(Image: Archives)
BRADFORD City appear to have caught the promotion bug of late.
Going up automatically from League Two on the final day in 2024-25, they reached the play-off semis in the third tier last year, while only Plymouth are ahead of them in the League One table this time around.
And after a couple of shocking seasons in the sixties, which saw City forced to seek re-election twice, they were on the up by the end of the decade.
Young manager Grenville Hair helped them to a mid-table finish in 1966-67 and they were among the early promotion pacesetters the following season.
Hair’s side would have moved into the coveted top four with a home win over Rochdale on this day 59 years ago, but despite creating a hatful of chances, against a side that contained popular former Bantam John Reid, City had to settle for a goalless draw.
Four straight wins thereafter made up for that result, but a wobble at the turn of the year left the Bantams off the pace.
Much worse was to follow, as Hair died at the age of just 36 in March 1968 after suffering a heart attack during a training session.
One of Hair’s last acts as Bantams manager was to sign both striker Tony Leighton and full back Denis Atkins, who helped the club rally in awful circumstances.
Jim McAnearney and Tom Hallett took charge and nearly steered City to a poignant promotion, but they fell agonisingly short, coming fifth after only drawing with Doncaster on the final day.
Fortunately, the Bantams bounced back in style, getting promoted the following season under Jimmy Wheeler.
It was a fitting tribute to Hair, whose promising managerial career had been cut short in the most heartbreaking circumstances.