logo
NATH'S NATTERS: A Bantams moment in time that will live forever

NATH'S NATTERS: A Bantams moment in time that will live forever

Yahoo10-05-2025

I BELIEVE the line Martin Tyler famously used to describe Sergio Aguero's title-winning goal for the blue half of Manchester in 2012 was: 'I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again'.
Well, if you watched and drunk in a remarkable Saturday, May 3, 2025 in Bradford, you would have witnessed something mighty similar.
The creaking 30-year-old I am now, who has genuinely spent the last three days with a bad back after sleeping awkwardly, I headed home at about 7pm.
So, I missed Alex Pattison in his bucket hat, the thousand stories behind Tommy Leigh's sunglasses, Sam Walker pulling pints and the collapsing table that brought down Michael Mellon.
Nahhh hahaha #bcafc #bantams pic.twitter.com/S8HjBs8mwJ
— Harry (@harry_mjames) May 3, 2025
But rightly, those scenes were enjoyed by diehard Bantams, whose suffering and misery for decades was all forgotten for a while after the most dramatic finish possible to the League Two season.
On a personal level, nothing will ever top the manic two weeks I drank in with Newcastle United in March, with me watching us win the Carabao Cup at Wembley before heading up to the North-East for the bus parade and the Town Moor celebrations.
But on a non-Toon level, Saturday is clear of anything I have ever witnessed in football.
As I mentioned in a recent column, it feels like only this last season or so where City have really and truly got me hooked.
From covering more games, to having a brilliant bloke as manager, to having a great set of lads in the squad, I was fully on board the Bantams promotion train.
I felt devastated after covering THAT 5-4 defeat to Swindon, feeling I'd somehow personally let City down, and wondering if they'd ever come back.
But Graham Alexander's side were just teeing up what happened last Saturday all along, weren't they?
I arrived in Bradford at quarter to one, and headed to City Vaults, where the bar was absolutely jam-packed.
Eventually getting a pint, I joined a couple of my T&A colleagues, Harry and Rowan, as we nervously discussed the permutations of the afternoon ahead, before the former headed up to North Parade with a couple of his City-supporting pals.
Me with Harry and Rowan at about one o'clock last Saturday, blissfully unaware of the madness that was about to unfold. (Image: NQ Staff)
Rowan and I soon headed to North Parade, where we quickly established we had no chance of getting into a bar.
The scenes were manic as a makeshift DJ pumped out classics like Take Me Home Midland Road, Penny Arcade and Sweet Caroline.
The pair of us popped into a packed convenience store, but the shelves had been near-emptied by partying Bantams fans, so I swerved clear of the non-alcoholic lager and Skol that was left to get a couple of Bacardi and Coke cans.
Flares were going off, everyone was mingling and then came the raucous march to Valley Parade.
STRONG atmosphere on North Parade 🤯😍 #bcafc pic.twitter.com/3ClmgPY15d
— Nathan Atkinson (@NathanA_TandA) May 3, 2025
Store owners on Manningham Lane came out to greet the crowds, drivers were high-fiving us, one little girl popped her head out of a sunroof to become an unexpected little star of the day.
After meeting an old work colleague for a lovely catch-up, then getting confused over where the entrance to the TL Dallas Stand actually was, I eventually took my seat, via a chicken balti pie pit stop.
You'll Never Walk Alone was special, the minute's silence in remembrance of the Valley Parade Fire Disaster was impeccable, and then it was game-time.
I don't think City were too bad before the break, as Fleetwood made a couple of brave blocks, there was the odd penalty shout, the keeper made a ridiculous flailing arm save from Calum Kavanagh, then the outrageous challenge which injured a breaking Pattison and perhaps should have brought a red card.
But Walker's superb save from Matty Virtue, followed up by a brave clearance from Tayo Adaramola off the rebound, showed the rug could be pulled from under the Bantams at any moment.
And the second half was an anxiety-inducing nightmare, as the hosts looked increasingly panicky, were creating little of note, and then Walsall scored at Crewe to dump City out of the automatic promotion spots.
With 10 minutes left, some muppet then started a rumour that Crewe had equalised, which took ages to establish as a falsity and when Jack Shepherd hit the post and Antoni Sarcevic blasted over from close range, resignation set in.
Then came THE moment that will be remembered forever, in the sixth minute of added time.
George Lapslie's volley hit Sarcevic (or Fleetwood skipper James Bolton) and crawled into the net in slow-motion, sending the stadium into chaos.
A mass pitch invasion, strangers hugging, general pandemonium, I've never witnessed a live goal like it in my life.
After chaos trying to get the game restarted, it finally ended after about 20 additional minutes.
Good Lord that was special, cheers for doing it in the most stressful way possible #bcafc 😂 pic.twitter.com/W3kglPuRko
— Nathan Atkinson (@NathanA_TandA) May 3, 2025
The players were then hoisted high on shoulders, so was Alexander, as young, old, white, South Asian, everyone embraced the euphoria, on the pitch and in the stands.
After witnessing some dad dancing on the roof by the changing rooms from the City lads and the little plate lift by Richie Smallwood, it was back to North Parade.
Flares were going off, there was one good old-fashioned punch up, music was playing, drinks were flowing, and I got to witness it all from the top window of the Brass Monk with Rowan and his mum.
I took this picture of a packed North Parade at about quarter past six on Saturday, just an hour or so after City had sealed the most dramatic of promotions. (Image: NQ Staff)
It ended up being a very reluctant trudge to the train as I didn't want to leave this behind.
But as I headed back to Horsforth in my old claret and amber bobble hat, which I got from a cancer charity long before the Bantams came into my life, I sat back on the train and reflected on an extraordinary afternoon that I will never forget.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man City appoint ex-Klopp assistant Lijnders to coaching staff
Man City appoint ex-Klopp assistant Lijnders to coaching staff

