Football resumed in 1919, though the club had suffered grievously, the first eleven was virtually unchanged. Finances had been stretched in the war years as, unlike many clubs, City honoured the players' contracts.
In 1922 City were relegated to Division Two and by 1927 the famous Cup winners had sunk into Division Three. Attendances slumped, leaving little in the coffers to reverse the slide. In response to a financial crisis in October 1927 the supporters organised a carnival and bazaar - as well as precious funds, it raised morale and over 10,000 copies of the handbook were sold.
It seemed to be a watershed, as the following year City stormed to the Third Division Championship, scoring a record 128 goals. The following season back in Division Two was a struggle, though City survived by a single point, the renowned attack had only scored half the goals of the previous campaign and the defence was the worst in the division. The squad desperately required strengthening. Sadly, as the decade came to a close, iconic manager Peter O'Rourke resigned in frustration when the directors refused to sanction signings
O'Rourke is still the most successful manager in the club's history. After leaving Valley Parade he briefly managed Walsall and Llanelly, but returned to Bradford in 1933 when he retired from football. He retired to 45 Burlington Terrace, yards from Valley Parade. He died there in 1956 aged 82.

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.
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 Bradford derbies 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 bold plan to break Bradford's footballing stagnation by merging City and Avenue 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.

Though the club was fortunate not to suffer the terrible human losses of the Great War, its very existence was in grave doubt throughout the dark days of the Second World War. Had it not been for the efforts of chairman, manager, chief scout and bottle washer Bob Sharp, the club would have undoubtedly folded.
For much of the conflict Valley Parade was requisitioned by the Army. However, City had access on matchdays, but the games were little more than morale boosters for the civilian population. Avenue star - and City fan - Len Shackleton provided a rare highlight to wartime football. On Christmas Day 1940 he played for Avenue at Leeds in the morning, then turned out for City at Huddersfield in the afternoon - he even managed to score for his beloved Paraders
The Bradford derbies continued to draw the crowds; Avenue had managed to keep the bulk of their side together, whilst City's were scattered across the globe serving in the forces. As a result, the wartime derbies were often mis-matches - such as in December 1942 when City lost 10-0 at home to Avenue!
Former City player Ernest Tuckett was killed in 1943. The other losses were Alfred Keeling and Sidney Pugh who had 'guested' for City in wartime games.
When League football resumed in 1946 a swift return to Division Two was expected. Sadly, such hopes were misplaced. In 1949 City hit a new low when they finished bottom of Division Three (North). It was humbling indeed for a club that had pioneered football in the West Riding and had been the first winners of the present FA Cup. Unfortunately, it was a portent of what was to follow in the post-war era.