Ces Podd

One of the club's best-loved players. Ces Podd became a trailblazer for black footballers when the Bradford Art College student made his City debut in September 1970.
A fullback with a good turn of speed, Ces went onto make 565 appearances for the Paraders – a club record. In all that time he only scored four times, a fact that caused much amusement to his team-mates and Ces alike.
A highlight of his career was the FA Cup run of 1976, featuring a famous 2-1 away victory at Norwich.
He left for Halifax in August 1984 and almost immediately found himself facing his former club at Valley Parade in the West Riding Cup. Ces seemed a bit embarrassed to be appearing for the opposition, but nevertheless he received a huge ovation from the home fans.
His long career ended at Scarborough, where he helped them gain promotion to the Football League in 1987. Ces recently coached his native St Kitts at international level; perhaps it was no surprise that one of the English club sides invited to play a series of friendlies in the Caribbean was none other than Bradford City!
Today Ces is still in football, working at Elland Road with Football in the Community.

Ces Meets ... Ces!

The Museum played its part in the hugely successful Kick Out Racism Day, held at Valley Parade on October 19th 2005. A group of Primary School pupils enjoyed a number of activities which included a question and answer session with several first team players and seventies hero Ces Podd. A particularly youthful and fit-looking Ces also met up with his statuesque double. He is particularly proud to be included in the Hall of Fame and told us he was already thinking of former team-mates he could invite along and ask, "Where's your statue, then?"