List of Bradford City A.F.C. seasons explained

Bradford City Association Football Club were formed in 1903 and were elected into the Second Division before they had even played a game. Bradford City and Chelsea, in 1905, remain the only teams to be elected into the league before playing a competitive fixture.[1] The club were promoted to the First Division when they won the Second Division title in 1907–08. In 1910–11 the club recorded their highest league position of fifth and also won their only major honour when captain Jimmy Speirs lifted the FA Cup after he scored the only goal to defeat Newcastle United 1–0 in the final replay.[2] Bradford City's honours also include the Third Division North title in 1928–29 and the Third Division crown in 1984–85, as well as the Third Division North Challenge Cup in 1938–39.

Bradford City have spent two seasons in the Premier League. In 1999–2000, they avoided relegation with just 36 points, then a record low to stay up, after defeating Liverpool 1–0 in the final game with a headed goal from David Wetherall.[3] The club have won promotion in a total of eight seasons and been relegated on ten occasions; three relegations in the previous seven seasons meant the 2007–08 season was their first in the fourth tier in 26 years. Bradford City have also played in European competition when they took one of England's two places in the Intertoto Cup in 2000. They defeated FK Atlantas and RKC Waalwijk before being knocked out by FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the semi-finals.[4]

Seasons

SeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEurope / OtherTop scorer
DivisionPWDLFAPtsPos
1903–04Div 2341271545593110th4QJohnny McMillan16
1904–05Div 234128144549328thIRJack Forrest17
1905–06Div 2381381746603411thR3Wallace Smith24
1906–07Div 238215127053475thR3Wallace Smith14
1907–08Div 2382468904254bgcolor=gold1stR1Frank O'Rourke21
1908–09Div 13812101647473418thR3Frank O'Rourke19
1909–10Div 138178136447427thR2Frank O'Rourke23
1910–11Div 138205135142455thbgcolor=goldWFrank O'Rourke14
1911–12Div 1381581546503811thQFHarold Walden14
1912–13Div 13812111550603513thR1Oscar Fox13
1913–14Div 1381214124040389thR2Dicky Bond10
1914–15Div 13813141155494010thQFOscar Fox17
1915–19No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 because of the First World War.
1919–20Div 14214111754633915thQFDicky Bond
Jimmy McIlvenny
13
1920–21Div 14212151561633915thR2Billy Hibbert13
1921–22Div 14211102148723221stR2Billy Hibbert15
1922–23Div 24212131741453715thR1Cecil Kilborn
Fred Rhodes
Arthur Rigby
5
1923–24Div 24211151635483718thR1Fred Rhodes7
1924–25Div 24213121737503816thR3Reuben Butler15
1925–26Div 24213101947663616thR3Norman Winn8
1926–27Div 242792650882322ndR3Ralph Burkinshaw
Charlie Moore
8
1927–28Div 3N421812128560486thR2Charlie Moore17
1928–29Div 3N4227961284363bgcolor=gold1stR4Albert Whitehurst24
1929–30Div 24212121860773618thR5Sandy Cochrane21
1930–31Div 24217101561634410thR4John Hallows19
1931–32Div 2421613138061457thR3John Hallows21
1932–33Div 24214131565614111thR3Stan Alexander16
1933–34Div 242206167367466thR3Joe Spence24
1934–35Div 2421282250683220thR4Harry Adamson10
1935–36Div 24215131455654312thR5Harry Travis18
1936–37Div 2429122154943021stR3George Murphy11
1937–38Div 3N4214101866693814thR3Third Division North Challenge Cupbgcolor=silverRUJack Deakin27
1938–39Div 3N42228128956523rdR1Third Division North Challenge Cupbgcolor=goldWJack Deakin29
1939–40Div 3N301236121st
1939–45No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 because of the Second World War.
1945–46R1George Murphy2
1946–47Div 3N422010126247505thR1George Murphy15
1947–48Div 3N4215101765664014thR2John Neilson12
1948–49Div 3N421092348772922ndR2Jimmy Brown12
1949–50Div 3N421282261763219thR2Billy Price16
1950–51Div 3N462110159063527thR1Billy Price16
1951–52Div 3N4616102061684215thR2Whelan Ward12
1952–53Div 3N4614181475804616thR2Eddie Carr20
1953–54Div 3N46229156055535thR1Abe Rosenthal15
1954–55Div 3N4613102347553621stR3Billy Tunnicliffe7
1955–56Div 3N461813157864498thR2Bobby Webb19
1956–57Div 3N46228167868529thR1Les Samuels19
