Bradford City's layered past is examined in The Bantams of Valley Parade, a new book released on Tuesday 15 September by author John Dewhirst. The work avoids a season-by-season chronicle to focus on key moments that shaped the club's identity from its Football League election without playing a match to recent play-off semi-final losses.
The book analyses how individuals who owned the club dominate certain sections, citing Stafford Heginbotham's two separate spells and Geoffrey Richmond's era with both positive and damaging decisions. It notes that Bob Martin attempted to change Bradford City's colours, nickname and name, while Edin Rahic's involvement is described as 'considerably less flattering'. These sections highlight the theme that success has depended on individual agency overriding structural constraints.
Bradford City's early identity was shaped by an underdog mentality and 'down-to-earth, no-nonsense character', though the book concludes it was not a 'working class club'. The text references the conversion from rugby to football as a factor in early challenges, noting the committee lacked a plan to make the transition work. It also covers the struggle with Bradford (Park Avenue), both clubs hampered by having two professional teams in the city until Bradford (Park Avenue) was voted out of the Football League, leaving Bradford City as the sole professional side.
While referencing the 1911 FA Cup triumph and its repeated use in later struggles to maintain relevance, the book states it does not duplicate coverage of the Fire disaster or compete with existing deep dives on player legends or Valley Parade history. It mentions that team selection was once committee-controlled and that changing room facilities at Belle Vue on Manningham Lane required players to walk to the stadium in kit. The work also notes prominent players and managers are covered but not in minute detail.
As of 4 September 2026, Bradford City are 11th in League One with 6 points from 4 games (2W-0D-2L), recent form LLWW, having scored 4 and conceded 4. They are 4 points behind leaders Huddersfield and prepare to host Mansfield Town (12th in the table) on 5 September 2026 at Valley Parade.
Jason McKeown said: "The Bantams of Valley Parade is not a blow-by-blow account of every season, every player and every twist in the club’s fortunes." John Dewhirst said: "Success at Bradford City has been rare and, where it has occurred it has depended on individual agency overriding the constraints." The book is available for pre-order at the time of writing.
