VALLEY Parade – remember where that is?

It might sound a daft question but it’s been that long since anyone has been there to watch some football.

But whisper it quietly, City are actually at home next weekend against Oldham!

It’s probably best not to get too previous, given the Noah-style weather that has left this winter a total wash-out.

And the usual harbingers of doom in the national media are already predicting an icy blast will soon follow.

But should the heavens relent next Saturday, the Bantams will host their first game since December 6 when Chesham were brushed aside in the FA Cup last round.

They haven’t played at home in the league since the goalless draw with Coventry on November 24 – a gap of 53 days by Oldham’s visit. That's a fortnight longer than Noah had to put up with!

Some seasons pass off without any postponements. Valley Parade has already seen three.

The December deluge put paid to the planned fixtures against Southend and Burton, adding to the JPT tie with Barnsley two months earlier that was hijacked by a pre-match monsoon.

Water, water everywhere …

“I’ve worked a long time in the game and never known conditions like this,” admitted stadium manager David Dowse.

“Two years ago we had the deep frost and that was unprecedented in my time. But I don’t remember it raining like this and for so long.

“It’s ironic that we invested in new frost covers in the summer – and all it’s done is rain.

“We still haven’t had a proper frost, just rain and more rain. It’s been so frustrating.

“Normally these weather patterns would blow through but we’ve had situations where depressions have just sat there in one area for days on end.”

Old timers will say that a wait of seven to eight weeks is nothing. It still won’t come close to the famous “big freeze” in the middle of the 1962-63 season when blizzards brought the game to a shivering standstill.

City did not play at Valley Parade between December 15 and March 7 – when they were thumped 6-1 by Newcastle in an FA Cup third round tie that was two months behind schedule.

They had not had a game anywhere in January – the coldest month recorded in the 20th century – or February. Park Avenue had at least managed to sneak in two in that time but still went nine weeks between home outings.

Snow caused more hold-ups in 1978 when the ground was inactive from a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on December 30 until March 3.

City’s 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe on their return was somewhat overshadowed by Argentine World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles scoring his first goals in England for Spurs the same afternoon.

Dowse believes the current Valley Parade pitch has held up well considering the constant drenching. It has certainly coped better than the training ground at Apperley Bridge.

“The water was seven foot high in some parts down there. When you look at that, you’re thankful for small mercies.

“The position of the stadium on the valley side does mean that water will move away.

“There were lots of biblical references when Barnsley was off because of the sheer volume of rain.

“But for the Southend game, we gave it everything we could. The ref was brilliant.

“I know there was criticism for the late call off but he tried to give it every chance of going ahead.

“Boxing Day was very different because the pitch was waterlogged.

“We were told there was a slight improvement due on the forecasts but when I went on the Met Office at 10.45am the screen went completely red (with flood warnings).

“We also had the surrounding areas to consider and places in Shipley and Keighley were getting worse.”

And yet despite the on-going struggle with the elements, the drainage work that took place over the off-season ensures there is a confidence within the club that the surface will be able to cope when football returns.

Dowse sees no danger of the pitch returning to the horrendous condition of a year ago when it was derided nationally during City’s FA Cup run.

He added: “We’ve still got the wet areas at the south end along the line but that can be forked away. The rest of the pitch looks in remarkably good condition.

“The fact we haven’t played in poor conditions like last year means it will hold up better.

“Last season, the problem was two-fold. We didn’t make the investment on it in the summer and then played three games in the space of three weeks in really bad conditions.

“Because the conditions have been slightly worse this time, we haven’t done that.

“Supporters complain because they are frustrated but I can say that the people who hate games being off more than anyone are those working at the football club.

“We want them to go ahead for all sorts of reasons and to lose the Boxing Day game in particular was huge.

“Burton would have brought more, there would have been more banqueting and with families at home you could expect larger numbers in the crowd.

“A Tuesday night in February, or whenever, just doesn’t get that buzz or that return. It’s hugely annoying.”