Bradford derby

The Bradford derby is a football derby match played between Bradford City and Bradford (Park Avenue).

The derby has also been called the Wool City derby, referring to Bradford's history with the wool trade. The two clubs are the only two from Bradford to have played professional league football.

The rivalry was first played in 1912 in the FA Cup, and there were 56 competitive matches between the teams, ending in 1969.

The fixture is now played as a regular friendly, and the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy is awarded to the winner of this match.

History Bradford City had been elected to the Football League ready for the 1903–04 season. Their cross-city rivals Bradford (Park Avenue) joined the league five years later, for the same season as City's first in Division One.

The first game between the two teams was on 19 November 1907, a 2–1 win for City.

The first all-Bradford league match took place at Valley Parade on 23 October 1914 in Division One in front of a crowd of 29,802, when City won 3–2. Park Avenue won the reverse fixture 3–0.

The clubs met in the top flight just four more times before Park Avenue were relegated in 1920–21. City were themselves relegated to Division Two but a second successive relegation for Park Avenue meant the clubs did not meet again until 1927 in Division Three (North). That season's derby saw Park Avenue record a record 5–0 for a Bradford derby on their way to the title and promotion. City kept the title in Bradford the following season.

Between the 1929–30 and 1936–37 seasons the clubs continued their rivalries until City were relegated, one place below Park Avenue. The derby was resumed from 1950–51 to 1957–58 in Division Three (North), a period which included an FA Cup tie in December 1951 and a record 5–0 win for City at home on 16 April 1956. A league restructure meant the clubs did not meet again in the league again until the 1963–64 season in Division Four, although the teams did meet again in the FA Cup in December 1958 and the League Cup in September 1963, when Park Avenue were 7–3 winners.

The teams met on six successive seasons until 1968–69 when City were promoted to Division Three in fourth spot and Park Avenue had to seek re-election when they came bottom of the league.

The final derby was on 25 January 1969, a goalless draw. There were a total of 56 derby games - 52 in the league and 4 in the Cup.

The following season Park Avenue failed a fourth successive re-election and were replaced by Cambridge United, before they went into liquidation in 1974 and the teams have never met in competitive football since.

In modern times, the teams have sometimes participated in a pre-season friendly.

Results Statistics Statistics are correct as of 25 January 1969. CompetitionPlayedAvenueDrawCityAvenue goalsCity goalsFootball League First Division612377Football League Second Division168262220Football League Third Division North187562430Football League Fourth Division125251917FA Cup310234League Cup110073Total562311228281

League SeasonDivision Bradford (Park Avenue) at Home Bradford City at Home Date Score Venue Atten. Date Score Venue Atten.1914–15First Division28 April 19153–0Park Avenue24 October 19143–2Valley Parade1919–20First Division11 February 19200–0Park Avenue3 January 19200–0Valley Parade1920–21First Division25 September 19201–2Park Avenue2 October 19202–1Valley Parade1927–28Third Division North28 January 19285–0Park Avenue21,87617 September 19272–3Valley Parade37,0591929–30Second Division14 September 19290–2Park Avenue28,88018 January 19301–2Valley Parade34,1721930–31Second Division18 February 19311–2Park Avenue17,01225 October 19300–4Valley Parade28,3781931–32Second Division7 November 19311–0Park Avenue21,03519 March 19320–0Valley Parade27,7841932–33Second Division21 January 19332–0Park Avenue22,60210 September 19321–0Valley Parade28,1101933–34Second Division9 September 19332–1Park Avenue22,12020 January 19343–0Valley Parade22,7741934–35Second Division9 March 19352–1Park Avenue13,68527 October 19343–1Valley Parade14,2341935–36Second Division23 November 19351–1Park Avenue22,32128 March 19362–1Valley Parade16,0661936–37Second Division23 November 19352–1Park Avenue19,00528 March 19362–3Valley Parade28,2361950–51Third Division North30 September 19503–1Park Avenue25,65517 February 19514–1Valley Parade18,4541951–52Third Division North19 January 19522–1Park Avenue21,73015 September 19512–2Valley Parade23,1351952–53Third Division North20 September 19522–2Park Avenue15,7027 February 19532–1Valley Parade18,6611953–54Third Division North22 August 19534–0Park Avenue19,37619 December 19533–0Valley Parade17,5261954–55Third Division North18 December 19542–0Park Avenue13,97521 August 19541–1Valley Parade17,8381955–56Third Division North15 October 19551–1Park Avenue19,39616 April 19565–0Valley Parade11,6581956–57Third Division North19 January 19572–0Park Avenue22,01015 September 19562–0Valley Parade20,5231957–58Third Division North12 October 19570–0Park Avenue22,89922 March 19582–1Valley Parade16,6981963–64Fourth Division12 October 19631–3Park Avenue22 February 19641–0Valley Parade1964–65Fourth Division15 September 19643–3Park Avenue9 September 19640–2Valley Parade1965–66Fourth Division23 April 19665–1Park Avenue10,20216 February 19663–0Valley Parade9,0041966–67Fourth Division5 November 19662–0Park Avenue9,8703 September 19662–3Valley Parade9,8561967–68Fourth Division30 September 19671–2Park Avenue9,55210 February 19681–2Valley Parade11,5131968–69Fourth Division25 January 19690–0Park Avenue6 November 19681–0Valley Parade

Cup Season Competition Score Venue Atten.1911–12FA Cup Third round 0–1Park Avenue1951–52FA Cup Second round 3–1Park Avenue1958–59FA Cup Second round 0–2Park Avenue1963–64League Cup First round 7–3Park Avenue

Crossing the divide

The following is a list of players who have represented both clubs in at least one senior fixture.

NamePositionBradford CityBradford (Park Avenue)CareerAppsGoalsCareerAppsGoalsSimon AingeDF2006–200914020092015–201624606Wayne BennMF1994–19961001996–2004 Joe BrownFW2005–2007191 Chris BrandonMF2008–20102721995–19971999 David BrownFW2008512010– Wayne BullimoreMF1995–199720 40Dick ConroyDF1948–195315801953–1956570Norman CornerFW1969–1972110161972–1973 Joe ColbeckMF2004–20091098 Terry DolanMF1976–1981195431969–1970480Mitchell DownieGK1959–196313401950–19541540Donald Duckett1914–192415561927–1929 Karl GoddardDF1986–1990730 Neil GraystonDF1995–1996701996–19992004 Rodney GreenFW1962–196466391962196Bobby HamFW1968–19701973–19751157340241961–1963 James Hanson Geoff Hudson Andy LeeMF2002–200320 Gerry LightowlerDF1968–19691101958–19682081Harry PeelFW1929–1936186261920–192620737Charlie RackstrawFW1967–1969104271970–1971 Neil RedfearnMF1999–20001712006–2007275Kevin SanasyFW2002–200591 Carl ShuttFW1994–199589162004–2005131Whelan WardFW1948–1954149371955–195910831

References General sources

Bibliography