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Bradford City A.F.C.

Association football club in England

Bradford City A.F.C.

Association football club in England

FieldValue
clubnameBradford City
imageBradford City AFC crest.svg
upright0.5
fullnameBradford City Association Football Club
nicknameThe Bantams
The Paraders
The Citizens
founded
groundValley Parade
coordinates
capacity24,840
chairmanStefan Rupp
managerGraham Alexander
league
season
position
current2025–26 Bradford City A.F.C. season
website
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Note

men's football team

The Paraders The Citizens

Bradford City Association Football Club is an English professional football club in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The club competes in , the third tier of English football, and is managed by Graham Alexander.

The club was founded in 1903 and immediately elected into the Football League Second Division. 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. They were relegated in 1922 and again in 1927, before winning the Third Division North title in 1928–29. 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. They secured promotions back into the third tier in 1969 and 1977, but were relegated in 1972 and 1978. 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.

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. They entered Europe and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2000–01 but ended the campaign with relegation from the Premier League. 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. They found success under the management of Phil Parkinson by reaching the 2013 League Cup final and then going on to win that year's League Two play-off final but were relegated from League One in 2019.

The club's home ground is the 24,840-capacity Valley Parade, which was the site of the Bradford City stadium fire on 11 May 1985, which took the lives of 56 supporters. They are the only professional football club in England to wear claret and amber, and have worn these colours throughout their history. 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. Supporters hold West Yorkshire derby rivalries with Huddersfield Town and Leeds United, as well as a historic Bradford derby rivalry with the now non-league side Bradford (Park Avenue).

History

Main article: History of Bradford City A.F.C.

1911 FA Cup

Bradford City were formed in 1903 as a result of a series of meetings called by James Whyte, a sub-editor of the Bradford Observer, with Football Association representatives and officials at Manningham F.C., a rugby league side.{{cite book

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.{{cite book

A graph showing Bradford City's league history

City remained in the top flight in the period up to the First World War and for three seasons afterwards, but were relegated in 1921–22 along with Manchester United.{{cite book |access-date = 14 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071129232211/http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BE0DB31FD-0C0E-49D7-98B7-AA7B75FF0E21%7D&section=decadeDetails&sectionid=945&customPageID=945 |archive-date = 29 November 2007 |url-status = dead

After the war, City went through two managers in the first two seasons,{{cite book

City failed to win promotion for three successive seasons, until the board appointed former England centre back Roy McFarland as manager in May 1981. McFarland won promotion in his first season, but was poached by his former club Derby County just six months later. City won compensation from Derby and installed another England international Trevor Cherry as McFarland's replacement.{{cite book

City played games away from Valley Parade for 19 months.{{cite book

In January 1994, Geoffrey Richmond came from Scarborough to take over as chairman,{{cite book |access-date = 17 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081020055734/http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=284 |archive-date = 20 October 2008 |url-status = dead |access-date=13 May 2008 |access-date=13 May 2008

However, Jewell left shortly afterwards. His assistant Chris Hutchings was promoted to the manager's position,{{cite news |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/803023.stm |archive-date = 13 January 2016 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/876295.stm |archive-date = 13 January 2016 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004523/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/991922.stm |archive-date = 13 January 2016 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004523/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1009904.stm |archive-date = 13 January 2016 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030407115313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1027129.stm |archive-date = 7 April 2003 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004523/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1303049.stm |archive-date = 13 January 2016 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040520030509/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1991450.stm |archive-date = 20 May 2004 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040702024203/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3513575.stm |archive-date = 2 July 2004 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 October 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223820/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1362773.woeful_city_relegated/ |archive-date = 11 January 2009 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071010135328/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6679253.stm |archive-date = 10 October 2007 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 October 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223324/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1456117.mccall_ill_have_failed_if_we_dont_go_up/ |archive-date = 11 January 2009 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 October 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223328/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2011939.mccall_the_big_interview/ |archive-date = 11 January 2009 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120515153721/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?comp_id=4 |archive-date = 15 May 2012 |url-status = dead

In September 2011, the club became linked with American amateur side SC United Bantams.

