Why are Bradford City known as the Bantams?
Valley Parade is known as the home of the bantams but other creatures have also taken residence in the 111 year history of the ground. For example, prior to the last war it is understood that hens were kept under the old Main Stand and stray cats were regularly adopted by the ground staff up to 1985. The modern day colony of bats at Valley Parade is thought to be a more recent phenomenon but mechanised lawn-mowers have long since replaced the sheep which were used to trim the grass until the 1930’s. Bradford City’s ‘Bantams’ identity arose from the suggested resemblance of their claret and amber colours to the plumage of bantams. There was no objection to being associated with the small but fearless fighting creatures and the nickname was encouraged by the club. The shirt which was worn by City in the First Division (from 1908 to 1922) and the 1911 FA Cup Final was probably designed to reinforce the bantams identity with the broad amber yolk on the claret shirt seeking to resemble the
