The granddaughter of the first chairman of Bradford City Football Club was among the congregation at a special centenary service for the club at the place close to where it all began.

Mary Needham, 72, from Heaton, said: "I feel I owe it to granddad to be present."

She was among the fans, former players, staff, clergy and mascots for the service at St Paul's Church in Manningham last night to mark the 100 years of the club.

She said: " I am disappointed to be relegated but I sincerely hope the club will survive and we will go back to the Premiership.

"I feel very proud to be here tonight and have worn a claret jumper specially for the occasion."

Her grandfather Alfred Needham was chairman of the Manningham Rugby Club when it took the historic decision in St Paul's Schoolroom to change codes to association football.

She added: " I feel very emotional. Bradford should be proud of its club."

The service was arranged in the club's centenary season to give fans the chance to give thanks for the last 100 years and pray that the club has got a few more years to look forward to.

The Reverend Bob Hill led the service which featured the traditional FA Cup Final hymn Abide with Me along with the chants from the terraces including We'll Support You Ever More.

A one minute's silence was held for the victims of the Bradford City Fire disaster in 1985 and there were presentations covering the club's history as well as interviews with former players, managers and staff.

Mr Hill, wearing a claret and amber shirt, said: "At the start of the 20th century Manningham was a very distinguished area - a hub of prosperity in a city whose name was a byword for industry and enterprise.

"But what concerns us now was a meeting of the Manningham Rugby Club in St Paul's Church School in April 1904 - just 100 yards from where we sit tonight.

"For at that meeting it was decided to swap codes and play with a proper-shaped ball under the name of Bradford City FC."

He said there was a sense of duty for the church to mark the event as the club held such a special place in the city's history.

"It seems appropriate that Bradford City, which puts Bradford on the map, week in, week out, is recognised. It is an important milestone.

"It is an opportunity for a knees-up for a cracking club in a cracking city."

Mascots the City Gent and Billy Bantam handed out sweets among the congregation, as they do on matchdays, and took a collection for the burns unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary in memory of the fire victims.

The service ended with new twist on the traditional Welsh anthem tune of Cwm Rhondda, which included the specially adapted words: "Though we risk administration, We have trod that road before, Even facing relegation, Pride of Yorkshire Evermore."

The City Gent, alias Lenny Berry, said: "You can't help but keep on following them."