Promotion-winning captain Richie Smallwood has confirmed he is leaving Bradford City this summer after three influential seasons at Valley Parade.
Despite leading the Bantams to automatic promotion, the 34-year-old has not been offered a new deal and will depart when his contract expires at the end of June.
City Captain Bows Out After Memorable Promotion Campaign
Smallwood made 156 appearances during a three-year spell that saw him guide the club through the highs and lows of life in League Two, including last month’s dramatic final-day promotion-clinching win over Fleetwood Town.
Having joined the Bantams in 2022 after leaving Hull City, the former Middlesbrough and Blackburn midfielder was tasked with delivering promotion. It didn’t happen immediately, but Smallwood’s influence, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, proved invaluable. In a heartfelt statement released on social media, he confirmed the club opted not to renew his deal.
“Three years ago I made the decision to leave the Championship and join Bradford City in League Two. The objective was clear: promotion. It’s taken longer than anticipated, but together, as a team, we achieved our goal.”
Smallwood expressed gratitude to the fans and reflected on the “journey” of his time at the club, noting that winning promotion at Valley Parade was especially meaningful after earlier successes with Rotherham United, Blackburn Rovers, and Hull City.
His contributions went beyond raw numbers—seven goals and 13 assists across all competitions—as evidenced by a string of accolades at the club’s End of Season Dinner, where he scooped five awards and was also named in the League Two Team of the Season.
While City move on without their captain, contract talks remain ongoing with other squad members. Goalkeepers Sam Walker and Colin Doyle are yet to finalise their futures, though Doyle is expected to transition into a coaching role. Defender Ciaran Kelly and loanee Lewis Richards are also in discussions, with announcements expected before pre-season begins.
Writer’s View
Richie Smallwood’s exit will sting for many Bradford City fans, and rightly so. He represented leadership, consistency, and a winning mentality—exactly what League Two sides crave when chasing promotion. That he won five end-of-season awards and still departs speaks volumes about the ruthlessness of the game.
While the club’s focus must now shift to the demands of League One, replacing Smallwood’s on-pitch presence and off-pitch influence will be a huge ask. His legacy at Valley Parade is secure: he came to deliver promotion, and he left as a captain who did exactly that.
