CITY 1 GRIMSBY 1

“WELCOME to the start of the season” beamed the fan on the way to the press box.

Valley Parade certainly had that feel again; the expectation, anticipation and excitement of beginning all over.

When did the stadium last have that buzz before a game?

It’s probably been a good couple of years – since you-know-who was last at the wheel.

Stefan Rupp proclaimed that the past is in the past in his conciliatory programme notes to welcome back the manager so heartlessly dismissed in February 2018.

But this represented a throwback to better times, happier times – times that every City fan will be praying can come again with Stuart McCall’s return.

This was not a case of wallowing in halcyon memories but reminding yourself how special this great stadium can be.

McCall had stressed all week that this was not about him. Try telling that to those who bellowed “Stuart, Stuart” with gusto as he made his first walk along the Valley Parade touchline.

The whole place has been in such need of a lift after the depressing demise towards the end of Gary Bowyer’s reign. Who better to provide it than a man whose claret and amber connection now stretches into a fifth decade?

On the face of it, the bare facts suggested more of the same as the winless run going back to New Year’s Day stretched to an eighth game.

Only one shot on target – the goal – from 14 attempts, less possession than Grimsby and a stoppage-time equaliser to prick the mood.

But the vibe felt very different after a performance that suggested that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet again.

Ian Holloway, another fella whose glass is always half full, noticed the reaction from the City players in a performance he called “full of heart and soul”.

He also asked the pertinent question, “why weren’t they doing that for the other manager?

“I’ve watched two or three games and they certainly didn’t try like that or play like that. Well done to Stuart McCall, but I’d ask them to have a look at themselves.”

Soul-searching is never a footballer’s strong point. Excuses come easy when the going gets sticky.

But Grimsby’s boss was right to highlight the application and attitude as results unravelled for Bowyer. It was too easy to throw the former manager under the boss with a “nothing to do with me, guv” shrug.

McCall won’t be fooled either. He has barely had time to crease his club tracksuit before his latest managerial “debut” but will learn quickly.

His eyes will have been opened to the large group he inherited where quantity currently dwarfs quality.

The first job is rebuilding confidence and self-belief; an area where McCall and Kenny Black excel.

A fan recorded Black’s rather earthy encouragement on the training ground urging the players to be the best they can at whatever they do - whether it's football or any other physical activity.

It’s about restoring that spring in the step – something that was certainly in evidence during an enjoyably frenetic Saturday afternoon.

Typically, it wouldn’t be Bradford City without a sting in the tail.

Grimsby’s 92nd-minute response was no more than they deserved and maintained the trivia answer that all six of McCall’s managerial starts at different clubs, including three with the Bantams now, have finished in stalemate.

But who could possibly have dared submit a script where the protagonist would be Luke Hendrie?

James Hanson, maybe, and he could have really stuck the knife in with a couple of close-range stabs that were scrambled away in the seconds before Stephen Martin’s final whistle.

Or Billy Clarke, whose quiet reappearance at Valley Parade ended with a generous standing ovation when he was subbed?

But no, it was Hendrie popping up with his first goal in a year against the club that he has always supported and a manager he idolises.

If things had worked out another way, Hendrie could have been in home colours. Edin Rahic’s refusal to make his loan move permanent was major proof of the shifting sands in his troubled relationship with McCall.

Fast forward two years and Hendrie was raining on the homecoming parade; another of football’s rich ironies.

McCall claimed afterwards that he did not know it was Hendrie who had scored. I’m surprised he didn’t hear the roar from younger brother Jordan in one of the hospitality boxes above the dug-out.

Dad John, torn by the mixed emotions of seeing his son score against one of his oldest pals, was a bit more reserved.

But his presence along with the likes of Greg Abbott, David Baldwin and Mark Ellis reinforced the feeling that City were rediscovering their soul.

After a barren period where the joy has been sucked out of the club, McCall’s arrival has reinvigorated everything.

Whether his presence will be enough to inspire a push towards a top-seven finish, only time will tell.

But at least you get the sense that his side will give it everything trying. It should be a fun watch.

They had a forward momentum that had been so lacking before; there was less of the stop-start, sideways and back that betrayed the growing nervousness in recent weeks.

Jake Reeves, one of the few still here from McCall’s previous stint, was a case in point as he looked to push up and play attacking passes again.

It was the brightest he has looked since the initial euphoria of returning from his marathon lay-off.

McCall was adamant he would play two out-and-out strikers, none of this converting winger Dylan Connolly to play through the middle.

Lee Novak’s first outing promised much and he was certainly the more effective of the front duo despite Clayton Donaldson’s slightly surprising nomination as man of the match in the eyes of the sponsors.

Novak was credited with the goal that looked to have won it on 80 minutes.

Dylan Mottley-Henry’s cross was half-cleared out the Grimsby box. But as the visitors sat too deep, Callum Cooke had space to rattle it back first time.

His shot glanced off Novak’s shoulder and flew past keeper James McKeown as the Mariners vainly appealed for offside against the striker. Incredibly, it was City's first goal from open play for eight-and-a-half hours.

“Something tells me I’m into something good” boomed the Kop as Valley Parade danced in delight.

But Holloway has revived Grimsby’s fortunes of late and threw caution to the wind in response. Hendrie was pushed into midfield – a switch that proved to be spot on when he was there in the six-yard box to ram home Charles Vernam’s cross.

The defending leading up to it was shoddy; the build-up had come from a City throw-in. That lack of attention to detail was highlighted by McCall.

He expects them to learn and they must do it quickly with another home date coming up against bottom club Stevenage.

A frustrating finale but it sure beats mucking out the family horses as McCall has been doing for the last 11 months out of a job. City certainly need him back in the saddle.