ALEX Gilliead met his biggest match after tying the knot with long-term sweetheart Megan last weekend.

Father of 20-month-old Gabriel, the 28-year-old has come a long way since making his Bantams bow under Stuart McCall at Shrewsbury in January 2017.

Gilliead reached his 200th appearance milestone for the club in March to confirm his presence as one of the most respected figures in the Valley Parade dressing room.

He is one that all the younger players look up to – a role of responsibility that he takes very seriously.

“Maturity comes with age,” he said. “But with maturity in football, you can only get that when you are in that environment.

 

 

“A lot of things go on in and out of football and you have just got to keep a level head and keep your head down. I don’t let the outside noise affect what I am doing.

“I will come in and try and do my work and help a lot of people. I do talk with a lot of people and find myself having quite a big voice in the changing room.

“I’ll always try and help people out and have conversations with the gaffer or whoever.

“When I was younger and didn’t have my long hair and had my short back and sides, I think I was quieter and kept myself to myself.

"But now I am a lot more open to having conversations and hopefully improving people and myself.”

He is happy to be there as a sounding board for the likes of Bobby Pointon who are still finding their feet in an unforgiving sport.

Gilliead recalls the characters that helped show him the ropes during his early times with the club.

“The characters back then were probably Tony McMahon, Killer (Matthew Kilgallon) and Doyler (Colin Doyle). They were the big characters in the changing room.

“But when I was living at home, back in Consett where I am from, Tony Mac used to live in Bishop Auckland, so I would drive in with him some days.

“He was a good lad. You take experiences and things from what they are like and they were all good pros. Taking little bits from people throughout your career helps you add it to yours and take it from there.

“You see some lads who come from Premier League clubs on loan or whoever and they kind of feel they know it all and what is going on.

Tony McMahon was a big influence on Alex Gilliead Tony McMahon was a big influence on Alex Gilliead (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“When I came here, I was not like that. I was wanting to learn off people and see how the footballing world works.

“I hadn’t really had much experience. I’d been to Luton and Carlisle and only been in the game for 18 months.

“When I came, I was still wanting to learn and the draw of the big crowds and stadiums. The team was doing well at the time which meant it was somewhere I wanted to be.

“You want to learn from being around here and help other people in and around the club as well.”

Gilliead, now the midfield mentor, is keen to pass on key aspect of advice to those beginning their football journey.

“The main thing you want to tell the lads is ‘just enjoy it’.

“Sometimes, it does feel frustrating and it gets on top of you. But it’s not a long career.

“It actually feels like I was making my (City) debut at Shrewsbury just two years ago. It goes very fast.

“Slow it down and have a look around and think, ‘I am here, enjoying it and training every day.’

“I will always try and speak to as many people as possible and find out about them and help them out if they are wanting it. They know I am approachable.”

Alex Gilliead and Andy Cook are two of the older headsAlex Gilliead and Andy Cook are two of the older heads (Image: Tom Pearson)

Gilliead is not a hoarder of keepsakes from his career but has a collection of shirts to show his son when he is old enough.

“I try and keep home and away shirts from every season I have played. That’s it really.

“I have got a few shirts from lads that I have played against and was in the academy with at Newcastle like Adam Armstrong and Dan Barlaser. I got his shirt when we played against Middlesbrough in the cup.

“If I can keep getting a shirt, home and away, from every season I have been at a club, it will be good enough for me and I can show my little lad I have played here and tried to play football there!

“Bradford has a big place in my heart. I have enjoyed it since the minute I walked in.

“I’ve played under a lot of managers and always kind of stayed in the team and played so that’s obviously good.

“I have got a lot of friends now like staff who work here. No matter where I go, I think I will always look out for their results and want them to do well."