It was a quickfire double from Rhys Bennett (37′) and Offrande Zanala (39′) that was City’s undoing late in the first half. Bradford spent just three seasons in Division Three, but during their relegation season in 1960–61,[20] they upset Division One side Manchester United in the inaugural season of the League Cup. Bradford were promoted back into the second tier via the play-offs in 1996, before securing another promotion in 1998–99 to reach the Premier League, marking a return to the top-flight after a 77-year absence. In 1996, following City's promotion to Division One, club chairman Geoffrey Richmond announced the construction of a 4,500 seater stand on the Midland Road side. [65][73] The club played its home games at Odsal Stadium, a rugby league ground in Bradford, Elland Road, Leeds, and Leeds Road, the former home of Huddersfield Town, until December 1986, while Valley Parade was redeveloped. Bradford City have one official mascot, Billy Bantam. See supported browsers. The team compete in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They include Scottish club Motherwell, who originally wore blue and white until they wore claret and amber for the first time on 23 August 1913, against Celtic. [6] The club finished 10th in their first season. At the time, the new logo maintained the previous nickname of the Paraders. The club and Bradford Bulls would share the new £50m complex, which would also feature cricket, cycling and athletics facilities. We have quickly grown into the largest and most active independent Bradford City Association Football Club site on the internet. [25] Cherry, with former teammate Terry Yorath as his assistant manager, failed to win for two months, but eventually the pair guided City to safety from relegation. In 2007 former Telegraph & Argus sports journalist David Markham released the book The Legends of Bradford City, initially written to mark the club's centenary in 2003. Promotion to the top tier followed as they won the 1907–08 Second Division title and then they went on to win the 1911 FA Cup Final, which remains the club's only major honour. Bradford City have participated in the Bradford derby with city rivals Bradford Park Avenue. Bradford win for the third time in a row under caretaker manager Mark Trueman after beating Tranmere 1-0 at Prenton Park. He cleared the debts and after four months sacked manager Frank Stapleton to appoint his own manager, Lennie Lawrence. [24] City won compensation from Derby and installed another England international Trevor Cherry as McFarland's replacement. The club colours were inherited from Manningham FC, when the club converted to football upon Bradford City's foundation in 1903. [37], However, Jewell left shortly afterwards. Email: info@bradfordbulls.co.uk [44] Two years later, the club suffered a second spell in administration and a second relegation. They found success in the 1980s under the stewardship of first Roy McFarland and then Trevor Cherry, winning promotion in 1981–82 and following this up with the Third Division title in 1984–85, though they were relegated out of the Second Division in 1990. Attend secondary school open evenings. [91][92] A "friendly" rivalry also existed with now-defunct club Halifax Town. Odsal Stadium, Odsal, Bradford. 1903–1991, Andy Myers wipes board at Player-of-the-Year Awards, Paul Heckingbottom gets Player-of-the-Year Award, James Hanson lands Player of the Year title, "Bradford City bin awards night after rubbish season", "DARBY DOMINATES PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS", "McARDLE DOMINATES PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS", "KILGALLON DOMINATES PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS EVENING", "CITY TEAM-MATES: The 1911 FA Cup winners – and the maverick winger banned for the final", "Bruce Stowell, an amateur turned professional", "Former Bradford City captain dies, aged 74", "Footballer gives Asian youths a helping hand", "What former Bantams skipper will take into management from Stuart McCall", "Ricky Ravenhill and Ritchie Jones close to Bradford City return", "Torquay were tougher opponents than Arsenal, says Bradford captain", "New Bradford City captain Stephen Darby signs for three more years", "Remain Vincelot: Bradford City skipper stays put at back", "Darby aiming to give Bradford City boss more headaches", "Bradford City: O'Connor admits "some games we're better off not being there, "Bradford City: Akpan out to lead by example in survival bid", "Leeds United confirm first summer departure as Paudie O'Connor joins Bradford