89-752: The Professional Footballers' Association Merit Award (often called the PFA Merit Award , or simply the Merit Award ) is an award given by the Professional Footballers' Association (the PFA) for meritorious service to football. The award was first given in 1974 , and was won (jointly) by Bobby Charlton and Cliff Lloyd . The latest winners of the award are Ian Wright and Jill Scott . Professional Footballers%27 Association The Professional Footballers' Association ( PFA )
178-512: A World Legends XI – captained by Gianfranco Zola and managed by Jürgen Klinsmann – culminating in a gala dinner in the evening involving a host of top entertainers. In December of the centenary year, the PFA issued Fans' Favourites ; a list of the favourite players at each Football League club. In making the selection, the PFA canvassed the opinions of the supporters of present, and some former, League clubs about their favourite player. In 2018,
267-660: A first-of-its-kind undergraduate degree designed specifically for footballers. The course incorporates study for the UEFA B Coaching licence, the FA Talent ID & Scouting Certificate, and preparation for the FIFA Agent Licence. Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Watford signed a partnership with the PFA to co-fund player participation in the programme. Bradford City Bradford City Association Football Club
356-632: A full and open review of the union's structure. At the 2018 AGM, held in Manchester in March 2019, it was agreed that Taylor, Purkiss, and the entire management committee would step down following the completion of the review. This extensive review concluded in July 2020 and outlined recommendations for the PFA’s future development. Former England, Manchester United, and PFA Management Committee member Gary Neville
445-410: A ground with a capacity of 20,000, club facilities and levelling the land. When Bradford City were formed in 1903, they took over the ground at Valley Parade, which was also at this time the headquarters of The 2nd West Riding Brigade Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) , playing their first home game on 5 September 1903 against Gainsborough Trinity , drawing a crowd of 11,000. Five years later,
534-628: A heart attack in training, City returned to the Third Division after getting promoted in 1968–69 . City's stay in the Third Division lasted just three years, when they finished bottom in 1971–72 . Promotion via fourth spot was won again in 1976–77 but it was instantly followed by a relegation season. 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
623-497: A point where we cannot discount any action." Molango has said the football schedule is a health risk and is “killing the product.” The PFA welcomed the Government’s review into women’s football led by Karen Carney, published in July 2023, which recommended that “comprehensive and formalised union representation for both Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship players.” At present the union does not receive direct funding from
712-609: 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. Bradford City is the only professional football club in England to wear claret and amber. The club colours were inherited from Manningham FC , when
801-465: A promotion challenge the following season. City went top of the table in September 1987, but fell away during Christmas and missed out on promotion on the final day of the season. Instead, they entered the play-offs but were defeated in the semi-finals by Middlesbrough . Two years later City were relegated back to the Third Division. For three seasons, City finished mid-table in the third tier, which
890-675: A relaxation of the restrictions on the movement of players from one club to another in the Football League and preventing the introduction of a maximum wage of £4 per week for players in the Football League. Like the AFU before it, the Players' Union intended to challenge the maximum wage and the restriction on transfers, in the form of the "retain and transfer" system . When the Players' Union made its objectives clear in 1909,
979-544: 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. 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
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#17327765724631068-683: A return to Odsal. The club and Bradford Bulls would share the new £50m complex, which would also feature cricket , cycling and athletics facilities. Valley Parade has had several other names under sponsorship naming deals. In July 2016 it became the Northern Commercials Stadium, and in July 2019 it became the Utilita Energy Stadium. This partnership came to an end in July 2022. The University of Bradford subsequently became title sponsor of Valley Parade. The club spearheaded an initiative in 2007 to slash
1157-545: A second relegation to the Third Division (North) in 1926–27 . Two seasons later, O'Rourke, who had initially retired in 1921 following the death of his son, returned and guided City to promotion with a record haul of 128 goals. O'Rourke left for a second time after one more season, and although City spent a total of eight seasons back in the Second Division, they rarely looked like earning promotion back to
1246-624: A separate legal complaint to the European Commission over FIFA’s “abuse of dominance” in the game. Announcing the legal measures, PFA CEO Maheta Molango, who is also on the Board of FIFPRO Europe, said that “legal action is the unfortunate but inevitable consequence of major stakeholders in the game – the leagues and the players – being ignored.” Molango has warned that players are willing to take direct action if demands are not listened to with regards to workload. He said: “We have reached
1335-535: A two-tier 7,500-seat capacity stand. 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. The following summer, the main stand was also converted into a two-tier stand, taking the capacity to 24,840. Further projects were planned until the club went into administration in May 2002 so none have taken place. The following year, Valley Parade
