Bradford City | Club | History | History

1911 FA Cup Winners...

So began the remarkable start of life of Bradford City A.F.C. for against a backcloth of local fervour which began with a gentle ripple of enthusiasm and developed with the force of a tidal wave, the club gained a Division 1 place within five years and captured the coveted F.A. Cup three years later in 1911 (matchball pictured below).

All of this happened whilst competing for the affections of supporters who had by this time another professional club in the city which vied for their loyalties - Bradford Park Avenue.

In modern times however, such heady days are beyond the recall of most supporters but they remain one of the pillars of the Football League.

Their topsy- turvy career has mixed the trappings of success with the traumas of financial crisis and even tragedy, yet they have re- emerged from these trials and tribulations only to frustrate and mystify their supporters once again.

Bradford City played their first ever Football League game away to Grimsby Town on 1 September 1903 losing 2-0 before registering their first victory in the third game of the season at Burton United.

Bristol City were recipients of Bradford City's first Valley Parade success the following week, setting the seal for the final position of 10th in an understandably erratic season.

After capturing the Second Division Championship in 1908,they went on to grace the top flight for ten successive seasons straggling the Great War with a best ever position of fifth, achieved during their F.A. Cup Final winning season of 1911.

This was the year they set the club's longest standing ground record of 39,146 for the visit of Burnley in the Quarter Final.

1911 Match Ball