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.
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.
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.

Almost as soon as City were promoted to the Premier League the media dismissed them as relegation certainties. New signing Dean Saunders scored City's first goal in the top flight, when he thumped home a dramatic late winner on the opening day at Middlesbrough. Despite some memorable performances, relegation seemed a certainty as the side suffered a slump in form as the season drew to a close. The turning point came on Easter Monday at Sunderland. A back post header from the unlikely source of centre half John Dreyer gave City victory and a glimmer of hope.
The relegation battle turned into a straight fight between City and those great survivors Wimbledon. The Dons' visit to Valley Parade was billed as the relegation decider. On a highly charged afternoon Wimbledon striker John Hartson was sent off and, as the visitors lost their heads, City ran out 3-0 winners. However, the following week Hartson scored an injury time equaliser as City lost tamely at Leicester. Once again City's fate would be decided on the last day of the season. Wimbledon were at Southampton, City faced the daunting challenge of Champions League-chasing Liverpool.
It was to be an unforgettable afternoon. With barely ten minutes on the clock David Wetherall headed City into an unbelievable lead.
Liverpool put City's goal under a sustained siege. Dogged defending kept the visitors at bay. Keeper Matt Clarke was inspired, as again and again England striker Michael Owen was denied. City needed a respite. It came with news that Southampton had scored; when the Saints grabbed a second, City were tantalisingly close to survival.
When the final whistle came, it was met by arguably the biggest party since City's FA Cup triumph in 1911. Against all the odds and expectations City had survived. As manager Paul Jewell punched the air in triumph, he would have had every right to enjoy a wry smile at those who doubted him back in 1998.

Barely had the celebrations died down when Paul Jewell suddenly left the club amid rumours of a rift with chairman Geoffrey Richmond. Fans were left stunned when it was then announced that City would make their European debut in the Inter-Toto Cup! Coach Chris Hutchings was promoted to manager and signings came thick and fast. Ashley Ward, David Hopkin, Peter Atherton, Dan Petrescu and most astonishingly Benito Carbone arrived at Valley Parade.
In Europe, City defeated Lithuania's Atlantas and Holland's Waalwijck, before succumbing to Russia's Zenit St Petersburg. The new season started with a narrow defeat at Liverpool before Chelsea were defeated 2-0 in spectacular fashion at Valley Parade. Sadly, it was a false dawn. Hutchins was sacked in November as City failed to add to the victory over Chelsea. Jim Jefferies arrived with a remit to purge the squad - out went many of the high earners, but City were doomed, this time there was to be no last minute heroics. For the time being City's Premiership sojourn was over.

A huge financial gamble to try and secure City’s Premiership status resulted in three relegations and two financial collapses in the space of six years.
The club was committed to lengthy and lucrative contracts it simply could not afford. Without the television income of the Premiership the clubs finances came under severe pressure. City’s Italian star Benito Carbone was on a staggering £40,000 a week – twice the cost of a house near the ground!
On top of the unsustainable wage bill virtually all the fixtures and fittings at Valley Parade had been sold to leasing companies – right down to the seats the fans sat on. Even the captain David Wetherall had been bought by a finance company was leased to the club!
During the summer of 2002 only a last gasp rescue deal headed by Julian Rhodes saved the club from closure. However, only two years later City again collapsed into financial administration with debts of £34m. Against such a bleak backdrop, it was no surprise when City were relegated again. It was a somber end to the club's Centenary season.
Over the summer of 2004 City fans raised a magnificent £250,000 to keep the club in business. City struggled on, steadily reducing their debts, but living on a hand to mouth basis. In January 2007 leading scorer Dean Windass was loaned to Hull City and the savings used to pay a tax bill. A few days later popular winger Jermaine Johnson was sold to pay the wages for the remainder of the season. From a comfortable midtable position City were plunged into a relegation fight they could not survive.
Six years after starring in the Premier League City found themselves relegated to the bottom division of the Football League. It was a spectacular fall from grace.