20 Questions: Bradford City

With Antoni Sarcevic playing a key role in the Bantams’ promotion push, let’s have a catch-up with Mike Harrison, editor of Bradford fanzine The City Gent

Mar 07, 2025

Friday 7 March 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Charlton Athletic – Tomorrow, 12.30pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Bolton Wanderers – Saturday 15 March, 12.30pm

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Bradford supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

With 10 wins in 13 since the turn of the year, Bradford have stormed up the League Two table and currently sit just two points behind leaders Walsall. A number of former Hatters have featured in that run, including Tayo Adamarola, Neill Byrne, Paul Huntington, Michael Mellon and Antoni Sarcevic, who’s just been named League Two’s player of the month for February. With loads of County connections, I thought we’d nip over to Valley Parade for our latest ‘20 Questions’ feature. The City Gent editor Mike Harrison discusses curries, championships and Chelsea.

Today’s edition is sponsored by MKM Manchester South. A big thank you to Mark and Paul.

Thanks also to MB Photography Services who sponsor our Bradford City content on the website.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 216.74 miles

Total steps so far: 353,516

Total raised so far: £2,270

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

Antoni Sarcevic has scored five goals for Bradford so far this season (Photo credit: The Telegraph & Argus)

Bradford currently play in League Two, which is the fourth tier of English football. What’s that like as a division?

With four promotion places up for grabs, it ought not to be so difficult to escape from, but Bradford City are in their sixth season at this level. Some clubs find it harder than others to gain promotion from this league, City being one of them.

Describe a typical matchday for yourself in Bradford.

Arriving at the stadium at least an hour before kick-off in order to sell copies of the fanzine. I try to make it to my seat on time for kick-off, but rarely do. We’re fortunate that the club allows us to wander around inside the stadium selling The City Gent at half-time. After the game, I’m usually outside within a minute of the final whistle trying to sell copies to the fans on their way home.

Who are your club’s biggest rivals?

In terms of playing rivals, it’s 24 years since we played that team based to the east of Pudsey in the league. As for Huddersfield, we’ve not been in the same division as them since 2006-07. It’s hard to say if we have any rivals at the moment.

What’s your best memory following Bradford?

I have too many to mention, so it’s not easy narrowing my choice down to just one. But Chelsea away in the FA Cup in 2015 maybe just edges it. But ask me tomorrow and I might say Villa Park for the League Cup semi-final second leg in 2013.

What’s your worst memory following Bradford?

There has been nothing worse than being witness to the fire disaster at Valley Parade on 11 May 1985.

If Bradford City was a TV show, which one would it be?

I wish that I could think of a funny answer for this one, but I can’t. Maybe we’re no longer like Fawlty Towers, but if there’s a programme where the audience is rooting for the underdog that has fallen on hard times but now looks like things are finally looking up, then that’s the show I would suggest.

What’s your ground called, and how would you describe it for someone who’s never visited before?

Valley Parade, with four stands built for four different divisions. Plus, it’s built into a hillside which is fairly unique in itself.

What’s your thoughts on Stockport County?

Could easily be our twin club on the other side of the Pennines. Fans like us that choose a life of pain and suffering with the occasional season of triumph rather than choose the glamour clubs that reside nearby.

Have you ever visited the town of Stockport before?

Numerous trips to Edgeley Park over the years. Bradford have been there 50-odd times.

What colours do you play in, and what’s the best ever kit Bradford have had?

Our colours of claret and amber are unique to the English Football League and something we’re fiercely proud of.

If Bradford were playing in the next FA Cup final, who’d be at Wembley as your celebrity fan?

Zayn Malik, not that I’ve ever seen him but a copy of The City Gent from me at Valley Parade!

What’s the most interesting fact about Bradford City we might not know?

Longest run of consecutive clean sheets in the history of the FA Cup - 11 games without conceding a goal.

Who’s your all time Bradford hero?

Stuart McCall.

