Son of Spireites legend Nicky Law erases bad Proact memory with win over hometown club

The midfielder’s name will forever be linked with Chesterfield FC thanks to his father, ex Spireites player and manager Nicky senior.

But Nicky junior starred for the opposition last weekend, helping the Bantams to a comfortable victory over his hometown side, albeit by a single goal.

The win helped erase memories of the last time he played at the Proact and eased the nerves he felt, stepping out onto the pitch in front of so many friends and family.

“I enjoyed the game, I had a lot of people here, I was feeling a bit of pressure,” he said.

“It was good to come back – the last time I played here I lost 5-0 with Rotherham so it was good to put that right.

“With family watching, getting three points made it even better.”

Law didn’t have far to travel for the fixture, having temporarily relocated back to Chesterfield after leaving Glasgow Rangers in the summer.

There’s been somewhat of a family migration, his younger brother Josh also swapping life north of the border for a return to the town, departing Motherwell and joining Oldham.

The double move has been welcomed in at least one quarter.

“I’m in Chesterfield again with my brother, but he’s pleased to know I’m moving out. I’m going up towards Sheffield, closer to Bradford,” said Nicky junior.

“I think it’s great for my mum, she’s the one who’s been wanting us back and obviously Josh is back at Oldham now, he lives in Chesterfield as well.

“The family are delighted to have everyone back after five years apart and we’re delighted to be enjoying our football again.”

That enjoyment was evident during Bradford’s victory over the Spireites, Law rampaging forward down the left flank, cutting into the middle and creating chance after chance.

Leaving one of Glasgow’s big two might have left a lingering disappointment, had he not sealed a move back to a club he holds in such high esteem, working with manager Stuart McCall for a third time.

“It’s easier coming into a good side, to be unbeaten,” he said.

“The games are certainly not easy but the way we’re applying ourselves helps.

“I’m delighted to be back here, I love playing for the club, had a fantastic year here on loan and hoped that one day I would be back.

“Being back with the manager and Kenny (Black, assistant) is just a bonus. I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”

The 28-year-old former Sheffield United and Rotherham player believes he’s made a step up in standard from the Scottish Championship he helped Rangers win last season.

And that makes the Bantams’ unbeaten start to the season all the more impressive in his eyes.

“We had a great start last year at Rangers under Mark Warburton but I don’t think it was 11 games unbeaten,” he said.

“This is a much better level than what we were playing at last year with Rangers, so 11 games in this league unbeaten is unbelievable.

“You go into every week, every game knowing it’s going to be tough opposition.

“But we’ve got good players and strength in depth, there are players desperate to get into that starting line-up.”

Against Chesterfield, Law looked like a player who could do a lot of damage in League One, and playing in his preferred position is obviously helping.

McCall has used him to good effect on the left before.

Law said: “I really enjoy that role, I had two really good years playing that way under the manager at Motherwell, left of the four and coming in as well to give the two boys in the middle a hand.

“I just try to do my best and be as positive as I can in my play.

“Some weeks it comes off, some weeks it doesn’t.”

Second in League One, without a defeat to their name, Law’s Bantams have every right to be satisfied with the way the 2016/17 campaign has begun.

There is, however, one small fly in the ointment – the goals for column.

In 11 league games they’ve only managed 13 goals and missed a plethora of chances at the Proact.

Law is confident that one day, very soon, someone is going to take a hiding.

“I think everyone involved with Bradford City has shredded nerves and we’re only 10 or 11 games in, it could be a long season ahead for the supporters with games like that,” he admitted.

“We should make it a lot easier for ourselves.

“We know it’s the story of our season, we should be scoring more goals but at the minute we’re getting away with it.

“But we know that sooner or later someone may take three or four off us.

“Knowing football it probably will cost us at some stage.

“It’s just not going in for us at the moment but we haven’t been punished for it.

“If we keep doing the right things that hammering that everyone is waiting for won’t be too far away.”