1424-479: A year to join Luton Town but his successor, Chris Kamara , took City to the play-offs and their first game at Wembley Stadium . They defeated Notts County 2–0 in the final to earn promotion to Division One. City avoided relegation the following season by winning their last two league games, 1–0 against Charlton Athletic and then beating Queens Park Rangers 3–0 on the final day of the season, but Kamara
1513-667: Is an English professional football club in Bradford , West Yorkshire . The team competes in League Two , the fourth tier of the English football league system , 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
1602-797: Is committed to advocating for player rights at national and international levels. This includes taking legal action on issues such as player workload and pushing for equal representation and conditions in women’s football. Current initiatives include the PFA Business School, which provides leadership training for players, and exclusive UEFA coaching programmes. The union also prioritises brain health through research and direct support for members dealing with neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it runs rehabilitation programmes for injured players, pre-season camps for out-of-contract members, and ongoing aftercare support for former professionals transitioning into life after football. The current CEO of
1691-408: 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,
1780-406: 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,
1869-738: Is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. Founded in 1907, it is the world's oldest professional sports trade union, with approximately 5,000 current members each season, including players from the Premier League , EFL and Women’s Super League . Nearly 50,000 former members retain access to services and benefits including education grants, coaching courses and wellbeing support. The PFA actively supports players with legal assistance, representation on contractual and disciplinary matters, and offers personal and professional development opportunities. The union also provides extensive mental and physical wellbeing support, and
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#17327765724631958-562: 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
2047-552: The 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup . Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. The following is a list of the officially appointed captains of the Bradford City first-team. In 2007 former Telegraph & Argus sports journalist David Markham released
2136-559: 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. Bradford City's only participation in European football to date came in
2225-815: The PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year . Kim Little was the recipient in the first year. The PFA supports all current and former professional footballers in England across the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Women’s Super League (WSL). Through its day-to-day work, the union directly supports players with legal assistance and representation on a wide range of football-related matters (e.g. contractual and disciplinary issues), provides personal and professional development opportunities, and offers mental and physical wellbeing support. The union also works with stakeholders and governing bodies at
2314-627: The Players' Union ). On that date, Charlie Roberts and Billy Meredith (who had been involved in the AFU), both of Manchester United , convened the Players' Union at Manchester 's Imperial Hotel. This was the second attempt to organise a union of professional footballers in England, after the Association Footballers' Union (the "AFU"), formed in 1898, had been dissolved in 1901. The AFU had failed in its objectives of bringing about
2403-474: 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
2492-576: The West Riding of Yorkshire . It duly elected the new club into the Second Division , in place of Doncaster Rovers . Four days later, at the 23rd annual meeting of Manningham FC, the committee decided to change codes from rugby league to association football. 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. Robert Campbell
2581-408: The official receivers . 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. City struggled but so did Campbell, and when he returned, the club went on a record run of ten successive victories. Although they missed out on promotion, City won the league
2670-476: The 100th year since the foundation of The Players Union, and to commemorate the centenary year, the PFA launched their "One Goal One Million" campaign. The campaign involved a whole year of celebratory fund-raising activities with the aim of raising £1 million to fully fund a new children's rehabilitation and physiotherapy unit at the University Children’s Hospital, Manchester . Throughout the year
2759-529: The Bradford End for the 2009–10 season would be available for just £99 and £138 for the rest of the ground if bought in December 2008. 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
PFA Merit Award - Misplaced Pages Continue
2848-576: 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
2937-721: The CEO, and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Players’ Board, with a non-executive member elected as chair. The Players' Board holds ultimate decision-making authority and delegates operational responsibilities to the Operational Board. It is directly representative of the union’s membership, with 13 members, including representatives from the Premier League, WSL, EFL Championship, League One, and League Two, along with three former players, at least two of whom have played professionally in
3026-514: The FA and with tribunals with the Premier League, EFL and WSL. The PFA’s legal department oversees all governance and policy matters related to the union. Working alongside the Player Services division, it also provides members with advice on various legal issues in relation to all football matters. General Counsel James King, formerly part of the legal team at Arsenal FC, was appointed to lead