What sort of attendances do you get, and how would you describe Bradford’s fanbase?

We’re averaging 17,000 at the moment and given the way the past six seasons have gone, the fanbase has remained remarkably loyal. Season tickets costing £249 helps as well.

What’s your manager like?

Finally it seems we have found a manager who’s been successful at other clubs who has come in and gradually wrestled with the problems that previous ones have failed with. We’re not there yet and he acknowledges this himself, but if Graham Alexander attains promotion for City this season, he’ll be hailed as a hero.

What’s your owner like?

He’s a decent bloke who ended up owning a football club by accident. He’s been criticised by some for being too distant (he lives in Germany) and has no real interest in football, but given how things panned out since taking over full control, he’s done right by us and this season things finally seem to have worked out. We’re not there yet, but it’s getting close.

What’s it like for a night out in Bradford?

Like an episode of Virdee. Only kidding. Wherever you go, a good night in Bradford has to include eating a curry from one of the many great restaurants available to choose from.

What’s the best thing about being a Bradford fan?

Our history, our unique colours, our strange but homely stadium, The City Gent fanzine, and being the underdog that sometimes wins.

What’s the worst thing about being a Bradford fan?

The expectation that being from a relatively big city with a big fanbase we deserve to be higher up the league pyramid without having to work hard to achieve that.

What are your hopes for the rest of this season?

It might be too fanciful to dream of winning League Two 40 years on from the last league title the club won, but we’ve been on an amazing run so far in 2025 and it is certainly possible.

➡️ Enjoyed today’s article? Click here for all of the other ‘20 Questions’ features we’ve published.

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Photo(s) of the day

Bradford, West Yorkshire

Ever since I was a kid, Bradford’s always been one of my favourite away days (possibly helped by the fact that County won seven of their eight games at Valley Parade between 1992 and 2001) with its unique location, a big away end and a decent atmosphere. Here’s a handful of my favourite snaps from our last visit - a 0-0 draw on a wet and windy night in December 2023.

5 questions with Mike from MB Photography Services

What’s been the best moment with your business so far?

Building strong working relationships and friendships with clients, as well as seeing my captured images put to good use. Recently, a client even transformed several of my photos into postcards, which was especially rewarding.

What’s your plans for the business in the future?

In the next stages, I aim to expand the teams I collaborate with and further strengthen the commercial relationships I've established this year. My goal is to set up my own studio and dedicate more of my time to photography.

What would you like to promote to The Scarf My Father Wore readers?

I’d like to promote involvement in grassroots football and support local teams, helping to highlight and grow the community around the sport.

What’s the best photograph you’ve ever taken?

I enjoy supporting grassroots football, particularly initiatives like a local mental health group that meets to play football. They recently organised a shoot for suicide awareness (photo above) and supporting projects like this is something I’m passionate about.

What’s the best thing about living in Bradford?

Definitely the amazing food and the warmth of the local people. The diverse culinary scene and strong sense of community make it a great place to be.

➡️ Visit mbsphoto.co.uk to browse Mike’s previous work.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. September 5 (15) at 6pm, followed by Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (15) at 8.15pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍻 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers between 12pm and 6pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks and a bite to eat.

🎤 Karaoke

The Alexandra (SK3).

🎶 Live music

Garry Riley at The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm.

90 PROOF at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.

Random snippets from old County programmes

#12 - County v Torquay, 7 March 1986

A City fan stuck his home address in a County programme in the 80s. Not sure he’d get away with that these days with all the YouTube and TikTok pranksters on the loose.

We recently received a letter from Lionel Major who is mainly a Manchester City fan. Lionel tells us though, like many City fans, he has a soft spot for County and enjoys coming to Edgeley Park when he can. He would like to write to other County fans as well as meet them and go to the matches with them. Anybody who is interested (male or female aged 20+) should write directly to Lionel at 64 South Drive, Chorltonville, Manchester, M21 2FB.