Bradford City Supporters' Trust

The Annual Collection for the Bradford University Burns Unit has raised £5064.85. This total includes £1136.00 in proceeds from the production of the big memorial flag displayed at the Wembley Cup Final. The bucket collection at Valley Parade before the Burton game raised £3901.43 within an hour. This is by far the largest total received from a bucket collection in recent years. The Trust thanks all the volunteer collectors who took part, and the fans from Bradford City and Burton Albion who contributed so generously on the day. This magnificent response shows that regard for the Burns Unit remains undiminished among City fans.

Bradford City’s Commemoration of the 1985 Fire Disaster will be focussed on the last home match of the regular league season, to be played against Burton Albion on Saturday April 20th 2013.

The customary minute’s silence will be held at Valley Parade before the kick-off of the Burton game, at 3.00 pm.

A collection will be taken at the ground before the match on behalf of the Bradford University Burns Research Unit. Donations may also be made via the Bradford City Supporters Trust website (www.bcst.co.uk/donations). A brief description of the history and work of the Burns Unit appears below.

The civic commemoration will take place at Centenary Square, Bradford, BD1 1HY at 11.00 am on the exact anniversary of the Fire, Saturday May 11th, 2013.

Bradford University Burns Research Unit

The Plastic Surgery & Burns Research Unit was set up in the wake of the tragic events at Bradford City Football Club in 1985, following funding donations from Robert Maxwell and Gerry Marsden (Gerry & The Pacemakers).

Overseen by Professor David Sharpe OBE, the Plastic Surgery & Burns Research Unit is based at the University of Bradford and focuses on performing pioneering, high quality research looking into wound healing, scarring and other aspects of skin biology. Ultimately, this can be used to improve patient care in the UK and across the world.

Current research projects at the Research Unit include looking at ways to make skin heal faster, and the role of hair follicles in wound repair. None of this research would be possible without the continued generosity of the Bradford City supporters and kind donations from schools and companies across West Yorkshire. Thank you for your continued support of this vital research.

Burns Research Unit

West Yorkshire Police want to impose draconian travel and ticketing restrictions on supporters wishing to attend the Huddersfield Town v Hull City fixture on Easter Saturday.

Opinions of fans have been canvassed in advance of the fixture – and the messages couldn’t be clearer.

• Many will attend a peaceful demonstration in Huddersfield on the day, objecting against these insulting and unnecessary police actions.

• West Yorkshire Police are wrong to treat all Hull City supporters as potential drunks, hooligans and criminals.

Hundreds of Hull City supporters want nothing to do with the fixture on these terms and will boycott the match.

Supporters groups at Hull City and Huddersfield Town, together with Football Supporters' Federation (FSF), have compiled evidence that comprehensively contradicts the claims of West Yorkshire Police that draconian restrictions are justified for the Easter Saturday fixture at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Over a thousand responses were submitted to an online survey:

• 57% prepared to join demonstration of opposition to WYP’s actions on the day of the match in Huddersfield

• 67% think the draconian travel restrictions show that West Yorkshire Police are behind the times

• 95% of Hull City fans that travel to away matches, do so independently – mostly by car

• 58% of those fans meet with friends for a drink and some food before the game

Tiger Chat email forum conducted their own one question survey* which found • 96% of fans will be boycotting the match

Home Office figures show that last season, there were just 14 arrests both home and away in all competitions among the Hull City fan base. None of those were for alcohol offences. These figures speak for themselves and it is worth noting that these are arrests only and not convictions.

Supt Ged McManus of West Yorkshire Police believes that allowing Hull City fans unrestricted access to Huddersfield could lead to the public being “denied use” of the town centre that afternoon – there is simply no evidence for this appalling slur on Hull City’s supporters.

We strongly believe West Yorkshire Police, supported by their elected Police and Crime Commissioner, is making a politically motivated stand after their unsuccessful appeal in the High Court against costs charged wrongfully to Leeds United.

Our survey and the Police’s own records show this decision for what it is – a petulant act based on no evidence or “intelligence” at all. We call for the “bubble“ restrictions to be lifted for this game and all future professional football matches played in West Yorkshire.

