It’s been a year to the day since the largest league attendance of the century crowded Valley Parade.
A sell-out crowd of 22,576 witnessed the Bantams’ 1-1 draw with League Two champions Leyton Orient, securing their play-off position.
Brad Halliday’s first goal in two and a half years came two minutes after the visitors took the lead, securing an ultimately unsuccessful shot at Carlisle in the semi-finals.
Four players from Mark Hughes’ starting lineup that day would move on.
Harry Lewis, of course, signed for the Cumbrians in January for a six-figure fee, and he is now certain to return to Valley Parade next season following their swift relegation.
The custodian has had a rough start. He surrendered 43 goals in 20 Carlisle appearances, maintaining just two clean sheets in victories over Burton and Cheltenham.
Lewis has yet to win at Brunton Park, having suffered nine home defeats and one tie.
Romoney Crichlow, who was on loan to City from Huddersfield, is back in the play-offs with Peterborough.
However, the centre back was not named to the Posh team that lost 1-0 at Oxford in the first leg of the semi-finals over the weekend.
Adam Clayton, a midfielder, played 27 games for Rochdale previous season but was recently released by the National League side.
That leaves Scott Banks, the Crystal Palace winger who was a huge fan favourite during his time in claret and amber.
This time last year, the Scot had one of his quieter outings, playing 75 minutes against the Orioles.
He did, however, play a role in the play-offs, assisting Matt Derbyshire’s extra-time goal at Brunton Park before being replaced by Matty Platt in THAT move that Mark Hughes would never forget.
Banks have faced challenges in the past year, including a loan move to Germany being hampered by significant injury. He played less than an hour of football this season.
Banks joined St Pauli in the Bundesliga’s second division, but in only his third match against Eintracht Braunschweig, he tore his right ACL.
The 22-year-old went straight home for surgery in London a few days later before returning to Hamburg in November to continue his recuperation with the German club.
Scott Banks gives Brad Halliday a high-five after his goal (Image: Thomas Gadd).
Banks has had a long road to rehabilitation, having signed a new contract with Palace last summer following a successful 36-game stint with the Bantams, where he scored six goals.
In a recent interview with the St Pauli club website, he stated that he recognised the situation was bad immediately away. “It was very painful.
“It was difficult for me to hear the news of a ruptured cruciate ligament.
“I’ve received amazing support from the start, though. Everyone has made time for me, even if it was only a quick talk.”
Banks would love to return to St Pauli next season when completely fit, but it is up to his Premier League parent club.
“It is not my decision. The two clubs will need to decide what is best for me.
I will accept the decision, but I will express my views.
“It’s no secret that I’d like to stay here after this difficult year.”
By then, St Pauli should have returned to the first tier.
They are currently in second place for automatic promotion with two games remaining, but lost top spot to Holstein Kiel after a 1-0 loss at Hamburg.
If St Pauli defeats Onsabruck on Friday night, they will return to the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years.
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