STEVE Evans has revealed the personal feud that sparked the infamous Valley Parade free-for-all with Crawley.

It is nearly 10 years since the League Two game that exploded into a mass brawl at the final whistle.

Five players were sent off in the dressing room afterwards by referee Iain Williamson – and the footage of punches being exchanged in the centre circle made national news headlines.

City’s Andrew Davies, Luke Oliver and Jon McLaughlin were all red-carded in front of a stunned Phil Parkinson. Williamson also sent off Crawley defenders Pablo Mills and Claude Davis.

Evans, who has just left League One strugglers Gillingham, was asked this week in a podcast what had caused it to kick off.

“Bradford had a few corners near the end and were putting a bit of pressure on us,” he said.

“We had a big centre half Davis. Bradford had a really good competitor – I used to dislike him because of that – a big boy called Andrew Davies.

“I wasn’t aware until after the game that there was some previous between Claude and Andrew. We’ve both got nominated markers for corners of course and that was the start of it.

“There was a corner almost on full time and those two guys were together. There were a few words and then it became a bit of mayhem.”

Speaking to Hard Truth: Inside the Football Industry, hosted by Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony and City fan Phil Ideson, Evans talked about how much he relishes games against the Bantams.

“I’ve seen Bradford under the Phil Parkinson era when they were beating the likes of Arsenal. They were fantastic and they were a threat.

“I always enjoyed playing against them because if you played against Bradford at home, you’d have 2,500 away fans.

“I loved playing at Valley Parade - as Leeds manager I often went to Valley Parade and imagine the stick I got when I arrived there.

“But I could not take away the fact that they were fantastic supporters and a fantastic football club. They’ve got a friend of mine there now in Derek Adams.

“I don’t know a manager in League Two who won’t look for Bradford away. You look for big games.

“Everyone looks and says, ‘I can’t wait to go to Valley Parade’, because lads are playing in front of 2,500, 3,000, 4,000 most weeks and suddenly they turn up and have got 20,000 fans.

“That’s why Derek went away from League One with Morecambe back to League Two.

“It’s very similar to when I stepped back from taking Crawley to League One to go to Rotherham. I believed Rotherham could go to the Championship and we were fortunate we got there back-to-back.

“I think anyone who gets it right for Bradford, it’s not just the Championship, it could be the Premier League.”