A happy reunion for old Shaymen

AS the traditional handshake between opposing coaching staffs takes place ahead of kick-off at Valley Parade on Saturday, Chris Wilder and Wayne Jacobs could be forgiven for sharing an amused smile.

The two former Bradford City team-mates will, above all, be hoping to claim vital League Two points as the Bantams and Oxford United meet for the first time in more than a decade.

But, thanks to an often taxing shared apprenticeship as manager and assistant with the now defunct Halifax Town, both Wilder and Jacobs are also likely to enjoy a chuckle at how well life has turned out for them.

Wilder, as Oxford manager, is still basking in the afterglow of winning promotion to the Football League last May courtesy of a play-off final victory over York City at Wembley.

Jacobs, meanwhile, is in his fourth season as assistant manager at Bradford and hoping, together with Peter Taylor, to steer the Yorkshire club into the promotion race.

Both men are looking forward to Saturday's reunion, where thoughts and conversation are likely to turn quickly to their time together in charge of Halifax.

"I have tried to blank it all out," joked 43-year-old Wilder when asked about the six years he spent in charge at The Shay before leaving in the wake of the club folding in 2008.

"There were some crazy times at Halifax. Myself and 'Jakes' could have walked out every month if we had been quitters. An indication of how big the problems we faced were is that, eventually, the club just went pop.

"There were so many times when all we could do was laugh at whatever was being thrown at us, which is why I look back now and see keeping Halifax in the division for so long as a major achievement."

Asked to expand on the day-to-day problems encountered during his time at the helm of the then Conference outfit, Wilder replied: "Where do you want me to start?

"There was the day the team bus didn't turn up to take us to an away game or the day we turned up at our training ground and found a dog show taking place where we were planning to train.

"Then, there was the Friday when we were kicked off the council pitch we trained on because an important Sunday League game was being played there and they wanted to mark out the lines. At times, it became almost comical.

"More seriously, there were also the times when the cheques to cover the players' wages bounced.

"Often, it would be a mad scramble every week for the players to get the cheques into the bank to try and ensure theirs wasn't among the ones that bounced.

"The lads would be asking if we could pull over on the way to a game and find the nearest bank on the High Street so they could pay their cheque in. Anyone who left it a day ran the risk of not having any money all week.

"My missus once got to the checkout at Sainsbury before we realised my wage hadn't gone in. Then, there was the wage deferral everyone was asked to take one Christmas. I know wage deferrals have happened at a few clubs over the years but they usually involve players who are on big money.

"At Halifax, some of the lads were on 300 per week and were married with families. Believe me there is a lot of difference between having to go without whatever per cent they were asking of 300 per week and giving up 50 per cent of 10,000 for a couple of months."

Wilder overcame the multitude of problems caused by Halifax's desperate financial plight to lead the club to the 2006 Conference play-off final.

Hereford United eventually triumphed 3-2 at the Walkers Stadium after extra time to win a return to the Football League, though only after coming back from being 2-1 down with just 10 minutes of normal time remaining. It proved to be the high point of Wilder's reign, the two seasons that followed seeing the club embroiled in relegation battles that were only won on the last day. The second of those saw Halifax overcome a 10-point deduction imposed for going into administration but it proved only a temporary reprieve as, a few weeks later, the club was wound up amid debts of 2m.

Wilder left to become Alan Knill's assistant at Bury as former directors, David Bosomworth and Bobby Ham, set about launching FC Halifax Town. The fledgling club have since won promotion to the Evo-Stik Premier and last weekend were watched by a crowd of almost 3,000 as Mansfield Town progressed to the FA Cup first round with a 1-0 win at The Shay.

Wilder added: "I am glad for David (Bosomworth, chairman) that things are going well because he put a lot of work into trying to turn things round when I was there.

"It is also good to see the main stand has finally been finished. I was watching a rugby league game on Sky towards the end of last season and thinking, 'I bet those coaches don't realise how lucky they are to be under cover'.

"We used to get soaked on the touchline. Then, we would go back into the dressing room and the roof would be leaking."

Now happily ensconced at Oxford, Wilder admits his time at The Shay was, while taxing, hugely beneficial to not only his own career but also those of his staff.

He said: "It was frustrating at times but I maintain that what we went through at Halifax has helped us all in the long run.

"We have all gone on to do jobs we enjoy. Lee Butler is Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper coach, 'Jakes' is at Bradford and Sean (McAuley) is in charge of the Academy at Sheffield Wednesday. At Halifax, we got a great apprenticeship and I am sure me and 'Jakes' will have a laugh or two at the memories on Saturday."