A Happy Christmas to all Our Readers

Well, the game's off on Boxing Day so it's an extra day stretched out in front of the TV, picking at the last scraps of turkey. Still, there's 2011 to look forward to.
Compliments of the season from all at bantamspast.

Celebrate Christmas with One in a Million and bantamtamspast

One in a Million invites you to celebrate Christmas and bantamspast with a festive event and book signing.

The event follows the launch of a new book by the co-curator of the bantamspast museum, Dave Pendleton, and will see copies of his book ‘Glorious 1911’ on sale and an opportunity to have it signed by the author.

“Bradford City's ascent to the upper reaches of English football within a few years of formation was quite remarkable and the period immediately preceding the First World War has remained the pinnacle in the club's history. GLORIOUS 1911 and Bradford City’s Golden Age, 1908-15 tells the story of the Bantams' campaigns in the first division and the legendary FA Cup winning season of 1910/11.

It provides background on the personalities of that time as well as the major events and also examines the reasons for the club's change of fortune when peacetime football resumed in 1919. GLORIOUS 1911 and Bradford City’s Golden Age, 1908-15 is the product of extensive research by author Dave Pendleton with input from two other writers with considerable knowledge of the club's history, David Markham and John Dewhirst.

Additionally it features a wealth of long-forgotten images and archive material to provide a unique insight into a fascinating era.”

To get everybody in the Christmas spirit, a festive menu will be available from the Bantams Cafe and Christmas music will be played.

A presentation will also be made by bantamspast.

Lenny the City Gent will also be making an appearance and Bradford City Supporters Trust will be offering FREE membership which gives an immediate 10% discount for use in the Club shop.

Everyone welcome. Admission, as always, is free.

Glorious 1911: Selling Well!

Since its Grand Launch at Pictureville last Sunday, copies of Glorious 1911 have been flying off the shelves. There was a great deal of interest at both recent home games and Waterstone's in Bradford have been doing a roaring trade. Possibly as a result of the plummeting temperatures, Glorious 1911 scarves are also proving most popular.
The book is also on sale at Salt's Mill and this weekend at Bradford Industrial Museum's Victorian Christmas Market.
If you can't reach any of those venues for your copy, why not download and complete an order form?
Of course, there are more Glorious 1911 events to come: the Centenary Celebration Dinner at the Midland Hotel on 26 April 2011 and the exhibition at the Industrial Museum, beginning in March. More details coming soon.

A Momentous Weekend

Well, the book is launched and the first copies have been sold. There were a good number of customers in the bantamspast museum along with Glorious 1911 author and the Telegraph & Argus.
The official Pictureville Launch was a resounding success enjoyed by all. Thanks must go to Tony Earnshaw and his staff who could not have been more helpful. Both film and stills looked tremendous when displayed on the big screen.
Above: a tiny snippet from David Pendleton's presentation.

Glorious 1911 Grand Book Launch - The Day's Arrived At Last!

Pictureville Cinema, 21 November 2010

Performance begins at 8.15
Books will be on sale and the author will be available to sign from 7.30 onwards.
Those who haven't booked already will be able to pay 'on the door'.

Glorious 1911 Grand Book Launch

Pictureville Cinema, 21 November 2010

Performance begins at 8.15
Books will be on sale and the author will be available to sign from 7.30 onwards.
Those who haven't booked already will be able to pay 'on the door'.

Glorious 1911: On Sale!

There was a great turnout in the bantamspast museum today as Glorious 1911 and Bradford City's Golden Era, 1908-1915 went on sale for the first time. In addition to the subscribers who turned up to collect their books, many others dipped hands into pockets and made a purchase. Author David Pendleton was on hand to sign copies (he'll also be signing at Pictureville). Scarves, badges and programmes for tomorrow evening's Pictureville launch also sold well.
The book also went on sale at Waterstone's in Bradford. The staff did us proud by putting on a great display and also wearing City shirts and Glorious 1911 scarves. We'd be grateful for a picture of that if anybody got one.

Glorious 1911 Launch: Official Press Release

Seven months of celebrations to commemorate the centenary of Bradford City's FA Cup triumph of 1911 begin on Sunday when the book 'Glorious 1911' is officially launched at Bradford's National Media Museum.

Bradford City supporters will have the rare opportunity of seeing action from the 1911 FA Cup Final when the Bantams became the first winners of the Bradford designed FA Cup. The official launch of the book 'Glorious 1911' will take place at Pictureville, National Media Museum, Bradford this Sunday 21 November at 8pm. The book's author, David Pendleton, co-curator of Bradford City's bantamspast museum, will give an illustrated talk on the writing and research of the book as well as the 1910/11 FA Cup winning season when City established themselves among the elite of English football. The talk will feature rare footage of Bradford City's Rugby League predecessors, Manningham, in action at Deswbury in 1901; a tram ride from Forster Square to Manningham Park gates in 1902; Bradford City's first ever Football League home game in 1903; footage of the scoreless draw with Newcastle United in the 1911 FA Cup Final; and the replay at Old Trafford when Jimmy Speirs scored the game's only goal to win the FA Cup for Bradford City. Copies of the book (price £12) will be on sale before and after the event. Additionally a limited number of enamel badges and a special scarf have been made to commemorate the 1911 FA Cup triumph and these will be available at Pictureville along with a specially produced souvenir programme. Tickets for the event are available from the Pictureville booking office, price £6.50 each.

