The James Ramsden Column

Friday 14 December, 2001

A Christmas Carol

It's that time again,mince pies,mulled wine,dates and hangovers. Its also the time for reminiscing, so lets do just that, as I recreate 'A Christmas Carol' and become the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future...actually 'Scrooged' starring Bill Murray is a better comparison. Come with me Mr Richmond back to August 11th 2001......

A lovely summer day at Valley Parade with our South Yorkshire mining chums coming to play us on the opening day of the season. We look a little hesitant at first, but after former Barnsley boy Wardy bangs home a penalty is plain sailing.

We go on to win four nil, with superstar and city hero Beni also getting on the score sheet. All the fans go home with huge smiles on their faces, this is going to be our year, we are going straight up. Both Beni and Wardy will get twenty plus goals each and we will be crowned as champions.

Lets move two weeks on and two more away wins at Pompey and Maccelsfield to Coventry at home. A real test, this lot came down with us and slagged us off. We have to wait till the second half before two goals in five minutes from Myers and Locke move us to the top of the table. We are going up. A minor hick up when we play Burnley, but four games unbeaten, we're in the top six, Carbone's looking great and everything is peachy.

Cast your mind back Mr Richmond, to the promise you made about releasing funds if we were in the top six at Christmas and looking challengers for promotion. You are a well liked and respected Chairman. The fans know that you want the club back in the Premiership and that you will put your hand in your wallet to help JJ with the cause.

Its the 14th of December, present day, and the fans are looking forward to a competitive game at Maine Road. It should be a top of the table clash, but it isn't. Manchester City lie second in the league and we lie mid table. After a run of four winless games, we finally found a bit of form last Saturday and beat Rotherham 3-1. This never should have been a hard game, but it was made hard by the fact that we were down to the bare bones of the squad.

A young defender thrust into the action alongside his captain who has to revert to defender because the squad is so threadbare. The fans leave smiling, which is a change for once. You see Mr Richmond, the fans are getting restless.They are not happy that JJ's hands are tied. They can see that Beni has left but they can't see what advantage it brings.

Where has the money gone, ok some of it has gone on Matt Etherington a great player, but some of it has also gone on Lee Makel....The fans aren't happy as they know that the addition of a few quality players would make all the difference. They look upon you as the difference between going up or staying in division one. Some fans are even talking about avoiding relegation. You have been mentioned as being more involved in the possible phoenix league than your own club. In short, you are not as popular as you were four months ago.

Its August 11th 2006. Bradford fans are looking forward to the visit of Darlington in the opening match of Division 1 North. Manager Wayne Jacobs is looking forward to his first game in charge after the shock exit of Stuart McCall after his contract wasn't renewed. This is the first game for Bradford City in the new league format. The Premiership still exists, but there has been a breakaway 'elite' league which consists of the top Scottish clubs plus teams from Division one that finished in the top twelve.

Unfortunately, Bradford finished 18th last season and weren't invited to take part. Mr Richmond is still in charge, but is on borrowed time and is becoming increasingly agitated by the 'scrooge out' banners that are emblazoned around the ground. It is a catch 22 situation, the regional divisions no longer have any TV coverage, so no TV means no money, and no money means no new players. Up front for today's game is Gareth Grant who hopes to hit the back of the net and prove to his manager that he has the credentials to be club captain. Gareth is currently the longest serving player at the club, with the rest of the side made up of teenagers as cash is hard to come by. Where the money has gone from the Carbone sale to Leeds, Juanjo to Huddersfield Town and Emmanuel to Manchester Utd is still a mystery.

Its the end of the match with Darlington winning by a single goal, a somewhat ironic one by player manager Robert Blake. Darlington fans go home singing, City fans stay behind chanting. The future certainly doesn't look good for Mr Richmond, and how he wishes that he had got behind his manager of four years ago Jim Jefferies, now at Hibs, instead of the Phoenix league and concentrated on building a great side capable of challenging for promotion.

Now we're back in the present. Wake up Mr Richmond and think about what you have just seen. Go forth throughout the cobbled streets of Bradford wishing a Merry Christmas to everybody and giving a special present to 'tiny Jim'. Make his and our lives better.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!

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