The University of Bradford Stadium
Valley Parade
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD8 7DY

The away stand at Bradford.

Bradford’s stadium is all-seater and has a maximum capacity of 24,840.  Away supporters are housed in blocks F and G of Bradford Lifts Stand.

Plans to install solar panels on the roof of Bradford City’s Valley Parade stadium were given the green light in February. The application said the panels would have a 200kWp (kilowatt peak) capacity, and the energy generated would help power the stadium. Any excess power would be released to the national grid.

Bradford’s average home crowds are almost 16,000, by a long way the highest attendances in League 2 and almost double the average home crowds of the 2nd highest (Swindon Town at 8,500).  One reason may be to do with the fact that Bradford have some of the cheapest season tickets in the EFL.

By Supporters Coach – the easiest and best way.

For full details of Away Travel: –

Click here: – FGR Away Travel – Forest Green Rovers Supporters Club (fgrsc.com)

Book your coach ticket with your match ticket from FGR.

Coach departure times etc. Tickets & Travel: Bradford City (A) | WE ARE FGR

Discount for FGR Supporters Club members. Supporters Club Members need to book by phone or go to reception to get their discount.

Click – Tickets | WE ARE FGR

By phone on 0333 123 1889 Monday to Friday, between 9am and 3pm. may be closed Wednesdays.

Please try to book as early as you can.

By Train:

From Stroud the journey is about 4 hours 30 minutes and normally involves changes at Cheltenham & Leeds.

Please check train times carefully – particularly as it is a midweek fixture – to ensure you can return that day and in case there is any industrial action.

The nearest railway stations for the stadium are Bradford Forster Square and Bradford Interchange. Services are operated by Northern Rail. Both stations connect with Leeds station for National Express East Coast, Midland Mainline, and Virgin Trains services.

The ground is approximately a 15-minute walk away from the nearest train station –Bradford Forster Square.

If going by train into Bradford Interchange, it is a longer walk to the ground (20 minutes).  Alternatively take a taxi (£6) or the bus station is located next to the train station (Bus No’s 622, 623, 626 or 662).

By Car

Sat Nav – BD8 7DY. From the Stroud area it is just under 200 miles and takes about 3 hours 15 minutes.

From the north east take the A1 southbound to join the A1/M1 link then join the M62 westbound. From the south take the M1 or A1 northbound to join the M62 westbound. From the north west / west take the M6 then the M60 towards Manchester.

Join the M62 eastbound from the ring road then exit the M62 from junction 26.At end of the motorway take the middle or right-hand lane and follow signs for Ring Road East (under the tunnel) onto Rooley Lane (signs for Leeds Bradford Airport).McDonald’s is on your left. Go through the traffic lights at Asda Superstore and turn left at the roundabout onto Wakefield Road, staying in middle lane.Cross two roundabouts staying in middle lane (following signs to Shipley and Skipton) on to Shipley Airedale Road (A6037) which then becomes Canal Road.After Tesco and Smyths Toys Superstores (on the left) go through the traffic lights and turn left onto Station Road (A6177) and left again into Queens Road.Continue up the hill to third set of traffic lights and turn left onto Manningham Lane.After the Gulf Petrol Station (on your left), take the first left onto Valley Parade for the University of Bradford Stadium.

Car Parking

There is on-street parking available around the stadium. Large stretches of Midland Road and Queens Road are generally used by supporters for matchday parking.

There is also the option of renting a private driveway near in the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Parking on Midland Road is permitted for disabled blue-badge holders though, if parking in the vicinity of the stadium, be wary of various charges.

General information for those with mobility issues – Disability Information | Bradford City (bradfordcityafc.com)

PLEASE NOTE: An active road closure is in place on Midland Road for every home matchday, between Holywell Ash Lane and Thorncliffe Road. If parking in the disabled bays on Midland Road, supporters should enter from the Queens Road side, and not Hamm Strasse.

Inside the Ground

The University of Bradford Stadium SALT FanZone is open ahead of each home match. Located to the rear of The Kop beside the One In A Million car park, the facility represents the ideal place for supporters to gather and soak up the pre-match atmosphere. It is open from 1.00pm until kick-off at 3.00pm for each of the Bantams’ weekend fixtures, with a selection of soft drinks and snacks on offer as well as Salt IPA’s for £3.75, Carling on draft for just £4.50 per pint and Madri for £5.60, and live music performed. 

To read full details on the FanZone, please CLICK HERE. 

The kiosks inside the University of Bradford Stadium open at the same time as turnstiles on a matchday and are run by the club’s official kiosk catering partner, Tiffin Stadium Catering. 

Fast-food products available for supporters to enjoy include the beef burger (£4.20), cheese burger (£4.60), chicken burger and hot dog (halal, £4.60), Southern Fried Chicken Wrap (£4.15), Chicken Tikka Panini (£3.95), Ham and Cheese Panini, samosas and bhajis (£2.50) and Pepperoni and Margherita Pizza Twist (£4.00). Pukka Pies (£4) are available in kiosks, while pints of Carling (£4.50) and Madri (£5.60)* can be purchased on draft, pre-packaged drinks including SALT IPA (£3.75) and Stowford Press Cider (£4.70) along with a range of snacks, and hot and cold soft drinks. 