In January 2013, City became the first club from the fourth tier of English football since Rochdale in 1962 to reach the League Cup final, and the first fourth tier club ever to reach a major Wembley Cup final. They defeated three Premier League sides en route to the final – 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. They met Premier League side Swansea City in the final at Wembley but lost 5–0. The run to the final is thought to have been worth at least £1.3 million to the club, with 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 cup campaign. On 18 May 2013, the club returned to Wembley where they defeated Northampton Town 3–0 in the League Two play-off final to secure a place in League One for 2013–14.

On 24 January 2015, Bradford City caused an upset by beating Premiership leaders Chelsea 4–2 away in the FA Cup. The victory sent Bradford through to the fifth round for the first time in eighteen years. They beat Sunderland, another Premier League club, 2–0 at home in the next round on 15 February 2015. In the quarter-finals, the Bantams faced Reading at home, in a game that ended in a goalless draw. The replay was played on 16 March 2015 at the Madejski Stadium, where Reading won 3–0.

The club was relegated to League Two at the end of the 2018–19 season.

In December 2021, the club was approached by American investors known as WAGMI United (who use cryptocurrency and NFTs) about a possible buyout. The offer was rejected.

On 24 February 2022, Mark Hughes was appointed manager of the club on a contract until the summer of 2024. He was sacked on 4 October 2023, with player Kevin McDonald becoming player-caretaker manager. Later that month, assistant manager Mark Trueman replaced McDonald as caretaker manager. On 6 November, Graham Alexander was signed as manager until the end of the 2026–27 season, with Chris Lucketti as assistant manager.

Bradford City were promoted to League One on the last day of the 2024–25 EFL season after their victory over Fleetwood Town which secured the third-place promotion place.

Colours and club crest

Bradford City is the only professional football club in England to wear claret and amber. The club colours were inherited from Manningham FC, when the club converted to football upon Bradford City's foundation in 1903. However, whereas Manningham played in hoops, the new football club adopted claret and amber stripes.{{cite book |last=Dewhirst |first=John

The reason Manningham chose claret and amber is not documented but the colours were the same as those of The Prince of Wales's Own West Yorkshire Regiment, which was based at Belle Vue Barracks on nearby Manningham Lane. Both Manningham, from 1886, and Bradford City, from 1903 to 1908, used the barracks as changing and club rooms.

Bradford City has worn claret and amber, with either white or black, since it was founded. Since the fire in 1985, the club has used black on the kit as a memorial to the 56 supporters who died. The club's away shirt has traditionally been white and to a lesser extent also blue, but there has been a profusion of other colours and designs particularly in more recent years. The away kit for the 2008–09 season was all white. For the 2009–10 season, the away kit was all black with a thin claret and amber stripe down the centre-left.

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.{{cite news |access-date = 30 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071228203006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2557000/2557569.stm |archive-date = 28 December 2007 |url-status = live

A number of other clubs across the world wear claret and amber. 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. 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.

The club's crest combines a series of logos from over the years. In 1974, City adopted a contemporary style crest incorporating the club's initials, with a B-C logo. At the time, the new logo maintained the previous nickname of the Paraders. By December 1981, the club relaunched the Bantams as the official identity with a bantam on the new crest. The crest maintains the club colours and also includes the words The Bantams.

Nickname

Bradford City have had a number of nicknames during their history. In their early years, they were referred to as the "Robins" or "Wasps", taking over the nickname of Manningham FC, as a result of Manningham's claret and amber hoops. Other nicknames have been the "Citizens" or "Paraders", but the club is better known as the "Bantams".

