Saturday 23rd November sees Bradford City AFC’s first ever Community Takeover Day at the University of Bradford Stadium. It’s more than just a game, it’s a whole day to celebrate the fantastic work of the Bradford City FC Community Foundation. With loads of activities, thousands of fans and a stadium full of community, it’s going to be a Bradford special.
Why a community takeover day?
For years the Bradford City Community Foundation has been at the centre of projects that touch the lives of people all across the city. Led by Ian Ormondroyd, a former City striker who’s been with the Foundation for 25 years, the organisation runs sports programmes to social outreach projects. This takeover day is their chance to get all this good work in front of fans and locals and show how embedded the Foundation is in the Bradford community.
Ormondroyd says,
“Since we became the official charity of the club and grew from a small team to a big organisation, we are proud to be a part of the Bradford fabric.”
What’s happening on the day?
From competitions to half-time parades here’s what fans and families can expect:
The TL Dallas community stand
One of the day’s big highlights will be the official opening of the TL Dallas Community Stand which can seat around 1,500 fans. This stand is for fans who may be attending a football match for the first time, including people from lower income areas and other local communities. It’s an alcohol free zone so a family friendly part of the stadium.
Half-time parade and pitch events
At half-time the Foundation will have hundreds of local people parading around the pitch. People from all over the city, including school children, community groups and junior football stars will be marching to show the Foundation’s reach across the city. Ormondroyd will be giving a special speech from the pitch to highlight the Foundation’s achievements and plans for the future.
Special experiences for kids
The Community Takeover Day is a great chance for young fans to get involved. A winning school will have kids walking out with the Bradford City players as mascots, carrying flags to welcome the team onto the pitch. There’s also a warm up shirt design competition where City players will wear shirts designed by a local school pupil – a winning design chosen from over 1,000 entries! If you’re a budding artist or young football fan this is a big deal.
Social media fun and competitions
If you’re at the game, get involved in our social media competition! Post a selfie from the match with #CommunityTakeover and tag the Foundation’s account and you could win some great prizes. It’s an easy way to get everyone sharing the day, whether you’re on the pitch or in the stands.
Who runs the foundation?
The Bradford City FC Community Foundation has been working behind the scenes since 1988. In the last year alone it has supported 23,000 people across 44 different projects. From opening a dedicated dementia and Parkinson’s Friendship Café to working with Penny Appeal and local partners to launch a community food bank. They’re also involved with national campaigns with the Premier League and the National Citizen Service.
The Foundation’s work goes even further with its Women and Girls and Disability Football teams for Bradford City. They also run the Bantams Clubhouse, a junior fan zone, and have an in-house education programme where students can study and play football. In short, they’re making football accessible and impactful for everyone in Bradford.
Why does this matter?
Football is often called “the beautiful game” because of its power to bring people together, but not everyone feels included or has the means to be part of it. That’s why events like the Community Takeover Day are so important. As Ryan Sparks, CEO of Bradford City AFC, says:
“Our dedicated Community Takeover fixture will showcase the club’s impact in the local and wider communities.”
The aim is to make sure everyone can be part of the football spirit, whether you’re a regular fan or a newcomer.
Final thoughts
In a world where professional football clubs can sometimes feel detached from their roots, Bradford City’s Community Takeover Day is a breath of fresh air. This isn’t just about Bradford’s football team, it’s about giving back, connecting people and making sure everyone feels part of the stadium. For Bradford City AFC, it’s not just about the game, it’s about making a difference.
So if you’re in Bradford on the 23rd, get to the University of Bradford Stadium and cheer, connect and celebrate all that’s great about the Bradford community.