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Man City appoint ex-Klopp assistant Lijnders to coaching staff

Manchester City on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of two former Liverpool coaches to Pep Guardiola's backroom staff, including Jurgen Klopp's ex-assistant Pepijn Lijnders. The Dutchman arrives at the Etihad Stadium alongside a new set-piece coach, James French, who has spent the past 13 years at Anfield. Advertisement The appointments follow the departures of three members of Guardiola's backroom staff. Lijnders, 42, worked under Brendan Rodgers and Klopp at Liverpool. He left the club along with Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 season and took up the post of head coach at Red Bull Salzburg but was sacked in December. City director of football Hugo Viana said: "Pepijn and James have each amassed huge experience working in their individual roles over the past few years. "Their talent, application, work ethic and all-round commitment are totally aligned with the values that underpin how Pep wants football to be played." Advertisement Guardiola's team endured a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, finishing third in the Premier League and failing to win a trophy for the first time in eight years. They will travel to the expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the United States as defending champions after winning the competition under its previous guise in Saudi Arabia two years ago. The month-long tournament starts on June 14, with City opening their campaign against Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia four days later. jw/pi

Man City hires two coaches key to rival Liverpool's recent success
Man City hires two coaches key to rival Liverpool's recent success

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Man City hires two coaches key to rival Liverpool's recent success

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Two coaches who have been key to Liverpool's success in recent years joined Pep Guardiola's backroom staff at Manchester City on Tuesday. Pepijn Lijnders, who was the long-time No. 2 to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, will take over as City's assistant manager. The Dutchman left Liverpool and spent the first half of last season as head coach at Salzburg before getting fired. Advertisement James French comes directly from Liverpool to City as its new set-piece coach, ending his 13-year stay at Anfield during which time he worked as the opposition analyst. 'Pepijn and James have each amassed huge experience working in their individual roles over the past few years," said Hugo Viana, City's new director of football. 'Their talent, application, work ethic and all-round commitment are totally aligned with the values that underpin how Pep wants football to be played." Lijnders and French will join City ahead of the Club World Cup starting on Saturday. ___ AP soccer:

Arne Slot gave telling response to Thomas Frank compliment as Tottenham appointment nears
Arne Slot gave telling response to Thomas Frank compliment as Tottenham appointment nears

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Arne Slot gave telling response to Thomas Frank compliment as Tottenham appointment nears

Tottenham is closing in on the appointment of Thomas Frank as the club's new manager after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou last week. Spurs took the decision to move forward without the Australian manager, despite the club winning its first piece of silverware since 2008 by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final last month. Ultimately, Tottenham's league form cost Postecoglou his job, as the North London outfit finished in 17th position after losing 22 of its 38 Premier League games. Advertisement Spurs has identified Frank as the man to replace Postecoglou, and the Danish coach is somebody who Liverpool boss Arne Slot has a lot of respect for. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz medical, Milos Kerkez talks, Darwin Nunez future READ MORE: How Liverpool should spend $171M if Florian Wirtz transfer collapses After Frank described Liverpool as "the best team in the world" in January, Slot said: "His (Frank's) opinion means something to me because he has shown at Brentford how well he has done for so many years without spending crazy amounts of money." Frank's exact quote about Liverpool was: 'We just played City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amount of time. For me they're a level above the two teams. They're complete. Advertisement 'Their work ethic, the way they track back, are good indicators. They're so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. These are really, really good. It's the best team in the Premier League and the world. They're huge favorites to win it (the title)." While Slot had some kind words to say about Frank in January, the soon-to-be new Spurs manager was not alone in receiving praise from the Reds' head coach: Slot also showered the axed Postecoglou with praise ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final meeting with Tottenham earlier this year. 'They (Tottenham) have always been a certain brand of football for me and have a certain identity," Slot said. "I think Ange Postecoglou gives them that identity back completely. Ange is doing great work over there. I hope this is seen a bit more. I also hope, hope, hope that he wins a trophy. 'I'm completely a fan of his team for the Europa League because people always talk about trophies and that it's so important. For his brand of football and his style, it is so much more important and if he can combine that with winning something that would be so good for football in general because people can stop talking about it's too attacking or ­whatever. How on earth can you play too [much] attacking football?'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store