Yesterdays' "great escape" by City was one of the best single days in Bradford's sporting history. Staying up in the Pemiership has generated as big a buzz of joy throughout the district as going up did a year earlier. Coupled with the Bulls' magnificent Challenge Cup triumph, the Bantams have provided Bradford with a glorious double which will be remembered for a long time.

City defied all the odds as well as the pessimism of the pundits who had written them off virtually from the moment they won their place in the Premiership. It was a day when thousands of City fans had their loyalty more than adequately rewarded. A day, too, when many more thousands of ordinary Bradfordians, who tend to take their local football club for granted, found themselves drawn into the excitement of the occasion and rejoiced just as enthusiastically as even the most ardent season-ticket holder.

They realised yesterday what many of us knew already: that Bradford has a team of which it can truly be proud. Paul Jewell has built a very special spirit at Valley Parade, forming an important partnership with chairman Geoffrey Richmond, whose contribution to the club's success has been pivotal.

Now another season in the Premiership lies ahead. No-one doubts that the team, who have learned so much in the past year, need to improve further if a similar heart-stopping finale to next season is to be avoided. But they have something magical to build upon: their seemingly unbreakable team spirit and bottomless well of courage.

Who, today, would be prepared to bet his head of hair on them failing to consolidate their position in 2001?

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.