PROGRAMMES OF OLD
Published in the Bradford City AFC match day programme for the above fixture
Although we have previously played against all but Forest Green Rovers and Salford City in the Football League, what is notable is that our first fixtures against the vast majority of other League Two sides took place after the last war. The exception to this comprises Grimsby Town (1903/04), Port Vale (1903/04), Leyton Orient (1905/06), Oldham Athletic (1907/08), Crewe Alex (1927/28), Carlisle United (1928/29) and Plymouth Argyle (1930/31).
Of our rivals this season, Oldham Athletic and Port Vale are the clubs with whom Bradford City is by far the most familiar. We have played Port Vale on 100 occasions in the Football League and Oldham on 98 – a degree of familiarity previously reserved for Stockport County (102 meetings between 1903-2011).
We first played Oldham in September, 1907 – the Latics having only been elected to the Football League the previous June and we have played them in every decade since. What is notable about our rivalry with Oldham Athletic is that we have played each other at every level of the Football League, including the former Division Three (North). Between 1910/11 and 1921/22 the clubs were both members of the first division. Nevertheless this season is only the third that we have competed with Oldham in the fourth tier, the last meeting being in December, 1962.
Featured are the home programmes at Valley Parade from 1910/11, 1920/21 and 1933/34 as well as at Leeds in March, 1986.
John Dewhirst
You will find other Bradford City archive images by following the links in the drop down menu above. Also published on this blog are my features in the BCAFC programme from previous seasons, book reviews and sundry content about the history of Bradford sport.
On this blog you can find features about the origins of the club identity, crests and nickname.
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