bantamspast blog

Be Part of a bantamspast Facelift!

2010-07-17T16:03:00.002+01:00

We at bantamspast are setting up a working party to get the first floor museum, office and café area ready for the new season next Saturday, July 24, from 10am.

One in a Million (Wayne Jacob's Charity) are the new tenants and as part of their planned development they have already built a wall across one end of the space. This requires painting, and when complete will form part of the museum.

In addition we need to tidy up, hoover, polish trophies and other items on display, in order to get the area ready for the new season.

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP?

If you can give a few hours between 10am and 3pm next Saturday we can make a real difference.

Museum Future Assured

2010-05-25T19:09:00.001+01:00

The future of the bantamspast museum is assured following talks with our new landlords Wayne Jacobs' charity One in a Million. As many will know Leeds Metropolitan University leased the space above the club shop over the last three years, that deal lapsed after the last game of the season. Into the breach stepped the One in a Million charity. Wayne Jacobs' charity who have signed a five year deal. They are very supportive of the work of supporters' groups such as bantamspast, The City Gent and the Bradford City Supporters' Trust. The museum and café will remain available to supporters on matchdays.

Over the next twelve months a permanent wall will be built where the red partition currently stands and the wall will be available for museum use. There is a long term plan to remove the escalators and build a dedicated entrance, but for the time being it will be business as usual on matchdays. The museum is in need of a revamp and the charity are looking forward to helping the museum volunteers in achieving that aim. There will be a meeting with interested parties in June.

The charity do require the former museum store room to be cleared out and volunteers will be undertaking this task on Wednesday from around 10.30am. As usual we welcome any help however modest. Supporters can join David Pendleton at the museum, willing hands are all that is required.

11 May 2010

2010-05-11T18:22:00.003+01:00

bantamspast's David Pendleton has attended many of the events commemorating the 25th anniversary of the tragic fire which left 56 people dead and many more injured. You can see some of his pictures from the day here.

BBC marks May 11 1985 - an update

2010-05-11T07:14:00.005+01:00

As reported previously, the BBC's Football Focus presented their programme from Valley Parade prior to the final home game of the season, in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fire tragedy. Since then, Dan Walker has written a personal view of the broadcast in his blog, including extracts from the programme itself.

11 May 1985

2010-05-10T22:34:00.005+01:00

Twenty five years on from the fire Bradford will once again pause to remember its darkest day in modern times. The Archbishop of York will lead the service in Centenary Square at 11am. Given the significance of the anniversary a stage has been erected so the expected large crowds can view the event. We understand that this year admission to City Hall will be by invitation only.

At 2.50pm the Lord Mayor of Bradford, and his counterpart from Hamm, will rededicate Hamm Strasse and unveil a new marker stone at its junction with Manningham Lane. The road was named after the German town in recognition of the support the people of Hamm gave to Bradford in its hour of need. Hamm of course donated the memorial in Centenary Square.

Valley Parade will be open from 3pm so people can be in the ground at the actual time of the fire. In the evening Bradford Cathedral is holding a service of remembrance which commences at 7.30pm.

picture by Carl Bromwich

BBC marks May 11 1985

2010-05-02T09:01:00.003+01:00

As many of you will know, the BBC's flagship football preview programme, Football Focus, was broadcast live from Valley Parade yesterday, May 1st. Stuart McCall, Terry Yorath, John Hendrie, John Helm, City Gent editor Mike Harrison, former T&A reporter David Markham, Gabby Logan and many more appeared in a moving tribute to those who perished in the Bradford Fire.

Gabby Logan also described her memories of the day on Radio 4's Archive Hour.

11 May 1985…

2010-04-26T17:21:00.002+01:00

City fan Nick Kitchen will be giving a presentation about the signed football from 1985 he has recently loaned to the bantamspast museum. The ball features the signatures of the team that won the Third Division Championship in 1985. The celebrations were, of course, tragically cut short by the fire that killed fifty six fans. Twenty five years on from that sobering event Nick will give his perspective on those times. The talk will commence at 2pm and as ever admission is completely free of charge.

