City fans will take back the Bradford end next season.

The club today confirmed that home supporters are going back into the TL Dallas Stand after a text poll voted overwhelmingly in favour.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn, who has been campaigning for the move, believes it will give the Valley Parade atmosphere a huge lift having City fans behind both goals.

He said: "That stand makes a lot more noise than anywhere else in the stadium because the acoustics are a lot better.

"Dagenham only had a few fans last week but it sounded like a lot more at times because the chanting bounces back off the roof rather than disappearing into the air.

"All the players have told me it is sometimes difficult to come out of the tunnel to be met by away fans. So psychologically it will be a lot easier for the team."

The stand can hold up to 1,800 people - Dagenham brought 166 last weekend. Rochdale's 941 away contingent is the largest for a league match this season but even then, the end was only just over half full.

Away fans will be moved next term into the two end blocks, F and G, of the Midland Road stand with a 1,300 capacity. Block E can be added if more space is needed by the opposition for particularly big games.

Around 100 current City season-ticket holders could be asked to move but Lawn is confident they can be relocated in the same stand.

Lawn said the Bradford end return would not have been possible without Alan Roberts, who took over from Chris Patzelt as the club's safety officer three months ago.

"Alan has done a fantastic job in making this happen," he added. "He has liaised with the police and football safety people and thanks to him we are able to do this at hardly any additional cost."

The Bradford end was opened in 1992 as a family stand but has been designated away fans only since the second half of the 1994-95 campaign.

Fans will be able to book their places in the TL Dallas Stand when season-tickets go on sale on Monday.

Assistant boss Wayne Jacobs said: "The players and management are over the moon at getting the Bradford end back. Having our fans at both ends will be a great encouragement to the team."

Lawn, meanwhile, has praised the Telegraph & Argus for their backing after the club won a prestigious Football League award for their season-ticket campaign.

He said: "Without the support of the T&A we wouldn't have got 10,000 plus fans to sign up and I'd like to thank them.

"I'd also like to thank all the staff behind the scenes for their hard work and the fans themselves - without whom we wouldn't have won it."

  • The Football League awards can be seen on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm tomorrow.

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