Stuart McCall

Roy of the Rovers was a cartoon character who almost single-handedly drove his club on. Captain, goal scorer and last ditch defender. When the City Gent fanzine launched its own tongue in cheek Bernard of the Bantams, it was no surprise that the all action hero had an uncanny reselblance to a certain Stuart McCall.
If one player epitomises the modern history of Bradford City, then it has to be Stuart McCall. From the fire disaster to the heady heights of the Premier League, he saw the lot and when the club collapsed into the bottom division of English football, he answered the call for a saviour.
A product of City’s youth system, Stuart made his debut at Reading on 28 August 1982, when he deputised for that other great City legend Ces Podd. Stuart became an integral part of the team that swept to the Third Division Championship in 1984-85. Of course, that feat was overshadowed by the fire, in which Stuart’s dad - the former Blackpool, West Brom, Leeds and Halifax inside left Andy McCall - was badly injured.
International recognition followed for City’s rising midfield star. Picked for England and Scotland U-21s on the same day, Stuart, after much agonising, chose England. However, he remained on the substitutes’ bench when England U-21s played at Turkey in 1984. His heart eventually overcame his head, Stuart switched to Scotland and made his debut for them in March 1988 - ironically against England!
Stuart was outspoken about City’s failure to strengthen the side when promotion to the top flight beckoned in 1987-88. When promotion was missed by one point on the last day of the season, it was almost inevitable that the side’s young duo of John Hendrie and Stuart McCall would leave for greater things. Stuart joined Everton in June 1988 for £850,000. He made a slow start to his Goodison Park career, but during the ‘Merseyside’ FA Cup final of 1989 he finally made his mark. Coming off the bench, he scored twice to take the final into extra time. Sadly his feat was eclipsed by another substitute - Liverpool’s Ian Rush - who also scored twice and the Cup went to Anfield.
Perhaps the highlight of Stuart’s career came when he represented Scotland in the Italia 1990 World Cup. Quite a few Bradford front rooms saw unlikely celebrations when he scored against Sweden in the finals! In 1991 Stuart joined Glasgow Rangers, where he won everything the Scottish game had to offer and further cemented his place in the international side.
Euro 96 in England was Stuart’s international swan song, but his glittering career was to have another unexpected, but hugely welcome, twist. In the summer of 1998, he returned to Valley Parade and captained the side to promotion to the Premier League. The ‘unfinished business’ of 1988 was finally fulfilled. The subsequent survival owed much to Stuart’s guile and sheer work rate in the middle of the park.
Sadly, relegation followed in 2001 and at the end of the following season he was released by then manager Nicky Law. As a final hurrah, in April 2002 Stuart’s testimonial - against his other great love Glasgow Rangers - attracted over 21,000 to Valley Parade. Later that summer he joined Sheffield United where he was an integral part of their side - despite his 39 years. After finally hanging up his boots Stuart became number two to Blades manager Niel Warnock.
In May 2007 Stuart McCall was appointed City manager to widespread joy. His third spell at the club could well be the most challenging period of his career. The return of Valley Parade’s hero brings with it huge expectation. However, this is Stuart’s first venture into management. We can only hope that the attributes that made him such an inspirational captain, and the three years working alongside Neil Warnock at Sheffield United, will stand him in good stead.