Graham Alexander is looking to steer Bradford City to a first automatic promotion since 1999 Bradford City boss Graham Alexander has said his side must relish the pressure of their promotion decider against Fleetwood Town on Saturday The Bantams go into the final day in third place in League Two and will go up with a victory at Valley Parade If they fail to win then either Walsall or Notts County could pip them to the remaining automatic promotion spot "When you get to the end of the season and see other teams in these situations you are jealous of it because you want to be involved in them," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "I speak to the players about the pressure of playing for Bradford it is something that attracted you here so you can't shy away from it "I told them after the EFL Trophy semi-final defeat by Birmingham [in February] 'lads we are destined to play bigger games than this' I really felt that at that particular moment and that is what we have here "Everything they have done this season is down to this so don't let that opportunity go because you have worked hard for it "It's in our hands and this is where we have to grab it." L1 & L2 preview: Promotion and play-off prospects How a love for Messi led to a passion for Bradford City Alexander: 'I don't want to let anyone down' Promotion would end City's six-season spell in the bottom tier and also see them go up automatically for the first time since 1999 The West Yorkshire side have enjoyed a strong second half of the season and rose up to the top of the table on 5 April a run of four games without a win has seen them drop back down to third who took over at Valley Parade in November 2023 has previously led Fleetwood and Salford to promotion and said he felt a real connection with the club "This job has stretched me more than any other that is what makes you grow and improve," he said "As you get more interwoven into a club and understand the history then when you feel like you are making a mark and you are hopefully going to be in their history then you do feel a connection "It hasn't always been rosy but I have always felt the support from the people around me and from the stands "I just don't want to let people down so we have to get the job done." but will Yamal build legacy to rival Messi 'Calamity keeper' or 'human wall' - which Donnarumma will Arsenal face Premier League reaction & Champions League race latest as Forest draw at Palace The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. 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Bradford City fans celebrated on the pitch after the club ended their six-year spell in the fourth tier 3 May 2025 could prove to be one of the most memorable dramatic and historic days in Bradford City's long history The six-year wait for promotion out of League Two has, at times, felt an impossible task and so it was apt that it took until the final minute of time added on for City to score the winning goal against Fleetwood and set off chaotic scenes of celebration Many a manager has tried and failed to realise the long-standing potential that has always existed in BD8 Average home crowds of 18,000 in the fourth tier create a demand for success the up-and-coming style of managerial duo of Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars the promotion CV of Derek Adams and the Premier League pedigree of Mark Hughes Bradford City promoted with late Fleetwood win Alexander: 'I've never seen a minute like that in my life' the humility and pragmatism of Graham Alexander's arrival would be the much-needed turning point for the club It was apparent in the early stages of his tenure that his understanding of the club its supporters and the Bradford area was transcending onto the pitch An acceptance they may not be the best but would go into every game with a 'work-hard' mentality; a culture reflective of Bradford's working-class roots a 3-0 loss at Harrogate in March 2024 would prove to be this promotion journey's starting point where 13 goals had been conceded and just one scored all but ended faint hopes of a play-off finish Scunthorpe and Salford boss often describes his drive home that night as the reset point in his and the club's approach Temptations of going in a different direction again were ignored and instead the board backed him A new head of football operations was appointed in former Wigan and Mansfield chief executive David Sharpe and the blueprint was set for their hopes of success Fast forward 15 months and Bradford City are now and the scale of what Alexander and his staff have achieved in that time should not be understated Its ever-loyal fanbase are the only true asset the club currently holds and having them with you is imperative to success Home form has so often been the failing of his predecessors boasting 55 points from 17 wins and four draws - the third-best return in the EFL behind Championship winners Leeds United and runaway League One champions Birmingham City of which 23,613 were among the crowd of 24,033 for Saturday's fantastic finale believe in the players and are once again proud to support their club Graham Alexander (right) celebrates promotion with captain Richie Smallwood This was always going to be a big year for Bradford The title of UK City of Culture has offered hopes of future prosperity while the region remembers one of its darkest days on 11 May with the 40th anniversary of the Valley Parade Fire disaster This promotion represents more than just footballing achievement present and future and it is a moment for the region just as much as it is for the club Its people deserve this and it serves as a firm reminder what a simple game of football can do for the area it represents The Batams needed a win to guarantee the final automatic promotion