3115-595: The FA towards its representation of professional players from the women’s game. In December 2023, the PFA welcomed the Government’s backing of the Carney review’s recommendations. Molango said that “players will now rightly expect to see [the recommendations] acted on.” The PFA is a member of the Women’s Football Review Implementation Group which was formed to “progress the review’s recommendations.” PFA CEO Maheta Molango used an address to
3204-779: The Football Association withdrew its recognition of the Union, which at that time was seeking to join the U.K.'s General Federation of Trade Unions ('GFTU'). In response, the Union threatened strike action. The Football Association in turn banned players affiliated with the AFPTU before the start of the 1909–10 season. The ban saw membership of the Union fall. However, players from Manchester United refused to relinquish their membership. League clubs turned to amateur players to replace players that had been banned, but Manchester United were not able to find enough replacements, risking
3293-634: The High Court. In 1963, The Court held that the retain and transfer system was an unreasonable restraint of trade . From 1960, the union began representing trainers, and for a time was known as the "Professional Footballers' and Trainers' Association". The union decided to register under the Industrial Relations Act 1971, something the TUC opposed. As a result, it left the TUC in 1973, finally rejoining in 1995. 2007 brought along
3382-463: The PFA and campaigned to have the Football League 's £20 maximum wage scrapped, which he achieved in January 1961. His Fulham teammate Johnny Haynes became the first £100 player. The PFA also backed George Eastham in his legal action against the retain and transfer system, providing him with £15,000 to pay for his legal fees. The case was brought against his former club, Newcastle United , in
3471-490: The PFA is Maheta Molango , who took over in 2021, and the Players' Board, led by Leyton Orient's Omar Beckles ., represents member interests. The PFA's leadership team is supported by an Operational Board of non-executive directors, which oversees governance. The PFA was formed on 2 December 1907 as the Association Football Players' and Trainers' Union ( AFPTU ; commonly referred to at the time as
3560-425: The PFA ran a number of high-profile events involving current and former players and managers with the sole purpose of reaching the £1 million target. Events included a pro-celebrity golf event, race days and initiatives involving younger supporters. On the day that the PFA was formed in 1907 – 2 December – there was a match between an England Legends XI – captained by Alan Shearer and managed by Terry Venables – and
3649-535: The PFA to court. As a result, the Minister for Sport , Tony Banks , and the Chief Executive of The Football Association , Graham Kelly boycotted the event. Anderson won in court and the financial cost to the PFA was considerable, Anderson suggests "over £200,000", of which she received £7,500 for "hurt feelings" and an undisclosed amount for "reasonable costs". In 2013 the PFA instituted awards for
PFA Merit Award - Misplaced Pages Continue
3738-705: 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 . The club aimed to attract 20,000 fans for the 2008–09 by offering a free season ticket to anyone buying a season ticket as long as 9,000 adults sign up, but they fell 704 short of the target. Joint-chairman Mark Lawn announced in November 2008 that season tickets in
3827-523: The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) commissioned an Independent Review to enhance its governance, transparency, accountability, and independence, ensuring the PFA operates effectively and in the best interests of its members. The review was prompted by a dispute. over Ben Purkiss ' eligibility as Chairman, and an open letter from 200 players calling for Chief Executive Gordon Taylor to stand down. In response, Taylor promised
3916-628: The Second Division title in 1907–08 and with it promotion to the First Division . Having narrowly avoided relegation in their first season in the top flight, City recorded their highest finish of 5th in 1910–11 . The same season they won the FA Cup , when a goal from captain Jimmy Speirs won the final replay against Newcastle United . City's defence of the cup, which included the first Bradford derby against Bradford Park Avenue ,
4005-525: The TUC Congress in 2023 to ask Britain’s trade unions to support the call for “equal rights and conditions for female footballers.” The motion was backed by Lionesses Lucy Bronze and Katie Zelem, a member of the elected PFA Player’s Board. All members of the PFA are entitled to receive contractual advice from the PFA. Under the standard playing contract, current players are also entitled to representation during general and field disciplinary appeals with
4094-405: The annual awards dinner. Anderson was turned away by then PFA Deputy Chief Executive Brendon Batson because she is a woman. The following year, when West Ham United F.C. player Julian Dicks invited Anderson to attend the dinner, Anderson contacted the PFA to find out what their reaction would be. On receiving a response that she would indeed be banned Anderson decided to go public and take
4183-507: The bottom half of the Third Division (North) table until 1955–56 . After three successive top half finishes, City were placed in the new national Third Division in 1958–59 . Bradford spent just three seasons in the Third Division, but during their relegation season in 1960–61 , they upset First Division side Manchester United in the inaugural season of the League Cup . With 34 goals from David Layne , City nearly earned promotion
4272-475: The cancellation of their opening fixture at home to Bradford City . The Manchester United players were called " Outcasts FC ". The deadlock swung in favour of the Union when Tim Coleman of Everton came out in support of the Union. Coleman's intervention resuscitated support for the Union, which regained its strength of numbers. Agreement was reached on official recognition for the Union in exchange for allowing bonus payments to be made to players to supplement
