A History of Bradford City Football Club

Promotion to the Premier League

1998-99

As the 1997-98 season drew to a close, City were in dismal form. A five goal humiliation at Crewe seemed to have ended caretaker manager Paul Jewell's chances of landing the Valley Parade hotseat on a full time basis. Chairman Geoffrey Richmond had stoked up expectations that City's new manager, in the wake of popular Chris Kamara's dismissal, would be 'a big name'. Rumours of a massive cash injection were rife, speculation ran riot.

Lee Mills in March 1999

Therefore, when Jewell was appointed manager in the summer of 1998, he received a lukewarm reception. However, the Rhodes family injected several million pounds into the transfer kitty and suddenly the prospects for the coming season were transformed. The return of Stuart McCall was followed by City's first million pound signing - striker Lee Mills.

Despite the expectation, City won only once in the first seven games. However, just as doubts about Jewell's managerial ability began to surface, a victory at West Brom sparked a run that saw only one defeat in eleven games. City vied with Ipswich Town for the second automatic promotion spot - Sunderland had all but run away with the title.

Shaun Harvey's Division One Runner's-Up Medal (click image for larger view)

The penultimate weekend of the season saw both City and Ipswich suffer late nerves with a draw and a defeat respectively. The final day took City to Wolves where a victory would ensure top-flight football for the first time in 77 years.

An early goal from Wolves left the large away following wondering whether it was to be 1987-88 all over again. However, three of the side's heroes - Peter Beagrie, Lee Mills and Robbie Blake - eased City into a seemingly unassailable 3-1 lead. Even when Beagrie missed a penalty there was little concern. But Wolves weren't finished, they pulled it back to 3-2 and the nerves reappeared. As the seconds ticked down City's goal came under siege, time seemed to stand still when Gary Walsh's post was struck from a free kick. It was almost too much for the three thousand City fans in the ground. But eventually the referee's whistle came and with it the almost unbelievable confirmation that Bradford City were a Premiership side.

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