Thursday marks two years since Graham Alexander took charge at Bradford City — but it’s only now, in 2025, that he feels he truly understands the club’s potential.
After sealing automatic promotion from League Two last season, the Bantams have carried that momentum into League One and look well-placed to mount another promotion push as they prepare to face Burton Albion on Saturday.
For a manager as seasoned as Alexander, Bradford’s stature in the lower leagues was never in doubt — but it wasn’t until midway through last season that he grasped the full scale of what the club could become.
“I think it really hit me halfway through last season,” he reflected. “Once we started making progress and belief grew, the crowds got bigger and you could sense what was possible. That’s when I realised the size of the fanbase and the passion behind it.”
Alexander, who first encountered Bradford as both player and opposing manager, admits his two years have flown by.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding. I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone — I still feel like a new manager. I enjoy every day and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many good people.”
With fitness concerns over Antoni Sarcevic and Bobby Pointon ahead of the weekend, Alexander pinpointed the moment when things began to click.
“Around the turn of the year, I really felt the Bradford family take me in,” he said. “You could feel it when Valley Parade was full — that connection, that belief. When we beat Walsall 3-0 after their long unbeaten run, that was a statement, and from then on, everyone started to believe in what we could achieve.”
Even amid strong early-season form, Alexander remains grounded.
“You’ll take a few punches along the way, but it’s how you respond that matters,” he added. “We’ve done that well. I don’t take anything for granted — I’m just grateful for every bit of progress we make.”