Behind every great man is a great woman. Behind every Bradford City player, there is a relieved wife. After weeks of sleepless nights, the wives and families of the team can breathe a sigh of relief as they revel in their victory. But as the battle to retain a place in the Premiership intensified, what was going on behind the scenes? Suzy Poole talks to some of the Bantams' other halves about the highs and lows of being a footballer's wife.

The Jewells

"I'm no Posh Spice. I'll still nip down to the supermarket in Ilkley in torn jeans," admits Ann-Marie Jewell.

She now has just three weeks to sit back and relax before husband and manager Paul resumes his Premiership battle.

"It's very strange because Paul's changed a lot over the last two years. He's become very serious and quite detached really. He's always got so taken up by football because he really gives it his all.

"Not that the family isn't a priority. Alex, who's eight just ignores it but Sam, ten, loves football. He's Paul's best buddy really. He probably tells Sam more than he does me!

"And you can totally forget about seeing your friends. You're not allowed to talk about next week because there's a game on Saturday. It's like the old football clich - the next game is always the most important one.

"The last few weeks did get stressful, so much so that the family wouldn't come and visit! Paul has not slept well at all. He'll go to bed late so that he can sleep. After the match on Sunday we went home and watched Match of the Day. But he was even awake early on Monday morning watching TV as he wasn't used to having nothing to worry about. He's going off golfing to Portugal with a few of the staff and then we'll have a family holiday for a fortnight.

"Last year we went to Canada and he took the mobile phone. Sometimes you think, 'Does he really want to be on holiday?', but he's okay if he's got the phone and can keep in touch with the Chairman - he can relax then and I prefer it.

"I do work part-time at the TSB. I'm very normal - I'm just one of the staff and they treat me as such. We talk about football a lot and we work with people from all over the country.

"I went in on the Monday after we got promoted. I wouldn't book the day off on the Monday because it was tempting fate. They all said, 'What are you doing here?' and sent me home.

"People sometimes click with the name Jewell and the Scouse accent and ask if I'm any relation. They say, 'Are you his sister?' - they don't seem to think of me being his wife. I was even asked if I was his daughter by some little old man!

"The publicity isn't a threat. As far as footballers' wives go, unless you're Posh Spice, you're not really in the public eye. Next season will be great and we'll carry on as a normal family. It's a man's world.

"I was very nervous at the match on Sunday - I picked all the skin off my finger where I'd accidentally burnt it! I didn't dare think about what might be. It was just the match and relying on Southampton. I never dreamt we would beat Liverpool. A lot of people were surprised.

"I think next season will be as tense. There's no let up as it's not like we can play at our best and beat all of them. It never stops. It's just a circle. But that's football.

"I love that buzz and that Saturday feeling. I can't live without it and that's the benefit of football. Canada's a lovely place but I couldn't live there. They don't have a sport that comes close to having the same buzz.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. And it's a fantastic life when you can feel this good."

The Saunders

After 13 years of marriage to Dean, Helen Saunders, 35, is perhaps more wary of life in the Premiership than other Bradford City wives.

Dean's career at the top of the profession has taken her and children Danielle, 11, Louisa, nine and four-year-old Callum, as far away as Portugal.

And the family suffered enormous strain when the striker was taken to court by a Chelsea player over a tackle he claimed ruined his career.

But Helen seems pleased to be part of the club which has retained its friendly and family image.

"There is a bit of a stigma with being a footballer's wife now," admits Helen. "When Dean comes home in the evening, everything revolves around the kids.

"We'll only talk about football when it's a big thing like last weekend.

"We've been everywhere over the last few years and it's very difficult to settle down.

"Sometimes I find it hard, but you get used to it. Danielle has been to about eight different schools and it's very hard for her.

"We also live in Cheshire which makes it hard to become a bit more involved.

"I do believe that football is a man's world, but I think that's the way it should be.

"If it's not football on the television at home, it's snooker or golf or basketball - any sport at all. I can't think of how many TVs we've got - about seven I think. "These last few weeks have been very tense. I was at the ground on Sunday and it was the hardest match I've ever played! I was sitting next to John Dreyer's mother who couldn't watch it at all.

"I had my doubts about whether they would stay up.

" I was very worried but I was quite open about it. Luckily, my window cleaner kept saying they would definitely do it - he was great.

"I was pleased for all the players, but especially for Dean as he's only got a year left on his contract and it's a dream come true to finish it in the Premiership.

"I don't think next season could be as tense as the last one, I really don't. Everyone gives each other so much help and they've got a lot to prove."

The McCalls

Tracey McCall, 29, grew up in Scotland supporting Rangers. But she didn't recognise the club's former player who was to become her husband when they first met in a Glasgow nightclub.

Now, married to City's skipper Stuart, she is one of about six of the Bantams' other halves who live around Harrogate. The couple have two children, four-year-old Craig and Victoria, three.

Stuart's two older children from a previous marriage, Carly, 12, and Lee, ten, live in Scotland.

"I've always liked football and used to watch games when I was young. My brother's come down here now and he's a City fan when he's in England - he's football mad.

"You get used to being a footballer's wife. At first it was a wee bit funny when you go out and people come up to talk to you, but I love the life. It's great.

"I watch the home games, I don't travel. A lot of the time Stuart is on the phone or checking Teletext, but the last couple of weeks have been crazy. On Saturday I went to my brother's because I wanted the children to have a good night's sleep. We do all we can to have a good family life.

"But I'm really glad it's all over now - they really deserve it and I'm really proud of them. There was no doubt in my mind that they were going to do it, but I wouldn't have necessarily been disappointed as they've given it their best shot.

"When they lose a game, Stuart really takes it to heart. And it's the same for any game when the team doesn't get a good result.

"A lot of our life revolves round it. It's not bad and I would rather him be like that because he's dedicated to his job. He's there to play football.

"When we were in the first division, every game we knew we could get a result but in the Premiership, every single game you really have to work hard.

"But in saying that, the players are more up for it. It's not all down to being the most skilled, it's working as a team.

"Now they've had a season, they know exactly what to expect and what to do

"And I'm sure they're hungry for it."

The Wetheralls

"I've got him well trained," jokes Caroline as Bradford City's player of the year hands her a plate of food.

As hero of the moment and the player to incur the club's biggest ever transfer fee - £1.4 million from Leeds United last year - David Wetherall, pictured left, has been married to Caroline for about five years and has two sons, Adam, two, and nine-month-old Luke.

But for twenty-six-old Caroline, life as a footballer's wife is the norm. "I've never known anything else," she says. "We met when we were at school and I've just sort of gone along with everything.

"You get so it's a normal way of life because you have known them for so long. And he is quite normal really. I don't think I would be here if he wasn't!

"I knew what the Premiership was like because of David being at Leeds. But it was fantastic seeing Bradford promoted. The only sleepless nights we've had recently have been caused through teething! David has been restless, but I think they all have."

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