Bradford City today reported a surge in interest in season tickets in the wake of confirmation that the club can kick off the new season.

Steering committee chairman Jim Brown today said activity at the ticket office was buoyant yesterday as fans began to snap up season tickets in earnest.

It follows the news late on Thursday that the Football League has officially confirmed the club will be allowed to participate in next season's Coca Cola League One.

Around 1,600 season tickets had been sold by close of business last night.

Mr Brown said: "Season ticket sales are getting a lot better now and we are quite optimistic that we can achieve our target of at least 3,000 by the start of the season."

He said the mood around the club was much brighter and everyone was looking forward to the new season, starting on August 7.

"The staff have had another traumatic week, but they have at least now been paid," he said.

"From where we were a week ago, a lot of progress has been made. It is just a question of keeping it all going."

The ticket office is open from 9am to 5pm today.

Meanwhile, the fundraising is continuing to give City the best possible chance of getting off to the new season on a high.

Cath Tomlinson, of the Bradford City Supporters' Trust, thanked sponsors of a race night at Valley Parade which raised more than £1,250. They included Noble Contract Services, Haigy's Bar, The Fighting Cock, Abrahams and Carlisle, W&M Motors, Procardia and York International, Northside Truck and Van Centre, Bradnorth, Sovereign Health Care, Chatahs and Thomas Cook.

An event entitled 'City and the Great War' is due to take place at the Bradford Industrial museum tomorrow. It will feature a talk on the lives of the nine City players killed in World War One and feature presentations from fans who visited their graves in France. It begins at 2pm at the museum lecture room. Admission is by a £3 donation to the Save Our City appeal.