Graham Alexander has put the pride back into Bradford City.

The city centre is gaining new life, and the title of Capital of Culture has given the area a much-needed boost.

Bradford has taken a beating for years while those outside look down their noses.

It’s far from perfect, but there’s a sense that things are improving. The same is true for the football club, where Valley Parade has become a place to be seen again; somewhere to enjoy and feel proud after watching your team win.

The Bantams are no longer the punchline of a tired joke while they sat in the EFL basement. The first automatic promotion this century has fans looking up again, excited rather than embarrassed by the new fixture list.

Graham Alexander deserves a great deal of credit for this.

Others have tried and failed: Mark Hughes led City to their first play-off in six years but stumbled when it counted.

Graham Alexander surveys the scene before his first City game (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Derek Adams, despite his promotion-winning reputation, came nowhere close; Gary Bowyer promised but failed to deliver; and Stuart McCall’s third attempt was brief and unsatisfactory.

This club has been compared to an oil tanker that requires some turning.

Alexander has done exactly that. There have been choppy waves along the way, including the misery of March 2024 and those four losses in 11 horrible days, as well as the sudden changing tide at the end of last season, when Swindon, Chesterfield and Doncaster threatened to sink the vessel so close to the shores of the promised land.

But City came through in dramatic fashion, giving Alexander his third managerial promotion.

The announcement of a new three-year contract, making him the longest-serving manager since Phil Parkinson, demonstrates the belief in him from above.

Like Parkinson, who set the standard by which all Bantams managers are now judged, his driven approach has paid off and encouraged everyone to go the extra mile. Alexander, with his humble and personable demeanour, is one of the good guys you want to see succeed.

“I’m proud of everyone at the club for what we did last season,” he told the T&A. “Everyone played a huge role. “I would never compare myself to any of the managers who came before or after me.

“It’s just important that when you have a role at a club, whether as a manager or a player, you do your best. Be the best that you can be.

Graham Alexander demands total commitment every day (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“There are many things at a club that must be close by in order to assist you. I believe that managers, like players, should strive to create an environment conducive to performance. “Clubs have a responsibility to understand how the manager works and create an environment that allows him to perform at his best.

I believe that is what happened in Bradford. “I was extremely fortunate to come here 20 months ago, and the challenges have been thick and fast. It’s been extremely busy. “But I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone, which I think is a good sign. That means I’m having a great time.”

When Alexander was introduced in November 2023, he brought a positive vibe to a stagnant club. Hughes’ mojo had been sucked out by the Carlisle play-off loss, and another season hung in the balance.

It appeared that this club would never be able to break free from their League Two status. Alexander was sacked by MK Dons after only 16 games in the job. But, at least in public, he did not appear to be angry or bitter.

An interview early in his Valley Parade tenure revealed a glass-half-full attitude that would eventually permeate the establishment. “There’s no positive coming from a bad attitude or a defeatist attitude,” he pointed out. “Even if you’re not successful, you know you’ve committed to it and done your best every day.

“There’s solace, contentment and growth in that.” The work ethic of putting everything into every training session, every day, laid the groundwork for City’s success. You’ll feel better about yourself after putting in some hard work.

Alexander has received financial support from the club, with Stefan Rupp stepping up last season, as well as structural support through the shrewd appointment of David Sharpe to bolster the football department.

And the club has benefited greatly from a manager who has fully committed to a challenge that has outperformed others.

Alexander was particularly drawn to its size. “I had no illusions about what the task would be here at Bradford, particularly in League Two.

Graham Alexander, his long-term assistant Chris Lucketti, and City goalkeeper Sam Walker before the promotion open-top bus parade. (Image:

Thomas Gadd) “The task that awaited us on the first day piqued my interest and that of Chris (Lucketti). We knew the possibilities, but we also knew the difficulties.

“Everything you look back on in life with satisfaction is difficult. If it were easy, you wouldn’t feel as fulfilled. “You know how many people are involved in that, and the majority of your job is to get everyone on the same page.

“You face challenges together, take hits, and make sure everyone is facing the same way. It’s a lot of work, but it’s work shared by many people. “It’s not just me and Chris.

There are other coaches, such as Truey (Mark Trueman) and Doyler (Colin Doyle), as well as (analyst) Scott Dyer, who have been with us since the beginning. “They’ve been fantastic sources of support, and they deserve equal credit as we do.

So far, this job has been both challenging and rewarding. “It was great to accomplish what we did, but there are many challenges ahead that we must anticipate and prepare for. That’s the most exciting thing about it right now, what we can do in the future.”

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