Tuesday 21 August 2012

Museum Update

Over the summer of 2012 many of our wall mounted displays were re-erected in Bantams Bar and this location will become a kind of ‘museum in exile’ as we assess our long term future. Unfortunately, there is not free access to Bantams Bar. The club receives valuable income from its users on match days and we had to be sensitive to protecting that income while considering public access. We will continue to work closely with the club in considering what offers can be made to supporters who previously enjoyed the museum and cafe area in large numbers over recent seasons. Quite clearly there is a market for such a facility and we will attempt to draw up a business case to present to the club. In all likelihood this is a process that will only be fully worked up and available for consideration for the 2013/14 season. For the current season the club, in conjunction with Friends of Bradford City, will be running at least six free ground tours (which will be advertised via the match day programme and the official website) and included in the itinerary will be the boardroom, 1911 Club and Bantams Bar.

Many of our ‘crown jewel’ objects (the 1911 matchball, exhibits related to the fire, the shield that marked promotion to the Premier League, etc.) are in a display cabinet in the boardroom. It is hoped that in time these will return to a re-established museum. In the short-term the boardroom seems an appropriate location and perhaps the exhibits will be joined by another piece of silverware in the not too distant future.