GARY Bowyer is happy to swap Australia for Carlisle as he steps back into football’s festive rat race.

The City boss flew Down Under last year for the Christmas holidays during his time out of the game.

His first free Boxing Day was spent at the cricket with wife Claire watching Australia’s Test against India in Melbourne.

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It was a break that has refreshed him for the Christmas combat that the Bantams are now preparing for over the next week.

Bowyer said: “I wanted to do something different. It had been a hell of a long time being involved in football and being around it at Christmas time.

“I’d always been either watching my dad play or playing myself or being in and around it as the youth-team coach making sure the scholars were in to help the first team with the kit and then progressing through the ranks and being manager.

“Last year was a bit of a scramble. We booked it on the 19th, flew on the 21st and landed on the 23rd but it was brilliant.

“I wanted to do something we’d never done before and possibly never would again.

“To see people water-skiing wearing Santa hats on the beach on Christmas Day was something completely different. I don’t think we’ll see this year over here.”

City will train today ahead of Boxing Day’s trip to Brunton Park but Bowyer has given the players tomorrow off. He feels that will put the squad in a better frame of mind for Thursday’s game.

“People will have their own opinions on it but with the amount of work we do on a Friday (the day before the game) we can trust them to do that themselves,” he added.

“You get a hell of a lot back from the players when they are around their loved ones and celebrating Christmas Day like everybody else.

“Footballers have to make a lot of sacrifices, Christmas Day being one.

“It’s also the human side with people who live away from here.

“In the last week or so, myself and the staff have been going round the players making sure nobody is left on their own up here.

“If there is somebody, we find an alternative for them.

“It’s an important time of the year for many reasons and sometimes we’ve got to remember that footballers are human beings.

“You do generally get more back off the players if you show that little bit of understanding.”

Unlike those who want a winter break, Bowyer says Boxing Day is the best time of the season.

“It’s great for everybody involved. As a kid, I remember you couldn’t wait to get to the football on Boxing Day in my new (Nottingham) Forest kit or scarf.”