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Club News

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR #BANTAMSFAMILY!

6 February 2017

Club News

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR #BANTAMSFAMILY!

6 February 2017

The football club would like to give a big thank you to the nearly 19,000 supporters who were at the Northern Commercials Stadium on Saturday to play a part in the hugely successful #BantamsFamily fixture.

 

In front of a crowd of 18,840 – the second highest attendance in Sky Bet League One last weekend - City drew 2-2 with Gillingham in an entertaining encounter to maintain their spot in the play-offs and reach the 50-point mark for the season.

 

Stuart McCall's men wore the Club's limited edition fourth shirt for the fixture - the jersey itself featuring the names of 568 different City fans who subscribed to the concept when it was first announced earlier this season.

 

All eleven of the match-worn outfield shirts used by McCall's side during the Gillingham match have already been snapped up by eager City followers over the last twenty-four hours or so via the Club's commercial website.

 

Exactly 1,434 of the crowd watched the Gillingham game from Blocks E, F & G of the Northern Commercials Stand, those supporters taking advantage of the Club's discounted prices of just £10.00 for adults and £1.00 for juniors in that section of the ground.

 

Within that figure of just over 1,400, nearly 650 were junior supporters - some of them perhaps sampling the fan-friendly atmosphere at Valley Parade for the very first time.

 

One of the highlights of the match for those supporters probably came in the fifteenth-minute when new signing Charlie Wyke celebrated right in front of them after netting on his debut.

 

Members of the Friends of Bradford City supporters group - the Big Match Sponsors for the fixture - were also on hand in the Northern Commercials Stand before the game to give out free gifts.

 

The Club received a large number of positive messages before and after the game on social media, as supporters took full advantage of City's decision to hold a family fixture.


Reflecting on the success of the #BantamsFamily fixture, City Chief Operating Officer James Mason said: "When speaking to chief executives, owners and other club officials about their clubs, I am often amazed to find out that the average age of their season ticket holders is significantly older than ours. 

 

"They fear with dwindling crowds at their own clubs, they face administration, if not extinction, in the not too distant future.

 

"Whilst it's fantastic to have supporters of all ages - and I think we have a wonderful cross section of the Bradford City community - we need to encourage the fans of the future to be actively engaged in supporting their home town club from an early age. 

 

"Competition is rife in our industry, so the more access we give families to bring younger supporters, the better the chances we have of growing our fan base and ultimately survival.

 

"The #Bantamsfamily hashtag is not a celebration of just young people though, it is an all-encompassing mindset. 

 

"As a club, we are a family of supporters from today's generation to the next, and also in former times. 


"We have enjoyed success together and suffered tragedy together.

 

"The idea of being part of a family is for supporters exiled overseas to feel part of our common theme. 

 

"That fans in hospital can feel part of our journey as well. That former players are celebrated for what they have given to the club. 

 

"For people struggling for whatever reason in their own lives to use the club as a release valve, a motivator, or simply as enjoyment. 

 

"For communities to come together, for us to celebrate our common interests. For us to feel a part of something - win, lose or draw."



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