The "Bantams" nickname is thought to have become popular during the First World War, when the club's stadium Valley Parade was used as a recruiting station for the West Yorkshire Regiment which was raising Pals Battalions, with some of them called "Bantams Battalions" due to the short height of many of the recruits being, between 5 ft (1.5m) tall and no more than 5 ft 3in (1.6m).The Bradford Pals had Bantam soldiers within its ranks.

Stadium

Main article: Valley Parade

Valley Parade
Valley Parade

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. They spent £1,400 erecting a ground with a capacity of 20,000, club facilities and levelling the land.{{cite book |access-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011164852/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10266~91531%2C00.html |archive-date=11 October 2008

Until 1952, by which time Bradford City had bought the remaining two-thirds of the ground to own it outright,{{cite book

On 11 May 1985, Valley Parade was the scene of a fatal fire, during which 56 supporters were killed and at least 265 were injured. The game was the final match of the 1984–85 season, before which City were presented with the Third Division championship trophy. The fire destroyed the wooden main stand in just nine minutes.{{cite news |access-date = 16 March 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120525070438/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/11/newsid_2523000/2523561.stm |archive-date = 25 May 2012 |url-status = live

In 1991, the Bradford end of the ground was the next to be redeveloped and was converted into a two-tier stand with a scoreboard. 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. Ahead of promotion to the Premiership in 1999, Richmond spent another £6.5 million to convert the Kop into a two-tier 7,500-seat capacity stand.{{cite web |access-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009040144/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10266~400739%2C00.html |archive-date=9 October 2008 |access-date=16 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111225505/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/12/16/146052.html |archive-date=11 January 2009

In August 2003, 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,{{cite news |access-date = 16 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3135993.stm |archive-date = 13 January 2016 |url-status = live |access-date = 13 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215173040/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7886405.stm |archive-date = 15 February 2009 |url-status = live

Supporters

The club spearheaded an initiative in 2007 to slash the price of watching professional football for the 2007–08 season.{{cite news |access-date = 13 October 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090111225102/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1359276.bradford_city_will_slash_ticket_prices/ |archive-date = 11 January 2009 |url-status = live |access-date=30 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109004807/http://flc.theoffside.com/league-two/bradford-city-set-to-offer-cheapest-season-tickets-in-the-uk.html |archive-date=9 January 2008 |access-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212234321/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10266~1082906%2C00.html |archive-date=12 February 2010 |access-date = 13 October 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223825/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2087772./ |archive-date = 11 January 2009 |url-status = live

For the 2015–16 season, the club announced its latest season ticket scheme aimed at continuing to make football affordable for fans. Season ticket prices were set at £149 for adults, senior citizens and students, while admission for under-11s was free when purchased with an adult ticket. An initial campaign target of 15,000 was set. On 6 July, the club announced a record-breaking 18,000 tickets had been sold following a successful campaign. The campaign was repeated for the 2016–17 season, where the club sold in excess of 17,000 tickets.

Bradford City announced 'Own The Moment' 2022–23 season ticket sales of 14,190 in September 2022. The figure was a League Two record for the club. It surpassed the previous fourth-tier season-ticket sales record of 13,614 in 2019–20.

On 4 March 2023, Bradford City set a new attendance record for Football League Two at a 2–0 victory against Colchester United, with an attendance of 20,383, including 345 away fans. The Bantams then broke this record again in a home fixture on 8 May 2023 against Leyton Orient, with 22,576 supporters in attendance, including 1,902 Leyton Orient fans.

Rivalry

Bradford City have participated in the Bradford derby with city rivals Bradford Park Avenue. The West Yorkshire derby is held between City and local rivals Leeds United and Huddersfield Town. A "friendly" rivalry also existed with now-defunct club Halifax Town.

According to a survey conducted in August 2019, Bradford City fans also see Burnley, Barnsley and Oldham Athletic as rivals.

