Fans get first dibs on owning 'spiritual home'

Bradford City fans (from left) Leonard Berry (former "City Gent" mascot); Manny Dominguez, chair of the Bantams Supporters' Trust, and Nick Kitchen

Bradford City fans may see their dreams come true after being given the chance to own the club's hallowed turf.

The Bantams Supporters Trust applied for an Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing, and their request was granted by Bradford Council.

It means that if the club's Valley Parade stadium went up for sale over the next five years, the fans' group would legally have the right - and six months of time - to put together a business case and raise money for a bid.

Group chair Manny Dominguez said in an "ideal scenario" the stadium would be owned by fans and the local community, but ultimately the desire was that the ground "goes into the right hands".

Bradford FC currently leases the stadium at a cost of more than £500,000 a year

The land the stadium sits on was bought in 2003 by the pension fund of Flamingo Land theme park, which is owned by businessman Gordon Gibb.

Bradford City currently leases the stadium at a cost of more than £500,000 a year and that lease runs out in 2028.

The club's current chairman, German businessman Stefan Rupp, has also now stated his intention to buy the stadium.

Mr Dominguez said: "It's 120 years of memories for generations of people and hundreds of thousands of fans.

“The landscape has changed so much, the stadium has changed so much too.

“But, of course, all stadiums are built by ordinary working people and in that sense the stadium and the club are bound together.”

Bantams Supporters Trust chair Manny Dominguez (centre) said there was a "real emotional feeling" that spectators wanted to stay at Valley Parade

Mr Dominguez said there was a real “mood” among the supporters' trust to apply for the community listing now to help get further “clarity and assurance”.

He added the trust was now exploring ideas such as a lifetime membership scheme to prepare for a potential bid to buy.

He estimated that if 13,000 fans put in £500 each, a successful bid was “not beyond the realms of possibility”.

"There's obviously a real emotional feeling that spectators want to stay at Valley Parade and that’s why we are taking this so seriously,” he added.

“In an ideal scenario, it is owned by the public, but again, as long as it’s safeguarded, we just want it in the right hands.”

'Got to stay with us'

Bantams superfan Leonard Berry, 70, has been attending games since he was six years old.

He also spent 20 years working as a club mascot, the famed "City Gent" persona.

“It's got to stay with us without a doubt,” he said of the stadium.

He said memories of the 56 victims of the 1985 fire made it even more important, to help newer generations of fans “to know and remember”.

"It's possible if it moves from here, I wouldn’t go any more. This is where I want them to be,” he said.

And of buying a share, he said: “If it comes to it and I’ve got the money, I'll be straight down here”.

Fellow fan Nick Kitchen, a regular in the stands since 1995, agreed it was important to keep the stadium “for the 56 firstly” – but owning a piece of the ground would also be a "dream".

"We just need to keep the ground, to keep the Bantams family together and make it even bigger than it is,” he said.

A spokesperson for Bradford City FC said it was “fantastic to see such care from our supporter base for Valley Parade, our proud spiritual home”.

They added: “Our understanding is any offer tabled would then lead to public consultation, and opportunities for supporters and others to place a bid."

They said “positive" talks and meetings had been held "with all parties" which would “underpin… our fantastic relationship with the Flamingo Land Pension Fund”.

Papers published by Bradford Council confirmed that the University of Bradford Stadium at Valley Parade “furthers the social wellbeing and social interests of the local community, and …should therefore be added to the List of Assets of Community Value".

It added the stadium “promotes the enjoyment of sport for the local community, with close ties between the club and the local community”, and that it “provides economic benefits” for the wider area.

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