Bradford City: How do you solve a problem like Steve Evans?

Article by Bradford Correspondent Timothy Feather

Bradford City get their first break from the league this weekend as they travel to Rotherham United in the FA Cup. Bradford City has a long history with outspoken and controversial manager Steve Evans. Evans has been in the headlines even in the non-leagues with Boston United and he received a stadium ban last season because of something he said to a Bradford City official. But behind all of his outspoken comments and opinions, is there something a bit more tactical about what he does. Does he enjoy being the Football League’s super-villain?

The history with Bradford City started fatefully on the 27th March 2012 when there was a mass brawl in the middle of the pitch. Bradford City had just lost 2-1 to Evans’ Crawley Town despite six of their players being yellow carded. Tensions were already running high and the tension was released when at the final whistle there were some very ugly scenes. It was on that same night that Steve Evans used abusive and indecent behaviour in reference to gender to a member of staff at Bradford City. He was later found guilty of this and was slapped with a six game stadium ban and a £30,000 fine.

The heat was turned up a little bit more on the relationship the Bantams had with Evans when at the end of the 2011/12 season, he became manager of local rivals Rotherham United. Fans of Bradford City have a torrid history with former Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore and the fans really enjoy having a rivalry with each other as well.

In the closing stages of last season, Evans was quite derogatory of Bradford City and didn’t really show them much respect. He told the media that “From all the hype before the game that Bradford might go up automatically, I am not even so sure they will make the play-offs.” He said Bradford City were not good enough to beat Burton, or Cheltenham. This followed the Bantams losing 2-0 to his Rotherham United side during the promotion race last season. It turned out Bradford City ended up making the play-offs and achieving promotion. Chairman Mark Lawn taunted Evans back thanking him for what he said as it probably spurred the players on more.

In what was a very tight race for promotion last season; Evans’ last jibe came when he asked manager Phil Parkinson to not field a weakened side against Cheltenham and to “uphold the integrity of football.” Had Bradford City been beaten by Cheltenham and Rotherham lost against Aldershot then Rotherham would have to compete in the play-offs. It turned out Bradford City went to Cheltenham and got a respectable 0-0 draw and Rotherham winning 2-0.

With all this history that the Bantams have with Evans you can’t help but think, does he enjoy being the villain, or is there something more behind it? Does Evans say all these comments and act like this to play mind games with the opposition team and get under their skin. Does he try and force the game to be a very physical one, which benefits his style of football. Evans hasn’t been totally derogatory of Bradford, he says he has respect for the club and has respect for the fans and even respect for Phil Parkinson. But after the torrid history Bradford has had with Evans, it is very difficult to look at any fixture other than Bradford vs Evans no matter who he manages. On the past four occasions, it has been Evans who has come out on top, winning all four fixtures.

It seems like the sportsmanship of the FA Cup has got to Evans as Rotherham United welcome Bradford City to the New York Stadium on Saturday. He told the Millers website, that Bradford have “an excellent team,” and “many top class players” and “passionate supporters.” He believes Bradford are having a “cracking season” and that we have adapted to the league like he thought we would. He couldn’t help having one little jibe wanting the Millers to get “a slice of luck for the first time this season.” The Millers have only won twice at home this season and will be looking to change that against Bradford City on Saturday.

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