MARGARET Campbell was four when she started going to Bradford City matches, with her mother and grandmother.

“It was unusual back then, in the 1950s,” she said. “Now there are lots of women and girls at matches, often generations of families. My daughter, Lisa, lives in the South but is still a season ticket holder.

"My grandfather, Eric Blamire, ran the Saltaire branch of the supporters club and took coaches to away matches. I went all over the country with them.”

Margaret is one of several female Bantams fans in the City Girls exhibition, running at the National Science and Media Museum, until June 24, then at Bradford Cathedral from July 19 to September 1. The images, taken by photographer Nudrat Afza, reflect the delight, despair and devotion of fans, from little girls to grandmothers.

“When I was a child my dad took my brothers to matches, but not me,” said Christine Edmonds. “Now it’s a family-oriented club. The club has done so much to make us feel safe and included. There’s a sense of belonging. My daughter, Katherine, has been going to City since she was five.

"You get to know people sitting around you at matches, we’ve seen children grow up from being little.”

Both Margaret and Christine are season ticket holders. "We always stay to the end of matches and clap the players," said Christine.

"My husband wasn't into football, then I bought him a season ticket. Now we plan holidays around matches!" smiled Margaret.

Shirley Ibeguna is photographed leaping to her feet. “I’m usually shouting at the ref - never the players,” she laughed. “We have highs and lows at City - if we have a few matches on the bounce I’m thinking: ‘City, what are you doing to me?’ - but it’s always a great atmosphere. Last match of the season at Coventry, we were out of the Premier League but we sang from the first minute to the last.

"There are lots of teenagers coming to matches, the next generation, and that’s largely because ticket prices are affordable, unlike some clubs which out-price their supporters.”

She added: "I've always loved football, I used to watch my brother play. I started going to matches aged about eight, my grandad took me. It's still predominantly men who go to matches but it's changed over the years, and it feels a lot more inclusive now.

"Football documents your life - you remember certain events because of where City was at that time."

It was thanks to Shirley that her friend, Shirley Brierley, started going to City. “We were next-door-neighbours. We went to my first match four years ago, I was hooked! I loved the sense of unity, all these people rooting for their team, and I grew to love the game,” she said. “My husband and son were into football but I never was. Now I love the drama; lows turning to highs in an instant.

"My highlights were going to Wembley, that was special. At this time, when there’s a new look at what is a woman’s place, this exhibition reflects that and gives women a voice.”

Margaret's highlight was when City beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in the 2015 FA Cup fourth round. For Shirley Ibeguna and Christine Edmonds, it was when City beat Arsenal on penalties.

Nudrat’s first City match was in 2013. “I was struck by the fantastic females cheering along, in their claret and amber,” she said. “When I heard everyone singing Take Me Home Midland Road I was so moved I nearly cried.”

Shirley Ibeguna's love of the Bantams is captured in her poem, City:
Knocking on, but definitely spritely,
Wearing purple, still highly unlikely,
Nor learning to spit or rattle my cane,
Raison d'etre? Follow the beautiful game,
I'll follow my boys through sunshine and rain. 
Favourite players they come and go,
For Bradford city they put on a show,
Fab duo Marshal and Clark, left for Charlton Athletic,
I raged at the stars, I sulked for days. Pathetic.
To leave our Yorkshire valley, our die-hard boys,
To a south London valley that makes no noise.
I think of those now long gone,
Celebrated memories when they dazzled and shone,
Bower, Carbone, Saunders, Windass-Adieu,
Good luck and God bless in your pastures new,
Kamara Jewelly, Parky and McCall, 
I've supported the lot, I've loved them all.
These match of matches have made me roar,
Made Yorkshire heads spin and local hearts soar,
Chelsea 2 Heroic Bantams 4,
Everton 2 Proud City 3,
Blackpool 0 Bradford>OMG<Wembley!
Not going to wear purple and that's a fact,
It's a mindless game, it's overrated,
No, it's so much more than that,
It's beautiful, it's life and it's complicated,
I'm singing at the valley with my friend Shirl,
Watching battles on the green stage unfurl.
A collage of emotions at first contained,
Then, igniting Joy, Hope, Fury, desolation,
Joy and hope revisited and eventually spewed,
Finally boiling over in a 90-minute feud.
No, I'll not be wearing purple or using a cane, 
I'll be in Claret and Amber, bellowing:
"Come on City, let's win this bloody game."