season through suspension. Colbeck had been playing since January with a groin injury, which hampered his preparations for the 2008–09 season and prevented him from playing in Bradford's first three pre-season friendly matches. His suspension also kept him out of Bradford's first two games of the season, but he returned for a 2–0 victory against Macclesfield Town. He provided a cross for Peter Thorne to open the scoring after ten minutes. Colbeck helped City to go top of the league six matches into the season, and although he scored his first goal of the season in the seventh game, City lost 3–1 to AFC Bournemouth. He added a second in a 2–2 home draw with Gillingham, before he broke a bone in his foot the following week against Grimsby Town. Colbeck was unable to play for nearly three months. He returned from injury in January by playing in two reserve games, leading up to his first-team return on 24 January as a late second-half substitute for Omar Daley in a 3–3 draw with Luton Town. Colbeck broke back into the starting eleven the following month, once again for Daley, who was ruled out for the season with his own knee injury. He was a regular in the team for the rest of the season, playing a further 16 games but he struggled for form and was unable to add to his two goals. City missed out on promotion and as a result had to cut their wage budget. However, Colbeck, whose contract had expired, was offered a new three-year deal on improved terms. He turned down the offer and stayed at the club on a week-to-week basis on his previous terms. He was watched in a pre-season friendly playing for City against Bradford Park Avenue by his former Darlington boss Dave Penney, who had since been appointed Oldham Athletic manager. Colbeck started the season with Bradford and played another five games, bringing his total to the club to 109, of which 41 were as substitute. Oldham Athletic Colbeck left Bradford in September 2009, on the final day of the summer transfer window to join Penney at League One side Oldham Athletic. The transfer fee was undisclosed, with Bradford entitled to a sum because of Colbeck's age – the Yorkshire Post newspaper reported the fee to be around £60,000. Penney described Colbeck as being in "the Stanley Matthews mould" and hoped