BILLY BANTAM GIANT KILLER

Bradford City, once known as the Paraders and now the Bantams, have a mascot that easily wins the Football League Mascots “race” normally held at a race course, raising money for charity. The reason for his speed is that he has two “normal” legs and small feet and therefore doesn't have to drag outsized feet or a huge Tommy Tyke head along the course.

The club started life as Manningham rugby club, adopting the football code in 1903. It was a major break through because although the “oldest football club” comes from Sheffield, there was a strong rugby devotion in the county and if you looked at the top schools in Yorkshire, mainly they play rugger.

City had an encouraging start when joining the Football League and won the FA Cup in 1911. But after the war, their rise in the higher echelon ceased and they dropped out of the First Division in 1922. Bradford City later had a spell in the Premier League in 1999, but not for long.

Time in the fourth division and one re-election has darkened the history, but the club did not experience the fate of Bradford Park Avenue, a club that did not survive league status.

In 2012-13 the Bantams became the first ever fourth tier team to reach a domestic Wembley Cup Final, playing Swansea (a Premier league club) in the Football League Cup final-they lost 0-5. On their way to the final they beat Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa. In the same season Bradford returned to Wembley and won a league play off final, winning promotion to League One, where they are now.

Bradford City FC is also famed for its horrific stadium fire, at Valley Parade on the 11th May 1986, when 56 supporters died. Sadly, the fire happened on the last game of the season, before which the club was presented with the Third Division Championship trophy. After much investment to regenerate the stadium, it is now called the Windows Coral Stadium. At the home end of the ground, the stand is known as the “Kop”. Yes, Liverpool has a famous one, but several grounds have kops and maybe you should research why?

Recent FA Cup giant killing feats, beating Chelsea remarkably at Stamford Bridge and today a home victory over Sunderland 2-0, takes the Bantams into the quarter-finals.

Amber and claret are the colours of the Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire regiment, whose barracks were located at Manningham Lane, the original site and name of Bradford City Football Club. Needless to say these are the colours of the club and proudly worn by Billy Bantam.