The Pictureville evening marks the first in a number of events that have been organised to celebrate the centenary including a dinner at the Midland Hotel on 26 April, 2011, an exhibition at Bradford Industrial Museum and a visit to the graves of City's fallen heroes in the Great War - including that of Jimmy Speirs who scored the club's winning goal against Newcastle United in the 1911 FA Cup Final replay at Old Trafford.

Further details from glorious1911@paraders.co.uk and Pictureville

Pictureville Is Go!

Tickets for the Grand Launch of 'Glorious 1911 and Bradford City's Golden Age, 1908-1915' at the National Media Museum's Pictureville Cinema on November 21 are on sale now.
As part of the launch there will be an illustrated presentation and historic film show (Bantams related, of course).
Call 0844 856 3797 to book your ticket.

Mary Gets The Star Treatment

Back in 1903 Alfred Ayrton was a major force in the creation of Bradford City. Today his granddaughter, Mary Needham, witnessed her very first game - and what a game it was!
As guest of honour, Mary's first port of call was the bantamspast museum to see a presentation about her grandfather's involvement with the club, delivered by David Pendleton. A sizable crowd was there too, the highlight being a view of the silver fronted manuscript given to Alfred on the occasion of his retirement as club chairman in 1907.
Having been interviewed and photographed by the press, Mary made her way into the ground to view the match. As we all know now, a fairly uneventful first half was followed by a second which really couldn't have been scripted better : 5 - 0!
Following the match Mary spoke with her grandfather's successor, Mark Lawn, and was assured she would be welcome again. Could she be the much needed lucky charm?

Mary's First Game

Mary Needham, granddaughter of Bradford City’s first chairman, Alfred Ayrton, will be an invited guest at Valley Parade for Bradford City versus Oxford Utd on Saturday 30th Oct. At the age of 79, this will be Mary’s first ever visit to a football match.

Mary recently donated a magnificent illuminated silver presentation case to Bradford Museums and Galleries. This presentation case was given to her grandfather when he retired as Bradford City chairman in 1907 along with his portrait painted in oils. The solid silver case was made by Fattorini of Bradford and was signed by board members at the time including Harry Jowett (chairman), A Fattorini, A Lancaster and others.

David Pendleton will give a talk on Alfred Ayrton’s significance to the club before the game in the bantamspast museum at 2pm. Mary will be in attendance between 1:30 and 2:30pm to meet fans and hear the talk about her grandfather. Alfred saved Manningham Rugby Club from closure when he became their president in 1900. He later drove through the conversion of Manningham Rugby Club to football and the birth of Bradford City. The illuminated case was given on the occasion of his retirement as Chairman of Bradford City on January 29th 1907.

As usual, admission to the presentation is free and everyone is welcome.

Mary will then be watching her first football match and meeting the present chairman, directors and fans.

A (Very Important) Date for the Diary

Book Launch and Film Night
21 November 2010
8.15pm
Pictureville
National Media Museum
Bradford

The official launch our book 'Glorious 1911 and Bradford City's Golden Age' is being held at Pictureville at the National Media Museum, Bradford. The evening will feature a presentation about Bradford City's FA Cup triumph 100 years on and the writing of the celebratory book.

Several films will be shown:

• Dewsbury v Manningham northern union game from 1901 showing rare footage of City's predecessors
• Bradford City's first ever home match in the Football League when they met Gainsborough at Valley Parade in 1903
• the FA Cup Final at Crystal Palace in 1911 and the replay at Old Trafford when City defeated Newcastle United to win the FA Cup
• films of World War Two league games at Valley Parade against Bradford Park Avenue and Newcastle United

Tickets will be available shortly from the National Media Museum.

World Cup Presentation

Richard Kunz will be giving a presentation about his trip with the Lionsraw organisation to South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, in the bantamspast museum, before the Morecambe game tomorrow, at 1.45pm.
Lionsraw is a Christian organisation of which Bingley based Richard is an active member. His group went up into the mountains above Durban and built dressing rooms for a football pitch at an orphanage.
Richard also visited HIV hospitals and saw two of the World Cup games involving the finalists.
His account is a fascinating, sometimes quite moving personal story well worth seeing.

Be Part of a bantamspast Facelift!

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

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

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

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

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

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…

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?