PROGRAMMES OF OLD
Published in the Bradford City AFC match day programme for the above fixture
We have been rivals in the same division as Exeter City over 20 seasons of which 13 have been at this level in the fourth tier (with the remainder in the third tier). Not surprisingly old programmes for this fixture have been relatively modest. Those featured in today’s issue from between 1962 and 1983 are all from an era when the Bradford City match day publication was basic to say the least.
Thus far we have won 15, drawn 11 and lost 14 in the Football League. The one cup game between the sides was in the League Cup in 1964/65 which resulted in an Exeter victory
The first League fixtures took place during the 1961/62 season when City achieved a double. The inaugural game at Exeter in November, 1961 was won 2-1 and this was followed by a 5-1 victory at Valley Parade in April, 1962 (featured).
Our biggest victory however remains the 6-0 result at Valley Parade in August, 1993 in the third tier. In fact the games between the two sides have been relatively free scoring and only 5 of the 40 League games have ended goalless including that in February, 1976 (featured). In aggregate the League games have yielded 111 goals with City having the advantage, 59 against 52.
There was a time when Exeter were something of a bogey side for City and between September, 1974 and October, 1983 there was a series of 11 games that ended in six defeats and five draws. The pendulum then swung in favour of the Bantams and of the next ten games between February, 1984 and September, 2008 we enjoyed six victories, three draws and only one defeat.
The 2-0 vitory at Exeter in February, 1984 is remembered as a record-breaking ninth in succession that allowed the club to escape from the relegation places in the third tier, a springboard to championship success the following season.
The last three fixtures however – which have all been in the basement division – have resulted in defeats for the Bantams, the most recent of which in March, 2013 when it seemed that a 1-4 reverse at St James Park had ended our play-off ambitions.
You can find other features about the history of Bradford City AFC on this blog as well as links to other content that I have published previously. The menu provides links to archive images featuring historic photographs of Valley Parade as well as old programmes.
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