City", "James Vaughan: Bradford City loan top scorer to Tranmere Rovers", "Bradford City name O'Donnell as captain", "Novak: Why it was important for Bradford City to speak their minds", "Paudie O'Connor Revels in his Pride of Captaining Bradford City for the First Time", "Bantams won't let Twitter trolls affect Sutton, says skipper O'Connor", "TEAM NEWS: O'Donnell back in goal for Bradford City", "Captaincy not up for debate as bosses defend O'Donnell decision", http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14806162.Bradford_City__Peter_Horne_was_thinking_football_to_the_very_end/, "Work underway for January window as Bantams officially unveil Turnbull", "Nevison back at Bradford City to nurture youngest talent in the area", "Walsall chief scout heading for Bantams", "Bradford City boss won't make coaching changes", "New 'keeper coach Vaughan excited by City challenge", "Interview: Bantams academy boss Matthews on his playing journey", "NIGHTINGALE ARRIVES AS ACADEMY HEAD OF COACHING", "West Riding County Football Association Ltd Official Handbook 2011–12", "Bradford City stalwart Jack Tordoff happy to be back as kit sponsor", "Bradford motor firm JCT600 sign up for three more years with the Bantams", "BRADFORD CITY AND AVEC SPORT UNVEIL NEW KITS", Site of Bradford City's bantamspast museum, Chelsea F.C. The club was founded in 1903 and immediately elected into the Football League Second Division. The players were: All records from Bradford City F.C. [68] On 11 March 1911, Valley Parade attracted its highest attendance 39,146, for an FA Cup game between Bradford City and Burnley during Bradford's FA Cup winning run. For others football clubs with the same initials, see, The divisions were renamed in 1992 with the formation of the Premier League meaning Division Two became the new Division One, The divisions were renamed in 1992 with the formation of the Premier League meaning Division Three became the new Division Two, The Prince of Wales's Own West Yorkshire Regiment, The 2nd West Riding Brigade Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force), List of Bradford City A.F.C. at home, in a game that ended in a goalless draw. [53] Nineteen-year-old local lad Reece Staunton was a first-team regular before picking up a bad hamstring injury in November, while Finn Cousin-Dawson, 18, had a lengthy spell as first … In July 2016 it became the Northern Commercials Stadium,[80] and in July 2019 it became the Utilita Energy Stadium.[81]. Hull City and Bradford City players shine in Yorkshire’s Team of the Week Yorkshire Post 12:16 29-Mar-21 Find out which City player has made the League Two Team … [93], According to a survey conducted in August 2019, Bradford City fans also see Burnley, Barnsley and Oldham Athletic as rivals. 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[174], "BCAFC" redirects here. Both Manningham, from 1886, and Bradford City, from 1903 to 1908, used the barracks as changing and club rooms. In 1974, City adopted a contemporary style crest incorporating the club's initials, with a B-C logo. The policy for travel assistance from home to school changed on 1 September 2015. [28] But just ten days after the new £2.6 million ground was opened, Cherry was sacked. [76] A corner stand between the Kop and main stand was opened in December 2000, taking the capacity to 20,000 for the first time since 1970. BRADFORD BULLS RLFC. [20] Bradford City just failed to win promotion in 1963–64, winning more games than any other team in the division that season, twenty five, with Rodney Green top scoring with 29 league goals. The club won the Perform Best Fan Marketing campaign category in The Football League Awards for the scheme and earned them an invitation to the Houses of Parliament. An initial campaign target of 15,000 was set with a deadline for the reduced tickets of 31 July 2015. The replay was played on 16 March 2015 at the Madejski Stadium, where Reading won 3–0[58] and knocked the third-tier division club out of the competition. [45] Two top-half finishes followed, but the club were relegated for a third time in seven seasons in 2006–07 meaning the following season would be their first in the bottom tier for 26 seasons. [35][36] The following season, Jewell continued to defy the critics, who labelled his team Dad's Army, by avoiding relegation again on the last day with a 1–0 victory over Liverpool, with a goal from David Wetherall. [41] Jim Jefferies took over but could not save the club from relegation. The club's home ground is the 25,136-capacity Valley Parade, which was the site of the Bradford