Bradford City Fire Disaster – Anniversary Service of Remembrance at Bradford Cathedral

2010-04-22T17:02:00.002+01:00

The Cathedral, in collaboration with Bradford City Football Club, is marking the 25th anniversary of the Bradford Fire with a special Service of Remembrance to be attended by the Lord Mayors of Bradford and Hamm, members of the team’s management and players, and other invited guests. The Cathedral will also be open from 8.30am until 5.30pm – with a candle under the memorial plaque in the North Transept – for anyone wishing to spend quiet time in prayer. A tenor bell will be tolled at 3.40pm, the time the fire was first noticed, and a half-muffled peal will be rung before the service which starts at 7.30pm.

The Dean, the Very Revd Dr David Ison, will lead the service which has been arranged to complement the big public memorial event being held in the morning in Centenary Square. This service will provide a quieter opportunity to remember, including the lighting of 57 candles – 56 to remember each person who died as a result of the fire, and one for all those injured, in body or mind, on that terrible day.

David Markham, the T&A reporter who was there on the day with his two sons, will talk about his personal experience of the day and Ben Miranda will speak about the achievements and aspirations of the Burns Unit.

All are welcome, for more details please contact the Cathedral Office on 01274 777720.

Glorious 2011!

2010-04-17T15:51:00.003+01:00

This afternoon, prior to the Barnet game, bantamspast co-curator, David Pendleton, gave an illustrated presentation which outlined some of the many events being held in 2011 - the centenary of City's famous FA Cup win.

A large and enthusiastic crowd listened attentively as he spoke of the importance of the win back in 1911 and how essential it is that it be commemorated.

Briefly, the main features of the celebration are: a book, an exhibition at Bradford Industrial Museum and a Spring-Summer visit to the graves and memorials of the nine City players who died in the First World War.

David himself is currently writing the book, Glorious 1911, which will cover not only the cup run itself but also the lead up and aftermath - a period running from 1908 until 1922. He described how people can now become subscribers to the book. This will enable them to buy it at a reduced price of £10 (instead of £12), have their names printed in the book itself and also receive a commemorative 1911-2011 badge. A reminder that the application form to become a subscriber can be downloaded by clicking here.

The exhibition will run from March 19 until June 12 2011. Hopefully, at least 4 of the players' winning medals will be on display, in addition to a large number of artefacts and images.

The club have confirmed that the team will wear a replica 1911 kit for the home cup games next season.

The bantamspast team will also give a series of pre-match presentations to coincide with the anniversary of each game in the cup run. These will include the stories of players and officials along with a description of other events in the Bradford area at the time. We hope to give a real flavour of Bradford life in 1911.

We will give further information about these and other events as it becomes available. Once more we attempted to record the audio of David's presentation. Again, this was not successful but you can view the slides above.

Glorious 1911 - the book

2010-04-11T20:15:00.000+01:00

The forthcoming book, GLORIOUS 1911 by bantamspast curator and former City Gent editor, David Pendleton, is a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the FA Cup winning season in 1910/11.

The book is being released next October in advance of an exhibition at the Industrial Museum from January, 2011 but it is possible to subscribe for a copy in advance. Subscribers are able to get a discount on the cover price as well as purchase one of the limited edition FA Cup centenary badges. Further details are included on the form.

Hard copies of the subscriber application form will be distributed at Valley Parade on Saturday, April 17th at the bantamspast museum following the aforementioned presentation (see below). Completed forms can also be handed in or sent to the address given on the form itself. Copies of the application form can be downloaded here.

1911-2011: A Presentation Previewing Next Season's Celebrations

2010-04-11T14:13:00.003+01:00

bantamspast museum curator David Pendleton will be giving supporters a sneak preview of the 2011 centenary of City's FA Cup triumph. Many events are planned, including a large scale exhibition at Bradford Industrial Museum, a book and a trip to visit the graves of the nine City players killed in the Great War - which includes those of two Cup winners.

The talk will take place on 17 April at 2pm, prior to the Barnet game. As usual with all museum events, admission is completely free.

1911-2011 Preview

2010-03-31T22:50:00.001+01:00

Just a short note to let everyone know that the pre-match event scheduled for April 5th has now been changed to April 17th - starts 1.45, bantamspast museum, everyone welcome, free as usual.

