Rock star Mike Craft is jetting back early from a concert in Germany to cheer on his beloved Bradford City.

The lead singer with Bradford group Smokie has told his manager to rearrange his return flight from a big gig in Erfurt so that he can make it back in time for the Bantams' last league match of the season.

Mike, who lives in Wilsden, is a season ticket holder at Valley Parade and is desperate not to miss the game away at Wolves on May 9. It could decide whether City are automatically promoted to the Premiership.

He and soundmen Gerard Rolfe and Vernon McCallum, who are also big fans, will all fly back early for the 1.30pm kick-off in the West Midlands.

"Football is like half my life and I just couldn't miss that game. It's turned me inside out this football club, over the years," said Mike, who took over as Smokie's frontman after Alan Barton was killed in a road accident.

"I was rather hoping we would have wrapped it up by then but it's looming larger than ever."

Manager John Wagstaff said: "They are due to play in Germany the night before but they say they have got to get back so I've been switching flights at the last minute. Normally they wouldn't come back till later but they're flying back especially and coming into East Midlands Airport so they can make it in time."

Smokie, whose biggest hits include Living Next Door To Alice and Needles and Pins, still enjoy a huge following in Germany and Scandinavia and regularly tour there.

Mike said: "People often ask me if I get really nervous when I go on stage in front of thousands of people and I was scared to death to start with but it's nothing compared to the nerves I'm feeling now.

"It would be easier on the nerves if we can get an automatic promotion place - I can't stand the prospect of the play-offs again. We don't want the same thing to happen to us that happened to Sunderland last season. They were way in front in terms of points but it call came to one kick in the play-off final."

Mike and Vernon are season ticket holders together and have managed to miss only a handful of home games despite Smokie's hectic touring schedule all around the world.

Mike, supporting the Bantams since he was about 11, said: "I remember one time playing Rochdale or someone and there were only three of us on the Kop."

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