1957–58Div 3N462115107349573rdR3David Jackson14
1958–59Div 34618111784764711thR4John McCole34
1959–60Div 34615121966744219thR5Derek Stokes35
1960–61Div 34611142165873622ndR2R3David Layne10
1961–62Div 444219149486515thR3R1David Layne36
1962–63Div 44611102564933223rdR3R1Peter Bircumshaw
Stan Harland
11
1963–64Div 446256157662565thR1R1Rodney Green31
1964–65Div 4461282670883219thR1QFTom Brownlee14
1965–66Div 44612132163943723rdR1R1Ken Leek11
1966–67Div 44619101774624811thR1R1John Hall18
1967–68Div 4462311127251575thR2R1Bruce Bannister16
1968–69Div 446182086546564thR1R2Bobby Ham20
1969–70Div 34617121757504610thR3R4Bobby Ham19
1970–71Div 34613141949624019thR2R1Bruce Bannister19
1971–72Div 34611102545773224thR1R1Peter Middleton11
1972–73Div 44616111961654316thR4R1Allan Gilliver20
1973–74Div 4461714155852488thR4R1Gerry Ingram18
1974–75Div 44617131656514710thR1R2Bobby Ham14
1975–76Div 44612171763654117thQFR1Joe Cooke24
1976–77Div 4462313107851594thR1R2Joe Cooke18
1977–78Div 34612102456863422ndR1R1Don Hutchins
Bernie Wright
10
1978–79Div 4461792062684315thR2R2David McNiven15
1979–80Div 4462412107750605thR3R2David McNiven18
1980–81Div 44614161653604414thR1R2Bobby Campbell22
1981–82Div 44626137884591bgcolor=silver2ndR1R3Football League Group CupQFBobby Campbell29
1982–83Div 34616131768696112thR3R3Football League Group CupQFBobby Campbell33
1983–84Div 3462011157365717thR1R1Football League TrophyR2John Hawley23
1984–85Div 34628108774594bgcolor=gold1stR3R2Football League TrophyR2Bobby Campbell26
1985–86Div 2461662051635413thR3R2Full Members CupR1Greg Abbott
John Hendrie
13
1986–87Div 24615101762625510thR4R4Full Members CupQFJohn Hendrie17
1987–88Div 2462211117454774thR5QFFull Members CupSFRon Futcher19
1988–89Div 24613171652595614thR4QFFull Members CupR2Mark Leonard12
1989–90Div 2469142344684123rdR3R2Full Members CupR1Mark Leonard
Jimmy Quinn
7
1990–91Div 3462010166254708thR1R3Football League TrophyQFSean McCarthy16
1991–92Div 34613191462615816thR2R2Football League TrophyPRSean McCarthy17
1992–93Div 24618141469676810thR2R1Football League TrophyQF/NSean McCarthy25
1993–94Div 2461913146153707thR1R2Football League TrophyR2Sean McCarthy21
1994–95Div 24616121857646014thR1R2Football League TrophyR2Paul Jewell14
1995–96Div 246227177169736thR3R3Football League TrophyR1Paul Showler14
1996–97Div 14612122247724821stR5R1Ole Bjørn Sundgot
Chris Waddle
6
1997–98Div 14614151746595713thR3R1Edinho
Robert Steiner
11
1998–99Div 14626911824787bgcolor=silver2ndR4R3Lee Mills24
1999–2000Prem38992038683617thR4R3Dean Windass10
2000–01Prem385112230702620thR3R3UEFA Intertoto CupSFDean Windass8
2001–02Div 14615102169765515thR3R3Eoin Jess14
2002–03Div 14614102251735219thR3R1Andy Gray15
2003–04Div 1461063038693623rdR3R1Michael Branch
Andy Gray
Dean Windass
6
2004–05Lge 14617141564626511thR1R1Football League TrophyR1Dean Windass28
2005–06Lge 14614191351496111thR2R2Football League TrophyR3Dean Windass20
2006–07Lge 14611142147654722ndR2R1Football League TrophyR1Dean Windass12
2007–08Lge 24617111863616210thR2R1Football League TrophyR1Peter Thorne15
2008–09Lge 2461813156655679thR2R1Football League TrophyR1Peter Thorne17
2009–10Lge 24616141659626214thR1R1Football League TrophySF/NJames Hanson13
2010–11Lge 2461572443685218thR1R2Football League TrophyR2Dave Syers10
2011–12Lge 24612142054595018thR3R1Football League TrophySF/NJames Hanson14
2012–13Lge 2461815136352697thR2bgcolor=silverRUFootball League TrophySF/NNahki Wells18
2013–14Lge 14614171557545911thR1R1Football League TrophyR1Nahki Wells15
2014–15Lge 1461714155555657thQFR3Football League TrophyR1Billy Clarke14
2015–16Lge 1 46 23 11 12 55 40 80R1Football League Trophy R213
2016–17Lge 1 46 20 19 7 62 43 79 R1EFL Trophy QFJordy Hiwula12
2017–18Lge 1 46 18 9 19 57 67 63R1EFL Trophy R215
2018–19Lge 1 46 11 8 27 49 77 41R1EFL Trophy GS11
scope=row2019–20Lge 2371412114440549thR1R1EFL TrophyGSJames Vaughan11
scope=row2020–21Lge 24616111948535915thR2R2EFL TrophyGSAndy Cook8
scope=row2021–22Lge 24614161653555814thR1R1EFL TrophyGSAndy Cook12
scope=row2022–23Lge 2462016106143766thR1R2EFL TrophyR32Andy Cook30
scope=row2023–24Lge 2461912156159699thR1R3EFL TrophySF