Of Boars, Bantams and City Gents

2010-03-28T21:14:00.003+01:00

Prior to the Dagenham and Redbridge game on Saturday 27th March, former City Gent editor, John Dewhirst, gave a pre-match presentation, in the bantamspast museum, entitled 'Of Boars, Bantams & City Gents'. It concerned the various emblems and badges that have been used throughout the club's history. It was very well received by a sizable audience which included a number of Dagenham and Redbridge fans.

Unfortunately the audio recording failed on the day. While we get this sorted out, here are the visuals which give an impression of the main themes.

Alfred Ayrton - More Information Revealed

2010-03-22T19:11:00.006Z

The bantamspast research teams have been encamped in Bradford Central Library for a number of weeks now! Our thanks to Chris Ambler for his painstaking investigations into the life of Alf Ayrton, Manningham Rugby Club’s last chairman. Alf Ayrton was the man who drove through the switch from rugby to football in 1903, became Bradford City’s first chairman, steered the club through the potential merger with Bradford Park Avenue and them laid the ground work for the club to become a limited company in 1908.

His contribution to the history of Bradford City was immense. He saved Manningham from closure in the early 1900s, held the first meetings with those interested in forming a professional football club in Bradford and he even coined the name ‘Bradford City’. He then helped establish the club in its early days and set it on the road to success. Indeed, when he retired in 1907 the club was on the verge of promotion to the top flight after only five years of existence. He was held in such esteem that when he retired he was presented with a magnificent silver illuminated address (above), now safely in the care of Bradford Museums and Galleries, and a painting which is hung in the bantamspast museum. Alf was later the first chairman of the Bradford City Supporters’ Association, whose minutes we have had transcribed and hope to make available digitally.

Alf was born into a family with strong ties to Manningham. His father was Manningham born solicitor John Ayrton. Alf was born at Brighouse where the family had moved from its previous home of Heaton. Alf began work as a woolstapler's assistant. By the age of 28 he was a woolstaple buyer and lodging in London. However, he was already married and had a family home at Whetley Hill. The Ayrton’s later lived at 73 Ashwell Road, Heaton and then 7 Selbourne Grove, Manningham and, by the outbreak of the Great War, 37 Blenheim Road, Manningham.

Alf became a wool merchant and ran his father's firm, a wool merchants, combers and top makers, at West Brooke Mills, Shearbridge Road. The family shared the losses of all too many Bradfordians during the Great War when Alf’s son John died of wounds received at the Battle of Loos on 29 April 1917. He was a second-lieutenant in the 1st West Yorkshire Regiment.

After the death of his wife Harriet in 1928, Alf moved in with his daughter at 3 Jesmond Avenue, Heaton. In the 1930s he followed the path of many retiring Bradfordians and moved to 68 South Lane, Bare, Morecambe. Sadly, he was killed after being struck by a car during the blackout in the early days of the Second World War on 29th November 1939 aged 76. His body was returned to Bradford and he was buried alongside his wife at Undercliffe Cemetery.

We are hoping to invite Alf's granddaughter as guest of honour to a special presentation on the life of Alf Ayrton before the end of the season. Watch this space!

More Future Events

2010-03-03T19:32:00.003Z

The bantamspast museum is hosting two presentations in the near future. Former City Gent editor and author of City Memories, John Dewhirst is giving a talk on 27 March entitled 'Of Boars, Bantams and City Gents'. He will be illustrating the icons of the club, which dovetails nicely with the range of excellent badges he recently commissioned. The talk takes place at 1.30pm prior to the Dagenham and Redbridge match.

The museum's David Pendleton will be giving supporters a sneak preview of the 2011 centenary of City's FA Cup triumph. The talk will take place on 5 April at 1.30pm., before the Macclesfield game. As usual with all museum events, admission is completely free.

Forthcoming Events and Thanks

2010-01-23T08:12:00.003Z

The museum would like to offer our sincere thanks to City fan Steve Whittaker who has made another generous donation to the museum funds. As is well known, the museum receives no direct funding and is reliant on donations and the work of its volunteers, so every penny we receive is vital and extremely welcome.

