Bantams Special: Best of the best

Best player

In a season where teamwork has been the ethic on which City have built their success, it is perhaps unfair to single out any one player. The goals of Lee Mills, Peter Beagrie and Robbie Blake went a long way to securing Premiership status along with the midfield running of Gareth Whalley and Jamie Lawrence. The defensive prowess of Darren Moore and Wayne Jacobs in more than 40 league games apiece was also a massive boost along with the goalkeeping of Gary Walsh. However, in a season which has meant so much to City fans everywhere, captain Stuart McCall surely deserves the accolade of 'Best Player'. His drive from midfield has been an inspiration to every player around him, while immense skill has set McCall apart from the rest of the First Division. And the fact that City's success means as much to the club captain as it does to the fans means that no-one deserves the accolade better.

Most improved player

Of all the City players who have served the club so well, Robbie Blake has really come of age this season. The former Darlington striker started the campaign suspended and then had to be content with a place in the reserves before Paul Jewell brought him back into the side for the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United in September. Blake brings an extra dimension to the City attack, with his ability to ghost past players before unleashing a fierce shot proving too hot for most defences to handle. And it has to be no coincidence that since Blake came into the side against the Blades City's fine run of form began. Several Premiership clubs came to watch Blake and, by all accounts, were very impressed, but the pleasing thing for all City fans is he will start next season in the top flight at Valley Parade.

Best moment

The scenes which met the final whistle at Wolves as City sealed promotion had to be seen to be believed, but my favourite moment came eight months earlier in the home game with Barnsley. City had bounced back from a horrendous start to the season by beating West Brom away the previous week. However, with the Tykes 1-0 ahead it appeared that the revival had been stopped in its tracks when Gordon Watson was thrown into the action with just six minutes remaining. And what followed will go down in City folklore. With just three minutes remaining, he popped up with an equalising goal to prompt great scenes. However, within 120 seconds City had again poured forward and Watson was the man to stick the ball into the net. It was the sweetest moment of the season because the likeable Londoner had worked so hard to fight back from the injury which threatened to end his career. A great day.

Goal of the season

Compared to last season, it has to be noted that the standard of goals from City players has been infinitely better this time around. Robbie Blake has grabbed some spectacular strikes while Peter Beagrie's efforts at Halifax and Portsmouth will live long in the memory. Gordon Watson's strike at QPR was also unforgettable but my favourite has to be that by Jamie Lawrence at home to Norwich. There have been few more thrilling sights in City's season than Lawrence running at the opposition defence at pace, and that is just what he did just before the half time break. After gliding past two Canaries midfielders, Lawrence evaded one last-gasp tackle before drilling a fine shot underneath the Norwich 'keeper and running to the adoring Valley Parade fans.

The 'You what?' Award

This has to go to the radio commentator from a West Midlands station who must have left his listeners in a very confused state during the West Brom match in February. Wayne Jacobs had already given City an early lead when a pass from Isaiah Rankin created a 'goal' for Lee Mills only for the linesman's flag to rule the effort out. Everyone noticed this apart from the aforementioned commentator, who for the next 15 minutes proceeded to tell his listeners that the score was in fact 2-0. How he got out of this mess remains a mystery because, after shouting and bawling his way throughout most of the game, the commentator suddenly dropped the volume of his voice to prevent the rest of us listening in.

Best bet

One of the truest sayings is that 'Bookmakers never lose'. Well unfortunately for one of the companies who provide spread bets, their calculations went slightly awry when it came to City's prospects for the season. I had a quick glance at what points figure they had forecast and I was amazed to see 57. Surely City would finish with more than this. I duly took them up on this with the promise of £5 for every point they finished above 57. I must admit to being slightly worried when City won only five points from the first seven games because I didn't fancy the prospect of paying out £5 for every point below that. However, I needn't have worried and duly finished £150 to the good. A perfect end to a perfect season.

Worst press facilities

The areas set aside for the press vary widely in the First Division with the best being between Sunderland, Wolves and Huddersfield. However, there is no doubt that the worst one this season has been Port Vale. I know the club are in the middle of building work at the moment, but with the 'garden shed' set aside for the press being full when I arrived, I was directed towards what can at best be described as 'a ledge'. Imagine standing in a deep puddle for 90 minutes while exposed to the elements while trying to ensure that your notepad is not blown away in a gale, and you have some idea as to what life is like at Vale Park. The view was excellent but it took me two days to get full feeling back in my toes.

Best quote

Paul Jewell has relaxed into his role as manager of Bradford City and all the media work which comes with such a role. His ready one-liners at press conferences have kept the assembled reporters amused throughout the season with his dry delivery. Asked whether City had been worried on the morning of the Bury home game that the Republic of Ireland would call up Gareth Whalley, he quipped "No. We have had the fax turned off and the phone off the hook." However, his most memorable line came before the game against Vardar Skopje in Macedonia when he told his team "I want to stress that we don't want any yellow cards tonight, and no dismissals." Seventy minutes later, Jewell was given his marching orders by the referee, much to the amusement of everyone but the City boss.

Best Celebration

Peter Beagrie's somersault was brought out of cold storage this season thanks to his 15 goals, but as spectacular as these have been I have to plump for one of his team-mates after the never-to-be forgotten victory at Wolves. Asked how he would mark City winning promotion, Jamie Lawrence replied with a champagne bottle in hand "I intend getting unconscious." And I bet he wasn't the only one as Bradford celebrated like it had never celebrated before.

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