...to the 1987 Play-Offs
Newcastle United, one of the Cup giants of the day, barred the way to Bradford City's first ever success in the world's Premier Cup competition. But after a replay it was the Valley Parade club who became the first proud owners of the new replacement Bradford-made trophy thanks to a 15th minute winner from skipper Jimmy Spiers.
Manager Peter O'Rourke, the City's most successful supremo, brought the Third Division (North) title to Bradford in 1929 in record breaking fashion during his second spell as boss at Valley Parade, with little in the way of cheer in between time.
In fact Bradford had to wait 56 years for another title success when former England International Trevor Cherry building on foundations laid by George Mulhall and Roy McFarland led them to the Division 3 Championship in 1985.
However, the promotion party soon faded into insignificance when in the final game of the season, on Saturday 11 May at home to Lincoln City, a fire started in the Main Stand at Valley Parade and soon turned into an inferno, tragically claiming the lives of 56 supporters. (A full memorial section on the Bradford Fire follows at the end of the history section).
Pictured is the Memorial to those who died, situated in Centenary Square, Bradford, donated by the City of Hamm - Bradford's twin City in Germany.
Bradford had tasted the sweet flavour of promotion in 1969, 1977 and 1982 but generally their seasons were spent staving off either relegation or re-election.
So one could understand the waves of euphoria which greeted the club when under the popular Managership of Bradford born Terry Dolan, they eased their way in the Second Division Play-Offs in 1987 only to lose agonisingly to Middlesbrough in the semi- final after extra-time.
The stars of the side about this time were arguably home reared Stuart McCall (pictured below), later to display his talents on the World Cup stage for Scotland and John Hendrie, a free transfer from Coventry City.
Manager Peter O'Rourke, the City's most successful supremo, brought the Third Division (North) title to Bradford in 1929 in record breaking fashion during his second spell as boss at Valley Parade, with little in the way of cheer in between time.
In fact Bradford had to wait 56 years for another title success when former England International Trevor Cherry building on foundations laid by George Mulhall and Roy McFarland led them to the Division 3 Championship in 1985.
However, the promotion party soon faded into insignificance when in the final game of the season, on Saturday 11 May at home to Lincoln City, a fire started in the Main Stand at Valley Parade and soon turned into an inferno, tragically claiming the lives of 56 supporters. (A full memorial section on the Bradford Fire follows at the end of the history section).
Pictured is the Memorial to those who died, situated in Centenary Square, Bradford, donated by the City of Hamm - Bradford's twin City in Germany.
Bradford had tasted the sweet flavour of promotion in 1969, 1977 and 1982 but generally their seasons were spent staving off either relegation or re-election.
So one could understand the waves of euphoria which greeted the club when under the popular Managership of Bradford born Terry Dolan, they eased their way in the Second Division Play-Offs in 1987 only to lose agonisingly to Middlesbrough in the semi- final after extra-time.
The stars of the side about this time were arguably home reared Stuart McCall (pictured below), later to display his talents on the World Cup stage for Scotland and John Hendrie, a free transfer from Coventry City.
Advertisement
