Bantams of Valley Parade. A History of Bradford City AFC - John Dewhirst

Bradford City Association Football Club was founded in 1903 when its predecessor, Manningham FC, abandoned rugby. The Football League wanted to gain representation in West Yorkshire and the new club was elected to Division Two without having played a competitive game. Bradford City inherited its unique claret and amber colours from Manningham and continued to play at Valley Parade which had opened in 1886. The early years brought success, winning the FA Cup in 1911 and spending the years before the First World War in Division One. The club adopted its Bantams nickname in 1908 to reflect its identity of competing against the odds. However in 1922 it was relegated from the top flight and then after relegation to Division Three (North) in 1937 it spent 58 years in the lower divisions. The exile ended when the club finished as champions of Division Three in 1985 but the achievement was overshadowed by the tragedy of the fire at the Valley Parade ground in which 56 people died and hundreds more injured. In 1999 Bradford City achieved promotion to the Premier League but despite investing heavily relegation in 2001 was followed by financial failure and insolvency. By 2007 the club was in the basement division but in 2013 made history as the first club from that level to play in a senior cup final at Wembley. Promotion to the third tier in the same year was followed by another relegation in 2019 but in 2025 the club finally bounced back having established a reputation as one of the best supported sides in the Football League.

This approachable history of Bradford City AFC charts the fascinating story of the football club from its beginnings to the present-day. It will appeal to followers of the Bantams everywhere.