Policemen looking younger is meant to be a sure sign that you’re getting old.

But how about Mark Bower talking about himself as a football veteran?

It is now four years since the defender, for so long the fresh-faced junior partner to David Wetherall, left City to bring to an end a 13-year association with Valley Parade.

Bower played 254 times in the claret and amber and was an ever present for two of the seasons, grabbing his chance as the club battled through their long-running financial travails.

He was in the back four at Chesterfield’s old Saltergate home in April 2007 when a dismal 3-0 defeat consigned the Bantams to the bottom tier for the first time in a quarter of a century.

But Bower, now 33, was also among the fans at the play-off final in May to see City’s present crop take the first decisive step back up the ladder. That emphatic victory over Northampton righted a long-standing wrong.

“It was a horrible feeling being part of the team that got relegated,” he said. “I remember talking to a few players around December time during that season and we really thought there was a good chance of being in the play-offs.

“Nobody could see us going the other way but it all went badly wrong for various reasons.

“It’s been very frustrating since then seeing Bradford stuck in League Two.

“No disrespect to the other clubs but the likes of Dagenham and Morecambe turning up every week at Valley Parade was not what 10,000 season-ticket holders deserved.

“That’s why promotion was so important. It’s the first step in getting back to where the football club should be.

“I went to Wembley both times last season and seeing the amount of support there on each occasion was fantastic. With backing like that at the club, you shouldn’t be in League Two.

“Bradford are my team and when I stop playing, that’s where I will go and watch my football. I want to see them performing higher up the leagues and hopefully going up last season was just the start.”

City kick off that next stage this afternoon against Bower’s Guiseley.

The opening pre-season friendly offers the chance for the pros to stretch their limbs in a match scenario and the Conference North hosts to make financial hay from a predicted 2,000-plus crowd descending on Nethermoor.

Phil Parkinson has downplayed the game as a fitness exercise, the first of five such outings building up to the league opener at Bristol City three weeks today.

So with the low-key build-up, not much should be read from their performance. But a glance at the squad available to Parkinson suggests to Bower that his old club have got the bit between their teeth to meet the challenge of League One.

“A lot of credit must go to the manager for doing what others, for whatever reason, have not been able to in the past. With the added difficulties of the cup run as well, promotion last season was a fantastic achievement.

“They are going into League One with a strong base. With one or two additions, you can see them doing well.

“Last time we were in that division, the situation was very different. Instead of being able to bring anyone in, we were losing players because of the money.

“Looking from the outside, the financial position seems more secure this time and the club is much more solid.

“They have got some good players. You could see that when we played them in pre-season a year ago.

“We didn’t really turn up that day and City rolled us over 4-0 but you only had to look at their team to know they were going to have a good season. They were a very fit side and there was that steely determination about them.

“We’d lost 3-2 the year before but that was against a side that you could see struggling. Last season the team was much stronger.”

Football is a sideline these days for Guiseley’s skipper, who is very much the old head in the dressing room.

Most of his time is concentrated on the Hamilton Bower estate agency he helped set up three years ago in Shipley. Balancing work with training three times a week, he is back in the real world.

“I go past Apperley Bridge and see the City players leaving training by 2pm,” he smiled. “I remember what that was like, especially at this time of the year. They’ve got the rest of the day to do what they want.

“Now I’ve got a full day at work and then training in the evening. That’s not much fun when it gets to November or December!

“I’m really looking forward to playing City. From our club’s point of view, it’s a money-making event and I’m sure they will get a lot through the gate.

“And for the younger ones, playing against top professionals is a chance to get themselves noticed.

“James Hanson played for Guiseley before City signed him and Nahki Wells was training here as well for a while. You’ve only got to look at how well they have both done.

“I also played with Jamie Vardy a couple of years ago at Halifax and now he’s a Championship player.

“You can find these diamonds at this level and there are definitely one or two in our side, not that I’m going to give any names away! I hope they can show that talent and we give a good account of ourselves.”