City have announced a new signing off the pitch for the coming season and it’s fair to say that he is a through-and-through Bantam – lock, stock and barrel.

The latest addition is in the boardroom, where Graham Jones has joined the team of directors after stepping up from two years as an “associate”.

Jones, who grew up in Bradshaw near Queensbury, got involved with the club through joint-chairman Mark Lawn. The pair run MPL in Wakefield which oversees six locksmith companies.

“I’ve always supported Bradford and when Mark got involved with the club, I wanted to as well,” said Jones.

“At that stage, all I did was come up to the McCall Suite and had a nice meal before the game. After I did a year of that, Mark asked if I wanted to become an associate director and I thought ‘why not’?

“As well as being business partners, we are good friends. Sometimes Mark comes across a bit blunt but he’s a good man.

“We’ve been in business together for a long time and never, ever had a wrong word. We’ve always talked things through.”

Jones has been a regular fixture at games, home and away, but wanted to take on a more active role. On a practical front, that has meant offering his expertise around the stadium for free to facilities manager David Dowse.

“Because our game is handles, locks and security, I can work closely with David,” he said.

“With my involvement we can cut costs on maintenance of the stadium. I don’t take a penny out the club, I just want to help where I can.”

Jones has also worked closely alongside fellow director Steve Longbottom in offering hospitality to visiting officials – a service that scooped City the divisional award for best boardroom, beating off Shrewsbury and Lincoln at a recent ceremony at the DW Stadium in Wigan.

Jones said: “I’ve been like an apprentice to Steve. He takes a really active part in hospitality, welcoming the opposing directors and making sure they feel comfortable.

“We know that this is a big club for some of the teams that visit. It’s a day out for them and we want to make it that bit more special.

“Sometimes, before they have their meal, we’ll take them round the stadium and show them the 1911 Club and the fire memorial.

“Mark has suggested a really lovely touch for this season. We’re going to give them a sandwich, drink and packet of crisps in a little box for the journey home so they don’t need to stop on the motorway.

“It’s just that little extra touch of customer care – and who knows, it may help one day in the future when a player or manager is considering dealing with this club.”

Jones is very optimistic for the present. With Peter Taylor laying down his plans for a serious promotion tilt, the new director can see a successful season ahead.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I think Peter is a well-organised manager who’s got a great deal of knowledge.

“The people he knows in football is unbelievable. Everyone you speak to in the game has huge respect for what he has done.

“We’ve sold just short of 10,000 season tickets and I believe we’ll get another 2,000 to 3,000 people through the turnstiles the more successful we are.

“We’ve got a new pitch to play on and hopefully everything is falling into place. There’s a real buzz about everything.”