spot as close rivals Walsall clinched all three points away at Crewe would drop into the play-offs but Antoni Sarcevic redirected a shot into the bottom corner in the closing stages of the game The game had to be paused for 15 minutes as fans flooded the pitch in celebrations Players were escorted off the pitch before being brought back out The win secures their promotion to League One after six seasons in League Two fans gathered at the club's memorial to remember those who were killed in the Valley Parade fire 40 years ago.56 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured on the 11th of May 1985 when the ground's main stand became engulfed in flames Fans joined together by the memorial to reflect and pay their respects to those who lost their lives Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know the Hixson family has served the people of Central Louisiana by providing funeral and cremation services to all faiths Find your loved one below to share a memory or express your condolences You may also show sympathy by sending flowers Enter your information to receive emails when new obituaries are published We're dedicated to providing personalized professional and compassionate services to help lighten your burden and support you Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. Bradford City got to enjoy it on Saturday for the first time in over a decade. Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty ImagesAmong the many things that make soccer special are the twin concepts of promotion and relegation They add so much drama to a sport filled with it whether you're the team clinching a move up to the next tier or commiserating the end of an era and sinking down to the level below you were the perfect illustration of just what it means to go up Bradford City have experienced their fair share of both in their 122-year history but Saturday's promotion clinch with a 1-0 home win over Fleetwood Town marks another unforgettable moment for Bantams fans worldwide ABSOLUTE BEDLAM IN BRADFORD 😱😱😱THE SCENES. IMMACULATE. ❤️Bradford City secure their promotion to EFL League One with a stoppage time goal over Fleetwood Town 👏 pic.twitter.com/VoDthtKreM Saturday's burst of emotion came after a truly roller-coaster season Bradford City were in 12th place on Christmas Day 2024 with promotion just another word in the dictionary after 12 wins and one draw from their next 15 games only for a run of two wins and three draws in their next 10 games to put everything on the line heading into Saturday's final round of games the math was simple: match or better what fourth-place Walsall could do at Port Vale in order to clinch that third and final automatic promotion spot to League One Walsall took the lead in their game at Port Vale with 30 minutes left putting them in third place while Bradford and Fleetwood were locked at 0-0 going into second-half injury time with EIGHT in his 14-year career: twice at Chester and Plymouth Argyle Bradford City have been promoted only nine times in club history.) Also it marks the club's first promotion since 2013 when it escaped League Two under Phil Parkinson the mastermind behind Wrexham's remarkable back-to-back-to-back promotions from 2022 to 2025 Digital Sports ReporterPublished: Invalid Date BRADFORD'S clash against Fleetwood was suspended just seconds before their promotion to League One after fans stormed the pitch Bradford scored a 97th minute winner to seal third place in League Two and secure a move up the divisions But with the game being just seconds away from finishing it was brought to a halt as fans prematurely invaded the field The supporters were delighted after Antoni Sarcevic's strike looked to have sealed a place in League One. Sarcevic's goal was deflected into the goal sparking joyous scenes as fans joined the players on the pitch to celebrate the game was technically not over as fans continued to flood on to the grass Stewards also worked overtime to clear the field. The game was held up for more than 10 minutes before the final few seconds of the match were allowed to resume after the last supporters had made their way back to the stands. But there was no late sting in the tail as the final whistle blew moments later. It allowed Bradford fans to finally celebrate in style And once again they charged onto the field to toast their success with the club's players Jubilant supporters lit flares as they hugged various Bradford stars The mood was one of jubilation after their timely late winner The result saw Bradford move above Walsall into third with the latter having looked set to go up with a 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra Walsall will now face Chesterfield in the playoffs while AFC Wimbledon will take on Notts County Doncaster Rovers went up as League Two champs Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ US EditionUK EditionScottish SunIrish SunSearchMy Account Bradford City have been promoted to League One after a stunning last-gasp victory at home to Fleetwood Town Antoni Sarcevic scored in the sixth minute of second half stoppage-time to seal the 1-0 win on the final day of the League Two season The ball deflected off Sarcevic and rolled into the bottom corner to spark jubilant scenes at Valley Parade Bradford fans ran onto the pitch and caused the match to be played until the final whistle blew in the 19th minute of stoppage-time fans resumed their pitch invasion once promotion was confirmed by finishing third in the League Two table The Bantams started the day in that position after their defeat to Doncaster Rovers on the penultimate weekend of the campaign Walsall beat Crewe Alexandra 1-0 on Saturday afternoon and looked as though they would seal the final automatic promotion spot. But Bradford had other ideas and