Doyle eyeing another strong home run from Bradford City

The big Irishman was an integral part in Stuart McCall’s team that got within touching distance of the Championship after a season when they never lost at home.

The 2017 team’s run to Wembley – and that agonising near-miss against Millwall – is remembered fondly by the Bantam faithful.

The barren years that have followed have just highlighted the special bond that those players had with the fans and how close they came to returning to the second tier for the first time since 2004.

But Doyle’s City comeback after a four-year absence is more than a nostalgic last hurrah back in West Yorkshire where he now calls home.

Like the other 13 players who have committed to the Mark Hughes “project” for next season, he wants to be part of something special.

Doyle knows from experience how City’s fortunes can quickly snowball from the momentum generated by Valley Parade’s bumper crowds.

He would love to use that energy again and help the current side replicate their previous fortunes – only this time seeing the whole job through.

Doyle said: “I absolutely loved that whole season. I think I played 50 games and it was just brilliant.

Steve Morison scores past Colin Doyle in the 2017 League One play-off final (Image: Pro Sports Images)

“Speaking to Mark about it, we were talking about how we went unbeaten all that year at home.

“That’s what he wants to do next season to try to get Bradford rocking with as many people in the house.

“That’s the key to success. Try and win our home games and pick some points up on the road.

“That helped us that year because we obviously got to the play-offs and were really unlucky not to go up.

“When coming back, working with Mark is obviously a big draw for anyone signing for Bradford now.

“You see the signings we’ve been making and getting them in early is a good sign. Hopefully we will hit the ground running.

“It’s important we get a good pre-season then try to get off to a fast start and see how we progress from there.”

Doyle still has a vivid recollection of that play-off final heartache at Wembley – and even if he tries to bury it away at the back of his mind, there’s always TV replays on the 24-hour sports channels to jog the memory.

“For some reason Sky Sports have been playing the game almost every day through the summer,” he laughed.

“It’s always on the telly. I can’t be watching that but it keeps appearing!

“There was nothing in the game. Billy had that chance and Jordan Archer got a little fingertip to put it round the post.

“They had only had the one real opportunity, a one-on-one they put wide, then obviously that goal at the very end which was a real disappointment.

“The ‘lino’ didn’t help you because he did look offside. But they didn’t have VAR back then, so it was given.”

Recent history will show that City have never recovered from that Steve Morison hammer blow with relegation two years later and three uninspiring seasons in League Two since.

But Doyle sensed that something was stirring under Hughes when he attended the final game against Carlisle in May.

It was a day that would turn into an impromptu job interview for the goalkeeping coach and player dual role that he readily accepted. But it was also an indication with the size and excitement of the crowd that Valley Parade has its mojo back.

Doyle said: “No disrespect, but it was the last game of the season and it was pretty much a dead rubber for both teams.

“There was no trying to get in the play-offs or win the league, nothing really to play for. But to have 18,000 fans still turning up like that is frightening for League Two.

“That’s what this club have in this league and we’ve got to turn that into an advantage for us.

“We need to feed off that because there are going to be teams coming here and it’s going to be like their final. We’ve got to be up for it every week.”

Colin Doyle makes a point in training with boss Mark Hughes

Doyle has been impressed with first-choice keeper Harry Lewis, who made a notable home debut against Derby last weekend. And he believes all the new faces will revel on the City stage.

“It’s a big opportunity and one that players should relish,” he added. “It’s nothing to be scared of.

“You’re a professional footballer and you want to be playing in front of big crowds.

“There was nothing worse than when Covid was on and we were playing in empty stadiums. It wasn’t nice.

“You knew there was something on the game but football wasn’t the same. As soon as fans were back, it’s a different level.

“To play in front of 18,000 fans at home every week is something you should enjoy and not shy away from.

“I’m sure the lads signing in the summer and Harry as well will look forward to that.

“Hopefully we can hit the ground running and give the fans something to shout about – which they’ve not been able to for the last few years.”