Bradford City Association Football Club

Bradford City were founded in 1903 and have called Valley Parade home for the vast majority of their existence. The club's history is indelibly marked by the Valley Parade fire of 11 May 1985, in which 56 people lost their lives — the worst disaster in English football at the time. That tragedy reshaped stadium safety across the country and remains central to the identity of the club and its supporters. On the pitch, Bradford's greatest achievement came in 1911 when they won the FA Cup, defeating Newcastle United in a replayed final.

The modern era has produced its own remarkable chapters. Bradford spent two seasons in the Premier League from 1999 to 2001, memorably beating Liverpool on the final day of the 1999-2000 season to secure survival. In 2013, playing in League Two, the Bantams became the first fourth-tier club to reach a major Wembley final when they progressed to the League Cup final, defeating Wigan Athletic, Arsenal, and Aston Villa along the way before losing to Swansea City.

After years of struggle in League Two, Bradford secured automatic promotion in 2024, clinching third place via a dramatic 96th-minute goal on the final day of the season. Under the ownership of German businessman Stefan Rupp, the club has stabilised off the pitch, and the Bantams currently sit fourth in League One with ambitions of further promotion. Valley Parade, with its 25,136 capacity, remains one of the largest grounds in the third tier and a powerful symbol of the city's footballing passion.