Chapter 14: Financial Woes (1898-99)

The Origins of Bradford City

By David Pendleton

Chapter 14: Financial Woes

1898-99

Despite beginning the 1898-99 season with three wins from four, the indifferent form shown in those games was causing concern. Over the summer the backbone of the side - Alf Barraclough, Fred Clegg and Ike Newton - had retired. With the club short of finance, finding adequate replacements for those players, let alone the late George Lorimer, would be nigh impossible.

The first Bradford derby of the season was played in torrential rain at Park Avenue. Bradford won 11-3 and, to compound Manningham’s misery, the victory put the Avenueites top of the league. Valley Parade hosted Yorkshire v Cheshire in October. 10,000 saw the Tykes victorious, but the most telling fact was that no Manningham player was selected for the county side.

November at least saw the Paraders find some form winning three from four. The run cemented their mid-table place, but already the Championship was out of reach. Though broken-time payments had helped players fulfil their club commitments, players still found themselves in demand in the pub trade. No fewer than nine past or present Manningham players were employed in Bradford’s public houses.

The return Bradford derby had to be played on a Tuesday afternoon due to a severe frost. Even then horse and carts were needed to remove snow from the Valley Parade pitch. A mere 6,000 saw Bradford do the double over the Paraders winning 6-2. The decision to stage the match midweek attracted much criticism. The gate receipts from the derby usually formed a great part of the clubs income, but after paying for the clearance of the ground the club actually made a loss on the fixture. If that wasn’t bad enough, the club were fined £25 and docked two points for failing to register H Bentley as a professional. The club claimed it was an administrative oversight, but that didn’t cut much ice with the clubs disgruntled supporters who were beginning to ask fundamental questions about the whole direction of the club. Any thoughts of salvaging the season in the Challenge Cup were dashed by a first round exit at Hull Kingston Rovers.

The growing popularity of football caused the Manningham committee to approach their Bradford counterparts with the hope of a joint appeal to Bradford schoolmasters to encourage schools to revert to playing rugby. It was way too late. The round ball game had a firm grip on the minds of Bradford’s youngsters. Whatever Manningham’s misgivings, it didn’t stop Valley Parade hosting several local cup finals.

The long awaited tribute to George Lorimer was finally completed in May. A cheque for £200 was handed to Bradford’s Children’s Hospital for the installation of a ‘George E Lorimer Cot’. A statuette of a rugby player, executed by local artist S Charnock, was placed on a pedestal near the cot.

The clubs finances were in serious trouble. £333 had been lost on the season and debts now stood at £750. In response the club offered life tickets at £10 and seven-year tickets at £2 2s. Special accommodation in the centre of the stand was provided for those taking up the offer. Valley Parade was the clubs main asset. They had paid £1,533 for the lease and with Bradford rapidly expanding it was now worth considerably more. However, after spending £5,000 on making the ground one of the finest in the country, no one was seriously considering leaving Valley Parade. Local businessman Alfred Ayrton pushed through much needed changes to the running of the club. A committee of seven would run affairs, with a proportion eligible for re-election every year. It was a sorely needed reform, but whether it would be enough to turn around the ailing finances of the club only time would tell.

Chapter One: Genesis (1872-80)

Chapter Two: Carlisle Road (1880-86)

Chapter Three: Valley Parade's first season (1886-87)

Chapter Four: Death On The Midland Road (1887-9)

Chapter Five: For Club and Country (1889-90)

Chapter Six: Trouble At The Mill (1890-91)

Chapter Seven: Football Begins to Cast Its Shadow (1891-92)

Chapter Eight: Semi-Finalists and League Pioneers (1892-93)

Chapter Nine: Champions! (1893-94)

Chapter Ten: The Last Season of Rugby Union (1894-95)

Chapter Eleven: Champions of the Rugby League (1895-96)

Chapter Twelve: Death of a Hero (1896-97)