Six of the best "30-something" signings for Bradford City

Here’s a selection of other “golden oldies” who rolled back the years to show they were still in their prime for City.

GARY JONES

Gary Jones savours winning promotion at Wembley (Image: PA)

Phil Parkinson had been watching Rochdale DVDs of Stephen Darby when the all-action midfielder kept catching his eye.

Darby would be joined in the class of 2012 by Gary Jones, a year after Peter Jackson had failed miserably to entice him over the Pennines.

Plenty scoffed at the prospect of pinning so much hope on a 35-year-old who had seemingly played at Dale forever. But Jones would become the iconic image of the fighting machine that Parkinson would build for that history-making season.

Jones was only at City for two years but played exactly 100 games, week in, week out showing a high level of determination and fitness that rubbished those early detractors. He led them to two Wembley appearances - and restored the pride in the club with his actions.

STUART McCALL

Stuart McCall was nearly 38 when he played his last City game (Image: Newsquest)

The 34-year-old McCall was driving to south Yorkshire to sign for Barnsley when he took the call from Geoffrey Richmond.

After a glorious spell with the nine-in-a-row Rangers, McCall’s English return in 1998 would come at his beloved Valley Parade.

He was a year older than boss Paul Jewell and would become an icon to a new generation of City fans just as he had done in the 80s.

McCall was the leader, the heartbeat of a team that stormed into the Premier League and then stayed there against all the odds.

By the time he played his final City game, a 2-2 draw at Walsall, he was two months off his 38th birthday. He hung up his boots with Sheffield United at 40.

PETER BEAGRIE

Peter Beagrie would excite fans with his runs down the wing (Image: Newsquest)

Few players have got the Valley Parade faithful off their feet like Beagrie. Sometimes he would frustrate by trying to beat his man again and again but those twinkle toes always sent pulses racing.

Beagrie was still playing in the Premier League at 35, one of the “Dads Army” crew, but it was his contribution during the promotion season that will always be remembered.

The winger scored 15 goals in the 1998/99 campaign, topped by that Molineux cracker when he turned Keith Curle inside out before slotting home in front of a delirious away following.

His highlight in the top flight was the goal into the top corner against Leeds - as always, celebrated with that iconic back flip. Beagrie was some showman.

DEAN WINDASS

Dean Windass scored a hat-trick on his 37th birthday (Image: Newsquest)

Deano was 34 when he returned to Valley Parade and enjoyed a “Peter Pan” run as City adapted to life outside the top two divisions again.

At 36, he shared the League One golden boot award after scoring 28 goals in total. The following season he would hit 20 again and scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe on his 37th birthday.

The team were in a state of flux throughout that time as Colin Todd tried to rebuild the wreckage caused by a second administration.

Windass, always a colourful and at times controversial character, was a huge influence during those years. The hole he left was clear when City were relegated just months after he had been moved back to hometown club Hull to help pay the wage bill.

CHRIS WADDLE

Chris Waddle scored a special goal against Everton (Image: Newsquest)

The thought of a 62-capped England star playing for City in Division One seemed like a fantasy - but Chris Kamara made it glorious reality for five months.

Waddle was three months of his 36th birthday when Kamara brought him back to England from a brief stint with Falkirk. His time as a Bantam would be short but very sweet.

The talent was still there in abundance as he scored direct from a corner at Huddersfield and produced that iconic goal in the FA Cup win over Everton, lobbing Neville Southall from way, way out - just as his manager had warned would happen if the Welsh keeper strayed too far from his goal.

Waddle also weighed in with assists for the other two Goodison goals to confirm his place as a massive favourite with the fans.

He would be gone after five months. After a much-publicised stand-off involving interest from Nottingham Forest, Waddle did move on to his boyhood club Sunderland the following March.

PETER THORNE

Peter Thorne proved to be a deadly accurate finisher (Image: Newsquest)

The striker had just turned 34 when he became Stuart McCall’s first - and arguably best - signing in his debut spell in charge.

Thorne admitted he nearly packed the game in because he got so fed up with hardly playing at Norwich. But City and McCall rekindled his passion after dropping down two divisions.

Thorne took a while to get going - and the injuries would never really go away - but once he was up and running, he showed finishing quality much too good for the level.

His best moment was a hat-trick against Notts County as he rattled up 32 goals in 65 games, showing clever movement to pounce on half-chances in the box.

The spells on the sidelines were frustrating - and hampered City’s promotion hopes - but there was no more accurate finisher.

Of course, there will be examples of players of a certain vintage who turned out to be "over the hill" when they arrived at Valley Parade.

No doubt, someone will be eager to draw up a list of the ones who proved past their "best before" date.

But these six showed the evergreen qualities that Hughes clearly sees his former Blackburn striker bringing to the squad. Time will tell if Derbyshire can match their success.