European football

Bradford City's only participation in European football to date came in the 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponents1st leg2nd legAggregate
2000UEFA Intertoto CupSecond roundLithuania FK Atlantas3–14–17–2
Third roundNetherlands RKC Waalwijk2–01–03–0
Semi–finalsRussia FC Zenit Saint Petersburg0–10–30–4

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Player of the Year

YearWinner
1984–85ENG Dave Evans
1994–95ENG Wayne Jacobs
1996–97ENG Wayne Jacobs
1997–98ENG Gary Walsh
1998–99SCO Stuart McCall
2001–02ENG Andy Myers
2002–03SCO Andy Gray
2003–04ENG Paul Heckingbottom
2004–05ENG Mark Bower
2005–06ENG David Wetherall
2006–07ENG Nathan Doyle
2007–08ENG Joe Colbeck
2008–09ENG Luke O'Brien
2009–10ENG James Hanson
2010–11No award
2011–12ENG Luke Oliver
2012–13ENG Gary Jones
2013–14ENG Stephen Darby
2014–15NIR Rory McArdle
2015–16ENG Reece Burke
2016–17JAM Mark Marshall
2017–18ENG Matthew Kilgallon
2018–19No award
2019–20No award
2020–21IRL Paudie O'Connor
2021–22IRL Paudie O'Connor
2022–23ENG Andy Cook
2023–24ENG Brad Halliday
2024–25ENG Richard Smallwood

Captains

The following is a list of the officially appointed captains of the Bradford City first-team.

NameNationYearsNotesRef
Dicky Bond1919–1922
Charlie Bicknell1934–1936
Tommy Flockettc. 1955–1960
Bruce Stowell1967–1972
Rod Johnson1970s
Peter Jackson1982–1986City's youngest captain (started at 21 years old)
Stuart McCall1998–2002
David Wetherall2002–2008
Graeme Lee2008–2009
Peter Thorne2009–2010
Zesh Rehman2009–2010Club captain
Simon Ramsden2010–2011
Lee Bullock2010–2011Club captain
Guy Branston2011
Michael Flynn2011–2012
Ricky Ravenhill2012
Gary Jones2012–2014
Stephen Darby2014–2016
Romain Vincelot2016–2018
Josh Wright2018
Anthony O'Connor2018–2019
Paul Caddis2019
Hope Akpan2019
Paudie O'Connor2019
James Vaughan2019–2020
Clayton Donaldson2020Became captain after Vaughan left the club on loan in January 2020
Richard O'Donnell2020–2021
Lee Novak2021Announced as temporary captain in January 2021 whilst O'Donnell was injured (for 3 months)
Paudie O'Connor2021Announced as temporary captain following an injury to Novak
Richard O'Donnell2021O'Donnell returned to first-team action - and as captain - on 20 March 2021
Niall Canavan2021–2022
Paudie O'Connor2022Captain following Canavan's departure mid-season
Richie Smallwood2022–2025url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25207327.bradford-city-captain-richie-smallwood-leaving-club/title=City skipper Smallwood leaving club after not being offered new dealdate=2 June 2025website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}
Max Power2025–present

Former players

Main article: List of Bradford City A.F.C. players, List of Bradford City A.F.C. players with fewer than 50 league appearances

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. It featured biographies of 100 players and staff members from the history of the club. The players were:

