Saturday Match File ... a focus on Rotherham United's next opponents
Rotherham United will come up against a player they once tried to sign when they head to Bradford City for a Yorkshire derby this weekend.
Centre-forward Stephen Humphrys was a wanted man at AESSEAL New York Stadium during the managerial reign of Paul Warne.
The Millers made a move for the former Fulham youngster before their 2021/22 League One campaign that would end in promotion, but the Oldham-born player chose instead to join Wigan Athletic who also went up that season.
Now aged 28, Humphrys came to prominence with Southend United and first caught Warne’s eye in a 2-2 draw at Roots Hall in December 2019.
He went on to play for Rochdale, Wigan, Hearts (loan) and Barnsley before agreeing a deal last summer with Bradford for whom he has scored six times in 26 outings this term.
The striker bagged a superb goal for Wigan against the Millers in a 1-1 draw at New York in February 2022.
Also likely to be in the Bradford squad for the third-tier clash is former Rotherham loanee Louie Sibley who has just begun a temporary spell in West Yorkshire after being frozen out of the first-team frame at Championship Oxford United.
The 24-year-old made his debut off the bench in last Sunday’s 2-1 win at Blackpool.
One to watch
Curtis Tilt is a familiar face to Rotherham fans as he spent two frustrating years with the club between 2020 and 2022. The centre-half's move from Blackpool never worked out but he has since gone on to impress with Wigan Athletic, Salford City and Bradford. Injuries have interrupted the 34-year-old's season but he has been a first-choice pick for the Bantams when fit. He has always played well against the Millers in the past.
Form guide
Bradford: WLWWLW
Millers: LLLLLL
The Bantams followed up a 3-0 defeat at Mansfield Town on New Year's Day with a 2-1 triumph at Blackpool last Sunday.
Rotherham have won 39 of the 82 games between the clubs since 1923 and Bradford have 29 victories to their name.
Past clashes
Oct 2 2025, League One: Millers 2, Bantams 2
Denzell Hall, Martin Sherif
Feb 4 2025, Vertu Trophy: Millers 0 Bantams 1
Nov 19 2024, Vertu Trophy: Bantams 0 Millers 1
Shaun McWilliams
Jan 23 2018, League One: Millers 2 Bantams 0
Michael Smith, Joe Newell
Nov 7 2017, Checkatrade Trophy: Bantams 0 Millers 3
Jerry Yates, Jonson Clarke-Harris pen, Richie Towell
Sep 16 2017, League One: Bantams 1 Millers 0
Apr 11 2014, League One: Millers 0 Bantams 0
Dec 26 2013, League One: Bantams 0 Millers 1 Haris Vuckic
Nov 9 2013, FA Cup: Millers 3 Bradford 0
Kieran Agard 2, Alex Revell
The last clash
Rotherham were leading 2-0 at AESSEAL New York Stadium in front of the Sky TV cameras on a Thursday-night clash early last October but poor defending allowed the visitors to hit back to earn a 2-2 draw.
Opposition boss
Graham Alexander became only the second player - after Tony Ford - to reach 1,000 professional appearances in English football before turning to management. The former Scottish international full-back was in the hot-seat at Fleetwood Town, Scunthorpe United, Salford City, Motherwell and MK Dons before taking the Bradford job in November 2023. After a ninth-placed League Two finish in his first year, the 54-year-old took the Bantams up last season.
Man in the middle
Lee Swabey spent three years in the National League before making his EFL bow in August 2015. The Devon official's last experience of Rotherham came in September when the Millers were beaten 2-1 at AFC Wimbledon. A referee development officer with Cornwall FA, he has shown 50 yellow cards and sent off two players in 15 matches this season.
The odds
The bookmakers heavily favour Bradford, offering a home win at 4/7 and an away success at 17//4. A draw is 5/2.