A History of Bradford City Football Club

Bradford's Bouncing Back!

1986-1990

Still reeling from the fire tragedy, homeless and with the Popplewell Inquiry ongoing, Trevor Cherry had to muster his troops for life in Division Two. It would have been a difficult task at the best of times - with City playing 'home' games at Huddersfield, Leeds and Odsal, the spirit of the club would be tested to the full.

Playing at Odsal, 1986

Against such a backdrop, the eventual midtable finish was nothing short of miraculous. Still the uncertainty about whether City would return to Valley Parade rumbled on. The Council made no secret of their desire to see City sharing a revamped Odsal Stadium with Bradford Northern. The City faithful thought otherwise and, following a vigorous grassroots campaign, the decision was taken to return to the club's spiritual home and build a stadium that would be a fitting memorial to those who had lost their lives in the fire.

Demolition of the old Kop commences, 1986

Though City were struggling in the relegation places during the 1986-87 season, the return to Valley Parade in December 1986, when an England XI played City in a celebration opening game, was a huge boost to flagging morale. The facilities at the new Valley Parade were light years ahead of those endured prior to the fire: a new Main Stand, roofed Kop and refurbished Bradford End gave City a home of which they were justifiably proud.

England at Valley Parade, 1986

The circumstances behind the transformation would never be forgotten, but the feeling of a new era was almost tangible. Though Trevor Cherry was controversially sacked soon after the return to Valley Parade, his successor, Bradford-born Terry Dolan, turned the fortunes of the club around and City retained their Second Division status with a dramatic late burst.

Stuart McCall, April 1988

The following season City came within one point of promotion to the top flight. It seemed at the time that the momentum built up in the wake of the fire had reached its peak. To recover from the aftermath of the fire disaster, build a virtually new stadium and then come within an ace of the First Division was truly remarkable.

Though City were relegated back into Division Three in 1990, something had changed within the club. A watershed had been overcome and though the fans were downhearted by the tactics employed during and after relegation, they still believed that a brighter future was possible.

The 1980s had brought triumph and tragedy to the club, but the decade had also seen the emergence of a remarkable spirit that was to serve the club well in the following decade.

Top, Home, Early Days: 1880-1910, The Glory Fades: 1920s-1940s, Rock Bottom: 1950s-1970s, Triumph and Tragedy: 1980s-1990s, Premiership and Beyond: 1998-2003, The Great War, Glorious 1911, 11th May 1985, Valley Parade, Contact Us