In the meantime we will attend and support a peaceful demonstration against WYP’s actions, on 30th March commencing at 1.45pm at Huddersfield Station and concluding outside the library. Protestors are being asked to bring non alcoholic drinks to the protest and also hold up banners/placards with their profession written on it so people can see the responsible person behind the football fan tag and the negative connotations that sometimes has.

*330 subscribers.

20-26 April 2013

The inaugural Bantams’ History Week takes place in late April to coincide with the 102nd anniversary of Bradford City AFC’s FA Cup triumph, 26 April 1911. On that fateful day Bantams became the first winners of the current FA Cup trophy, which, by a happy coincidence, had been designed by the Bradford jewellers Fattorini’s.

The history week is being organised by Bradford City AFC’s museum bantamspast. The ethos behind the event is illustrating the interaction of the history of the football club with that of the city centre. At various locations that overlapping, yet often forgotten, history will be brought back to life via displays, a self-guided walk and a tour.

The history week will culminate with a dinner at the Midland Hotel on 26 April - the anniversary of Bradford City’s FA Cup triumph. The dinner will take place in the same room from which the Bantams’ captain, Jimmy Speirs, showed the glittering trophy to a crowd estimated at 100,000 people – a third of the entire population of the city at that time.

Saturday 20 April Launch of Bantams’ History Week Sparrow Bier Cafe North Parade 12pm Free event

The Bantams’ History Week will be launched at the Sparrow Bier Cafe at noon with the pulling of the first pint of an exclusively produced beer. A brief welcome and talk will be given by the organiser of the Bantams’ History Week, and author of Glorious 1911 and Paraders, David Pendleton, on the Bantams’ History Week and hidden sporting history of North Parade.

North Parade, historically one of the smarter streets in the city centre, has strong links with the heritage of Bradford City AFC. Based on North Parade was Baines Cards, the producers of millions of collectors cards depicting sports personalities and clubs in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Originally from Manningham, Baines moved to North Parade as the business grew to staggering proportions. Featured on their cards were numerous players of Bradford City, Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford Northern. However, Baines produced cards for a national and international audience and every conceivable sporting aspect was covered by their cards which were avidly collected by boys young and old.

From Montevideo to Manchester, Tokyo to Turin, today the appeal of football cards knows no bounds. Yet how many people are aware that this global obsession has its roots in Victorian Bradford? John Baines, a Bradfordian who shaped global football culture.

The sporting heritage of North Parade will be celebrated by a storyboard displayed on the walls of the Sparrow Bier Cafe. You will be able to toast that heritage with a pint of Baines Bantams’ Beer, specially produced and exclusively on sale at the Sparrow.

Bradford City AFC Valley Parade

1pm: An opportunity to peek behind the scenes at Valley Parade on a matchday, including access to the dressing rooms, directors’ suite, 1911 Club and the bantamspast museum. The tour, led by the Friends of Bradford City, must be pre-booked. For further details please visit www.friendsofbcfc.com

3pm-4.45pm: Catch the Bantams in League Two action when Bradford City play Burton Albion at Valley Parade.

Sunday 21 April

Undercliffe Cemetery Otley Road entrance 2pm Free event (donations welcome to the cemetery volunteers)

A guided tour of Bradford’s famous necropolis, including visits to the graves of former Bradford City chairmen Alf Ayrton and Stafford Heginbotham. We also pay our respects to Thomas Coyle, a 12-year-old boy killed when a barrier collapsed at Valley Parade on Christmas Day 1888. Although this event is free we would appreciate donations towards the work of the Undercliffe Cemetery volunteers and their efforts to maintain the huge cemetery.

Friday 26 April

26 April 1911 anniversary Dinner Forster Suite Midland Hotel

Dress code: tie for gentlemen, dress for ladies is preferred, but smart-causal will suffice.

Guest speaker David Conn of the Guardian Two course dinner £18 per person

The culmination of the Bantams’ History Week is a dinner to mark the 102nd anniversary of Bradford City AFC’s FA Cup victory. The dinner will take place in the very room where Jimmy Speirs walked out onto the balcony of the hotel to show the FA Cup to an estimated 100,000 people packed onto the streets of Bradford.

