When Bantams suffered record defeat to Sven-Goran Eriksson

But there was another five-goal salvo a lot closer to home that City fans will painfully recall.

The former England manager, who died at the weekend aged 76 through cancer, had a bizarre six-month stint in League Two as Notts County's director of football.

The Swede had arrived at Meadow Lane in 2009 via Manchester City and Mexico. It was a stop-off that nobody could have predicted.

But then it was a surreal period when England’s oldest club became wrapped up by ambitious promises from a Middle East consortium.

Simon Eastwood dives the wrong way for Lee Hughes' penalty (Image: Newsquest)

It all looked too good to be true – and proved exactly that with Eriksson, Sol Campbell and the likes soon gone when no actual money every appeared.

Sven was there long enough, though, to watch the Bantams suffer the heaviest opening-day beating in their history.

Sven-mania had caused pre-match queues of over an hour outside with so many desperate to catch a glimpse of the famous face in the stand.

It wasn’t just the fans who were on the look-out but players too.

“If someone had told me that Sven-Goran Eriksson would be looking at a team-sheet with my name on, I'd think they'd gone mad,” said City midfielder Lee Bullock.

Unfortunately, the Bantams were far too generous guests to his welcome party. Five could have been double that.

For 15 minutes it had looked competitive but then the floodgates opened.

City keeper Simon Eastwood began his busy afternoon by saving well from Luke Rodgers before Joe Colbeck’s header offered a warning to their hosts. But that would be as good as it got.

Ben Davies nodded home from Rodgers’ cross and sparked a chorus of “it’s just like watching Juve” from the celebrating locals.

Sven-Goran Eriksson surrounded by well-wishers before the game (Image: Newsquest)

It was a nightmare debut for Zesh Rehman, replacing former City skipper Graeme Lee who was now opposing him in the heart of the Notts defence.

Rehman misjudged a long ball from future Bantam Ricky Ravenhill and Lee Hughes raced clear almost the whole length of the City half to round Eastwood and make it two.

Another new boy in Stuart McCall’s ranks, Michael Flynn, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry from that point.

“We got absolutely tonked,” he recalled. “The players they were signing and the money being splashed around was ridiculous – and there was Sven in the directors’ box.

“I turned to Bully when we went two down early doors and said, ‘XXXX me I hope my contract hasn’t dried!’ It was a disaster that day.”

It was 3-0 before the break as winger Craig Westcarr swept past Luke O’Brien and Hughes converted the cross at the second attempt.

Sven was all smiles as he headed for a half-time cuppa with the best china in the boardroom.

McCall, meanwhile, was demanding a show of pride from the battered Bantams.

Eastwood delayed Hughes his hat-trick with one save but the striker soon brought up his debut milestone from the penalty spot after Rodgers was brought down by Matt Clarke.

Steve Williams came on for his first experience of league football in the ensuing formation reshuffle from McCall.

Stuart McCall can't bear to look as City concede again (Image: Newsquest)

And after Hughes had left to a standing ovation, a little-known local striker called James Hanson was summoned from the City bench for his first involvement since signing from Guiseley.

Notts had not finished pounding away at the Bantams goal and right back Brendan Moloney sauntered forward onto a Rodgers pass to drift past Bullock and Williams before finding the roof of the net.

Peter Thorne, usually the scourge of County in those fixtures, barely got a kick. “That was an eye-opener” was his stunned post-match verdict.

His manager made no attempt to hide what he had just witnessed.

“I can’t defend the indefensible,” blasted McCall. “It was horrendous and you struggle to find anyone who comes out with any credit.”