THEY won nine in a row on the way to clinching promotion under player-manager Roy McFarland.
BARRY GALLAGHER continues our series on City team-mates with his take on the Fourth Division runners-up from 1982.
NEIL RAMSBOTTOM
Rammers was a very experienced keeper, a good talker at the back and was always giving information to his back four. A good shot stopper and would always look to get the team on the front foot, going forward as quickly as possible.
STEVE SMITH
Was a lot younger than Rammers, physically very fit and another a good trainer. He was not the best on crosses at first but he would stay behind after training to work on the things he needed to.
He would often ask me to stay behind after training to put some crosses in as well as practice his shot-stopping.
CES PODD
The coolest dude you could ever wish to meet and was very quick at right-back.
Not many could beat Poddy even if they got past him with their ability.
He would never give in and would eventually catch them up. I played in front of Ces on the right of midfield and he would always be available for the overlap.
A gentleman among a bunch of young men trying to find our way in pro football. He loved music and still dances to this day - and the girls loved him!
TERRY COOPER
Terry wasn’t the tallest of centre halves but was still very good in the air against big strikers.
He had a great sense of what was around him and would cover very quickly all the back four.
His distribution was always very good and he was strong in the tackle. He had great pace and was physically very fit.
A quiet man off the field but not on it. If things weren’t going according to plan, he would let you know.
ALAN THOMPSON
Thommo was a leader and would always let everyone know what he expected from them.
A good talker at the back, good in the air and no slouch on the floor. He was a threat from corners and free-kicks in the opposition box.
Tommo had a ‘tache at that time and looked a bit like Burt Reynolds.
ROY McFARLAND
The gaffer was the complete centre-half and led by example. He was the best passer at the back and would throw himself into every tackle, even if he wasn’t favourite to win it.
He would give his all and expected everyone else to do the same. He was one of the lads on the pitch and would join us for the occasional drink after the game.
He believed we should all be together on and off the field and that was a great thing to be part of. He wasn’t bad at free-kicks in and around the opposition box – if I let him. He would give me a wink of the eye and that would give me so much confidence to score from set-pieces.
LES CHAPMAN
Chappy could play anywhere on the left-hand side and was very fit and quick. He wasn’t the tallest but that never bothered him had he was always comfortable on the ball.
A great crosser, Chappy would the life and soul of the party. A very funny guy and smart dresser too, he was always the one to organise any do’s we had to go to and what the rules were.
Those were the good times – I’d love to go into more detail, but Chappy won’t let me!
PETER JACKSON
Jacko and I came through together as apprentices. We were that close, our birthdays are April 6 and 7, 1961 - both 59 not out at the moment and long may it continue.
Jacko was a raw centre half who became a great one and a lot of his improvement came when Roy McFarland was at Bradford.
He was always very fit, good in the air and became very good on the floor through his appetite to become the best. Jacko worked his socks off to get to the top and he was eventually rewarded with his move to Newcastle United.
A pleasure to play alongside, a great example of believing in himself and a load of hard work. I still see Jacko quite regularly and we reminisce about old times.
MICK WOOD
Chippy led by example on and off the field. He had great left foot, was a great crosser of the ball and a great human being.
He wasn’t the quickest of players like me but read the game so well that he rarely got beaten. His positioning was always good.
A model professional who would give advice on maintaining high standards.
Chippy is a good friend and he hasn’t changed. Once a gent, always a gent!
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