An exhibition of Bradford sports grounds is to be expanded after a phenomenal response from sports fans.

Initial plans for the exhibition were to focus on the forgotten sports grounds of Bradford's past.

However, after an appeal for artefacts and memories was published in the Telegraph & Argus, organisers have been inundated with memorabilia and stories.

So much has been brought forward that those behind the exhibition, which will take place at the Bradford City museum at Valley Parade, have decided to expand its scope to include the history of Bradford City's Valley Parade, Bradford Bull's Grattan Stadium, Odsal and Bradford Park Avenue's Horsfall Stadium.

The man behind the exhibition is Bradford City museum curator and former editor of Bantams fanzine City Gent, Dave Pendleton.

He said: "It's an ambitious scope we've set ourselves for the exhibition, but for the first time all the major sporting obsessions of Bradford will be brought together into one exhibition. It will give a unique view of how Bradfordians have spent their leisure time over the last century.

"We had a fantastic response to the article in the T&A and decided to expand to include existing stadiums. Hopefully we will be able to use recordings of peoples' memories alongside the artefacts and photographs we have collected."

The organisers are staging the exhibition in conjunction with Bradford Industrial Museum, whose picture archive contains many dramatic aerial photographs of stadiums of Bradford's past.

The exhibition will look at forgotten grounds such as Bradford Northern's former home of Birch Lane, dog tracks at Dudley Hill and Legrams Lane and Lidget Green stadium, where Bradford RUFC played until the 1960s.

Co-organiser John Ashton, said: "Something we would love to include in the piece would be footage we know exists from the early 20th century.

"A company in Blackburn called Mitchell Kenyon toured around Britain at the time, shooting footage of anywhere that crowds gathered.

"They shot footage of the first ever Bradford City game against Gainsborough Trinity FC in 1903 and also filmed Manningham Lane FC playing.

"We would love to put them into the museum but will need to raise cash to do so."

The exhibition is due to begin in late October. After its conclusion it is planned to donate the displays on each individual club to the clubs themselves so that they can put them on permanent display.

Anyone with any information or memories on Bradford's sporting past is asked to contact Mr Pendleton by e-mail on dpen@blueyonder.co.uk or by phone on 07963 388273.

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk