Bradford City are putting up their admission prices for the first time in five years, the club announced today.

The average increase in the main Sunwin stand and the Ciba stand on Midland Road is about 20 per cent.

Supporters who currently stand on the Kop will also pay more following the opening of the 7,300 all-seater capacity stand next season.

The new prices will be the same whether City fulfil their ambitions by winning promotion to the Premiership or whether they stay in the First Division.

If City do win promotion the new prices at Valley Parade will be among the cheapest in the Premiership next season.

Their existing prices are already among the cheapest in the First Division.

Chairman Geoffrey Richmond, who has just celebrated five years in charge of the club, said: "We have made considerable investment in both the team and the stadium.

"To maintain momentum and to compete with the leading clubs in the division we have had to introduce our first price increase since 1994.

"But I like to think that the package that we are putting forward has something in it for everyone.

"We are also keeping intact the club's flagship policy relating to juniors

"Obviously, we are hoping for promotion to the Premiership, but at the very worst we have established ourselves as a leading First Division side.

"Our cheapest seat next season will be £11. It is remarkably good value."

At the moment, City have two adult prices - £13 to sit and £9 to stand.

Next season adult match day prices in the Sunwin Stand will £16, £17 and £18 and £16 and £17 in the Ciba Stand on Midland Road. Concessionary prices in the Sunwin Stand are £9, £10 and £11 compared with £7 this season.

Adult prices in the new Kop stand range from £11 to £15, OAPs (anyone 60 or over) £6 to £10.

There are special rates for the family sections in the Ciba and Sunwin Stands and for children on the Kop.

Season ticket prices go up in three stages - before March 14, March 15 to April 24 and April 25 to August. The cheapest ticket is now £272 for adults compared with £209 last season.

Supporters club chairman Julie Stainthorpe said: "We expected a price increase next season because prices have not gone up for such a long time.

"Compared with some other prices we have had to pay at other grounds the new prices don't look too bad.

"We paid £16 at Birmingham on Sunday and we couldn't see particularly well. At Sunderland we paid £20 and Bolton was also expensive. Last season we paid £20 at Nottingham Forest.

"The new prices may come as a bit of shock, but I think they are competitive with other clubs."

City Gent contributor John Dewhirst, who takes two children with him to Valley Parade in the family section on the Midland Road side of the ground, said: "The season tickets represent excellent value."

City Reserves are back in action tonight with a game at Rother-ham, kick-off 7pm.

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