The Dawn of Football in Bradford

By Rob Grillo

Soccer first appeared in the Bradford district at Keighley in 1886, due in no small way to the town’s proximity to East Lancashire towns of Burnley and Colne where the game was already firmly established.

The first team in Bradford itself emerged in September 1888, playing at a ground in Thornbury. They played friendly fixtures against sides from other towns, but, despite running two teams some weeks, they lasted for no more than a single season.

The first serious attempt at establishing soccer in the city was at Park Avenue. Bradford rugby club formed a ‘soccer’ section, and this Bradford FC played in, and won, the West Yorkshire league title ahead ahead of Hunslet FC.

They moved to Yorkshire League for two seasons but struggled to compete with the reserve teams of the stronger South Yorkshire teams such as Doncaster Rovers and Barnsley. As a result of sustained financial losses – and hostility from certain parties within the host rugby club - the venture folded in the summer of 1899. Bowling FC and Bradford Spartans were then left to fly the flag for the city of Bradford in County leagues.

The Bradford & District League was formed in 1899 – Girlington were among the strongest teams and won the title in its first two seasons. They also won the Bradford District Cup in 1902, after having been defeated by Rawdon in the two previous finals. In order to accommodate the large crowds attracted by their success, Girlington played one season at Valley Parade. The move was keenly watched by the supporters of the Association game and the Manningham Rugby Club committee, all of whom had an eye on the future and a potential professional team for the city of Bradford.

Girlington played home matches on alternate Saturdays at Valley Parade, when Manningham rugby club were playing away. They hosted an amateur team called Bradford City in December 1902 – the only instance of a Bradford City team playing a league match away at Valley Parade. The Red Lion based side intended to join the West Yorkshire League in the summer of 1902 but disbanded instead!

A Manningham & District League ran for one season, 1900-01. Shipley narrowly pipped Four Lane Ends for the title. By 1902 other local leagues also begun to spring up – the Bradford Alliance and Combination leagues rivaling the District league.

The same era saw Valley Parade’s first fire – a bail of straw alighted during a district cup semi final in 1903 between St.Cuthberts and Rawdon. No one was injured and it was said that the event proved far more interesting than the cup-tie itself!

In order to raise the profile of the game in the district, and in direct competition to northern union (now known as rugby league), several missionary teams played exhibition games in the city. Bolton Wanderers played a friendly fixture against Bradford FC in September 1895 – winning 7-2 in front of 5000 spectators. Several years earlier two early soccer ‘giants’ and former FA cup winners Blackburn Olympic and Blackburn Rovers had played a demonstration game in the city too.

The Bradford & District FA was founded in 1895, the same year that Ladies football first appeared in the city. This venture was short lived – football was not considered good for the complexion of 'the fairer sex.'

The images above show Edward 'Ted' Richmond in 1898 - taken during the year before the Bradford and District Football Association was formed. It is likely that Ted was playing in the newly formed Bradford Junior League which played its first season in 1898-99.