THE history of football in Bradford will be celebrated in two new books including the "incredible rollercoaster" of its last 30 years.

Room at the Top, by John Dewhirst, and Reinventing Bradford City 1986 to 2016, by Jason McKeown, will cover the 19th century origins of sport in the city through to the last three decades of the Bantams.

Room at the Top, which will be released in May, looks at the origins of professional football in Bradford, the 19th century rugby rivalry between Bradford FC and Manningham FC and the early development of the Park Avenue and Valley Parade grounds.

It also explores the reasons behind Manningham FC and Bradford FC becoming founder members of the Northern Union in 1895 and their conversion to soccer in 1903 and 1907.

Mr Dewhirst, 53, an accountant from Shipley, said there was a rich history of football in Bradford, but his self-published book would also appeal to fans of other sports.

He said: "The history of Bradford is rich. It's a history that has been overlooked and forgotten about until this book.

"I started researching the book three years ago. It's been quite a voyage of discovery for me.

"Bradford has been quite an interesting case study for English sport.

"I think there will be interest from outside the city in the book. It will appeal to rugby and cricket fans and not just to Bradford City and Park Avenue supporters.

"As a case study, it's quite unique. At just under 500 pages, it is by far the largest book to have ever been published about Bradford sport."

Mr Dewhirst also received help with his research from Bradford Grammar School students who searched archives.

The book also tells the story behind the election of the two senior Bradford clubs to the Football League.

It provides an insight of what influenced Bradford sport, from the military heritage of the city through to the impact of the railways, including aborted schemes for a cross-town link. It also explores the urban development of the 19th century.

Reinventing Bradford City, released in March, looks at the more recent history of the club as it covers the last 30 years of the claret and amber side.

Author Mr McKeown has chosen 12 of the biggest City matches during the last 30 years, including the team's spell in the Premier League.

It also features interviews with City players and managers past and presents including James Hanson, Stuart McCall, Terry Dolan and current co-chairman Julian Rhodes.

The book chronicles an eventful period for the Bantams including the 1985 fire disaster and their failed bid to gain promotion to the top flight in 1988.

It also covers the club going into administration twice, three relegations in six years, almost dropping into non-league and reaching the 2013 Capital One Cup final, City's first cup final appearance since 1911.

It is brought up to date with the resurgence of City under Phil Parkinson and the inside story of the club's League and FA Cup runs of 2013 and this year respectively.

Mr McKeown, 34, of Skipton, said: "The last 30 years have been an incredible rollercoaster for Bradford City.

"They have experienced some of the best moments in their entire history but also endured some of the toughest periods.

"The fall from the Premier League to League Two, whilst tough to go through, means you appreciate the subsequent good times even more.

"As supporters the range of emotions we have experienced is staggering really. There have been so many memorable occasions, which this book aims to encapsulate.

"At times, City have struggled to understand and find its place in the modern era of English football. Ambition eventually took them to the top flight but then almost killed the club."

But Mr McKeown said the current crop of City players and their manager meant the club could look forward to some exciting times.

He added: "There is now such a good atmosphere around Valley Parade and the feel-good factor is comparable to the club's rise to the Premier League in the 1990s.

"I think we all feel proud to be City fans right now.

"I think these are really exciting times. The club is getting a lot right, not least continuing to have full faith in Phil Parkinson.

"Thirty years after 56 people lost their lives at Valley Parade, it seems right that the modern day Bradford City is all about its supporters."

Both books are two sequel volumes to A History of Bradford City AFC in Objects, also written by Mr Dewhirst.

The release of the publications will coincide with the 180th anniversary of the formation of Bradford Cricket Club and the 150th anniversary of the formal establishment of Bradford FC.

A fourth book in the series, Wool City Rivals, which will cover the 20th century rivalry of Bradford City and Bradford Park Avenue, will be published in 2018.