A History of Bradford City Football Club

Days of Austerity

1950s

The demolition of the elegant gabled Midland Road stand in 1952 set the tone for a decade that gave little hope to the long suffering Valley Parade faithful. The fact that the erection of the club's first floodlights in 1954 was seen as a highlight speaks for itself. These were austere days indeed.

City v Chester, Valley Parade, 1951

With both Bradford clubs firmly encamped in the Third Division, the naturally became the focal point of the decade. However, even that chink of light was extinguished when Avenue were relegated to the new Division Four in 1958.

The club's exploits in the FA Cup brought welcome relief from the gloom. In 1958/59 neighbours Avenue were dispatched and only First Division Preston North End finished City's brave challenge in the fourth round. The following season City went one better, knocking out Everton before succumbing to Burnley in the fifth round after a replay. At Valley Parade, City were leading the eventual First Division champions 2-0 until a late burst led to a replay at Turf Moor. Over 50,000 saw City bow out on the wrong end of a 5-0 thrashing.

City v Rochdale. FA Cup, Valley Parade, 1959

Though the likes of 'Polly' Ward, the Jackson twins, Johnny McCole and Derek Stokes were crowd favourites from the era, in truth the fifties were a decade to forget at Valley Parade.

Back Row: Squires, Bakes, Mycock, Smith, Williamson, Fazackerley, Mullholland, Duthie. Front: Walsh, Johnson, Booth, Whyte, Gray, Lambert, Miller

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