BRYAN Robson was making his debut appearance in the home dug-out when Valley Parade last hosted a televised tea-time game.

It is 11 years since the Sky cameras were treated to a topsy-turvy encounter that saw City recover from a two-goal half-time deficit to overcome Millwall.

Michael Branch, a sub on for a sub, was the last-gasp hero of that 3-2 win – one of the few highlights in a season that saw the Bantams plunge into a second administration and inevitable relegation from the second tier.

The real game-changer was Robson’s half-time introduction of Danny Cadamarteri , who scored City’s first goal and engineered the fightback. He was also the player that Branch replaced 12 minutes from time – typical of his bad luck with injuries.

“When Cads was fit he could run all day,” recalled Paul Heckingbottom, City’s trusty left back in that team. “But he just seemed to break down all the time.

“We were so desperate to do well for the new manager that night. It was his first game and we were live on Sky.

“The manager had brought Gareth Farrelly straight in and Deano came back after being left out at Stoke.

“The first half couldn’t have gone any worse but then Cads came on and everything changed. He gave us that impact with his pace and power.

“Once he scored, we knew we’d come back and get something and we couldn’t have given the manager a better start.

“Just think how different things could have been if Cads could have stayed fit. You could see he was a goal-scorer but we never got the best out of him.”

Robson almost air-brushes out his ill-fated six months as City boss. In his autobiography, it warrants just over a page in his glittering career.

But Heckingbottom, who was voted player of the year that season, felt he was dealt an impossible hand once the club were dragged back into the financial mire.

He said: “It was a hard environment for Bryan Robson to work in because of everything going on off the field.

“Everyone tried to stay as professional as possible but the financial problems hit everybody and that takes your focus away. That was all you got asked about.

“You’d be trying to get ready for the games and all you’d hear about was whether you were getting paid and people being laid off. The chairmen were arguing with each other and I remember Gordon Gibb going out on the pitch with a microphone – it was a very difficult time.”

Robson had steered Middlesbrough to two promotions and three cup finals but his managerial success could not match that of his reign as the undisputed on-field boss for Manchester United and England.

His last domestic hot-seat job was with tomorrow’s visitors Sheffield United, a frustrating spell which ended in February 2008 after 38 games. Robson is now a global ambassador at Old Trafford – and his reputation remains as high as ever.

Heckingbottom said: “I personally thought Bryan was a fantastic guy, he was great to speak to. It also struck me how big he was with football fans everywhere.

“Whenever we played away games, there would be a queue of people by the bus waiting for autographs. They didn’t want any from the team – they were all queuing up for the manager and he’d chat to them all.

“I started at United as a scholar when he was still playing and everyone looked up to him. When he came to Bradford you realised just how highly regarded he was all over the country.

“But the admin obviously affected the manager and Toddy (Colin Todd), who was there as well. They were trying as hard as possible but it hit everybody’s motivation.”

Heckingbottom joined the player exodus in the summer when he left for Sheffield Wednesday. But he returned three years later for a second spell under Stuart McCall.

His league career ended suddenly at 31 with a tendonosis problem in his hamstring. His last appearance saw him red-carded against Luton at Valley Parade.

“I didn’t play for over a year after that,” he said. “But I didn’t want to pack it in that early so I tried to carry on for a couple of seasons in the Conference.

“I played for Mansfield and Gateshead but didn’t enjoy it. I’d been away too long and the pain was always there.

“I didn’t have a career outside of football so I wanted to keep going but my body was battered. I’d wake up on a Sunday morning feeling like I’d had 12 pints the night before and I hadn’t touched a drop.

“It put me in a bad mood and I wasn’t nice to be around because I was constantly in pain. Looking back now, I should have given up when I left Bradford.”

Now 37, Heckingbottom is back home in Barnsley where he is the senior development coach in charge of the club’s under-21s. He was at Oakwell on Sunday for the City game.

“I’ve been here for a couple of years now and it’s a great job. We’ve got a few lads in and around the first team now – (defender) James Bree was still in school this time last year.

“Barnsley are going through a transition after going down and they’ve had to cut their cloth accordingly. It’s a new team but they’ve got some good players, as you saw against Bradford.”