FORMER Premier League winner and England international Tom Cleverley has told the T&A he was ‘gutted’ never to get chance to play at Valley Parade and that he had always wanted to sign for Bradford City one day.

The midfielder, who moved to Bradford at 18 months old and grew up in the city, retired on Sunday at the relatively young age of 33 due to injury, playing just four league games for Watford in 2022/23.

He began his career in City’s academy, moving to Manchester United in 2000 when the Bantams were also a Premier League team.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Tom Cleverley was a Premier League winner with Manchester United.Tom Cleverley was a Premier League winner with Manchester United. (Image: PA.)

Asked if City’s subsequent fall down the divisions meant it was never realistic to join, he said: “I’m not just saying this because you’re the local paper, but I would have loved to play for Bradford City, no matter what level they were at.

“I never wanted that final payday abroad, I wanted to play at Bradford one day, but my body told me I had to quit.

“I’m gutted I never even got to experience a senior game at Valley Parade.”

Cleverley hopes to have some sort of relationship with the Bantams going forward though, having moved into youth coaching at Watford.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Tom Cleverley is staying put at Watford, six years after first joining the club.Tom Cleverley is staying put at Watford, six years after first joining the club. (Image: PA.)

He said: “I’m actually good friends with (Bantams first-team coach) Mark Trueman and I’d love to come down to City’s training to see how Mark Hughes does it.

“My schedule’s probably going to be even busier now than it was when I was a player, but it’s important in this next phase of my career that I brush up on my knowledge of all levels of football.

“If I am going to take in any League Two football though, there’s only one team I’d really want to watch, and that’s Bradford City.”

That was actually the case last season, with Cleverley confessing: “I went to watch Bradford play at Swindon in April, because it’s near to where my dad lives.

“I thought they played good football and I was impressed with them, they just lacked a finishing touch that night.

“I’ve been invested in them this year, and I hope our paths do cross properly.”

Cleverley won the Premier League with United a decade ago, featured in an FA Cup final with Aston Villa in 2015, accrued 13 England caps, played for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and earned promotion to the top-flight with Watford in 2021.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Tom Cleverley during an England training session alongside Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.Tom Cleverley during an England training session alongside Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney. (Image: PA.)

Asked if he could have ever imagined such a career while kicking the ball about on the playground at Hanson School, the 33-year-old reflected: “I was always a decent footballer, and one of the best in our school teams.

“But you never think about getting picked up by academies, let alone me going on to have the first-team career I had.

“I was speaking to Josh Windass recently and told him how I used to pretend to be his old man (Dean) in the garden and now we’ve both played at Wembley (Josh netting Sheffield Wednesday’s winner in the League One play-off final in May).

“I got a nice message off (former Villa and Manchester City star) Fabian Delph after I announced my retirement, so there’s another Bradford link.”

Cleverley confirmed it was a persistent thigh injury, which he first picked up warming up for Watford against Burnley in February this year, that forced him into retirement.