the team deserve so much credit for getting to this stage. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for everybody and something we should all cherish.”

Comments(19)

Bantam76 says...
8:09am Tue 22 Jan 13

It really has been a cup run and a half. The team has kept us on our toes right to the end of every game in this competition:

Notts Co - late goal in extra time (and what a finish)
Watford - two late goals in normal time to clinch it
Burton - two down, the two in the last seven to win it in extra time
Wigan - penalties
Arsenal - so close to winning in normal time but took 'em on penalties
Villa - even after they scored, we never settled for a one goal victory!

The spirit in this bunch of lads has been amazing. The ties have just got tougher and they've just risen to the task each and every time!

Really proud, what a time to be a City fan, especially when I've three brothers who are L---s fans! I'm stuck south of London, just hope I make it back tonight!

Come on City - we CAN do this! CTID

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lancaster1 says...
8:55am Tue 22 Jan 13

praying wife holds on due to have baby this week, enduced on thursday if not before but what a way of bringing my new born into the world with a goal from the bradford boys!!!!!

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nzbantam says...
9:08am Tue 22 Jan 13

You have a right to be proud Julian, after what you and your family have done for the club in tough times. Well done. Far away in New Zealand I have watched the last two matches live on a streaming site. On both occasions I have remarked that if a stranger was watching for the first time, they might think that City were the Premiership team and Arsenal and Villa the lower League teams. We just looked so well organised, calm and in control. Long may it last. Go City. Cheers.

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Citygentleman1968 says...
9:11am Tue 22 Jan 13

Cometh the hour, cometh the men! Dare we dream?

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Citygentleman1968 says...
9:16am Tue 22 Jan 13

Never give up the dream!

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son

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Dazzler says...
9:28am Tue 22 Jan 13

I was a big critic last year thanks for not listening to me;), well done, please pay the taxes on time :P, look forward to visiting later in the year, From sunny Thailand all Bradford City supporters around the world wish you all the best CTID

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Old Peculiar says...
9:57am Tue 22 Jan 13

No matter what happens tonight, City will be the winners. After a few dry years. its great to be wearing the claret and amber with pride !

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RuggerTyke says...
10:44am Tue 22 Jan 13

At last some publicity for Julian. This win would be for the Rhodes Family!

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bcfc1903 says...
11:14am Tue 22 Jan 13

Our League Cup run....It really is like a Hollywood movie..will it have a happy ending.....personall
y i think it already has...for BCFC to even get to the semifinal is a fairytale...to go further would be pure Hollywood. Goodluck lads, we are all behind you 100%.....whatever the result...you've done the club and City of Bradford proud. To the fans there tonight...GIVE IT YOUR ALL ...THEN SHOUT LOUDER!!!!

**

We shout with pride..we'll never hide...Claret and Amber!!!!!

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lawsonio123 says...
11:28am Tue 22 Jan 13

Julian Rhodes as earned the respect of the City He has put his money into this club when things looked bad and i hope City reach the Final for he as earned at least that. Tonight these Boys no Men can score and put Villa in a bit of trouble James you owe us a Goal Please score it tonight.Come on City take us to the Final it would be a fitting Thank you for Mr Rhodes and his Family. GOOD LUCK CITY .

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Innocenti says...
11:44am Tue 22 Jan 13

As good a picture as this is of our saviour Julian, it has been dong the T&A rounds since our last belly up episode in the early 2000's, he must look more like Les Dawson now, as most of our fans do, with 12 years of misery, hopefully behind us. Thanks Julian, you deserve our recent success more than anyone, Come on City let's shut that wimp Lambert up,and get him down that job centre with Adkins !!

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gspot01 says...
11:50am Tue 22 Jan 13

Every fan who has followed our club over the last 12 months should be full of pride today and more importantly proud of themselves.....it's not easy motivatng yourself to go watch your team when you know it's going to be awful. What i'm looking forward to most is sharing tonight with 6,500 true city fans.
.
.......and then of couse my night in Birmingham to hopefully celebrate our place in the Carlign Cup Final and if not celebrate our excellent achievements.

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bigang02 says...
11:53am Tue 22 Jan 13

a massive thank you to mr rhodes and family.and heres hoping city can pay you back with a wembly appearance which would be a dream come true.good luck boys even if we dont win your all still stars.and thanks for the spirit you have shown and heres to it carrying on tonight.

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Harrogate Bantam says...
12:25pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Can't make it to the match tonight but will be in the Alex (Harrogate) watching it. It's not same as sat in the Carlsberg Kop. But hey ho just great to watch history in the making. I hope Charlie has an enjoyable game. Security were a bit overpowering with him at the First Leg. I'm so excited Like Paul Deo said "who wouldn't be looking up Hotel prices in that there London" for Feb 24th. C'mon City.

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Birky_Neil says...
12:57pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Don't wanna tempt fate but booked the hotel already!

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
1:50pm Tue 22 Jan 13

My guts are spinning.

Come on boys, 90 minutes to make history, your names will be remembered forever in the City hall of fame and you fully deserve it.

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basil fawlty says...
3:03pm Tue 22 Jan 13

People keep quoting the fact that Rochdale was the only 4th tier team to ever get to the final (in 1962), however not all the clubs in the league entered the competition in the 61-62 season, so if city get to the final it will truely be a first.

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GABRIEL.NORDE says...
6:15pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Citygentleman1968 wrote:
Never give up the dream!

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son
I truely love this, Citygentleman 1968. Wonderful prose, extoling the VIRTUES of Bradford City. Excellent epitaph and, I'm keeping it...lol. Incidently, you're a supporter one year longer than myself! I started watching City in '69, Cheers. Come on City!!!

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essmbee says...
11:48pm Tue 22 Jan 13

That'll do lad, aye that'll do !!

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