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 Robins, the Paraders, the Wasps and the Citizens are all nicknames the club have had over the years. These days they are known as the Bantams.
Bradford play at Valley Parade which has a capacity of over 25,000 (the 2nd highest capacity in League 2 – Bolton Wanderers stadium has a capacity of over 28,000). When supporters were able to attend, average gates are around 18,000, making Bradford the best supported side in League 2 (by some distance!).
After a 77-year absence, Bradford were promoted to the Premier League in 1999. However, entering administration twice and relegations in 2000, 2004 & 2007 put the club back into the 4th tier. A promotion to League 1 in 2013 was followed by relegation to League 2 in 2019.
Bradford City are unusual in having 2 managers. Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars were appointed as joint managers of the club in December 2020 after former boss Stuart McCall was sacked. Trueman is 34 and Sellars is 29, making them the EFL’s youngest managers. The pair have moved the club from 22nd in the league in December to their current position of 12th. Until recent away losses at Carlisle and Newport, the club looked as though they were making a remarkable run to the play-off places. In spite of these recent setbacks Bradford are clearly still a team in great form, averaging 2 points a game over the last 17 matches.
Rovers fans will probably recognise and remember the Bradford number 12, midfielder Jordan Stevens. Jordan came through the FGR Academy and was bought by Leeds United about 3 years ago when he was just 17. He is now on loan at Bradford after a loan spell at Swindon. Jordan has made 8 appearances for the Bantams so far and has 5 appearances for Leeds under his belt, when Bielsa’s side were in the Championship.
But it’s likely to be striker Lee Novak who will provide the main threat for the Bantams. Novak leads Bradford’s scoring statistics with 7 goals in all competitions but fellow strikers Andy Cook with 5 goals and Danny Rowe, Billy Clarke & Clayton Donaldson each have 4 goals, as does midfielder Harry Pritchard. Bradford have had no fewer than 17 different goal-scorers this season.
Bradford and Forest Green have only met twice before. Jo Mills nicked a 93rd minute winner for Rovers at Valley Parade in August 2019 and the teams played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in September 2020 at TiNL. Spectators were in the stadium for this game and witnessed Aaron Collins superb 90th minute equaliser for Rovers.
Bradford have long boasted some of the least expensive season tickets in the EFL. An adult season ticket for this season was £150!!
