Glorious 1911

1911 was the most remarkable year in the club's history. Not only did City win the FA Cup, they finished fifth in Division One, their highest league position to date.

City's Cup triumph began on a bitterly cold January day at New Brompton - now Gillingham. City scrambled through by a single goal - courtesy of Dickie Bond.

Southern League Norwich City visited Valley Parade in the second round. The Canaries had sensationally knocked out Sunderland in the previous round and another upset seemed on the cards when the visitors took a shock lead. However, in the second half Jimmy Speirs shot City level, but it wasn't until ten minutes from time that Peter Logan ended the visitors' brave resistance and sent the vast majority of the 27,000 crowd home happy.

City suffered a major blow when influential winger Dickie Bond was suspended for a month after he exchanged 'improper language' with a section of the crowd during a First Division game at Woolwich Arsenal. Bond's suspension didn't start until after the third round tie at home to Grimsby Town. He ended his Cup involvement by hitting the winning goal in yet another single goal victory.

The brought Second Division Burnley over the Pennines. A record crowd of 39,146 jammed into Valley Parade. The gates were closed 45 minutes before kick-off leaving many thousands locked out. In a game dominated by the defences, Frank Thompson's header separated the sides and sent City into the semi-finals.

City keeper Mellors saves at the expense of a corner during the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn Rovers.
Photo courtesy Mark Neale

The semi-final at Bramhall Lane saw City facing five-time Cup winners Blackburn Rovers. Seventeen special trains carried a huge support to Sheffield. The City fans sported claret and amber umbrellas, teddy bears, bells, bugles and even a trombone! The national media gave City no chance, but on that snowy March day they swept aside their illustrious opponents with second half goals from O'Rourke, Devine and Thompson.

In the final City met Newcastle United at the Crystal Palace. A staggering 200 special trains poured fans into London from all over the country. The City team left Forster Square station on the afternoon before the game. They were followed by eleven special trains conveying some 6,000 City fans. They travelled overnight, the first train disgorged its bleary eyed travellers onto the Capital's streets at half past four in the morning!

City defend stoutly during the goalless draw at the Crystal Palace.

On a rock hard pitch the final fizzled out into a goalless stalemate. Before the end some in the 68,000 crowd began to drift away disappointed. Back in Bradford, thousands gathered outside the offices of the evening papers in Market Street. The Town Hall clock was forever consulted as the minutes ticked by. A shout went up 'City's scored', but a practical joker or wishful thinking were at work. Eventually, news of the scoreless draw emerged and the crowd melted away.

Who says merchandising is a modern phenomenon?

The replay took place on Wednesday 26th April at the virtually brand new Old Trafford ground. Over 14,000 City fans made the trip to Manchester. Many never saw the game as tens of thousands were locked out. In the first half Newcastle played with the strong wind at their backs. Early play was all in City's half and only determined defending kept the Magpies at bay.

However, it was City who broke the deadlock. A mix-up in the Newcastle defence saw Jimmy Speirs and Frank O'Rourke racing into the Magpies' box. Speirs headed goalwards; the Newcastle keeper, with perhaps one eye on the formidable figure of O'Rourke, let the ball fly over his shoulder and City were ahead 'amid scenes of frantic enthusiasm'.

Newcastle pressed City back in a desperate attempt to equalise before the break. Robert Torrance was heroic in the City defence; the auburn haired Scotsman was everywhere, time and again denying the Magpies much vaunted forward line. In the second half City had the lion's share of the play and should have extended their lead. But, Speirs' goal proved enough and at the whistle thousands of City fans poured onto the pitch in celebration.

The team arrived back in Bradford at 9pm to be greeted by huge crowds outside the Exchange Station. Captain and goalscorer Jimmy Speirs held the Cup aloft to deafening cheers. The players struggled to cross town to a celebration dinner at the Midland Hotel. This truly was Bradford City's finest hour.

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