Tractor Boys

Just Passing Through Podcast

Episode 143
It’s been 25 years since that fateful day when Bradford City threw a spanner in the works of Ipswich Town’s Premier League dreams. As the football world turned its attention elsewhere, a simmering hatred was born in the hearts of the East Anglian faithful – a grudge that has since twisted and morphed like a vindictive caricature, finding new targets along the way.

Enter Leeds United and Huddersfield Town, two Yorkshire clubs unsuspecting of their impending doom, yet unwitting pawns in Bradford’s cosmic football vendetta. Yes, you heard it right – Bradford City, the unassuming Bantams, have been quietly pulling the strings from West Yorkshire all this time, orchestrating chaos in the football leagues and laughing all the way to Valley Parade.

Picture this: a shadowy council of Bradfordians, adorned in claret and amber robes, plotting over cups of Tetley’s tea, declaring, “Let’s keep Ipswich out of the Premier League – just for kicks!” Little did they know the seismic ripple effect their actions would have over two decades later.

Leeds United, perennial yo-yo club and once the darlings of English football, found themselves ensnared in Bradford’s wicked web. The Bantams’ mere existence seemed to irk Leeds supporters, who saw them as an annoying little cousin meddling in their affairs. As fate would have it, Bradford’s unrelenting quest for chaos culminated in Leeds’ relegation woes, leaving Elland Road in a state of bewilderment and mild disdain for anything claret and amber.

But wait, there’s more! Huddersfield Town, the Terriers of West Yorkshire, fell victim to Bradford’s jinx as well. Bradford City, with their devious charm and underdog spirit, delivered the knockout blow that sent Huddersfield tumbling down to the depths of League One. Oh, the agony! The fury! The misplaced resentment towards those pesky Bantams!

And here we are, 25 years later, scratching our heads and chuckling at the absurdity of it all. Bradford City, the unwitting instigators of football melodrama, couldn’t care less about the mayhem they’ve caused. They’re too busy sipping their Yorkshire tea and enjoying the view from mid-table obscurity.

Meanwhile, Ipswich, Leeds, and Huddersfield fans stew in their own bitter brew of football conspiracy theories, pointing fingers at the claret and amber-clad miscreants from Bradford. “It’s all their fault!” they cry, shaking their fists at the Yorkshire heavens.

But deep down, amidst the banter and the rivalry, there’s a begrudging respect for Bradford City – the cheeky upstarts who dared to disrupt the football hierarchy and live to tell the tale. After all, what’s football without a bit of mischief and mayhem?

So, here’s to you, Bradford City – the accidental architects of chaos, the disruptors of destiny, and the perennial punchline of football lore. As the world turns and the football seasons ebb and flow, we’ll always have Bradford to blame and a good laugh to go along with it. Because in the end, it’s just a game – and Bradford City, well, they’re playing it their way, claret and amber mischief and all.
Music -
The Zutons - Zuton Fever
Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales of San Francisco
Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
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