January 1976: NORWICH 1 (Peters 32) CITY 2 (Hutchins 30, McGinley 87)

CITY’S new change kit got its official unveiling in front of a Valley Parade full house on Sunday.

The all-white outfit has received the thumbs up from fans in a throwback to what the Bantams wore in the mid-70s.

Terry Dolan, Garry Watson and Ian Cooper, stalwarts from that era, all featured in the club’s slick presentation that launched the kit in front of the fans last week.

So, it’s appropriate that we turn the nostalgia spotlight on one of City’s most famous results from that decade – an FA Cup success at Norwich.

Like now, City were in the bottom tier – a lower-table Fourth Division side unexpectedly through to the last 16 of the competition.

Chesterfield, Rotherham, Shrewsbury and non-league Tooting & Mitcham had been safely negotiated to earn a trip to Carrow Road to take on Norwich.

The Canaries, under extrovert manager John Bond, were a solid team in the top tier. Most expected a home win as a formality.

But Bond’s mouth had run away with him – and stirred up their opponents.

The game had been delayed by a few days because of an illness sweeping through Bobby Kennedy’s squad. A lack of numbers meant City pleaded with the Football Association to rearrange the tie.

The authorities agreed, much to Bond’s annoyance and he called for the Bantams to be kicked out.

“If we couldn’t put a team out then we shouldn’t be in the competition,” were his exact words according to flying winger Don Hutchins. “That really wound the lads up.”

When the game did eventually take place, Kennedy did not need to deliver a Churchillian message in the away dressing room. The players had all the motivation they needed from Bond’s waspish remarks.

The first half hour was predictably one-way traffic. City came under increasing pressure from the First Division side but refused to wilt.

And having survived the initial onslaught, they stunned their hosts by striking the opening blow.

Hutchins picked off a loose pass from Norwich full back Dave Jones just inside home territory, skipped over the defender's sliding attempt to recover his mistake, and was off to the races.

With a speed of a greyhound, few could catch the City winger in full flight but he still had it all to do with the angle against him.

Hutchins let fly with a swerving effort from just inside the box – and Keelan could not prevent it sneaking in at the near post.

But City’s euphoria lasted barely two minutes before Norwich were stung into life as England international Martin Peters levelled it up with a clever back-header from close range.

The onslaught resumed as Carrow Road sat back awaiting the inevitable landslide. But it never came.

In true giant-killing fashion, City’s goal lived a charmed life as Norwich did everything but score.

Centre halves Dave Fretwell and John Middleton battled to keep taller opponents at bay. All the while, the frustration was growing among the home crowd and players.

And another Norwich mistake opened the way for City to snatch a sensational win with a second goal three minutes from time.

Dave Stringer was at fault as he let in Billy McGinley on the Norwich left.

Gerry Ingram was unmarked in the middle and screaming for a simple tap-in but McGinley went it alone.

His shot was blocked by Keelan but fortunately rebounded straight back into his path and the young Scot was able to tuck it home the second time of asking.

City’s celebrations went on all night. The players decamped to a Norwich nightclub and didn’t get to bed until dawn.

City were knocked out next round with defeat to a controversial Southampton goal but the cup run laid the foundations for promotion the following season.

"Without doubt it led to us going up the year after," added Hutchins. "It was more or less the same team and we went unbeaten at home in the league.

"What we'd done in the FA Cup was the catalyst because it gave us the confidence."