Tiffin Stadium Catering ONLY ACCEPT CARD payment and are completely cashless.

Outside the Ground

Pubs

Bradford City does not have a designated pub for travelling supporters, though The Bradford Arms on Manningham Lane usually admits visiting supporters. Please follow @WYP_Bantams on X, which provides details on away supporter pubs for each matchday.

There are several pubs and bars located near the ground. North Parade – a Street situated 0.6 miles away from the ground (approximately a 12-minute walk). Sadly the popular pre-match haunt Sparrow Bier Bar closed suddenly in June 23 and it is not know when or if it will re-open.   The Peacock Bar, which apart from offering a number of real ales and ciders, has Sky Sports and serves Indian street food.

Food

Approximately a 15-minute walk from the stadium is Bradford City partner and Italian family-run restaurant, Mamma Mia. The city’s leisure centre, The Broadway, has a Taco Bell, Subway, Burger King, KFC and various other eateries and is also around a 15-minute walk away. Located in the Forster Square shopping park is a Greggs, Costa, Subway and McDonald’s.

Bradford are currently in 12th place with 50  points.

Reverse Fixture – FGR 0 Bradford 3 (28 Nov 23). Osadebe came on as a 70th minute substitute for Bradford.

Bradford are second in the current 6 game form table with 14 points. FGR are 9^th with 10 points. With the away win at Accrington, Bradford City went back to winning ways, extending their unbeaten run to 6 matches in the league. Bradford have won 4 of their last 8 matches in League 2.

Bradford City have conceded an average of 1.14 goals per game since the beginning of the season in the league. Bradford’s currently average number of goals conceded per game of 0.5 in the last 8 league matches, which is 56.1% lower than their current season’s average.

Recent Results

Accrington 0 Bradford 3

Bradford 1 Doncaster 1

Bradford v Notts County – postponed.

Barrow v Bradford – postponed

Bradford 0 Wycombe 1 (EFL Trophy semi-final)

Bradford 1 Sutton 0

Bradford’s man in form is striker Andy Cook (number 9).  Now 31, the striker was with Tranmere between 2016 and 2018 where he top-scored in both his seasons in the National League.  After scoring the goal that secured Tranmere’s promotion to the EFL, he left to join Walsall.  After Walsall, Cook moved to Mansfield before joining Bradford this summer after a successful loan spell.

Current Bradford Top scorers: Jake Young 16 goals (mainly while on loan at Swindon), Andy Cook – 14 goals, Jamie Walker 6 goals, Tyler Smith 5 goals.

Bradford signed 20 year old striker Calum Kavanagh from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window. Bradford City have signed Plymouth Argyle forward Tyreik Wright on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan with the League Two side, before being recalled by parent side Aston Villa in January and being sold to Argyle. Bradford City have signed former Colchester and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Sam Walker on an 18-month deal. Walker, 32, was a free agent after his short-term contract with Charlton ended.

Graham Alexander became manager of Bradford City on 6th November 2023. Mark Hughes was sacked in October and Kevin McDonald was in temporary charge in the interim.

In a lengthy playing career as a right back and defensive midfielder, Alexander represented Scunthorpe, Luton, Preston, and Burnley. He also made 40 international appearances for Scotland.

He is the fourth oldest player to score in Premier League history. He was also a penalty kick specialist. On 16 April 2011, in Burnley’s win over Swansea in a Championship match, Alexander became only the second outfield player in English football history to have made 1,000 professional appearances. He is third on the list of football appearances in England.

Alexander was appointed manager of Fleetwood in December 2012. He won the 2013–14 League Two play-offs and promotion to League One but was sacked by Fleetwood in September 2015. He then managed Scunthorpe for two years before being appointed manager of Salford City on 14 May 2018. Alexander guided Salford to promotion in his first season but was sacked in October 2020. He then had 18 months as manager of Scottish club Motherwell. Motherwell & Bradford play in the same colours so Alexander won’t have to change his wardrobe.

Jake Young was at FGR between 2020 & 2022. He played 51 times scoring 9 goals before joining Bradford. Bradford have loaned him out to Barrow and then for the first part of this season Swindon. He was recalled to Bradford in January 24 and Bradford received several bids for him which they turned down. He is now a regular for Bradford.

Emmanuel Osadebe was at Bradford 2022-24 playing 29 times and scoring 1 goal, which was earlier this season. His time at Bradford was hit by injury.

FGR’s Jordan Garrick played Rugby League for Bradford Bulls – that probably doesn’t count though!

Bradford City won the FA Cup in 1911 (their only success), beating Newcastle 1-0 in a replay at Old Trafford.  Some 100,000 people turned out to welcome the team back to Bradford.  Eight of the team that day were Scottish.

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 Cip 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 Forth 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 League Cup Final and then going on to win that year’s L2 Play Off Final l but were relegated from L1 in 2019.

