TONY Cryer, who was chairman of the English Schools' FA in 1983-84 and secretary of the Bradford Schools' FA from 1980-83, organised a pre-Christmas meal to celebrate Bradford Boys' football.

But what should have been a celebration of representative schoolboy football in the city was tinged with sadness.

Adrian Exley, who is secretary of the Bradford Schools' FA, addressed the dinner attendees at Oakwood Hall Hotel in Bingley: "This year is the 125th anniversary of the formation of the Bradford Schools' FA.

"But this is the first year that the Bradford Schools' FA have not had any representative teams, mainly due to a lack of volunteers wanting to run the teams.

"We need to revive Bradford Boys, and Mick Couzens is instrumental in trying to do that."

Couzens, who played in the 1976 Bradford Boys' team that were beaten 1-0 by Glasgow Boys at Hampden Park, said: "Six months ago, I was appointed by Bradford City Academy as their part-time secondary school co-ordinator and a scout.

"In May and June this year, we organised trials for under-12, under-13 and under-14 boys in the Hanson and Beckfoot school areas through their sports games organisers.

"This resulted in the chosen squads playing matches against our Bradford City Academy teams at our headquarters at Woodhouse Grove School.

"I’ve since met with Adrian Exley, Andy Mettas, Tony Cryer, Marshall Sharp and Roger Eli in the hope of re-launching Bradford Boys' teams but it has taken a lot of work so far.

"Imagine a 100-piece jigsaw – well I’ve got 50 pieces!

"I need more volunteers to help me with organising such as paperwork, sponsorship, catering and coaching, so if anyone can help me in any way, please get in touch."

Couzens can be contacted on 07881-716217 or mcouzens@bradfordcityacademy.co.uk.

Meanwhile, several attendees talked of their favourite Bradford Boys' memories, with former Bradford City striker Bruce Bannister recalling a spectacular goal from an overhead kick at Parry Lane.

Former Leeds United and Burnley striker Eli said: "I played for Bradford Boys at Valley Parade against Glasgow and we lost 3-1 but I always wanted to play for Bradford at Hampden Park and never managed it."

Turf Moor cult hero Eli, who is now a successful Bradford businessman, is believed to be only the third Bradford Boys' player to have published an autobiography, with the others being Albert Geldard (1927-28) and 'The Clown Prince of Soccer' Len Shackleton (1936).

Chris Peltier recalled scoring from the halfway line for Bradford Boys, while Tim Hotte remembered playing an ESFA semi-final against Bristol at Ashton Gate when Cryer was the Bradford Boys' manager.

Ray Killick was in the first Bradford Boys team to win at Glasgow – in 1960 – and remembered staying in the Ivanhoe Hotel on Buchan Street, adding: "John Clark (St Bede's) got the winner from a corner, heading it in from one yard."

John Baker recalled David Bairstow, who went on to play cricket for Yorkshire and England as a wicketkeeper-batsman, jumping into an after-match bath which, unfortunately for him, contained red-hot water and getting very badly burned while on Bradford Boys' duty.