Manningham Rugby Club

1880-1903

The origins of Bradford City lie in the emergence of sport as a pastime in Victorian society. Working class men from the tightly packed streets and terraces around the great mills nurtured the roots of Bradford City.

In the early 1870s workers were given Saturday afternoon off, allowing time for sports to be played as an escape from the rigours of work. Although football had a toehold, cricket and rugby were the most popular games.

The teams that faced each other on bare fields were similar to today's Sunday football teams. The situation was often chaotic with a variety of 'home' fields being employed. On occasions teams were difficult to raise, but from these unpromising roots, several well-organised teams emerged. Inevitably they attracted the better players, and two clubs - Manningham and Bradford - became what amounted to semi-professional sides.

Manningham Rugby Club was formed from the ashes of the Manningham Albion Club in 1880. Their home was a field in Whetley Hill, which they named Carlisle Road after the adjacent thoroughfare.

The earliest-known team photograph: Manningham Rugby Club in 1893

Initially, Manningham played in a black and white strip. However, on 20th September 1884 Manningham unveiled new claret and amber strip; sadly no reason was given for the adoption of the startling colours.

A Hospital Charity Cup Winner's Medal presented to J. Lorimer of Manningham in 1884.

The last game at the Carlisle Road ground was played on 24th April 1886, the Bradford School Board had compulsorily purchased the land for the construction of Drummond Road School. Fortunately, a new ground was quickly found. Though it needed a huge amount of work, it was hacked out of a hillside in less than three months - it was named Valley Parade.

On 25th September 1886 Valley Parade saw its first action, when visitors Wakefield Trinity narrowly defeated Manningham in front of a near capacity crowd.

In 1895 Manningham were one of the leading clubs in a breakaway that led to the formation of what we know today as the Rugby League. Manningham carried away the new code's first championship in 1896. However, from there on it was downhill for the Paraders. Relegation, allied to the success of cross-town rivals Bradford, put pressure on the club's finances. Indeed, in 1903 only a successful archery competition kept the club solvent.

Baines Cards

Manningham in 1896 with the Championship Shield Whether or not the J. Lorimer presented with the medal above was related to the G. E. Lorimer pictured here (middle row, third from right) is not known. However there is an interesting story behind this one,

Continued uncertainty in the rugby world, along with the desire of the Football League to gain a presence in the West Riding, set the scene for the birth of Bradford City.

For a detailed account of the history and development of Manningham Rugby Club, click here.

Top, Home, Early Days: 1880-1910, The Glory Fades: 1920s-1940s, Rock Bottom: 1950s-1970s, Triumph and Tragedy: 1980s-1990s, Premiership and Beyond: 1998-2003, The Great War, Glorious 1911, 11th May 1985, Valley Parade, Contact Us