City failed to win promotion for three successive seasons , until the board appointed former England centre back Roy McFarland as manager in May 1981 . McFarland won promotion in his first season , but was poached by his former club Derby County just six months later . City won compensation from Derby and installed another England international Trevor Cherry as McFarland 's replacement . Cherry , with former teammate Terry Yorath as his assistant manager , failed to win for two months , but eventually the pair guided City to safety from relegation . During the summer , however , the club chairman Bob Martin had to call in the official receivers . The club was saved by former chairman Stafford Heginbotham and former board member Jack Tordoff , but to ensure the club could start the new season , prize asset , striker Bobby Campbell was sold to Derby . City struggled but so did Campbell , and when he returned , the club went on a record run of ten successive victories . Although they missed out on promotion , City won the league the following season 1984 – 85 , to return to the second tier of The Football League . However , City 's triumph was overshadowed by the fire disaster , which killed 56 people when Valley Parade caught fire in the final game of the season
fire disaster
Bradford City stadium fire
Bradford City A.F.C.