History of the Bradford Bulls facts for kids

The Bradford Bulls are a famous rugby league team with a long history. Their story began way back in 1863 as the Bradford Football Club. Over the years, they’ve seen many changes, successes, and challenges, becoming the team we know today.

How it All Started: 1863–1879

The Bradford Football Club was formed in 1863 by a group of former students. In the early days, they played a mix of soccer and what would become rugby. Their first home ground was Great Horton Road.

Playing against other clubs was rare at first. For example, in 1871-72, they only played nine inter-club games.

The club had to move grounds several times due to damage to their cricket pitch. They played at places like Laisteridge Lane, Peel Park, North Park Road, and Girlington. They finally settled near the Stansfield Arms for a few years.

In 1874–75, under Captain H.W.T. Garnett, Bradford had an amazing season. They didn't lose a single game and no points were scored against them! A Yorkshire Rugby Union was formed in 1874, and they started a Yorkshire Cup competition in 1876.

Moving to Park Avenue: 1880–1895

In 1880, the Bradford Football Club joined with the Bradford Cricket Club. They formed the Bradford Cricket, Athletic and Football Club. They all moved to a new home called Park Avenue. The first rugby match there was on September 25, 1880.

Bradford won their first big trophy, the Yorkshire Cup, in 1884.

By 1891, several Yorkshire rugby clubs, including Bradford, wanted to create their own league. They wanted more control over their games. However, the main Rugby Football Union didn't agree.

In 1895, a big change happened. Bradford, along with 21 other clubs, left the Rugby Football Union. This happened because of a disagreement about paying players for time they missed from work. These 22 clubs then formed the Northern Rugby Union. Bradford joined because they had debts and didn't want to lose important games against local rivals.

Bradford also tried having a soccer team from 1895 to 1899. But rugby was much more popular, so the soccer section closed down.

The Northern Union and a Big Change: 1896–1907

Bradford quickly found success in the new professional rugby world. They reached the 1898 Challenge Cup Final but lost. They won the Yorkshire Senior Competition in 1899–1900 and again in 1900–01. In 1903–04, Bradford won the league championship after a play-off game.

Meanwhile, a nearby club, Manningham, faced money problems. They were convinced to switch to soccer. This new soccer club, Bradford City, joined the Football League in 1903. This was an effort to bring soccer to a rugby-loving area.

In 1905–06, Bradford's rugby team won the Challenge Cup. The next season, they won the Yorkshire Cup.

The Northern Union changed some rules, reducing teams from 15 to 13 players. Bradford struggled with these new rules. By late 1907, the club was losing money and fans. Bradford City FC was drawing much larger crowds.

In a desperate move, Bradford asked to rejoin the Rugby Football Union. They were allowed, but only if they got rid of all professional players.

On April 15, 1907, club members voted on the future. After much discussion, the chairman, A. H. Briggs, pushed for the club to become a soccer club. This event is sometimes called "The Great Betrayal." Bradford became a soccer club, Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C..

But rugby fans in Bradford didn't give up! On May 24, 1907, they formed a new club called Bradford Rugby F.C. The old club even gave them their old equipment. Most of the players from the 1906-07 team joined the new club. In September 1907, the club changed its name to Bradford Northern R.F.C. to show that rugby was still strong in Bradford. Their first home was Greenfield Athletic Ground.

Bradford Northern's Long History: 1908–1994

Bradford Northern moved to Birch Lane in 1908 because they weren't happy with the facilities. Sometimes, they even had to use Valley Parade for bigger matches.

In 1933, Bradford Northern signed a lease for a former quarry. They turned it into Odsal Stadium, which became one of the biggest stadiums outside Wembley. The team played their first game there on September 1, 1934.

Success in the 1940s

The 1940s were a great time for Bradford Northern. They won the Yorkshire Cup many times (1940–41, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1948–49, 1949–50). They also won the Challenge Cup in 1943–44, 1946–47, and 1948–49.

The 1947-48 Challenge Cup final was special. It was the first rugby league match attended by a king, King George VI. It was also the first rugby league game shown on TV! However, Bradford lost to Wigan. The 1949 Challenge Cup final was sold out, with over 95,000 fans watching Bradford beat Halifax.

The 1950s and 1960s

In 1951–52, Bradford finished second in the league. They also beat the New Zealand team at Odsal. This was the first floodlit football match in the North of England. In 1953, a huge crowd of 69,429 watched Bradford play Huddersfield. This was Northern's highest ever attendance.

Sadly, in 1963, Bradford Northern's support dropped a lot. They had a record low crowd of just 324 fans. The club went out of business on December 10, 1963.

But the club was reformed in 1964 thanks to people like Trevor Foster. The new club was accepted back into the Rugby League. They won their first trophy, the Yorkshire Cup, in 1965–66.

The 1970s and 1980s

In 1972-73, Bradford lost the Challenge Cup final. In 1973–74, they won the Second Division Championship and were promoted. During this season, Keith Mumby became Bradford's youngest player at only 16 years old. He went on to play a record 576 games for the club!

