With three division defying surprises in last season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, it is only fitting that Bradford City has scooped the competition’s ‘shock of the season’ accolade from its inaugural end of season awards.
There were many upsets over the course of the last campaign, with the likes League Two strugglers Barnet beating Colchester United 3-1 in the first round, while trophy holders Carlisle United were dethroned at the hands of Accrington Stanley.
But with successes over League One local rivals Huddersfield Town and Sheffield’s Steel City giants, the Bantams of Bradford were always favourites for the honour, and so it proved.
The ‘official’ shock of the season came at Bramall Lane in the area quarter finals, where after an enthralling 90 minutes of passion, the game went to penalties with the scores at 1-1.
Despite being separated by a division and more than 30 league places, City’s players kept their composure and ended up as penalty shoot-out heroes, beating their opponents 6-5 in sudden death.
Speaking of the result, Bradford’s winning penalty taker, Chris Mitchell said at the time: “Scoring the winning penalty at Bramall Lane is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“Needless to say, these situations are high pressure so I was pleased that I kept my cool and slotted the spot-kick away!”
Sponsorship manager, Teresa Hardwick, said: “Bradford’s win at Bramall Lane epitomizes everything that the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy stands for. The away fans were some of the noisiest and passionate that we can remember and there was plenty of drama on the pitch to keep them gripped.
“We’d like to congratulate Bradford City on producing the shock of the season and reaffirming the idea that underdogs are capable of producing cup upsets.”
The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy will be revealing more end of season award winners in the coming weeks.
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