GIANLUCA Vialli must have a photographic memory of his football career.

When prompted about previous visits to Valley Parade, he reeled off the Chelsea fixtures from the start of the 2000-2001 season.

City’s second – and final – year in the Premier League was not a happy one. Survival was effectively written off by the halfway point and the financial repercussions were felt around the club for the next decade.

But there was one special night that stood out.

Long before that FA Cup win at Stamford Bridge, there was the evening when Vialli’s Chelsea were humbled 2-0 under Chris Hutchings.

For those who were there, it is still regarded as City’s finest performance in the top flight.

It was also seen as the game that ultimately cost the Italian the Chelsea hot-seat.

Vialli, sitting in a sponsor’s box looking down on the away dug-out where he had squirmed that evening many years ago, paused and then smiled at the memory.

“Yeah, thank you for reminding me,” he grinned. “I remember (Dean) Windass and my Italian friend Benito Carbone scored.

“We had two derbies at home to Arsenal and West Ham at the start of that season. We also went to Villa and Newcastle.

“So out of the first five games, Bradford seemed to be the easiest one.

“It was actually the only one we ended up losing. It was possibly the day that cost me my job.

“That was the last game I lost as Chelsea manager. We played another three games after and then they sacked me.

“It was quite weird.

“I also lost with Watford 4-3 the next season in a match more exciting but probably not so memorable.

“So I have not very good memories of Bradford so far. I just want to win this one.”

Vialli was back at Valley Parade on Thursday night in his role as co-founder of Tifosy, the crowd-funding business behind City’s plans to revamp the place.

The “Upgrade the Parade” campaign will span the next ten weeks as fans are encouraged to donate towards a new state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard and dressing room improvements. In exchange, they have the chance to win prizes and rewards laid on by the club.

By the end of the launch night, the total was touching £16,000 of the £250,000 target.

League Two Portsmouth beat that figure with three days to spare in 2014 and Vialli believes that can be matched in West Yorkshire.

“We hope to have the same success at Bradford,” he said. “I say we, but I mean the campaign – we are just the middle men.

“We promote and support it but it’s about heading a project that fans care for. It’s about the club listening to what the fans want and doing something together.

“It’s about leaving a legacy.”

The growing disconnect between clubs and fans at the top level was highlighted by the mass walk-out at Anfield last week over planned ticket rises. It was a demonstration of supporter power that forced Liverpool to quickly back down.

Vialli can understand the cynicism of those who argue that they shouldn’t have to help fund stadium improvements.

But he sees Tifosy’s job as a means of bridging the gap between the club and those in the stand and believes projects like this one will do that.

He said: “Everyone will be a winner in this situation.

“The following at this club is amazing. The number of season-ticket holders for a League One club is just unbelievable.

“Bradford have been very good towards the fans not raising ticket prices. They are the lowest in the league.

“Now maybe the fans have got to show their gratitude.

“But it’s more than that. It’s really about doing something together that will make the experience of coming to the stadium a better one.

“I don’t think we need to convince anybody. Tifosy present an opportunity and then it’s up to the club and the fans to take advantage of it.

“This could be a turning point in the future of the beautiful game. If clubs and fans start working more closely together, the relationship can be strengthened.

“At the moment we see a lot of fans complain because football clubs don’t listen to them. They are just thinking about signing good players and not about building a sustainable future.

“This is a way to make fans feel they are not just clients but partners with the club.

“Our challenge is to get past the thinking of ‘why should I give money to the club’. It’s more than that – it’s investing in a project where you choose how you want it to be spent.

“Sometimes you give money and have no say. This is different.”

Donations can be made at www.tifosy.com/en/campaigns/upgrade-valley-parade-for-the-players-and-fans.