4361-419: 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 . 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
4450-459: 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. Manningham RFC adopted the colours in 1884 before the move to Valley Parade in 1886. Having originally worn black shirts with white shorts, the club's first game in claret and amber was against Hull on 20 September 1884, at Carlisle Road. The reason Manningham chose claret and amber
4539-404: 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
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#17327765724634628-603: 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
4717-614: The club won promotion to the First Division , and so commissioned football architect Archibald Leitch to redevelop the ground. 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. Its first game against Bristol City on Christmas Day attracted a crowd of 36,000. 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 . Until 1952, by which time Bradford City had bought
4806-494: 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. Bradford City have participated in
4895-473: The department in May 2022. In May 2023, the PFA launched the ‘PFA Business School’ to “ develop the next generation of leaders in football management.” The school offers PFA members access to bespoke football-relevant courses, led by leaders from across football and sport. Degree and certificate qualifications are accredited by the University of Portsmouth. In June 2024, the PFA Business School launched
4984-508: The end of the first season back in Division One, City were placed in administration with debts of nearly £13 million. Two years later, the club suffered a second spell in administration and a second relegation. 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. Former player Stuart McCall
5073-493: The expectation that the post-war spectator boom would continue indefinitely. Inevitably, this caused financial difficulties at many clubs. Clubs believed their problems were due to players' excessive wages rather than over-expansion. In the spring of 1922, they persuaded the League authorities to arbitrarily impose a £1 cut to the maximum wage (£9 a week at that time) and force clubs to reduce the wages of players who were on less than
5162-591: The first team based award: In 2001, they created another award: In 2013 and 2014 respectively, the PFA instituted the first female awards: At this time the PFA Player of the Year award was renamed Men's PFA Player of the Year and the PFA Young Player of the Year was renamed Men's PFA Young Player of the Year . In 2020, the PFA added another award for the women: In 1997 some Sheffield United players invited their agent, Rachel Anderson , to
5251-522: The following season 1961–62 , but did also suffer a record 9–1 defeat to Colchester United . Layne left for Sheffield Wednesday , and without him City finished second from bottom of the league and had to apply for re-election. 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. There followed three difficult seasons during which time manager Grenville Hair died following
5340-477: The following season 1984–85 , to return to the second tier of the Football League. However, City's triumph was overshadowed when the main stand at Valley Parade caught fire during the final game of the season, killing 56 people. City played games away from Valley Parade for 19 months. But just ten days after the new £2.6 million ground was opened, Cherry was sacked. His replacement, Terry Dolan , steered City away from possible relegation, before he mounted
5429-399: 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
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#17327765724635518-473: 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
5607-405: The last day with a 1–0 victory over Liverpool , with a goal from David Wetherall . However, Jewell left shortly afterwards. His assistant Chris Hutchings was promoted to the manager's position, and despite a series of new expensive signings, he was sacked by November 2000, with City second from bottom of the league. Jim Jefferies took over but could not save the club from relegation. At
5696-410: The maximum wage. The maximum wage remained for more than another half century. The 1910s saw the Union backing a challenge by Herbert Kingaby against the retain and transfer system in the courts. Kingaby brought legal proceedings against his former employers, Aston Villa , for preventing him from playing. The Players' Union funded the proceedings. Erroneous strategy by Kingaby's counsel resulted in
5785-527: The maximum. Legal proceedings backed by the Players' Union this time established that clubs could not unilaterally impose a cut in players' contracted wages. Between 1946 and 1957 the Chairman of the Union was former Portsmouth captain Jimmy Guthrie . His book Soccer Rebel , published in 1976, documents his chairmanship and the struggle of the Union to improve the lot of professional footballers in
5874-534: The national and international level to promote and protect players’ rights and conditions. In June 2024, the PFA joined a legal action against FIFA over the "overloaded and unworkable" football match calendar which was presented before the Belgian courts. The PFA is a co-claimant in the case alongside the French players’ union (UNFP) and FIFPRO Europe. In July 2024, the PFA also joined European Leagues and FIFPRO in
5963-539: 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. 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
6052-444: The new stand was itself demolished, and Valley Parade remained a three-sided ground until 1966, when the pitch was moved, and a new stand built. 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
6141-428: 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
