VALLEY PARADE
Valley Parade has been a League ground for 122 seasons
from 25 Dec 1986 to the current day
and from 1 Jul 1903 to 12 May 1985
The 73rd ground used for a League game
Current capacity: 25,136
Opened: 1903
TENANTS
Teams that have used this ground as a home
| Team | From | To | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Bradford City | 4 Sep 1903 | 1 Aug 1985 | ||
|
Bradford (Park Avenue) | 1 Aug 1973 | 31 May 1974 | ||
|
|
Bradford City | 25 Dec 1986 | Current | The club was elected into the Football League Division 2 in 1903. The ground was closed for two weeks in 1906 following an assault on a referee and a Manchester United player. The match v. Lincoln City on May 11th, 1985 was abandoned when the main stand was destroyed by a disastrous fire and after this the club played matches at Leeds Road, Elland Road and the Odsal Stadium. The club was also involved in a Football League Play Off Match at the neutral venue of Wembley Stadium. |
LEAGUE EVENTS
Promotions, relegations and ground moves associated with this ground
| Date | Team | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1903 | Bradford City | Elected into the League |
| 7 Oct 1985 | Bradford City | Moved from Valley Parade to Odsal Stadium |
| 13 Dec 1986 | Bradford City | Moved from Odsal Stadium to Valley Parade |
GROUND HISTORY
adapted from "The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds"
The ground was first used by Manningham Rugby Club in 1886 who brought the main stand from their previous ground and re-erected it on the west side. A cinder track was laid around the pitch and apart from rugby it became the regular venue for athletics and archery.
In 1903 the club switched codes and emerged as Bradford City FC but the facilities remained basic with the teams having to change at premises outside the ground until Valley Parade was re-developed following promotion to Division 1 in 1908. A new 3,500 seat main stand was built on the west side, the north end terracing doubled in size and a cover and terracing constructed on the east side just before the record attendance of 39,146 was set at the FA Cup 4th Round tie v. Burnley (1-0) on March 11th, 1911.
In 1903 the club switched codes and emerged as Bradford City FC but the facilities remained basic with the teams having to change at premises outside the ground until Valley Parade was re-developed following promotion to Division 1 in 1908. A new 3,500 seat main stand was built on the west side, the north end terracing doubled in size and a cover and terracing constructed on the east side just before the record attendance of 39,146 was set at the FA Cup 4th Round tie v. Burnley (1-0) on March 11th, 1911.
The ground remained unchanged until 1951 when the structure on the east side was dismantled (the steelwork being sold to Berwick Rangers for their main stand at Shielfield Park), replaced in 1954 and dismantled again in 1960 after being declared unsafe due to problems with the foundations. In the same year a cover was installed at the south end and, in 1966, the pitch was moved slightly to the west to allow for some standing spectators on the now unoccupied east side. Four years later a new cover was installed on the east side and seats installed in the main stand paddock.
On May 11th, 1985 the main stand burned down killing no less than 56 spectators, seriously injuring 200 more and sending repercussions through football grounds in Britain with wholesale closures of unsafe stands and the compulsory expedition of remedial action following the amendment to the Safety of Sports Grounds Act (1975) in 1985 to include smaller football and rugby grounds.
In the wake of this tragedy the ground was rebuilt, a new 4,390 seat main stand opened in 1986 and all seat stands were eventually constructed on each side. The new all-seater stand at the north end was completed in 1999 and this was linked by a new corner stand to an enlarged, but at that time incomplete, main stand on the west side in 2001. At the start of the 2007/8 season the all-seat capacity was 25,136 and the pitch size 110 x 80 yards.
GROUND DETAILS
adapted from "The Extreme Groundhoppers Guide"
- Ground address
- Valley Parade, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD8 7DY
- Main phone
- 01274 773 355
- Ticket office
- 01274 770 012
- Ticket prices
- Adults Β£20, OAP's Β£14, Juveniles Β£12
- Food & drink
- Bradford Arms at 77 Manningham Lane good food and beer and three minutes to the ground and good banter with home support.
- If driving
- From The South
Leave the M62 at Junction 26 and take the M606 all the way up. At the roundabout at the end of the M606 take the fifth exit onto Rooley Lane. Continue straight on at the next roundabout and then go left at the next into Wakefield Road. Go straight on at the next two roundabouts. Follow signs to City Centre A650 through several sets of lights on the duel carriageway and then continue for two miles and then take a left into Station Road leading on to Valley Parade.
From The North
Take the A65 to to Skipton then take the sign for Keighley/ A629 and then follow the A650 southbound past the Bankfield Hotel on the left into Saltaire. At the roundabout take the fourth exit on to Bradford Road. Continue straight on for two and a half miles, past the Cartwright Hotel on the left, to the lights. Turn left on to Queens Road, then take the next right down Midland Road. The ground is on your right.
- Public transport
- Train to Bradford Interchange come out of the station on Hammstruss Walk, then walk over the railway line then cross over the road at the pedestrian crossing and walk straight up Midland Road and within 5 minutes you are at the ground those wishing refreshment turn down Ashgrove Lane and down Manningham Road the Bradford Arms is on the corner.
The nearest Rail Station for the stadium is Bradford Forster Square follow the road to the roundabout then turn left walk past McDonalds and at the end of the road turn left and walk up over the bridge and at the lights cross the road and take sign for the university down Midland Road the ground is on your left