Following an abrupt postponement to the Sky Bet League Two season, Bradford City fans can now look back at an underwhelming league campaign and review the players who have wore the cowl of claret and amber; whilst also considering who could be their player of the season, relating to the previous player of the seasons. But where are they now?
Matt Kilgallon- a dominant and veteran centre-back who fought for his place at Valley Parade, Kilgallon acted as a leader at the back for the Bantams. In his two years at the club, Kilgallon made 49 appearances for City after being released by Blackburn Rovers the season before, and famously scored a huge goal in Bradford's League One campaign against promotion rivals Portsmouth. Upon winning the Player of the Season award in his second year at the club, he departed by mutual consent, as he could possibly see what was going on behind the closed doors of City and Edin Rahic's reign. Not long after his contract was mutually terminated he moved to Scotland to sign for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership, but remained at the club for a single season before opting to see out his career in the riches of India, joining Hyderabad FC for the 2019/20 season.
Mark Marshall- one of the most exciting and technical players to play at Valley Parade in years, Marshall's explosive pace and heroic work rate earned him the Player of the Year award in 2017. Following City's tragic play-off final loss to Millwall, Marshall moved down south to join Charlton Athletic as he was one of the Addicks top targets for their Summer rebuild. Unfortunately for Charton, Marshall suffered an injury in pre-season and was out for the first three months of the season which really postponed his progress at the club. He lacked form at the Valley and was released at the end of the 2018/19 season, but luckily for Marshall Gillingham's move for Nathan Thomas broke down and therefore he was offered a contract at the Gills, but his form continued to fail to pick up. After making 23 appearances for Gillingham he left the club due to financial constraints and just two days later dropped down a league to join Northampton Town despite interest from elsewhere and remains at the club to this day.
Reece Burke- a tall and powerful defender, like a young Kilgallon, Burke joined City on loan for originally a one month deal. However, his deal was continuously extended until it was confirmed he'd be staying until the end of the season, to the delight of Bradford fans. Despite an injury which required treatment from parent club West Ham United, Burke made 34 appearances for City and won seven awards at the end of season ceremony, including the Player of the Year. Burke would go on to feature in the Europa League before being shipped out on another loan, this time to Wigan Athletic where he got his first goal against Bradford rivals Huddersfield Town. Following the end of his loan spell Burke moved to join Bolton Wanderers in the Championship alongside former City man Joshua Cullen until January. He would make just 14 appearances for the Trotters before returning to West Ham and playing two games for the Hammers, but was then sent back to Bolton for the remainder of the season. All together he would make 25 appearances for Bolton before once again returning to West Ham, but he was subject to interest from Hull City and joined the relegated Tigers for approximately £1.5m, where he remains to this day as a first team regular in a struggling Championship side.
Rory McArdle- the Northern Irish stalwart was an ever-present at Bradford in his 183 games at the club. Once again a centre-back, McArdle was a fan favourite who has been involved in the hugely successful past 10 years at the club, famously scoring in the play-off semi-final to send the Bantams to Wembley back in 2017, the fairy tale EFL Cup run which ended in Swansea City demolishing Bradford 5-0, 'that' Chelsea win, he has been a hero at the club. He left the club after the Millwall defeat and found a new home at Scunthorpe United as the Iron captain, but unfortunately was stripped off of it following a poor spell of form and has remained at the Iron ever since, even now in League Two alongside the Bantams.
Stephen Darby- a Bradford City legend, Darby was a true pleasure to watch at Valley Parade. In fact, he was so influential for City that he won seven awards at the end of season dinner awards in May 2014 and signed a new three year contract with the club one month later. He replaced Gary Jones as captain at the beginning of next season as the hard-working midfielder departed the club for Notts County. His captaincy lasted for two season before Stuart McCall took it away from him and allowed Romain Vincelot to possess it, before Darby was released from the club in May 2017. Following the news, ex-manager Parkinson brought Darby to Bolton as he signed a new two-year contract in the Lilywhites Championship tenure. However, he only made three appearances in his time in Bolton before opting to retire at the age of 29 upon being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which lead to him setting up the Darby Rimmer foundation to help fund support for the families who were being affected by the motor neurone disease whilst also researching for a cure. In July 2019, his two favoured former clubs Bradford and Liverpool held a friendly in his name to honour the stalwart.
Gary Jones- the hard-working tough midfielder who City fans have been looking for for the past four seasons, Jones is remembered as a Bradford hero. Jones spent just two years at the club but made a substantial 84 appearances for the Bantams, even playing alongside Darby and McArdle in the EFL Cup run and League Two play-off promotion run. The season after winning the Player of the Year award at Valley Parade Jones was not offered a contract and left on a free transfer but was snapped up by Notts County just two months later on a one year contract. Unfortunately, he suffered relegation at the Magpies and chose to leave the club after featuring in 42 games, but was powerless to stopping the clubs demise. Jones next moved down past County to National League side Southport, where he made 55 appearances in his two years there and even earning the captaincy at the Sandgrounders. He also spent one month on loan at Altrincham in his second season at Southport . Upon Jones retiring he has been linked with the managerial position at Valley Parade but nothing has surfaced.
Luke Oliver- having spent a brief one month loan deal at Valley Parade to play under Peter Taylor, Oliver signed permanently on a free transfer at the end of the season and would go on to make exactly 100 appearances representing the claret and amber. At the end of 2011/12 season, Oliver won six awards at the club's annual award night which prompted him to sign a new two year contract with the club. However he left the club in January 2014 by mutual consent to join Forest Green Rovers, where he spent a single season in the National League and made 31 appearances for the Vegans, but was amongst one of six of the Forest Green players who were released at the end of the season. He would go on to join Aldershot Town, and made 18 appearances before retiring.
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