Paradise Lost?

1930s

The 1930s were to prove frustrating for the followers of the Paraders. Though the club cultivated many promising players, they were quick to cash in, which gained City a reputation as a selling club.

Sam Barkas, Dickie Watmough, Charlie Bicknell, George Swindin, Laurie Scott, Alf Jefferies and Harry Travis were all sold to top flight clubs.

Sam Barkas: sold to Manchester City

The result was a loss of goodwill with the supporters who condemned the club's lack of ambition. A reluctance to invest in the team when City were top of the division in 1933 was often cited as a glorious opportunity lost.

Cross city rivals Park Avenue had the upper hand for most of the decade. The were the highlight of the season, 34,172 saw the 1930 derby at Valley Parade.

1937 was a bleak year for Bradford football. City were relegated to Division Three (North), the start of a 48-year exile in the lower divisions. Avenue had survived by the skin of their teeth, finishing one place and three points above relegated City.

A City team, photographed in 1936

A bold plan to break Bradford's footballing stagnation by and moving to a Continental style stadium at Odsal was rejected. Local pride was placated, but at what cost?

City had a rare, if obscure, triumph in 1938 when they won the Third Division (North) Cup. In the summer of 1939 there was expectation that City would sustain a real promotion challenge.

The 1939-40 season was only three games old when war broke out on Sunday 3rd September. One of these games was at New Brighton on August 30th when City lost 2-1. Four days later football was suspended by order of the government.

As war clouds gathered over Europe, humble dreams of success at Valley Parade were replaced by the nightmare of another World War.

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