City skipper in frame for top accolade

From the archive, first published Thursday 9th Feb 2006.

David Wetherall has been shortlisted for a prestigious Football League award.

The Bantams captain is among three nominations in the contribution to football category.

He is up against long-serving Crewe boss Dario Gradi and Gerry Murphy, manager of the successful Hudders-field academy.

The winner will be announced at a glitzy ceremony at the London Hilton in Park Lane on Sunday, March 5.

Wetherall has been selected because of the way he kept up spirits in the dressing room when the club plunged into administration. "It's nice that your efforts are recognised," said Wetherall, "but I think this should

be for all those involved during that period.

"Julian Rhodes put in a fortune to keep the club alive and is still doing so; the other players deferred wages for a long, long time and the fans showed tremendous support with their fund-raising efforts and by attending the Save Our City game.

"It's a time that, to be honest, I've tried to blank out of the memory. It was very difficult for everybody who cares about the football club.

"We're not totally out of the woods yet but it's good to see that football is taking centre stage more often than financial talk. Everyone is very hopeful and fairly confident that those days are behind us.

"But Julian is the one we all depend on. We're losing money this year and that problem needs to be sorted out because it is not a bottomless pit."

Colin Todd believes Wetherall would be a worthy choice at the league's inaugural prize-giving.

He said: "David is an ambassador for this club. His overall contribution in terms of how he conducts himself and plays the game is exemplary. Throughout the two seasons that I've been here, he has never been in

trouble. He leads by example, he doesn't rant and rave and he's been a real professional."

Football League spokesman Stewart Regan said: "The passion and commitment demonstrated by all three of our nominees over the years deserves to be recognised."

City fans can vote for Wetherall in Radio Five Live's "Sport on Five" show between 7pm and 10pm on Monday.

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