Toasts will be made to the great team of 1911. Our guest speaker will be the Guardian’s David Conn. Well known for his investigative journalism into football’s finances, his latest book, Richer than God, tells the story of Sheik Mansour’s arrival at Manchester City and its impact on English football.

Spaces are limited to forty diners, so early booking is advised. Please send a cheque for £18 payable to ‘bantamspast’ to:

Bantamspast, PO Box 307, Shipley, BD18 9BT. Bookings are strictly on a first come first served basis.

Bantams’ History Week Trail 20-26 April

A self-guided walking tour of locations in central Bradford that are linked to the history of Bradford City AFC. As many of the attractions within the establishments listed, it may be worth double checking their opening times if you are travelling from outside the city.

Midland Hotel Cheapside Telephone 01274 733735 www.peelhotels.co.uk

When Bradford City won the FA Cup in 1911 they were met by 100,000 people on the streets of Bradford. Their journey from the Exchange station to the Midland Hotel took nearly an hour as nearly a third of the entire population of the city turned out to welcome the conquering heroes. Put yourself in the footsteps of those famous players and visit Bradford’s iconic former railway hotel. Adjacent to the front car park is a plaque celebrating the centenary of the FA Cup victory and the planting of one hundred trees by Britain in Bloom in March 2011. The Spirit of Bradford bar (turn immediate left on entering the hotel) has a fabulous illuminated mural of the city including a representation of Valley Parade.

Opposite the hotel was the now demolished headquarters of the jewellers Fatttorini’s where the present FA Cup was designed. It was first competed for in 1911 and the first winners were none other than Bradford City. Adjacent to Fattorini’s was Sports and Pastimes where the shirts that the Bantams wore when they won the FA Cup were designed and produced by the Fattorini owned company Sports and Pastimes. Bradford City’s England international midfield player Evelyn Lintott worked at the shirt manufacturers immediately following his transfer to Valley Parade.

Waterstone’s The Wool Exchange, Hustlergate www.waterstones.com

Situated in the magnificent Wool Exchange building, Waterstone’s will have a display of Bradford City, Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford Bulls books on show.

Bradford Cathedral Telephone 01274 777720 www.bradfordcathedral.org Open 0900-16.30 Monday-Saturday except Bank Holidays. Open Sundays for services only.

The Cathedral houses a plaque that commemorates the millions of pounds raised in the wake of the fire disaster at Valley Parade in 1985. The slate plaque can be viewed on the left hand side of the church as you approach the Alter. The Cathedral was also the place where Robert Torrance, the man-of-the-match in the 1911 FA Cup Final was married in late 1916. You will be able to view his marriage certificate complete with the great man’s signature.

Corn Dolly public house 110 Bolton Road Bradford BD1 4DE Telephone 01274 720219 Open daily 11.00-23.00

A popular pub with generations of Bradford City fans, the Corn Dolly has on display an oil painting of the Bantams record appearance holder Ces Podd and several other images. Also there is a pennant from Glasgow Rangers supporters presented prior to Stuart McCall’s testimonial match when City played Rangers in front of over 20,000 supporters.

Hamm Strasse Memorial Hamm Strasse/Manningham Lane junction

In the wake of the fire disaster the people of Bradford’s twin town in Germany Hamm showed tremendous compassion and eventually donated the memorial that stands in Centenary Square. As a mark of appreciation the new road linking Canal Road with Manningham Lane was named Hamm Strasse. For many years only a small plaque told that story, but on the 25th anniversary of the fire a marker stone was kindly provided by the building suppliers Marshall’s. It was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Bradford and the Burgomaster of Hamm.

Sparrow Bier Cafe 32 North Parade Bradford BD1 3HZ Telephone 01274 270772 www.thesparrowbradford.co.uk Open Monday-Tuesday 11.00-20.00 Wednesday-Thursday 11.00-23.00 Friday-Saturday 11.00-Midnight Sunday 12.00-18.00

A relatively new business, the Sparrow has become a popular watering hole for City fans on matchdays. Home of the launch of the Bantams’ History Week, you can read about North Parade’s links to the football club on a storyboard on the cafe’s walls. Also on sale, at least until it sells out, is the exclusive Bantams History Week ale – Baines Bantams’ Beer.