City stadium fire on 11 May 1985, which took the lives of 56 supporters. It duly elected the new club into Division Two of the league, in place of Doncaster Rovers. In order to use the live chat functionality you need to opt into live chat cookies. Bradford City Association Football Club were formed without having played a game, taking over Manningham's colours of claret and amber, and their Valley Parade ground. Download All 360 “free” WordPress themes unlimited times with a single Envato Elements subscription. [2], Robert Campbell was appointed the club's first manager and with the help of the new committee, he assembled a playing squad at the cost of £917 10s 0d. [83] When the offer finished at 7 pm on Tuesday, 31 July 2007, the club confirmed the amount of season tickets sold was 12,019. The club was saved by former chairman Stafford Heginbotham and former board member Jack Tordoff, but to ensure the club could start the new season, prize asset, striker Bobby Campbell was sold to Derby. Bolton Wanderers travel to West Yorkshire tomorrow aiming to make it seven wins on the spin when they take on Bradford City. Send me tips, trends, freebies, updates & offers. [26] During the summer, however, the club chairman Bob Martin had to call in the official receivers. The run to the final is thought to be worth at least £1.3 million to the club, with the club's joint chairman Mark Lawn stating that the final itself could be worth an additional £1 million, taking the club's total earnings to £2.3 million during their 2012–13 Football League Cup campaign. [57] In the Quarter Finals, The Bantams faced Reading F.C. [23] Promotion via fourth spot was won again in 1976–77 but it was instantly followed by a relegation season. 2–4 Bradford City A.F.C. [7][15] O'Rourke left for a second time after one more season, and although City spent a total of eight seasons back in Division Two, they rarely looked like earning promotion back to the top flight. [88] On 6 July, the club announced a record-breaking 18,000 tickets had been sold following a successful campaign. [77] The following summer, the main stand was also converted into a two-tier stand, taking the capacity to 25,136. Our site is great except that we don‘t support your browser. It is erroneously believed that Motherwell chose the claret and amber colours because they were the racing colours of Lord Hamilton; it is more likely that Motherwell were influenced by Bradford City's English FA cup win in 1911.[64]. They have though been known by various nicknames, with the "Bantams" being the most commonly used nickname as it appears on the current club crest. A dominant brace from Carlisle United forward Offrande Zanzala sentenced Bradford City to their third game without a win and back to back defeats for the first … [8] The same season they won the FA Cup, when a goal from captain Jimmy Speirs won the final replay against Newcastle United. In January 1994, Geoffrey Richmond came from Scarborough to take over as chairman,[32] and promised to guide City to the Premier League within five years. [62] For the 2009–10 season, the away kit was all black with a thin claret and amber stripe down the centre-left. [citation needed] The club's annual rent and maintenance costs to Gibb's pension fund is £1.2m, and so as of February 2009, the club is considering a return to Odsal. Children starting a new school from September 2017 onwards or applying for school travel for the first time will be assessed using the new policy. [1] The Football League saw the invitation as a chance to promote association football in the rugby league-dominated county of the West Riding of Yorkshire. [12][13] Back in Division Two, attendances dropped and City struggled for form,[14] with five consecutive finishes in the bottom half of the table. They were relegated in 1922 and again in 1927, before winning the Third Division North title in 1928–29. [63], A number of other clubs across the world wear claret and amber. The away kit for the 2008–09 season was all white. [32] Lawrence left after little more than a year to join Luton Town but his successor, Chris Kamara took City to the play-offs and their first game at Wembley Stadium. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Further projects were planned until the club went into administration in May 2002 so none have taken place. Jasmin Atker is a Bradford student who captained the first England team in the international Street Child Cricket World Cup, and was named one of the BBC 100 top inspiring women in 2019. [59], The club was relegated to League Two in April 2019.