Bradford City players may be putting up a brave fight near the bottom of the Premiership, but their wives are showing they are more than able to compete at the top of the league.

For in a new survey of sports clubs to highlight the advantages of breast-feeding, campaigners have discovered four of the Bantams players' other halves chose a natural method of feeding their babies.

The research into baby feeding at clubs across Yorkshire was undertaken by the National Childbirth Trust in the run-up to Breast-feeding Awareness Week next week. This year's campaign concentrates on men's attitudes towards breast-feeding, which research shows heavily influences the mothers' decision.

Regional trust spokesman Jill Carter said breast-feeding was commonplace in the City players' lounge during matches and the club provided private facilities on request.

"Bradford City came out quite well and supportive," she said. "The advantages of breast-feeding are it's free and convenient and helps guard against gastroenteritis, diabetes and incidents of asthma and allergies for the first few months."

Mrs Carter said it was especially beneficial to breastfeed in the early days as the body produced a special milk to offer immunity to the baby. But she added the longer mum could continue, the better.

Dewsbury Rams came top of the league, being happy for women to breast-feed anywhere in their grounds, while Bradford Bulls said they would offer a private place to feed on request.

Keighley Cougars fared less well, allowing employees only a secluded area and Yorkshire Cricket Club declined to comment.

The four Bradford City players whose wives chose to breast-feed include Bradford's longest-serving team member Wayne Jacobs, Gareth Whalley, Stephen Wright, whose wife who gave birth to twins last August, and David Wetherall.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.