  • ENG Greg Abbott
  • ENG Bruce Bannister
  • ENG Sam Barkas
  • SCO Bobby Bauld
  • ENG Peter Beagrie
  • ENG Charlie Bicknell
  • ENG Robbie Blake
  • ENG Dicky Bond
  • ENG Irvine Boocock
  • SCO Tommy Cairns
  • NIR Bobby Campbell
  • SCO Robert Campbell
  • ENG Eddie Carr
  • ENG Trevor Cherry
  • DMA Joe Cooke
  • ENG Ian Cooper
  • ENG Terry Dolan
  • ENG Peter Downsborough
  • ENG Donald Duckett
  • ENG Lee Duxbury
  • ENG Roy Ellam
  • ENG Mark Ellis
  • ENG Dave Evans
  • SCO Jock Ewart
  • ENG Tommy Flockett
  • ENG Oscar Fox
  • ENG David Fretwell
  • ENG Allan Gilliver
  • SCO David Gray
  • ENG John Hall
  • WAL Tom Hallett
  • ENG John Hallows
  • ENG Bobby Ham
  • ENG Joe Hargreaves
  • ENG Derek Hawksworth
  • SCO John Hendrie
  • ENG George Hinsley
  • ENG Don Hutchins
  • ENG Gerry Ingram
  • ENG David Jackson
  • ENG Peter Jackson (born 1937)
  • ENG Peter Jackson (born 1961)
  • ENG Wayne Jacobs
  • ENG Paul Jewell
  • ENG Rod Johnson
  • ENG Chris Kamara
  • IRL Jimmy Lawlor
  • JAM Jamie Lawrence
  • ENG David Layne
  • WAL Ken Leek
  • SCO Peter Logan
  • SCO Stuart McCall
  • WAL Sean McCarthy
  • SCO John McCole
  • SCO Jimmy McDonald
  • ENG Roy McFarland
  • SCO Andy McGill
  • SCO Jimmy McLaren
  • SCO David McNiven
  • ENG John Middleton
  • SCO Brian Mitchell
  • ENG Charlie Moore
  • SCO George Mulholland
  • WAL George Murphy
  • ENG Graham Oates
  • IRL Andy O'Brien
  • ENG Gavin Oliver
  • ENG Ian Ormondroyd
  • SCO Frank O'Rourke
  • SCO Peter O'Rourke
  • ENG Harold Peel
  • SKN Ces Podd
  • WAL Ivor Powell
  • ENG John Reid
  • ENG Dean Richards
  • ENG Arthur Rigby
  • ENG George Robinson
  • ENG Abe Rosenthal
  • ENG Lee Sinnott
  • ENG Geoff Smith
  • SCO Jimmy Speirs
  • ENG Derek Stokes
  • ENG Charlie Storer
  • ENG Bruce Stowell
  • ENG Paul Tomlinson
  • SCO Bob Torrance
  • ENG Whelan Ward
  • ENG Dickie Watmough
  • SCO Billy Watson
  • ENG Garry Watson
  • ENG Bobby Webb
  • ENG David Wetherall
  • ENG Jock Whyte
  • ENG George Williamson
  • ENG Dean Windass |}

Staff

Current staff

:

PositionNameNationality
ChairmanStefan RuppGermany
Chief Executive OfficerRyan SparksEngland
General ManagerDavide LongoEngland
Head of Football OperationsDavid SharpeEngland
ManagerGraham AlexanderScotland
Assistant ManagerChris LuckettiEngland
Assistant Managerurl=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19953959.hodges-back-hughes-bradford-city-assistant-manager/title=Bradford City announce Hodges as new assistant managerwebsite=Bradford Telegraph and Argusdate=25 February 2022 }}England
Goalkeeping CoachColin DoyleIreland
Lead professional development phase coachurl=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25460168.luke-hendrie-appointed-bradford-city-academy-role/title=Hendrie returns to Bantams in academy roledate=11 September 2025website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}England
Professional development phase link coachPatrick McGuireEngland
Academy head of coachingTom ButcherEngland
Head of recruitmentStephen GentEngland
Foundation phase lead coachJack FairbrotherEngland
Scouturl=https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/whos-who/title=Bradford City announce new scouting trio in recruitment restructurewebsite=Bradford www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk}}England
ScoutStan MartinEngland
Performance CoachBen NicholsonEngland
Academy ManagerTom CalvertEngland
Academy Lead Youth Developmenturl=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19489513.broadbent-davison-given-academy-roles-bradford-city/title=Two new Bradford City coaches named in academy restructurewebsite=Bradford Telegraph and Argusdate=4 August 2021 }}England
Head of Academy AnalysisJordan DavisonEngland
Under-16 coachGary JonesEngland
Head of MedicalBobby ScarboroughEngland
Head of Performanceurl=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/24471882.bradford-city-add-former-england-physio-stockport-ace/title=Former England man and double promotion-winner with Stockport join Citydate=23 July 2024website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus}}England
First-Team TherapistNick AkermanEngland
Head of Physical PerformanceVacantEngland
First-Team Analyst and Player Welfare OfficerRobbie BloodworthEngland
First-Team AnalystScott DyerEngland

Former managers

Main article: List of Bradford City A.F.C. managers

  • Scotland Robert Campbell (1903–1905)
  • Scotland Peter O'Rourke (1905–1921)
  • Scotland David Menzies (1921–1926)
  • England Colin Veitch (1926–1928)
  • England Jack Foster (Caretaker manager) (Jan–May 1928)
  • Scotland Peter O'Rourke (1928–1930)
  • England Jack Peart (1930–1935)
  • England Dick Ray (1935–1937)
  • England Fred Westgarth (1938–1943)
  • England Bob Sharp (1943–1946)
  • England Jack Barker (1946–1947)
  • England Jack Milburn (1947–1948)
  • Scotland David Steele (1948–1952)
  • England Albert Harris (Feb–May 1952) (interim manager)
  • Wales Ivor Powell (1952–1955)
  • England Peter Jackson (1955–1961)
  • England Bob Brocklebank (1961–1964)
  • Wales Bill Harris (1965–1966)
  • England Willie Watson (1966–1967)
  • England Grenville Hair (1967–1968)
  • ScotlandWalesJim McAnearney & Tom Hallett (Joint caretaker managers) (Mar–May 1968)
  • England Jimmy Wheeler (1968–1971)
  • England Ray Wilson (Player/caretaker manager) (Sep–November 1971)
  • England Bryan Edwards (1971–1975)
  • Scotland Bobby Kennedy (1975–1978)
  • Northern Ireland John Napier (Feb–October 1978)
  • Scotland George Mulhall (1978–1981)
  • England Roy McFarland (1981–1982)
  • England Trevor Cherry (1982–1987)
  • England Terry Dolan (1987–1989)
  • Wales Terry Yorath (1989–1990)
  • Scotland John Docherty (1990–1991)
  • Republic of Ireland Frank Stapleton (1991–1994)
  • England Lennie Lawrence (1994–1995)
  • England Chris Kamara (1995–1998)
  • England Paul Jewell (1998–2000)
  • England Chris Hutchings (June–Nov 2000)
  • Scotland Stuart McCall (Player/caretaker manager) (Nov 2000)
  • Scotland Jim Jefferies (2000–2001)
  • England Steve Smith (Caretaker manager) (December 2001)
  • England Nicky Law (2002–2003)
  • England Peter Atherton, Wayne Jacobs, David Wetherall and Dean Windass (player/caretaker managers) (November 2003)
  • England Bryan Robson (2003–2004)
  • England Colin Todd (2004–2007)
  • England David Wetherall (Player/caretaker manager) (Feb–May 2007)
  • Scotland Stuart McCall (2007–2010)
  • England Wayne Jacobs (Caretaker manager) (February 2010)
  • England Peter Taylor (February 2010 – February 2011)
  • England Peter Jackson (March 2011 – August 2011)
  • England Colin Cooper (Caretaker manager) (August 2011)
  • England Phil Parkinson (August 2011 – June 2016)
  • Scotland Stuart McCall (June 2016 – February 2018)
  • England Greg Abbott (Caretaker manager) (February 2018)
  • England Simon Grayson (February 2018 – May 2018)
  • Ireland Michael Collins (June 2018 – September 2018)
  • Scotland David Hopkin (September 2018 – February 2019)
  • England Martin Drury (Caretaker manager) (February 2019 – March 2019)
  • England Gary Bowyer (March 2019 – February 2020)
  • Scotland Stuart McCall (February 2020 – December 2020)
  • England Mark Trueman and Connor Sellars (caretaker managers; December 2020–February 2021)
  • England Mark Trueman and Connor Sellars (February 2021 – May 2021)
  • Scotland Derek Adams (June 2021 - February 2022)
  • England Mark Trueman (caretaker manager; February 2022)
  • Wales Mark Hughes (February 2022 – October 2023)
  • Scotland Kevin McDonald (caretaker manager; October 2023)
  • England Mark Trueman (caretaker manager; October 2023 – November 2023)
  • Scotland Graham Alexander (November 2023 to present)

