Bradford City's 6-1 victory over Stockport County on this day 47 years ago was a landmark result in their 1979-80 promotion chase. The Bantams came from behind at Valley Parade to produce a stunning second-half performance that left them just a point behind the league leaders.
Stockport took an early lead, but Bradford City turned the game around before the break. Terry Dolan equalised from the penalty spot after Mick Wood was fouled. Dave Staniforth then put the hosts ahead to make it 2-1 at halftime.
Manager George Mulhall's side ran riot after the interval. Terry Cooper scored his first goal for the club, and David McNiven headed in from a Dolan corner after 69 minutes. Eugene Martinez added a late sixth to complete the 6-1 rout.
How the win left Bradford City in the title race
That emphatic win pushed Bradford City to within a single point of then-leaders Portsmouth. Both clubs had started the Division Four season strongly, but neither could sustain that form over the full campaign. The Bantams had won 10 of their first 13 games, showing the promise of genuine contenders.
What happened next for both clubs
Despite the flying start, Bradford City's challenge faded. Portsmouth ultimately secured the final promotion place on goal difference, beating Northampton Town on the final day. Bradford City, who had suffered relegation the previous year, missed out.
The story of a strong start and a near-miss finds a modern parallel. Today, Bradford City sit second in standings with 17 points from nine games, just two points behind leaders Plymouth. The squad list has shown similar attacking prowess, averaging 2.2 goals per game according to the latest stats.
Manager Graham Alexander will be demanding his team maintain their focus for the full campaign, with the next test a home match against Stevenage on October 17. The club's fixtures list shows this as a key opportunity to apply pressure at the top. The current squad, aiming to avoid the heartbreak of 1980, will look to their recent 4-0 win at Rotherham for inspiration as they continue their own push for the top.
More detail at Telegraph and Argus