We are planning an event to celebrate the life of the first chairman of Bradford City Alfred Ayrton (pictured right). His granddaughter recently donated a magnificent illuminated address that was presented to her grandfather when he retired as City chairman in 1907. The illuminated address is housed in a solid silver case and has therefore been signed over to the Bradford Industrial Museum. At the forthcoming event we will have the address on show for the first time since the centenary exhibition in 2003. David Pendleton will give a talk on Alfred Ayrton’s significance to the club. He saved Manningham Rugby Club from closure when he became their president in 1900. He later drove through the conversion to football and the birth of Bradford City. Alf negotiated, and later became an active opponent of, the proposed merger with Bradford Park Avenue in 1907. In the 1920s he became president of the Bradford City Supporters’ Club and remained a committed fan until his death. We will announce the date of the event shortly.

Valley Parade and Manningham Memories

2010-01-01T09:03:00.001Z

Prior to Saturday’s game against Cheltenham, bantamspast volunteers will be capturing people’s memories about Valley Parade and its environs over the last fifty, or more, years. It’s the first matchday session where we hope to interview people about their memories of living around the ground and also memories of Valley Parade itself. The event is part of a wider project for which we have received Heritage Lottery Funding. It will form part of an exhibition which will open in the bantamspast museum in 2010.

Whether you have memories large or small we want to hear from you. Perhaps you have old photographs? Everything is welcome in our bid to put together a snapshot of life in and around Valley Parade over the last fifty or so years. Our volunteers will be in the museum from 12.30pm. As ever the cafe will be open, so why not bob in for a bowl of warming soup as well?

bantamsbook Launch at the bantamspast Museum

2009-11-29T21:06:00.006Z

David Markham, the Telegraph & Argus’ former Bradford City reporter, will be launching his latest book, entitled Bradford City on this Day, at the bantamspast museum on 12 December prior to the Rotherham United match. David will give an outline of his book and will undoubtedly treat us to some of his many City recollections. David has been a supporter of the club for over half a century and was the Telegraph and Argus’ reporter on City matters for several decades. His knowledge of Bradford City in the last half century is unrivalled and supporters will have the opportunity to ask questions as well.

The launch of Bradford City on this Day will begin at 2pm on Saturday 12 December. As always with events at the bantamspast museum, admission is free and all are welcome.

Former City Gent editor, and author of City Memories, John Dewhirst will be selling a limited range of Bradford City heritage badges based on former club logos. John will be in the museum from 1.45pm. For graphics and further information go to www.paraders.co.uk.

All in all, it will be a busy day around the museum, with Wayne Jacobs' charity 'One in a Million' holding its annual awards in the museum in the morning and Johnson's Paint Trophy is on display in the club shop. Apparently, fans can have their photos taken with it.

Oh, and apparently, there's a football match on at 3pm as well...

bantamspast at Bradford Cathedral

2009-11-17T16:12:00.005Z

Our event Finding Robert Torrance, held at Bradford Cathedral, which remembered the nine City players killed in the Great War, was a resounding success. A good turn out of people saw the early history of the club explained against the background of the lives of those nine City players. In a dramatic closing sequence, the names and images of the nine players were shown in complete silence. Then a moving rendition of the Last Post was played by Lucie Sanderson. It was a fitting event, coming as it did on Armistice Day, 11 November.

Our thanks to all involved, particularly Glyn Watkins, Mark Neale, Lucie Sanderson and the staff of Bradford Cathedral.

Picture shows Lucie Sanderson, the FA Cup and the 1911 Cup Winning Team.

2009-11-17T16:00:00.002Z

Picture show event co-creator, David Pendleton, with the FA Cup

2009-11-17T15:00:00.000Z

Picture shows the FA Cup with the majestic Cathedral as its backdrop

City Heroes - Finding Robert Torrance

2009-11-09T11:12:00.007Z

The City of Bradford, Bradford City, the FA Cup and the War To End Wars

A memorable and moving show at Bradford Cathedral on the evening of 11th November, Remembrance Day. The show is dedicated to the Bradford City players who lost their lives in the First World War.
Featuring pictures, stories, film and a guest appearance by the F.A. Cup, which is returning to the city that made it in 1911, first won by Bradford City in 1911.
Also featuring The West Riding Cup, made by the same firm that made the F.A. Cup (Fattorini's) and won by a Bradford City reserve side, including one Harry Potter.
The visit of both trophies has been arranged on behalf of the show by Bradford City fan Mark Neale, and it is the third time Mark has managed to bring the F.A. Cup 'home'.
The show has been created by Bradford-based poet and showman
Glyn Watkins, together with David Pendleton and John Ashton, curators of Bradford City's bantamspast museum at Valley Parade.
The F.A. Cup will be at Valley Parade in the afternoon of 11th Nov. raising money for the Burns Unit. It will be at Bradford Cathedral, Church Bank, from 6.30.
The show starts at 7.30. Entry is free, but there will be a collection to cover costs, and profit being shared between the Cathedral and the bantamspast museum. Anyone who is definitely going is urged to reserve seats by calling the Cathedral on 01274 777720.

