Bradford City midfielder George Lapslie says he’s proud to have played a part in the club’s dramatic return to League One—comparing their final-day heroics to his previous promotion success with Charlton Athletic.
City sealed automatic promotion in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, snatching a stoppage-time winner against Fleetwood Town. A late shot from Lapslie took a decisive deflection off Antoni Sarcevic in the 96th minute, sparking wild scenes at Valley Parade.
The midfielder, who joined from Gillingham in January, was quick to praise the spirit of the squad.
“We all wear our hearts on our sleeves,” said Lapslie. “Not many teams would have carried on going and scored in the 95th, 96th minute with everything going on. We got promoted—it didn’t matter how it happened. Whether it came in the first minute or the 96th, it’s the same feeling.”
Lapslie was part of the Charlton side that beat Sunderland at Wembley in the 2019 play-off final, courtesy of an equally dramatic late winner. Though he wasn’t on the pitch that day, the moment still resonates—and this time, he was front and centre.
“When I got promoted with Charlton in the play-off final, we scored in the 95th minute to make it 2-1. That was similar, but I wasn’t actually on the pitch at the time. I feel like I’ve played a part in helping this club get back to League One.”
The 27-year-old made an immediate impact at Bradford following his winter arrival, netting four goals, including a brace in a crucial win over Colchester United. His timing and ability to arrive late in the box have already made him a valuable asset for Graham Alexander’s side.
Despite promotion joy, Lapslie admitted that the pressure of expectation had taken its toll during the run-in.
“The expectation on the club brings pressure itself. It’s probably why we maybe stumbled over the last couple of months. But the lads really wanted it and you have to look at the flipside—how good was it to get it done how we did?”
With League One fixtures set to be released next month, fans are already eagerly anticipating a renewal of old rivalries—most notably a first league clash with Huddersfield Town at Valley Parade since the 2006–07 season.
Writer’s View
Bradford City’s promotion was the sort of football moment fans dream of, and George Lapslie finds himself at the heart of it. While much has rightly been made of the deflected winner, it’s the wider contribution of the energetic midfielder that could define City’s League One return.
His blend of tenacity, goalscoring instinct, and leadership makes him an ideal figure for the next chapter. With local derbies and high-profile fixtures to come, the stage is set for Lapslie and the Bantams to make a serious impression next season. Few will be writing them off.
