THE advent of social media has illustrated just how many Bradford City supporters follow their team’s fortunes from far and wide.

There are claret and amber outposts all over the world – just ask Jeremy White.

He is the brains behind Bradford City Badges and wanted those far-flung fans to feel more connected with the club they love by having their own identity.

White thought it would be a good idea to produce individual enamel badges for those in weird and wonderful outlets – the Bantams Abroad was born.

An Internet plea brought responses from 19 different countries – everywhere from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man to Russia, Morocco and Vanuatu!

The only way to make the idea viable was to offer the full set of badges to existing City collectors, who would then help to underwrite the cost of production.

White said: “The Bantams Abroad mainly consist of ex-pats but there are exceptions. Dmitry Nechiporenko is an avid Russian City supporter based in St Petersburg.”

Mick Dickinson, a City fan for more than half a century, left his native West Yorkshire in 1992. After living in the Channel Islands, he took a teaching post in Honolulu before moving to Tokyo seven years ago.

Dickinson, who teaches English part-time to businessmen, supports local team Kashiwa Reysol in the top division of Japan’s J League but remains a devoted fan of all things Valley Parade.

He said: “I still follow City closely by Internet and through the T&A’s web pages and I managed to get to see them last season when they played Gillingham.

“It was a very nostalgic experience. City, and the City of Bradford, are still very meaningful in my life and a kind of anchor for me.

“I was intrigued when Jeremy first contacted me with the Japan Bantams badge idea. But I am delighted with the results.

“I think he has produced a set of terrific badges and I’m very grateful to him. I will value them always.”

Jonathan Woodhead is another Bantam Abroad, who lives in the east coast bay of Auckland in New Zealand.

The 30-year-old, who hails from Buttershaw, flew back for the Capital One Cup final so that he could go to Wembley with his dad.

He said: “Apart from family, I miss going to the football more than anything and I'm looking forward to Christmas when we visit. I have already made arrangements to watch the four games that are played while we are there.”

Woodhead is in the early stages of setting up a supporters club for City fans living in New Zealand and Australia – something he hopes will develop through the Bantams Abroad connection.

White’s work is well known around Valley Parade. He has been producing a fixture badge for each of the 23 league home games for the past five years.

With the help of family members, he has raised over £16,000 during that time, which has been given to the club. The first £5,000 was used to part-fund the £7,500 transfer fee for James Hanson from Guiseley.

The current annual donations are funding the WYscout software that Phil Parkinson and his team use to analyse future opponents and potential transfer targets.

As well as that, Bradford City Badges have also raised £5,000 for the Bradford Burns Unit.

White added: “I would like to thank everyone who has bought badges, particularly the loyal subscribers who buy the fixture and decade badges season after season.

“This has allowed us to donate a significant amount of money into the football club that we all fanatically support.”

He is keen to hear from any other Bantams Abroad who live in a country not yet featured in a badge – and will do his best to add them to the growing collection.

Bradford City Badges are based in the One in a Million cafe at Valley Parade on Saturday match days between 1.15pm and 2.40pm.

For more details, e-mail bradfordcitybadges@hotmail.co.uk or contact White on 07828 143261.