6230-414: The now non-league side Bradford (Park Avenue) . 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. The Football League saw the invitation as a chance to promote association football in the rugby league-dominated county of
6319-426: 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
6408-480: The past five years. Delegates approved the new rules at the AGM, which are now in effect. Following an open and competitive recruitment process, Maheta Molango was appointed as the new Chief Executive, leading the organisation through this period of change and development. In 1974, the PFA created three awards to be given to players – or people who have contributed a lot to the game – every year. In 1974 they introduced
6497-474: The price of watching professional football for the 2007–08 season. As a result, season tickets to watch Bradford City were the cheapest in England at £138, the equivalent of £6 per match. When the offer finished, the club confirmed the amount of season tickets sold was 12,019. The scheme enabled the club to top the average league attendances for Football League Two during the 2007–08 season, attracting more than three times more than any other club. The club won
6586-467: The remaining two-thirds of the ground to own it outright, the ground remained virtually unchanged. However, twice during the next decade, the club's Midland Road stand had to be demolished. Club officials first closed part of the stand in 1952, as a result of the Burnden Park disaster six years earlier. Its frame was sold to Berwick Rangers and a replacement stand built in 1954. Six years later,
6675-399: 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,
6764-455: The suit ending disastrously for the Union. The Union were almost ruined financially and membership fell drastically. Although membership increased from 300 in 1915 to well over 1000 by 1920 this did not herald a new era of radicalism among the rank-and-file. Widespread unemployment heralded declines in attendance at Football League matches at a time when many clubs had, once again, committed themselves to expensive ground improvement programmes in
6853-466: 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
6942-586: The top flight. Instead in 1936–37 , the club were relegated back to the Third Division (North). 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. After the war, City went through two managers in the first two seasons, and were consistently in
7031-470: The wooden main stand in just nine minutes. 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. 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. In 1991,
7120-501: The years preceding the abolition of the maximum wage. In 1955, the union affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). In 1956, Jimmy Hill became secretary of the Players' Union. He soon changed the union's name to the Professional Footballers' Association (the "PFA"), changing a blue collar image to one in keeping with the new wave of working-class actors and entertainers. In 1957, Jimmy Hill became chairman of
7209-417: 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 10 s 0 d . City's first game was a 2–0 defeat at Grimsby Town on 1 September 1903, six days before their first home game attracted 11,000 fans. The club finished 10th in their first season. Peter O'Rourke took over as manager in November 1905, and he led City to
7298-408: Was appointed the new manager, and although he said anything less than promotion would be a failure, he finally led the team to a 10th-place finish. McCall eventually left Bradford City on 8 February 2010 following a board meeting after a run of poor results. In September 2011, the club became linked with American amateur side SC United Bantams . In January 2013, City became the first club from
7387-561: Was appointed to oversee the selection panel for the recruitment of four non-executive members, in line with the Independent Review Panel’s recommendations and supported by a specialist recruitment agency. This marked the first step towards implementing the recommendations and establishing a new governance structure. The structure includes an Operational Board and a Players’ Board. The Operational Board, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, consists of non-executive members,
7476-427: 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. 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. During the summer, however, the club chairman Bob Martin had to call in
7565-400: Was renamed Division Two following the formation of the Premier League in 1992. In January 1994, Geoffrey Richmond came from Scarborough to take over as chairman, and promised to guide City to the Premier League within five years. He cleared the debts and after four months sacked manager Frank Stapleton to appoint his own manager, Lennie Lawrence . Lawrence left after little more than
7654-446: Was sacked in January 1998. Paul Jewell took over, initially on a temporary basis, before he was given a permanent contract. He bought the club's first £1 million signings and guided the club to the Premier League — the first time they had been in the top flight for 77 years — with a second-place finish. The following season, Jewell continued to defy the critics, who labelled his team Dad's Army , by avoiding relegation again on
7743-420: 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 have one official mascot , Billy Bantam. 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
7832-411: 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, but these (club offices, shop and car park) were bought back by the club's joint chairmen in the summer of 2011. 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
7921-472: Was stopped by Barnsley after a run of 12 consecutive clean sheets. 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 . Back in the Second Division, attendances dropped and City struggled for form, with five consecutive finishes in the bottom half of the table. They suffered
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