David Wetherall

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David Wetherall (born March 14, 1971 in Sheffield) is an English central defender who currently plays for Bradford City.

Wetherall began his career in 1989 with Sheffield Wednesday David was studying for a Chemistry degree and he represented Great Britain in the World Student Games of 1991 - the football section was staged at venues around the region, including Valley Parade. He eventually gained a 2:1 honours degree in Chemistry in 1992. He moved to Leeds United on 15 July 1991 for £250,000. He joined Bradford City on 30 June 1999 for £1.4 million. He is club captain for Bradford.

His arrival came as City were preparing for life in the Premiership. 'Wethers' became a central figure in City’s battle for survival. His partnership with the emerging Andy O'Brien in central defence was the front line in City’s survival attempt. If ever a season was epitmoised in one day, then it was the last game of the 1999-00 season. City faced Champions League chasing Liverpool at Valley Parade, however, their fate was not in their own hands. Wimbledon, one place above City, were at Southampton.

After only ten minutes David Wetherall met a Gunnar Halle free kick with a thumping header that tore into the Bradford End net. Valley Parade went wild with delight, but another agonising eighty minutes lay ahead.

Liverpool put the City goal under relentless pressure. Time and again heroics in the defence kept the Reds at bay. Keeper Matt Clarke was inspired, when he was beaten bodies were thrown into the path of goalbound shots. News of a Southampton goal, eased the pressure, but only for a few precious seasons. Still the grim battle went on.

Late in the second half news of a second Southampton goal sent Valley Parade into wonderland. A draw would now suffice, but still City’s defenders refused to capitulate and ironically it was City who came closest to scoring before the referees whistle signalled the biggest party since the FA Cup win.

In some respects that gloriously sunny afternoon was the clubs modern day zenith - perhaps even more so than promotion to the Premiership itself. Afterwards the club began a descent that has yet to be halted. Relegation came the following season and, even worse, a financial collapse in the summer of 2002, which nearly killed the club. The players, led by Captain David Wetherall, played a full part in saving the club from extinction. They went months without wages over the summer and later agreed to wage deferrals and contract extensions, that went a long way to ensuring that the club was able to reach its Centenary.

[edit] Playing Career


Bradford City A.F.C. - Current Squad

1 Ricketts | 2 Edghill | 3 Parker | 4 Doyle | 5 Wetherall | 6 Bower | 7 Schumacher | 8 Bridge-Wilkinson | 9 E. Johnson | 10 Windass | 11 Holmes | 12 J. Johnson | 13 Howarth | 15 Muirhead | 16 Graham | 18 Penford | 19 Healy | 21 Black | 25 Bentham | 26 Swift | 27 Brown | 28 Colbeck | 29 Smith | 30 Saynor | 31 McGuire | 32 Ainge | Manager: Todd
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