Chapter 7: Football Begins to Cast Its Shadow

The Origins of Bradford City

By David Pendleton

Chapter Seven: Football Begins to Cast Its Shadow

1891-92

Manningham kicked off the 1891-92 season with a draw at Valley Parade against St Helens Recreation. The popularity of rugby continued to grow apace. The Bradford Daily Telegraph launched a pools type competition, offering £5 to any reader who could predict the winners from the forthcoming Saturdays fixtures. The paper also began a series of illustrations entitled ‘Football Celebrities’. Previously only royalty, politicians and victims of serious crime had been illustrated in the paper. Indeed, Manningham captain Ike Newton’s illustration shared column inches with a murderer about to be hanged!

It took Manningham a few weeks to get into their stride, but from late September their form was generally good. A defeat on 1 December at the hands of Irish touring side Lansdowne was tempered by the fact that they had to borrow three players, one of whom was an unnamed soldier from Bradford Moor barracks! Heavy snow on the run up to Christmas disrupted many matches. Manningham’s visit to Huddersfield was postponed, the team diverted to visit former player Fred Richmond, who was the landlord of the Albert Hotel. Apparently, after tea was taken the evening was passed in a ‘very sociable manner’. In other words they downed more than a few pints.

Christmas saw Manningham undertake a mini-tour of Ireland. Lansdowne and Dublin’s Bective Rovers were both defeated. The New Year saw no let up in the wintry weather. Valley Parade was declared unfit for the visit of Halifax on 9 January; therefore the match was declared an ‘exhibition’, which Manningham won 11-4. The following weeks trip to Sunderland was also abandoned, though the fact that there were two FA Cup ties taking place in the town that afternoon was a telling factor. One of the games was Sunderland v Notts County – already football was beginning to cast its long shadow.

The Yorkshire Challenge Cup brought minnows Shipley to Valley Parade in the first round. Manningham ran out 9-0 winners. In round two tougher opposition, in the shape of Brighouse, were the visitors. A packed Valley Parade saw a thrilling cup tie that was won in extra time by Brighouse. It was desperately disappointing as Manningham had genuine hopes of lifting the trophy.

The season ended with a series of resounding victories over Huddersfield, Hunslet and Hull. On 22 May the annual meeting was held at the Cavalry Barracks on Manningham Lane. Of 39 games played, 22 had been won, 6 drawn and 11 lost. Income had been £1,209 18s 11d. After expenditure a balance of £166 13s 6d was at hand. The club still owned £480 10s, but as assets were valued at £616 the club was at least solvent. Hopes were expressed that the debts – mainly incurred during the construction of Valley Parade - would be paid off next season. To complete a satisfactory season, it was announced that a new lease had been agreed with the Midland Railway Company on Valley Parade.

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 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)

Chapter Thirteen: Dark Clouds Gather (1897-98)