Sign up to pack City stadium! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Sign up to pack City stadium!

8:01am Thursday 1st February 2007 in

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The Telegraph & Argus today launches a campaign to double the crowds at Bradford City home matches next season and strike a blow for football fans everywhere.

At a time when there are national calls to reduce the price of watching football, supporters are being given the chance to buy the cheapest professional season tickets anywhere in Britain.

The T&A is setting out to find 10,000 adults aged 16 or over who are willing to pledge their support for the club - and, in return, Bantams chief Julian Rhodes has promised to slash season-ticket prices.

If 10,000 adult fans pledge to buy them over the next four weeks, those 16 and over will pay just £138 to see 23 league matches next season at the Intersonic Stadium. That is around £100 cheaper than now - and works out at only £6 per game.

Those aged 11 to 15 will pay only £69 and under-11s will go free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. A separate offer will be made to 25-year season-ticket holders.

The City chairman said: "We've taken on board the clamour about making football more affordable and we want to be the first club to offer the people of Bradford the chance of watching professional football at these incredibly low prices.

"We are also giving people who wouldn't normally be able to afford to get involved with their local club that opportunity.

"I very nearly launched a cheaper season ticket last season but pulled out at the last minute because I didn't know how many people would subscribe for it. By doing it this way, we can see if the interest is there - if only 5,000 signed up then it would simply not be financially viable.

"This won't result in us taking more money through the turnstiles. But what it will do is create a much better atmosphere from having a bigger crowd which, in turn, will give the players a better chance of success.

"The message to fans is that this is your football club and here's the opportunity to show how much it means to you."

City's home form has suffered badly since the redevelopment of Valley Parade increased the capacity to 25,136 in 2001. They have lost 53 out of 130 league home games in the past six seasons - eight more than they have won.

Attendances have tailed off from an average of 18,511 when the club was last in the Premiership to 8,269 last season. After 15 games, they currently average 8,633 for this campaign. If City decide to go ahead with the offer, application forms will be sent out next month. The tickets must be paid for by the end of April.

But the club stresses that 10,000 adults MUST have signed up for the scheme to happen, otherwise different prices will be announced in due course.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: "We've launched this campaign because we believe local people want their top football team to do well and if they do well the whole district gets a lift. But teams need fans, especially at grounds like Valley Parade, to roar them on to perform at their best.

"The great thing about this scheme is that the club are not using it to make money but to cram in the fans and give more of those who can't usually afford it the chance to see City at just £6 per game.

"That strikes a real blow for football and will make Bantams supporters the envy of every soccer fan in the country. All it needs now is for those who really care about the club to get behind them by pledging their support."

All you have to do to pledge your support is to fill in the form which will appear regularly in the T&A this month and send it to: "10,000 For Our Team," Editorial Department, Telegraph & Argus, Hall Ings, Bradford BD1 1JR, or go to our website (www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk) and fill in your details on screen.

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