Honours and records

Main article: Bradford City A.F.C. records

League

Cup

  • FA Cup
  • Football League Cup
  • Third Division North Challenge Cup
  • West Riding County FA Challenge Cup
    • Winners: 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909

Records

  • Record league victory: 11–1 v Rotherham United, Third Division (North), 25 August 1928
  • Record FA Cup victory: 11–3 v Walker Celtic, first round replay, 1 December 1937
  • Record League Cup victory: 7–2 v Darlington, Second Round Second Leg, 25 September 2000
  • Record league defeat: 0–8 v Manchester City, Second Division, 7 May 1927 / 1–9 v Colchester United, Fourth Division, 30 December 1961
  • Record FA Cup defeat: 1–6 v Newcastle United, third round, 7 March 1963 / 0–5 v Burnley, fifth round replay, 3 February 1960 / 0–5 v Tottenham Hotspur, third round, 7 January 1970
  • Record home attendance: 39,146 v Burnley, FA Cup fourth round, 11 March 1911
  • Record gate receipts: £300,000 v Arsenal, Football League Cup quarter-final, 11 December 2012
  • Longest unbeaten run : 21 1968 to 1969
  • Longest run of wins: 10 1983 to 1984
  • Most appearances : 574 Ces Podd
  • Most league appearances: 502 – Ces Podd
  • Most goals scored : 143 – Bobby Campbell
  • Most league goals: 121 – Bobby Campbell
  • Most goals in a season: 36 – David Layne, 1961–62
  • Most goals scored in a match: 7 – Albert Whitehurst v Tranmere Rovers, Third Division (North), 6 March 1929
  • Highest transfer fee paid: £2.5 million – David Hopkin, from Leeds United, July 2000
  • Highest transfer fee received: £2 million – Des Hamilton, to Newcastle United, March 1997 / Andy O'Brien, to Newcastle United, March 2001
  • Most team league goals in a season: 128 – Third Division (North), 1928–29
  • Most points (three points for a win): 94 – Third Division, 1984–85
  • Most points (two points for a win): 63 – Third Division (North), 1928–29

All records from Bradford City F.C. official website.{{cite web |access-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908093839/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10266~1032184%2C00.html |archive-date=8 September 2012

Sponsors

Kit and main sponsors

Tables of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors appear below:

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
1982–1983PatrickNational Breakdown
1983–1984Toy City
1984–1985None
1985–1987AdmiralBradford Mythbreakers
1987–1988Bradford 'Great' City
1988–1991BuktaGrattan
1991–1992Front RunnerNone
1992–1993Freemans
1993–1994Admiral
1994–1997BeaverDiamond Seal
1997–1999JCT600
1999–2001Asics
2001–2003BCFC Leisure
2003–2004Diadora
2004–2006Surridge Sport
2006–2009Bradford & Bingley
2009–2011Map Group (UK)
2011–2013Nike
2013–2016JCT600
2016–2022Avec Sportt
2022–presentMacron

Stadium

  • 1995–1999 The Pulse
  • 2005–2007 Bradford & Bingley
  • 2007 Intersonic
  • 2007–2016 Coral Windows
  • 2016–2019 Northern Commercials
  • 2019–2022 Utilita Energy
  • 2022–present University of Bradford

References

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