THE Telegraph & Argus today join City's campaign to drive down the cost of watching football.

The Bantams have set themselves the ambitious target of reaching 20,000 season-ticket holders for 2017-18 by freezing the early-bird prices at just £149 for adults.

The T&A are firmly behind the #TeamTwenty initiative – which is earning national plaudits for keeping football affordable for supporters. Now it is down to you, the Bradford public, to help fill Valley Parade.

Ticket sales are up and running as City look to swell the current numbers for next season.

Chief operating officer James Mason said: "When we launched the £149 campaign a few years ago, we had 11,000 season-ticket holders. I don't think anyone expected us to get to 18,000.

"But we hit upon the mood that was around the club at the time. We'd just had the great FA Cup run, we were very much the darlings of the media up and down the country as the giant-killers and people wanted to back what we were doing.

"Now we've matured as a club in terms of where we are with our season-ticket base but we still feel there is room for more. The football on offer is attractive and the atmosphere is phenomenal.

"If we can increase our fan-base by that extra 11 per cent, it will mean that people will have to stand up and take note that Bradford City are a really forward-thinking and growing club – and one of the biggest in the country almost in terms of season-ticket numbers.

"Some Premier League and Championship clubs would give their back teeth for 20,000 season-ticket holders.

"Football fans do like the bragging rights of saying they are a big club and well supported. The onus is now on the fans to say 'how can you play your part'.

"This is a collaboration of fans, players and management. We are all part of this. We all want the big crowds but we can't do much more than make the prices as low as they can be."

City have gone with the early season-ticket launch in a bid to encourage fans to spread the word at games and use their support to bring more in.

Mason said: "It will enable fans to talk to each other at matches and maybe discuss the spare seat in their row. We want the community inside the stadium against Peterborough and in the games coming up before the campaign ends to do that.

"Ask someone if they'd be willing to budge up a seat so you can bring your uncle or grandchild next season. We'll help fans to do that via social media. You can't do that in the summer because everyone switches off or goes on holiday and there is no oxygen to get to the fans.

"Anyone throwing criticism that there are no spare seats, well we've proved there are another 4,000. But sadly they are all just dotted around, so if people can move up and encourage others to come along, it would really help the campaign."

City have been inundated with messages of support from within the game and Mason hopes other clubs will be encourage to follow their lead.

He said: "We don't want to be exclusive here. We want the whole football fraternity to see we are making it work and decide to follow suit. We want to go to other grounds and for them to be full. We don't want to go to half-empty stadiums every other week.

"We don't just want Bradford City fans to get a good deal. We want every fan across the country to be able to go and watch football on a Saturday afternoon with their families and be able to afford it."

Season-tickets are now available from the club or via the website Teamtwenty.co.uk.

PRICE BANDS

March 1-April 2: £149 (adult/senior/student); £99 (junior 11-16); £5 (under-11); £110 (25-year member); £70 (flexicard); £110 (suite membership).

April 3-April 16: £169 (adult/senior/student); £99 (junior 11-16); £5 (under-11); £130 (25-year member); £80 (flexicard); £110 (suite membership).

April 17-April 29: £199 (adult/senior/student); £129 (junior 11-16); £10 (under-11); £160 (25-year member); £100 (flexicard); £110 (suite membership).

April 30 onwards: £299 (adult/senior/student); £159 (junior 11-16); £15 (under-11); £110 (suite membership).