WAYNE Jacobs still describes Chris Waddle's wonder strike at Goodison with just one word – "wow".

It is 18 years on and the grainy quality of a Youtube clip cannot diminish the majesty of the first-time chip that sailed over Neville Southall from 40 yards. It remains one of the iconic Bradford City goals.

Chris Kamara said in his autobiography that Waddle had warned the Everton keeper before the game not to leave his line.

And how the former England winger made him pay for straying a couple of yards as he latched on to the loose ball after Rob Steiner had forced a mistake from Andrei Kanchelskis.

With one swing of that silky left foot, Waddle connected with perfect power and trajectory. Southall could only turn in time to see it fly in under the bar.

Jacobs, City's trusty left back in that 3-2 win, admitted: "It was one of those moments when the players are fans as well. You just watched and went 'wow'. You lose yourself in elation because it was something so special.

"I don't know if it's true about him saying anything to big Nev beforehand, but all keepers hate being chipped. If somebody does it in training, the keeper will smash balls at your head or chase you around the pitch!

"We knew Chris had the technical ability to do something like that but it's also having the wherewithal to spot the opportunity in that instant and to do it in such a big game.

"He had played in some massive occasions and been in those footballing cauldrons for England and in Europe. Now he was doing something special on a great day for Bradford."

Waddle was in the twilight of a glittering career but, even at 36, there was no doubting the prestigious talent that had earned him 62 international caps and a European Cup final appearance with Marseille.

Jacobs also remembers him as a down-to-earth character with no airs or graces.

He said: "The players had huge respect for Chris in the dressing room. His ability was obviously top class but he trod a great line with the banter in the squad.

"He never made you feel small or put anybody's noses out by going on about his time with England or wherever. He always spoke to people at their level and really integrated himself.

"The lads loved him and you could see that he just lived for playing football. It's no surprise that he's gone on as long as he has playing Sunday league football in Sheffield because he just lives for the game."

Kamara gave Waddle a free rein which allowed him to switch the play as City employed a wing-back system. It worked to perfection on that afternoon on Merseyside in January 1987 – the last time they won a fourth-round tie in the FA Cup.

Waddle's deflected cross popped out to John Dreyer to smash home a fierce half-volley from the edge of the box four minutes into the second half.

It was a great strike, especially from a defender, but Waddle's wizardry trumped that from City's next attack.

Everton pulled one back when Duncan Ferguson's knock-down was bundled in off Andy O'Brien – but City, roared on by a travelling army, had the scent of blood in their nostrils.

Again it was Waddle orchestrating matters, sliding a pass through the back four to send Steiner clear on goal.

The Swede, duped by Kamara into believing his national team manager was in the crowd, capped it off with a cool finish past Southall's left hand. A late Gary Speed response could not spoil the travelling party.

It was Jacobs' job to mark the lightning-fast Kanchelskis and the Russian did leave one painful souvenir.

The City defender recalled: "Not only was he as fast as Road Runner but he also had a shot like a mule. I was just outside our box and he was five yards further back when he let one fly.

"The ball smashed me full in the face and my head was completely gone for a few minutes!

"But it was such a great day and I can remember the fans on that side of the ground making so much noise.

"Mark Schwarzer was brilliant for us in goal. We knew they would throw a lot of balls in the box and look for big Duncan Ferguson and Speedo (Gary Speed), who was brilliant in the air.

"Kammy told Mark to come for everything and we would get round him and try to protect the goal. It worked a treat and it was no surprise that he went on to have such a good career.

"We knew it was going to be a tough season but there was that momentum beginning to build and the positivity from promotion.

"You go back the previous year and we'd won at Hull to get in the play-offs, then turned it round at Blackpool to go to Wembley and won the final.

"A few people thought we'd probably go down but we achieved what we set out to do in the league and beat a very good Everton team in the cup.

"Obviously there's a bigger gap now between Bradford and Chelsea but the ingredients are the same.

"Everybody needs to be absolutely on top of their game and hope that Chelsea's players are off theirs. And you hope for somebody with the ability to conjure up that special something."