Shrewsbury Town's Luke Hendrie: Leaving Bradford City was 'the worst feeling ever'

The 23-year-old made the move to Montgomery Waters Meadow from Premier League Burnley in January, but the versatile defender spent the first half of the season with the Bantams, the club his father John represented in the 1980s.

Hendrie admitted he was keen to sign for City permanently in January but, despite then-boss Stuart McCall's interest, a move did not come to fruition.

And after holding talks with Shrewsbury's staff and board the Leeds-born former Manchester United youngster decided Shropshire was the best destination.

"Playing for Bradford was by far the best moment of my career to date. It will stick with me for the rest of my life," Hendrie told the Telegraph & Argus.

“I have that affiliation with the club through my dad and the history he had here, obviously with the fire.

“I started at Bradford and then moved to Man U. But every time I walked out at Valley Parade, it was a different feeling to anywhere else.

“I always felt really proud being from the area because there weren’t many local lads. I like to think I was also someone the lads in the academy and the under-23s could look up to because I’d started there.”

Hendrie, who was cup-tied for Town's Checkatrade Trophy final defeat at Wembley, admitted that not signing for the Bantams permanently was 'a bolt out the blue'.

He has been battling with first-team regular James Bolton for Paul Hurst's right-back slot since joining for an undisclosed fee in January.

“I’ve heard certain things said about the situation and my agent," the Yorkshireman continued. "But there were three parties in it, Bradford, Burnley and myself.

“When you’re a footballer, you’ve got to go where you feel wanted and valued. It’s nothing to do with financial gains.

“It was my first permanent move to a first team.

“Stuart made me feel wanted but, for one reason or another, it didn’t happen. I was absolutely devastated the way it ended.

“I went down to Yeovil (Bradford's last game before Hendrie departed) in the hope that something would happen. But Burnley and Bradford couldn’t come to an agreement.

“It was the worst feeling ever. I wanted to stay for longer, I’d played my part in the wins at Wigan and Shrewsbury and the back-to-back games over new year.

“After that, I was pretty confident that something would get sorted. It was a bolt out of the blue on the Friday."

Hendrie added that his full focus was on succeeding in League One with Town.

Thursday's hosts Bradford have dropped to 12th in League One after a horrendous run of form. The Bantams, now managed by Simon Grayson, have won just once in 14 games since Hendrie made his last appearance in claret and amber.

Hendrie said: “It’s hard to put your finger on what’s gone wrong for Bradford. On the outside looking in, obviously there are certain issues that people may not know about.

“But it’s a shame because they’ve got some good players. There were people really on top of their game in the first half of the season and doing well.

“Everything is geared towards going up to the next level but it’s strange how everything’s happened.”