[60]. For the 2015–16 season, the club announced its latest season ticket scheme aimed at continuing to make football affordable for fans. Another relegation in 1937 did allow the club to go on to win the Third Division North Cup in 1939, however a further relegation followed in 1962 to leave the club in the newly created Fourth Division. Create professional websites faster than ever. Offrande Zanzala scored a brace as Carlisle ended their eight-game League Two winless run with an impressive win against mid-table rivals Bradford. [21] With 34 goals from David Layne, City nearly earned an instant promotion the following season 1961–62, but it did also include a record 9–1 defeat to Colchester United. They are the only professional football club in England to wear claret and amber, and have worn these colours throughout their history. They spent £1,400 erecting a ground with a capacity of 20,000, club facilities and levelling the land. City scarves have also sold in large numbers in recent years to fans of Harry Potter, because the colours are the same as Harry's house scarf at Hogwarts School. Although they missed out on promotion, City won the league the following season 1984–85, to return to the second tier of The Football League. [33][34] Paul Jewell took over, initially on a temporary basis, before he was given a permanent contract. [79] Valley Parade has had several other names under sponsorship naming deals. [54] On 18 May 2013, the club returned to Wembley where they defeated Northampton Town F.C. They suffered a second relegation to Division Three (North) in 1926–27. Tommy Elphick got on the scoresheet as Huddersfield Town’s B Team produced a dominant performance to beat Bradford City 3-0 at Canalside on Wednesday afternoon. The capacity was increased to 40,000 by December 1908 with a 5,300-seater main stand, a terraced paddock in front, a Spion Kop, and an 8,000-capacity Midland Road stand. [4] Peter O'Rourke took over as manager in November 1905, and he led City to the Division Two title in 1907–08 and with it promotion to the Division One. A succession of financial crises followed as the club entered administration twice in two years and further relegations followed in 2004 and 2007 to leave the club back in the fourth tier. [16] City won their third piece of silverware two seasons later, when they lifted the Third Division North Challenge Cup, but they were unable to defend the trophy because competitive football was suspended for the Second World War. Valley Parade was the site of a quarry on the hillside below Manningham, Bradford, owned by Midland Railway Company, in 1886, when Manningham RFC bought one-third of the land and leased the remainder, because they had been forced to find a new home. Instead they entered the play-offs, but were defeated in the semi-finals by Middlesbrough. “The best thing I can say about Harry is that when I was at the game he looked like a first team player playing Under-23s football,” he said. They defeated three Premier League sides en route to the final â€“ Wigan Athletic 4–2 on penalties in the fourth round, Arsenal 3–2 on penalties in the quarter-finals and Aston Villa 4–3 on aggregate over the two legs of the semi-final. Levi Sutton (Bradford City) Influential as City made it four wins in a row for the first time in five years. The club spearheaded an initiative in 2007 to slash the price of watching professional football for the 2007–08 season. Ticket Line: 0333 323 5075 - option 1. [74] The club spent £2.6 million building a new main stand and improving the Kop, and reopened the new ground on 14 December 1986 for an exhibition match against an England international XI. Telephone: 0333 323 5075. Its frame was sold to Berwick Rangers and a replacement stand built in 1954. [4] Other nicknames have been the Citizens or Paraders, but the club is better known as the Bantams. [46] Former player Stuart McCall was appointed the new manager,[47] and although he said anything less than promotion would be a failure,[48] he later changed his mind after a poor start and finally led the team to a 10th-place finish. Bantam Talk launched in 2018 after Claret & Banter shut down. Bradford City have had a number of nicknames during the history. [76] The following year, Valley Parade was sold to Gibb's pension fund for £5 million, with the club's offices, the shop and car park sold to London-based Development Securities for £2.5 million,[78] but these (club offices, shop and car park) were bought back by the club's joint chairmen in the summer of 2011. All from independent designers.