Alfred Ayrton Alfred Ayrton became President of Manningham Rugby Club in 1900. The club was in a steep decline. Relegation, allied to the success of the Park Avenue based Bradford RFC, saw gates plummet at Valley Parade. On 30 January 1903 James Whyte, sub-editor of the Bradford Observer, along with Bradford and District Football Association’s John Brunt were invited to a meeting at Valley Parade by Alfred Ayrton. There, for the first time, the possibility of a professional football club was discussed. A larger meeting was convened at the Market Tavern public house on 14 February, when over 30 prominent supporters of the proposal met. A series of meetings followed, in which Alfred Ayrton was one of the prime movers. The use of Valley Parade for the new football team was secured, as was the support of the Manningham committee. When Bradford City’s application to join the Football League was accepted on 25 May, Alfred Ayrton chaired a celebration meeting of some 160 Manningham members in a room above the Belle Vue public house. The final piece in the jigsaw was the support of the Manningham members to switch codes from rugby to football. At St Paul’s Schoolroom on 29 May 1903, Alfred Ayrton chaired a stormy meeting, where he urged the members to support ‘a game that would pay’. After two hours of heated debate, it was agreed by 75 to 34 votes that Bradford City would be formed. Manningham’s debts were cleared by a successful archery tournament held at Valley Parade. Indeed, £500 was left as a surplus, money which was immediately made available to the new football club. Alfred Ayrton became the first chairman of Bradford City. When he retired in 1907, City were established as a Football League club. The following season they were promoted to Division One and, of course, went onto win the FA Cup. The establishment football in Bradford, and the eventual success of Bradford City, owes a great deal to the leadership of Alfred Ayrton. He remained a loyal supporter of Bradford City until his death in a road accident during the Second World War. | ||
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