 In May 1981 , City appointed former England international defender Roy McFarland as their new manager . After starting the 1981 – 82 season with a defeat and a draw , City went top of the table during a run of nine successive league victories , equalling a 30 @-@ year club record . The run came to an end against Sheffield United in front of 13 @,@ 711 fans at Valley Parade , producing then club record gate receipts of £ 17 @,@ 938 . Arctic conditions across Britain meant City played only once during December , but they went back to the top of the Division Four table in January . City finished the season second , five points behind Sheffield United , and were promoted back to Division Three . Three months into the following campaign , McFarland and his assistant Mick Jones handed in their resignation and left for Derby County . Derby had to pay a large fine and compensation to City for poaching the pair . Chairman Bob Martin turned to another England centre @-@ back and appointed Trevor Cherry as McFarland 's replacement from West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United . Cherry and assistant Terry Yorath continued to build on McFarland 's start to the period which would later be called " Bantam Progressivism " by fanzine The City Gent . Despite not recording their first win for more than two months , the pair guided City to 12th position . 
 In May 1981 , City appointed former England international defender Roy McFarland as their new manager . After starting the 1981 – 82 season with a defeat and a draw , City went top of the table during a run of nine successive league victories , equalling a 30 @-@ year club record . The run came to an end against Sheffield United in front of 13 @,@ 711 fans at Valley Parade , producing then club record gate receipts of £ 17 @,@ 938 . Arctic conditions across Britain meant City played only once during December , but they went back to the top of the Division Four table in January . City finished the season second , five points behind Sheffield United , and <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> promoted back to Division Three . Three months into the following campaign , McFarland and his assistant Mick Jones<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> handed in their resignation and left for Derby County . Derby had to pay a large fine and compensation to City for poaching the pair . Chairman Bob Martin turned to another England centre @-@ back and appointed Trevor Cherry as McFarland <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>replacement from West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United . Cherry and assistant Terry Yorath continued to build on McFarland <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>start to the period which would later be called " Bantam Progressivism " by fanzine The City Gent . Despite not recording their first win for more than two <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>months</mark></a> , the pair guided City to 12th position . 
In May 1981 , City appointed former England international defender Roy McFarland as their new manager . After starting the 1981 – 82 season wit a defeat and a draw , City went top of the table durin a run of nine successive league victories , equalling a 30 @-@ year club record . The run came to an end against Sheffield United in front of 13 @,@ 711 fans at Valley Parade , producing then club record gate receipts of £ 17 @,@ 938 . Arctic conditions across Britain meant City played only once during December , but they went bck to the top of da Division 4 table in January . City finished tdaseason second , five points behind Sheffield United , and was promoted bbkto Division Three . Three months into the following campaign , McFarland and his assistant Mick Jones been handed in their resignation and left fir Derby County . Derby had to pay a large fine and compensation to City for poaching thdaair . Chairman Bob Martin turned to another England centre @-@ bacbckd appointed Trevor Cherry as McFarland  replacement from West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United . Cherry and assistant Terry Yorath continued to build on McFarland  start to thedariod which would later b called " Bantam Progressivism " by fanzine The day Gent . Despite not recording their first win for more than two no months , the pair guided City to 12th position .