By Mike Thompson

Well, it's nearly here! The day we never ever thought in our wildest dreams could ever come is just two sleeps away. Bradford City (our Mighty Bantams) take on Swansea City in front of an international audience at Wembley Stadium. (How amazing that these words belong in the same paragraph.) Watch Out Swansea, We're Bradford City (Martin Keighley) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ilv-wqWX19U

What a fantastic adventure and what a tremendous achievement by a real football club, one built on team spirit and togetherness, playing to its strengths and holding firm against determined opposition, being patient and disciplined and making the best of opportunities carved out by skill and application.

Who will ever forget Garry Thompson's clinical volley against Arsenal, Nahki Wells' cool precision and the two Macs' barnstorming headers at home to Villa and the way James Hanson left Vlaar in his wake to power in that most important of away goals at Villa Park. Those may have been the headline grabbers, but those who've been there and bought the T-shirt know that the success of this cup run has been based on the collective efforts of a squad of honest professionals, a true Band of Brothers, every one of whom has done his bit over and over again when called upon, climbing mountains against teams from higher divisions (the only exception being against Burton where we had to climb a different kind of mountain).

And those who haven't played but have been there, including injured players, have been wholehearted in their support. True team spirit from a true team, built and nurtured by a management team who know what they want and, what's more, know what they need to do to make it happen. Motivation in bucket loads.

And then there's the twelfth man, in our thousands, standing for 90 minutes cajoling, willing, encouraging, shouting ourselves hoarse, kissing strangers, running around like crazy people, walking the streets with big smiles on our faces! Enjoying the feeling that only those who have experienced it can even begin to understand. Through a decade of thin and thinner.........to this amazing, unbelievable climax. You couldn't make it up! But we don't need to.........it really is happening. We really are going down Wembley Way (Peculiar Disco Moves) - http://widthofapost.com/2013/02/13/wembley-song-number-four-wembley-way/

At the start of the season, you may recall that the Marketing drive was based upon the Spirit of 1903, City's first season in the football league when no-one knew what to expect. None of us were there then, but we're all here now and 2013 has seen another season where we did not know what to expect. Cup runs come and cup runs go, but this one has exceeded all expectations.

For the first time since that fantastic night at Villa Park, everyone at the Club has been able to enjoy the prospect of one more big effort on Sunday 24th.

The clamour for tickets has eased and the over-worked, dedicated back-room team can take a bit of a well-earned breather whilst the merchandise continues to roll off the shelves at an amazing rate in all its Claret and Amber (Richard Thompson) finery - https://soundcloud.com/richard-thompson-22/claret-and-amber. The Press Day has come and gone, they're all suited and booted, their family and friends requirements have all been taken care of so now, with no distractions, Let's Get Ready for Wembley (Tom and Dom) - http://bantamsbanter.com/videos/lets-get-ready-for-wembley/

So that's it then, we can all make our way to the Capital for the Capital One Cup, relax in the superb surroundings at Wembley, drink in the atmosphere, enjoy seeing our boys come out and take on one of the Premier Elite of the UK. It's a proper Cap One Story (Mark Heslop) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jyd3xfPUZo. No pressure, no worries, enjoy the moment. Not blooming likely!!!! Of course we'll enjoy it, who wouldn't, but we've not come this far just to make up the numbers. We're in for another highly stressful emotional roller coaster of experiences because WE CAN WIN THIS CUP. “Leave nothing in the dressing room boys” (Brian Noble), we've beaten three Premiership teams already, we can beat another one if we set it up right and play like we know we can. And we can, with one ingredient that is ours and ours alone – it's The Spirit of Bradford City (Simon Crabtree) - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-spirit-of-bradford-city/id60550582.... So, keep the faith and sing your hearts out for the lads, and remember, There's No-one As Wembley As Bradford City (The Corrigan Brothers) - http://audioboo.fm/boos/1179568-the-corrigan-brothers-there-s-no-team-as...

It's Only A Cup, (but oh what a Cup), We're Bradford City and We're Going Up!! (Fans of Bradford City – edited version!)

[With grateful thanks to Width of a Post and especially to all Composers and Performers. You've added so much to a memorable occasion]