NAHKI Wells insists his City partner-in-crime James Hanson was a much better player than he got credit for.

Hanson has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36 to spend more time with his family.

He hangs up his boots as City’s third highest scorer of all-time on 91 goals – including some of the most iconic finishes in the club’s recent history.

Wells enjoyed a deadly strike partnership with Hanson at the start of his own career and believes he deserves all the plaudits.

“The opposition knew what a handful he was to play against,” he said. “But when he was on your team, you had that reliance in him.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: James Hanson, Nahki Wells and James Meredith celebrate play-off victory at BurtonJames Hanson, Nahki Wells and James Meredith celebrate play-off victory at Burton (Image: Newsquest)

“The way we set up to play did suit both of us and allowed us to perform to our maximum potential.

“He came up with those moments of quality that people maybe found quite surprising. But we all knew that he had more ability than people outside football probably thought.

“There was a lot more to his game than just his leap and his heading ability.

“Tall players like that can get pigeonholed and there’s this stereotype about their game.

“But he had the ability to run and was probably one of the fittest lads in the group.

“You didn’t see that just running in preseason but he was non-stop when it came to the game.

“He had a willingness to defend the box and put his body on the line for the team.

“He would always put his head where it hurts, many a time for myself and for others. He was just one of those players.”

Phil Parkinson put Wells and Hanson together up front in his first season at Valley Parade – and it soon proved to be a masterstroke.

“I was thrown in a lot sooner than I probably expected,” Wells told the T&A. “But it came to fruition quite quickly.

 

 

“It just worked with my willingness to run off the shoulder and cause defence’s problems and his ability to bully and always suck one or two defenders towards him.

“We covered all bases. We had the physical threat, the pace and we also had the partnership of two up front and that can be a handful for anybody.”

Wells led the side with 26 goals in the history-making campaign that followed but he always felt that his “bodyguard” Hanson was the more important player.

“It didn’t bother him that I got more of the plaudits at times.

“In my opinion, his importance to the team was far superior to mine.

“But you know what it’s like. I had age on my side, I was a foreign player which probably catches the eye and scored more goals.

“That’s probably appealing to most. But from the inside looking out, he was definitely the most influential player we had.

“I don’t have any doubts that my career definitely improved at that time playing alongside him.

“Being a smaller, more fragile player not used to the physical demands of the league, he took that burden on.

“He basically put his head where it hurts and we’d all celebrate together afterwards. It was that type of thing.

“If you look back at a lot of my goals, there was always his presence and his touch in there. It would have a lot to do with where he was and what he was capable of doing.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nahki Wells says their strike partnership covered all basesNahki Wells says their strike partnership covered all bases (Image: Newsquest)

The play-off semi-final second leg at Burton was arguably their best performance together.

Having lost 3-2 at Valley Parade, City were underdogs going into the return.

Wells added: “We went into that game a goal down in the tie and Burton were a good side.

“But without tooting our horns, I just thought our partnership was the difference and they couldn’t live with us on the day.

“I was able to get a couple of goals and then you look at his quality finish, how clean it was and how well he struck the ball.

“You probably wouldn’t label him as that type of player but he had that in his locker.

“Scoring 91 goals for Bradford City is a great return and he’ll go down in the history books.

“That goal at Villa Park will be remembered forever because it played a pivotal part in us getting to Wembley.

“You talk about the story of that season and how we got there and what a joy it was for the fans.

“But you always come back to that bullet header which took the tie away from Aston Villa.

“There were a lot of big moments that he should be proud of and everyone involved with Bradford City should be hugely grateful for what a servant he was for the club.”