Bradford are the only professional English team to wear claret and amber, colours they have worn since they were formed in 1903 (they are the same colours as Motherwell in Scotland). Sales of Bradford scarfs have been brisk since they are the same as Harry Potter’s house colours at Hogwarts.

The worst moment in Bradford’s history came in 1985.  On 11 May 1985, Valley Parade was the scene of a fatal fire, during the tragedy 56 supporters were killed and at least 265 were injured.  The game was the final match of the season.  Before the game City were presented with the Division 3 championship trophy. The fire destroyed the main stand in just nine minutes.

The Dalai Lama has been seen to be holding up Bradford shirts on different occasions, despite being based in India so probably not easy to get to matches. He also blessed the team as they prepared to face Swansea City in the 2013 League Cup final which they, unfortunately, lost.

Zayn Malik The former X-factor and One Direction star has been a Bradford City supporter all his life and has been seen on a number of occasions going to games.

Gigi Hadid – The Los Angeles-born lingerie model might not be your typical Bradford City fan but having been in a relationship with Zayn Malik, she was converted to being a Bantam. The couple split up in 2021 in acrimonious fashion though so she may not be quite so keen on the Bantams now and maybe supports Bradford Park Avenue instead.

Snooker world-champion Joe Johnson, who was crowned back in 1986 after overcoming world number one Steve Davis in the final. Whenever he was not playing during the tournament, he was seen wearing a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Bradford’s Bouncing Back’ (in reference to the Stadium fire from five years previously).

Gareth Gates. The double-platinum selling singer finished second in Pop Idol behind Will Young but was born in Bradford is a big fan of the Bantams.

Bradford City Fans Forum – City Talk | Bantam Talk – Bradford City Forum

Bradford City Mascot – Billy the Bantam. That’ll probably put you off eating the chicken nuggets and maybe even turn vegan.

Bradford Industrial Museum

The Bradford Industrial Museum is a museum dedicated to the industrial heritage of the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire. The museum is housed in an old textile mill and also features exhibits and displays that showcase the city’s history of manufacturing and industry. Visitors can explore a range of topics including textile production, printing and even engineering. The museum also features a working waterwheel, steam engine and other historic machinery that visitors can see in action.

Bradford Industrial Museum – Bradford Museums & Galleries

Bronte Parsonage Museum

The Bronte Parsonage Museum is a historic house museum located in the village of Haworth, West Yorkshire. It was the former home of the famous literary family, the Brontes including the authors Charlotte, Emily and also Anne. Today the museum displays a collection of personal belongings and also manuscripts from the Bronte family as well as period rooms that recreate what life would have been like for the family in the mid-19th century.

Bronte Parsonage Museum

Bradford Cathedral

Bradford Cathedral located in the city centre is a historic cathedral dating back to the 15th century. It features a mix of architectural styles, including Gothic, Romanesque and also Classical, it’s also known for its impressive tower and spire. Visitors can admire a range of historic features such as stained-glass windows, ornate carvings, and a magnificent organ.

Welcome to Bradford Cathedral

Bradford Police Museum – Described as ‘One of Bradford’s Best Kept Secrets’ at least it was until somebody grassed on them.

The award-winning museum provides a unique insight into the history and heritage of policing, criminal justice, civic enforcement and the development of crime and punishment in Bradford. It is situated on the site of the original 19th century police station in City Hall operational between 1874 and 1974 bringing together exhibits, documents and memorabilia relating to the history of policing from the inception of the Bradford Borough Police force in the mid-19th century to the present day.

The Bradford Police Museum – Welcome to The Bradford Police Museum

Bolling Hall

Bolling Hall is a beautiful and historic house museum located in Bowling, Bradford. Built in the 14th century the hall has served as a family home, a fortress and even a courthouse over the centuries. Visitors can explore the period rooms and exhibitions that showcase the hall’s rich history including its links to the English Civil War. Some of the highlights include the Great Hall with its magnificent fireplace and the Civil War Room which features weapons, armour, and other artefacts from the period.

Bolling Hall Museum & Library – Bradford Museums & Galleries

Lister Park

Lister Park is a beautiful public park located in the Manningham area of Bradford. It covers an area of 22 hectares and features a range of attractions including a boating lake, Mughal Water Gardens, a children’s playground and even a café. The park is also home to Cartwright Hall an art gallery and museum that houses an impressive collection of artworks and also artefacts.

Lister Park, Manningham, Bradford (bronte-country.com)

Saltaire Village & Salts Mill

Salts Mill is a former textile mill located in Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire. The mill was built in the mid-19th century by Sir Titus Salt a wealthy industrialist who wanted to create a model village for his workers. Today Salts Mill has been transformed into a cultural centre that houses a variety of galleries, shops, and also cafes. Visitors can explore a range of art exhibitions and installations as well as browse through the shops which offer everything from books and gifts to home goods and even fashion.

Salts Mill

National Media Museum – TEMPORARILY CLOSED

The National Media Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and development of media technology. Located in Bradfords city centre the museum features interactive exhibitions and displays that showcase everything from early photography to modern film and also television. Visitors can explore a range of topics including the science behind animation, the history of cinema and even the impact of the internet on our daily lives.