Following the departure of Roy McFarland to Derby, the City directors appointed another player manager. They signed the former England International Trevor Cherry from Leeds United. A successful defender with Huddersfield Town he moved to Elland Road for a six figure fee in 1972. He gained 23 full England caps and was highly regarded within the game.

Following the promotion from Division Four and McFarland's sudden departure, Trevor Cherry had to keep the momentum going when he was appointed in December 1982. He certainly achieved that with a final finish in 12^th place in the Third Division. Six months after taking over, the club was plunged into financial chaos and liquidation. The late Stafford Heginbotham and current club President Jack Tordoff came to the rescue and a new company was formed at the eleventh hour.

Trevor Cherry was expected to steer the club towards a reasonable position in the table. Top scorer Bobby Campbell had had to be sold to Derby and without his scoring prowess goals were in short supply. When he returned in November the club had won once and were in the bottom four of the division.

Trevor Cherry oversaw a complete turn round in form particularly between November 1983 and March 1984 during which time the club played 17 league games without defeat including a run of 10 straight wins. The club finished the season in seventh place. The following season saw the improvement maintained and as the season progressed the level of performance improved still further, this culminated in the club winning the Third Division Championship.

The events of May 11^th 1985 were overshadowed by the terrible fire that engulfed Valley Parade and cost 56 people their lives. Throughout the following weeks and months Trevor Cherry endured pressure that no other manager could have had to. Despite this and the fact that all home games would be played 'away' the following season, Trevor Cherry ensured that City consolidated their place in the Second Division.

The 1986-87 season didn't start too well as City continued to play home games at Odsal stadium until December when City returned to Valley Parade. A 1-0 defeat by Derby at Valley Parade saw City in the relegation places. Despite everything the club had gone through during his tenancy in managers chair, Trevor Cherry was unceremoniously sacked in early January 1987, which brought a sad end to what has been his only management job.