How Bradford City is Going Green (and winning awards for it!

Bradford City AFC has just been awarded a ‘Silver’ award in the EFL Green Clubs Scheme. It sounds a bit official, but what it really means is that the club is being recognised as one of the best in the league for looking after the planet.

So, what on earth is the EFL Green Clubs Scheme?

Good question. Imagine if schools got grades for how good they are at recycling and saving energy. Well, the EFL Green Clubs Scheme is basically that, but for football clubs. It’s a way for the English Football League to see which clubs are making a real effort to be more environmentally friendly. Getting a ‘Silver’ award isn’t easy. It means the club has made some massive changes over the last 12 months and is properly committed to sustainability. It shows commitment to being a better club goes way beyond just the 90 minutes on a Saturday. This award is a huge nod to all the behind-the-scenes work that’s been going on.

Powering Valley Parade with a bit of sunshine

One of the biggest changes started last year. If you’ve been near the stadium, you might have noticed something new on the roof. Nearly 500 solar panels were installed at the University of Bradford Stadium. That’s a lot. Think about it – those panels are quietly sitting up there, soaking up the Bradford sun and turning it into clean electricity to help power the ground. It’s a brilliant bit of tech.

This whole project was a team effort, carried out with sustainability partners, Watt Utilities. They're the experts who helped make it happen. These solar panels are a massive part of the sustainability efforts, cutting carbon footprint and making Valley Parade a greener place. It’s a win for the club and a win for the planet. These kinds of initiatives are what the Greener Bantams sustainability strategy is all about.

The kits are made of what now?

You know the feeling of pulling on your new City top at the start of the season? It feels great, right? Well, it's about to feel even better. The technical kit and retail partner, Macron, has been doing something amazing. Every single piece of on-field kit is now produced using 100% recycled materials. Yes, you read that right.

So, what does that actually mean? It means that things like old plastic bottles, which might have ended up in a landfill or the ocean, are collected, cleaned, and spun into a high-quality fabric that’s then used to make shirts. It’s a clever process that gives waste a new life. So, when you see the players running out onto the pitch in the new season, you can be proud knowing their kit isn’t just smart, it’s also helping to tackle plastic pollution. This focus on recycled materials is a cornerstone of the new sustainability vision.

Making it easier for you to have an eco-friendly matchday

The club knows that making a real difference is a team game, and that includes the supporters. That’s why Bradford are making it easier for everyone to make greener choices when they go to Valley Parade. As part of a new three-year ‘Greener Bantams’ sustainability strategy, some new bits and bobs outside the ground have been installed

• EV charging points: Got an electric car? Brilliant. You can now charge it up while you’re enjoying the match. It's a small change that encourages eco-friendly travel.
• Bike racks: If you live locally and fancy cycling to the game, there are secure bike racks where you can leave your bike. It’s great exercise and costs nothing in petrol!

These initiatives are all about encouraging eco-friendly travel and reducing the environmental impact of a matchday. Every car left at home or bike ridden to the stadium helps. These changes show that sustainability isn't just a buzzword for the club; it's about practical action.

The man with the green plan

Big changes like these don't just happen by accident. They need a plan and someone to lead the charge. The club has launched a formal, three-year ‘Greener Bantams’ sustainability strategy to make sure these efforts continue and grow. And to steer the ship, Adam Keizer has been appointed as the club’s sustainability lead.

It’s his job to keep pushing forward, finding new ways to be greener and embedding sustainability into everything done at the club. Having someone dedicated to this shows just how seriously Bradford City AFC is taking this. It's not a side project; it's central to how the club operates.

Here’s what the sustainability lead, Adam Keizer, had to say:

"We are really pleased to have achieved the EFL Green Clubs ‘Silver’ award. It is a great recognition for a lot of work that has gone on behind the scenes by our club and community foundation staff. The EFL Green Clubs Scheme has played a key role in our new Greener Bantams sustainability strategy and we thank the EFL for all their support. Achieving the ‘Silver’ award is a big step forward in our sustainability journey and I am really excited for the new season to see how we can engage our supporters, club partners and local community with our ‘Greener Bantams’ initiatives."

It’s a real Bradford community effort

This mission for sustainability goes beyond the stadium walls. The Bradford City Community Foundation is playing a massive part, too. You know what happens to old kits and training gear? Instead of just being thrown away, the Community Foundation makes sure it gets a second chance. They collect old apparel and deliver it to donation and reuse projects. This stops it from ending up in landfill and helps people in the local community and beyond. It's a simple idea with a big impact, connecting the club’s environmental goals directly with the local community.

This is what it's all about – the club, the supporters, club partners, and the entire local community in Bradford all pulling in the same direction. This Silver award is just the beginning of the sustainability journey.