James hopes a Wembley win will be just the start for Bristol City

Former Bristol City goalkeeper David James believes that a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory for his old club at Wembley on Sunday could be the...

David James

Former Bristol City goalkeeper David James believes that a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory for his old club at Wembley on Sunday could be the catalyst for the club to return to the big time.

Since getting to within one game of the Premier League in 2008, the club have endured a difficult period by slipping back into the third tier of English football.

But they now find themselves 11 points clear at the top of League One and back at Wembley for the first time since that Championship play-off final seven years ago.

And former-England stopper James says there’s no telling how high the Robins could fly.

“It’s the sixth biggest city in the country so the potential is massive,” he told WembleyStadium.com.

"Swindon are the only club in the south-west to have ever been in the Premier League and that’s a massive part of the country which hasn’t been represented in the Premier League.

“To have a Premier League side in Bristol and at the top of the M5 corridor to the south-west, you can just imagine the potential.

“It could only encourage more fans into the game from that region.”

James says much of the credit for the upturn in City’s fortunes must go to the club’s billionaire owner Steve Lansdown who has, amongst other things, wiped out £35 million of the club’s debts.

“What Steve Lansdown has done is remarkable,” he told us.

“When I joined Bristol City, I met him before I signed and he explained to me what his dream was, to bring Bristol City up.

“Unfortunately, during the two years I was there we were nearer relegation than promotion but in a way, the relegation has probably done them good because they’ve been able to shed the dead wood.

“Now they’ve re-focused and Steve Cotterill is doing a wonderful job, they’re well clear in League One and in the JPT Final.” 

And James hopes his old side can create the first of many abiding memories on Sunday when they face Walsall in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

“It’s a big day for them,” he said.

“You look back on success and promotion.

“Playing at Wembley evokes memories and it’s something you would remember forever.”