Valley Parade has seen it all in its 130-year history. The highs of Europe and the lows of relegation through the football league. Players have come and gone, as have owners and managers. The horrific memories of May 1985 still loom large over the club and area, yet there has remained an ever-present and enduring force in the stands through it all. The fans.
Chesham United were the visitors in early December and still attracted over 6,000 to Bradford City’s historic all-seater stadium for the Emirates F.A. Cup Second Round tie. The Yorkshire club also enjoyed a foray into Europe in 2000 and welcomed FC Zenit St Petersburg in the Semi-Finals of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. 16 years on and Bradford City find themselves in the third tier of English football, however this season has seen attendances remain consistently high, with 18,538 present for the visit of Millwall in late March.
It all began back in 1903.
James Whyte, sub-editor of the Bradford Observer saw an opportunity to expand football within the Rugby League heartland of Yorkshire. He duly linked up with the Football Association and Rugby League side, Manningham F.C, and thus saw the emergence of Bradford City Association Football Club, also known as The Bantams. The club were elected into Division Two in 1903, at the expense of Doncaster Rovers, and were promoted into Division One only four years later. They went on to win the F.A. Cup in 1911 and with it became a permanent fixture of the Football League.
Tranmere Rovers are a club built upon similar foundations yet faced a comparatively long and arduous struggle to both Bradford and their neighbours Everton and Liverpool, before being admitted into the Football League and winning their first match against Crewe Alexandra in 1921.
Formed in 1884 under the guise of Belmont F.C when two cricket clubs came together for footballing purposes, Rovers quickly found their name and identity a year later, but continued to fumble around in local leagues until the Division Three North came calling in 1921. The third tier of English football remained their spiritual home until a rollercoaster of relegations and promotions saw the Wirral-based side escape obscurity and experience joy and despair in the last 40 or so years.
Last season saw Tranmere Rovers relinquish their 94-year marriage with the Football League as they were relegated from League Two. They now find themselves in new territory with the Vanarama National Conference, having suffered at the hands of the football Gods. However the club and fans are determined to bounce back at the first opportunity.
Currently lying fourth and unbeaten in seven, Tranmere recently had 5,366 for a 3-2 home victory over Lincoln City. However it isn’t the results or the hope of promotion that have kept the fans coming through the turnstiles. It is the heritage.
Prenton Park, much like Valley Parade, has held pride of place in the local area since 1912, when it first saw Tranmere Rovers play Lancaster Town in the Lancaster Combination. Around 8000 were in attendance that day and the historic stadium has seen 24,424 for a 1972 FA Cup tie with Stoke City.
Situated only six miles from Goodison Park and Anfield Stadium, the Birkenhead Stadium has always been in the shadow of its older siblings. But for a few years at least, the ground was home to a Rovers side in the ascendency with three successive second-tier play-offs in the early nineties and a League Cup Final in 2000, in what was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Premier League champions-elect, Leicester City. How fortunes have differed since over 74,000 congregated at the old Wembley 16 years ago.
During that time, Bradford City have gone from Premier League and European football to six years in the fourth tier of English football and Runner-up of the League Cup in 2013.
Whilst, Tranmere Rovers have gone from the second tier of English football to 13 years in the third tier before two swift relegations have left them where they are now.
Yet, for all that recent history can tell us, this season has seen a revival for both clubs.
Bradford City lie in sixth place of League One, 10 points off an automatic promotion place with seven games to play, and Tranmere are looking for a swift return to the Football League.
Yorkshire and Merseyside may be miles apart but for these two clubs, their heritage and fanbase bind them together.
Let’s hope, for the sake of football, that they can return to the good old days.