Bits of News

2009-10-30T23:40:00.004Z

Andy O’Brien England Shirt

Life long City fan Ben Stainthorpe is emigrating to America next week. We wish him and his family all the best in their new life. We would also like to thank Ben for continuing to loan the museum the match ball from the City v Liverpool match in May 2000; the game that saw City dramatically save their Premiership skins on the last day of the season. Ben has additionally loaned the museum two signs from the old Wembley Stadium. Ben has taken his Andy O’Brien England U-21 shirt to America with him as a reminder of his many happy years supporting, and working for, Bradford City. The shirt was on display in our large spherical case. Many thanks Ben and bon voyage!

City Heroes - Finding Robert Torrance

The museum’s David Pendleton was interviewed today by the BBC regarding our forthcoming event at Bradford Cathedral on 11 November. David talked about the life of that City great Robert Torrance – man-of-the-match in the 1911 FA Cup Final. Of course, Torrance met a terrible end during the Great War when he became one of the nine City players killed in that conflict. We’ll post details of when the interview will be broadcast later.

You can see and hear the story of Robert Torrance, and the eight other players who died in the Great War, at Bradford Cathedral on 11 November 2009 at 7.30pm. Admission is free, however, there will be a collection to cover costs.

A More Fitting Reminder

2009-10-15T20:52:00.003+01:00

The support of the people of the German town of Hamm in the wake of the fire disaster was one of the positive things to emerge from the blackest day in modern Bradford's history. Hamm, of course, provided the memorial that still stands in Centenary Square and it provides the centrepiece for the annual commemoration on 11 May. In recognition of the support of the people of Hamm the new ring road that joined Canal Road with Manningham Lane was named Hamm Strasse.

Today, only a couple of small plaques reminds people of the link with the fire disaster. With the twenty fifth anniversary of the fire due in May, David Pendleton of the bantamspast museum thought it would be fitting if the road was rededicated. With the aid of Councillor David Ward the idea of a re-dedication, and a new marker to remind passersby of the kindness shown towards our city by the people of Hamm, has moved closer to fruition. On Thursday the two Davids met Bradford City Centre managed Bob Parker who has offered his support to the scheme. Bob is now pricing up differing sizes of a stone marker which it is hoped will stand at the junction of Hamm Strasse and Manningham Lane.

It is expected that the new marker will be in place for 11 May 2010 and we are looking to invite local dignitaries from Hamm to rededicate the road during the early afternoon of the twenty-fifth anniversary.

City Heroes - Finding Robert Torrance

2009-10-08T17:55:00.010+01:00

City Heroes - Finding Robert Torrance is the title of what promises to be a memorable and moving night at Bradford Cathedral on 11th November, Remembrance Day, 2009.

Co-written and produced by Bradford based poet and showman Glyn Watkins and David Pendleton, curator of the Bradford City Museum, it is subtitled 'The City of Bradford, Bradford City, the F.A. Cup and the War To End Wars', and includes projected images and guest appearances by both the West Riding Cup and the F.A. Cup, both of which were made by former Bradford jewelers, Fattorini's.

It tells the largely forgotten tale of the earliest days of Manningham F.C., the rugby club that became Bradford City in 1903; how City went on to bring the new F.A. Cup back to the town in which it was made and what happened to some of the players in the First World War, including Jimmy Speirs, who scored the Cup winning goal. We particularly highlight the story of Robert Torrance, who was married at Bradford Cathedral in 1915, killed by shell in 1918, and is one of tens of thousands of World War I British and Empire casualties with no known grave.

The show begins at 7.30 and admission is free.

The Cathedral will be open from 6.30 onwards for short tours and to give people a chance to see the cups.
There will be a collection.
Anyone intending to come and see City Heroes - Finding Robert Torrance is urged to reserve seats by calling the Cathedral on 01274 777720.