People in Bradford were today urged to show their colours and raise vital funds to help keep Bradford City Football Club in business.

A huge Claret and Amber Day has been organised for Friday, May 28, when thousands of people across the district will be asked to wear the Bantams' famous colours in support of the Save Our City Appeal.

Businesses leaders have already pledged their support to the event where employees will pay a small fee to wear a City shirt, or literally anything else in claret and amber - be it a scarf, a tie or a buttonhole.

And the T&A has written to every school across the district urging them to take part.

It is hoped the day will bring a huge boost to the Telegraph & Argus appeal, in conjunction with Bradford City Supporters' Trust, which is nearing the halfway mark of the £100,000 which needs to be raised by the end of June to help prevent the club going out of existence.

Plans for the event were revealed as there was growing optimism that the club could pull through the current crisis.

The administrators and City chief executive Julian Rhodes have been buoyed by the huge response to the Save Our City appeal and talks with the Professional Footballers' Association yesterday were reported to have gone well.

If the fans can raise the minimum £100,000, there is now growing hope that the deals can be done to keep City in business and even continue to play at Valley Parade.

Today, T&A Editor Perry Austin-Clarke urged people across the district to back the Claret and Amber Day.

"This is a fantastically simple way for potentially thousands of people across the district to become involved in our Save Our City campaign," he said.

"We hope that companies, schools and other organisations will use this as an opportunity to do their bit for Bradford City. "Claret and Amber Day will be a way of everyone showing their support for the club and what it means to them to retain a professional League team in the district.

"Every donation made on May 28 - no matter how large or small - will take us a step closer to our target and, hopefully, beyond it."

Bradford City Supporters' Trust vice-chairman Phillip Marshall said the day was a great way to keep the momentum of the campaign going.

"It will certainly raise the profile of the appeal because there is nothing more visible and prominent than a claret and amber shirt," he said. "It will send a clear message about the importance of saving City."

Bradford Chamber of Commerce President Roland Clark said he hoped businesses would back the day.

"It is a good idea to raise awareness of the situation the club find itself in and for everyone to show their support," he said. "I hope that it will be a good way to keep the momentum of the campaign going."

Bradford Council and Conservative group leader Margaret Eaton hailed the event as an "excellent idea".

"We have told the people of Bradford we would help in any way we can and this is encouraging people of their own free will to support the club and to have some fun into the bargain," she said.

"It lets the people of Bradford show everyone how important it is to have their own football club. It's super to involve schools. If we can get an interest at this age, they will be the supporters in the future."

Liberal Democrat party leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, who will be sporting a City shirt signed by all the players on May 28, said: "This is a great opportunity. Let's get loads of people involved - grandparents, mums and dads and children - and let's show City it has massive support and have a great day.

"If everyone did this and put in £1 we would have nearly half a million pounds. I am confident that the people of Bradford will dig into their pockets for this."

The Council's education portfolio holder Councillor David Ward said: "I believe this is a new opportunity for the club to really engage with schools in a meaningful way and I see it as a new dawn for the club and the community to work more closely together.

"It's a way of trying to build that attachment and loyalty to the club, which is what the club needs if it is going to survive and have a sustainable future."

Bradford Green Party leader Councillor Martin Love, a City fan of 34 years, said: "If children can show their support and show the adults, it might start getting through to the business community.

"It would be a disaster if the club dies, in the eyes of the rest of the country and it could have a series impact on the business community. Hopefully they realise that this is their chance to pitch in and try to keep the club afloat.

"I would urge people to create a sea of claret and amber in schools, shops and businesses across the district."

Bradford Labour Party leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: "The Claret and Amber Day will make people realise the strength of feeling that people have about the club. It is not just about the people who go to the club regularly but about the loads of people who support the club. It is extremely important that people support the club on May 28."

Bradford's director of education Phil Green said: "I would be very happy to encourage schools to support Bradford City in this way."

* The banqueting suite at Valley Parade will be open between 5pm and 8pm tomorrowwed and Thursday for fans to make donations to the appeal.

The Supporters' Trust has also appealed for fans who made pledges at the public meeting at Valley Parade last Thursday to send their money in as soon as possible.