will now play in the League One for the first time since the 2018/19 season when they finished 24th. It means Walsall have settled for the play-offs, despite once sitting eight points clear at the top of League Two with a game in hand. Walsall will meet Chesterfield in the play-offs as Notts County and AFC Wimbledon contest the other tie. Bradford on the other hand will make their way into League One with Doncaster and Port Vale with their finish in the top three. This has been their sixth and final season in the fourth tier, and 24th overall since their relegation from the Premier League in 2001. Promotion further adds to the excellent progress Bradford have made under manager Graham Alexander since he joined in late 2023. They finished ninth at the end of his first season but gone one step further this time round with another moment of EFL magic. Published4 May 2025A self-taught photographer has said he hopes images he took capturing life in Bradford's African Caribbean communities in the early 1980s can eventually find pride of place in a museum in his home city. The photographs by Victor Wedderburn, who is now 70, reveal a snapshot of life in Manningham towards the end of last century and are currently on show in his first ever public exhibition as part of this year's City of Culture celebrations. Mr Wedderburn said he hoped the photos could eventually go on display in the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. He said: "I was right when I thought it was important to take these pictures. It's of a place and people that have now gone." Image source, Charles Heslett/BBCImage caption, Victor Wedderburn, pictured outside the Gallery at Loading Bay, where his Frontline 1984/1985 exhibition is currently on show Mr Wedderburn arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1971 at the age of 16 to join his Windrush Generation parents. When he was later made redundant from his driving job at Crofts Engineers, he used his pay-off to buy a second-hand camera and kit to develop film. Amid an atmosphere of racism and community tensions, he set about documenting everyday life in Bradford as he saw it. Image source, Charles Heslett/BBCImage caption, Some of Mr Wedderburn's shots show his former wife Melanie and her friend Janet and their newly opened cosmetics shop Shade His colour photographs of landmarks on Lumb Lane such as Roots Record Shop, the Young Lions Cafe and the Perseverance Hotel remained unseen for decades. But after publishing them online and getting a positive response they also came to the attention of the Bradford City of Culture 2025 team. The images show everything from sound system parties to anti-apartheid marches and shine a light on a sometimes neglected part of Bradford's multi-cultural history. Image source, Victor WedderburnImage caption, Another of Mr Wedderburn's images from the 1980s shows two young women outside The Young Lions Cafe, which was a popular meeting place Mr Wedderburn, who still lives in Bradford, explained: "This community doesn't exist anymore, people have moved on. "When you go to the area now, it's completely different. It's completely changed. "We miss it of course, but that's life." Image source, Victor WedderburnImage caption, An image by Mr Wedderburn shows (left to right) Sooty, Howard Brown aka Rusty, Addy, Soleman, Neil Quaty and Richard Brown outside the The Young Lions Cafe Mr Wedderburn's pictures are currently on show in his first ever public exhibition, Frontline 1984/1985, which runs until Sunday 11 May in the Gallery at the Loading Bay in Bradford. He said that once that exhibition was over, he hoped they could find a permanent home. "For the photographs, I'm hoping - or the plans are - that they go to the photographic museum in Bradford," he said. "And, who knows? But I hope they get exhibited elsewhere. That's the plan." Tell us which stories we should cover in Yorkshire Contact formContact formListen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Former warehouse to become City of Culture hub Four-storey arts venue planned for City of Culture Many subjects of mystery photo archive found Pictures show 'side of life that has disappeared' Related internet linksThe Loading Bay, Bradford Why Brits love Benidorm – sun, fun and stunning beaches SmartTech’s Martin Cheek on co-founding the Yorkshire firm in 2011 to securing major investment in 2024 New Aer Lingus route connects Leeds Bradford Airport to US sports hub Indianapolis via Dublin 'I didn’t realise I was being controlled' - type of abuse on the rise in Bradford Calls for 'lessons to be learned' over Bradford Interchange as all services to return Keighley motorist banned & fined for using mobile phone whilst driving Information about BBC links to other news sitesTop storiesLive. Russian drones hit Kharkiv after Ukrainian attacks temporarily close Moscow airports Hamas says 'no point' to talks as Israel plans expanded Gaza offensive Conclave: How Vatican keeps its papal vote secret Experience the VE Day flypast from inside a Red Arrows cockpit in 360 video Americans used to be steadfast in their support for Israel. 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Bradford now trails only No. 1 overall recruit Chris Henry Jr as the second-ranked member of the defending national champions' incoming class Ohio State and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri built a strong connection with Bradford throughout the 6-foot-1 Bradford's Monday morning pledge marked a surprise recruiting win over presumed favorite LSU the hometown program that signed Bradford's older brother Jacob as a three-star defensive back in the 2025 cycle Ohio State signed the nation's No. 5 class in the 2025 cycle, headlined by five-star signees in quarterback Tavien St. Clair and cornerback Devin Sanchez.