Key

bgcolor=goldChampionsbgcolor=silverRunners-upPromotedRelegated
Division shown in bold when it changes due to promotion or relegation.Top scorer shown in bold with when he set or equalled a club record.

Footnotes

A. : The League Cup was founded in the 1960–61 season.

B. : Figures include goals in the Football and Premier Leagues, FA Cup, League Cup, European competitions, playoffs, Full Members Cup, Football League Trophy, Football League Group Cup and the Football League Third Division North Challenge Cup.

C. : Bradford City were elected to the Second Division for the 1903–04 season.

D. : The Football League Third Division North Cup ran from the 1933–34 season until 1945–46 season.

E. : The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled, after only three matches had been played.

F. : All FA Cup ties in 1945–46 were played on a two legged basis.

G. : The club successfully applied for re-election to the Football League.

H. : Bradford City were placed in the Third Division on league reorganization.

I. : Accrington Stanley resigned from the league after playing 33 matches. Their results were declared void, omitted from the calculation of the final league table and their league record expunged.

J. : David Layne's 36 goals, 34 in the league and two in the FA Cup, remain a club record.

K. : The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.

L. : The Football League Group Cup was founded in the 1981–82 season and lasted just two seasons.

M. : The Football League Trophy was founded in the 1983–84 season.

N. : Record includes a 0–0 draw against Lincoln City which was abandoned after 40 minutes due to a fire in the main stand. The result at the time was ordered to stand by the Football League.

O. : The Full Members Cup was founded in the 1985–86 season and lasted until the 1991–92 season.

P. : Lost in play-off semi-finals to Middlesbrough.

Q. : The Third Division was renamed the Second Division following the advent of the Premier League.

R. : Promoted via play-offs after defeating Notts County 2–0 in the final.

S. : The Second Division was renamed League One following the advent of the Championship.

T. : Promoted via play-offs after defeating Northampton 3–0 in the final.

U. : Lost to Swansea City in the Final.

V. : Lost in play-off semi-finals to Millwall.

W. : Lost in play-off final to Millwall.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Frost , Terry . Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. 1988. 13. 0-907969-38-0.
  2. News: Leader on the pitch and the battlefield. 4 December 2007. 13 August 2007. Telegraph & Argus. 17 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191217221457/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1612976.0.leader_on_the_pitch_and_the_battlefield.php. live.
  3. News: Bradford pull off great escape. 4 December 2007. 29 June 2000. BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/803023.stm. live.
  4. News: Bantams Euro dream over. 4 December 2007. 2 August 2000. BBC Sport.