Chapter 15: The Price of Prudence (1899-1900)

The Origins of Bradford City

By David Pendleton

Chapter 15: The Price of Prudence

1899 - 1900

The jury was well and truly out on the prospects for the 1899-1900 season. A host of new faces had been drafted in, many of an unknown quantity. Some critics chastised the club for failing to plan for the retirement of the side who had brought the club so many glories. The Bradford Daily Telegraph even wondered whether the club had been ‘killed by success’?

Initially, the doubters seemed to have been wide of the mark. After four games Manningham were second only to their cross-town rivals Bradford. Thus the first Bradford derby of the season carried with it huge expectation. Even the imminent outbreak of the Boer War couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the local media. On the day of the match Manningham Lane was a seething mass of humanity. Fans were urged to buy football photo-books, athletic guides and many other publications by enterprising vendors.

16,000 paid record receipts of £375 to witness that match. Every inch of Valley Parade was packed to the rafters. Fans even clambered onto the roof of the pressbox, causing it to bulge alarmingly. The game proved to be something of an anticlimax. Bradford won fairly comfortably. Though Manningham’s forwards played an excellent game, they were let down by the rest of the team. By common consent the back division had to be strengthened if Manningham were to enjoy any success.

Defeat in the derby knocked the stuffing out of the club. Bereft of confidence they suffered a series of defeats. The low point came during the final game of 1899 with defeat at bottom club Leeds. It was a miserable end to a miserable year.

The return Bradford derby on 13 January was overshadowed by the Boer War. All the talk on the Park Avenue terraces was of the conflict in South Africa. The Lord Mayors war fund received a generous response. Only 12,000 fans braved the foul weather. After a fairly even start, Bradford once again proved too strong for their neighbours, running out 16-0 winners.

Much hope was now pinned on progress in the Northern Union Cup. Oldham travelled to Valley Parade in the first round. In constant snowfall 9,000 saw a 3-3 draw. Manningham had their Lancastrian visitors on the ropes for virtually all the match, but failed to finish them off. It was to prove costly. For despite having the majority of the play in the replay, the Paraders crashed out 3-18 and the season was finished.

The press carried bitter complaints regarding a perceived running of the club ‘on the cheap’. Though the club had paid off some of its debts, the failure to invest in the team was heavily criticised. One correspondent in the Bradford Daily Telegraph accused the club of being ‘penny wise and pound foolish’. The rugby on show was said to be the ‘worst ever’. The committee pointed to a balance on the season of £361, a stark contrast to the £400 loss the previous season. However, despite the newly found prudence, the club was still £501 in debt.

Manningham were caught in a dilemma that was to be replayed time and again at Valley Parade over the coming century. The financial measures, though necessary, had prevented any chance of strengthening the squad. Performances on the field dipped as a result, naturally attendances fell, which placed even more pressure on the clubs finances.

Football returned to Valley Parade in April when Valley Parade staged the inaugural final of the Bradford Challenge Cup. Given the state of the finances, the fact that 1,500 fans paid £17 to witness the match between Rawdon and Girlington didn’t go unnoticed. The Bradford Daily Telegraph noted that ‘a strong link of friendship’ had been forged between Manningham and the Bradford and District Football Association.

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)