Bradford won the Regal Trophy in 1974–75. Peter Fox became coach in 1977–78. Bradford won the Premiership final and were league runners-up. In 1979–80, Bradford won the Championship and Regal Trophy. They won the Championship again in 1980–81.

In the 1980s, Bradford lost two Yorkshire Cup finals. In 1985, star player Ellery Hanley left Northern for a record transfer fee. In 1987-88 and 1989-90, Bradford won the Yorkshire Cup. In 1993–94, Bradford finished as runners-up in the Championship.

The Super League Era: Becoming the Bulls

The Birth of the Bulls: 1996

In April 1995, the Rugby League announced the creation of the Super League. Bradford Northern was one of the clubs chosen to join.

The club's name officially changed from Bradford Northern to Bradford Bulls. They also got a new logo. Australian Brian Smith became the coach. In 1996, Bradford lost the Challenge Cup final. Robbie Paul scored three tries in the final, winning a special award. He also won the Super League Player of the Year.

Brian Smith returned to Australia in September 1996. Assistant coach Matthew Elliot took over. The Bradford Bulls had the most fans in Super League, with over 10,000 people at each game.

Champions: 1997

Bradford won the 1997 Super League title! They had an amazing run, winning 20 games in a row from the start of the season. They were also Challenge Cup runners-up again, losing to St Helens. James Lowes was the Super League Player of the Season, and Matthew Elliot was Coach of the Season. Bradford was still the most popular club, with over 15,000 fans per game.

Close Calls: 1998–1999

In 1998, Bradford played a game in Edinburgh, Scotland, as part of a special rugby league event. It was a tough season for Bradford, and they finished fifth. But they still had the most fans. Leon Pryce became the youngest player ever to play for the club.

In 1999, Bradford signed New Zealand star Henry Paul. He joined his brother Robbie Paul at the club. The Bulls had record season ticket sales. They also set a new scoring record, beating Workington Town 92–0 in a cup game. Bradford won the Minor Premiership, meaning they finished top of the league before the play-offs. Their final home game saw a record Super League crowd of 24,020 fans. A record 50,717 fans watched the Bulls lose the 1999 Super League Grand Final to St Helens.

The Millennium Years: More Trophies

Cup Winners: 2000

The Bulls won the 2000 Challenge Cup! They beat local rivals Leeds Rhinos 24–18 at Murrayfield Stadium in Scotland. This was the first time the final was held in Scotland. Henry Paul won a special award for being the best player in the final.

Glory Days: 2001

Brian Noble became Bradford's head coach in 2001. The club moved to Valley Parade, the home of Bradford City soccer club, while Odsal Stadium was being redeveloped. They reached the Challenge Cup final again but lost to St Helens.

On May 3, Henry Paul set a new world record for kicking 35 goals in a row! The Bulls finished top of the league. On October 13, a new Super League Grand Final record crowd of 60,164 watched the Bulls crush Wigan Warriors 37–6 to win the title! Michael Withers scored three tries and was named Man of the Match.

World Champions: 2002–2005

The Bulls became World Club Champions on February 1, 2002! They beat Australian champions Newcastle Knights 41–26. James Lowes was named Man of the Match. Bradford lost the Super League Grand Final to St Helens in the last minute.

In 2003, Bradford Bulls made history. They were the first club to win both the Challenge Cup and the Super League Grand Final in the same season! They beat Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup final in Cardiff. Then, they won the League Leaders Shield for finishing top of the Super League. Finally, they beat Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final in front of a record crowd of 65,537 fans.

Bradford Bulls won the World Club Challenge again in 2004, beating the Penrith Panthers. They reached the Grand Final but lost to Leeds Rhinos. 2004 was also a great year for Lesley Vainikolo, who scored a record 37 tries in a season!

After a tough start to the 2005 season, the Bulls went on a 12-game winning streak. They managed to win the Super League title from third place, beating Leeds Rhinos in the Grand Final.

A New Era: 2006

The Bulls started 2006 by winning their third World Club Challenge in four years, beating Wests Tigers. Coach Brian Noble left Bradford to coach Wigan Warriors. Steve McNamara took over as head coach. Star player Stuart Fielden also moved to Wigan. Bradford Bulls did not reach the Grand Final for the first time in six years.

Centenary Season: 2007

In 2007, Bradford Northern/Bulls celebrated 100 years since the club was formed. Their Challenge Cup journey began with a win against Castleford. They then beat Wakefield Trinity.

On April 30, 2007, Steve McNamara was also appointed assistant coach for the Great Britain national team.

Controversy and Changes: May–July 2007

In May 2007, the Bulls were involved in a controversial game. The referee made mistakes that led to Leeds Rhinos winning in the final seconds. The Bulls' chairman asked for the points to be given to Bradford.

Later in May, star winger Lesley Vainikolo left the Bulls. Bradford signed Tame Tupou as his replacement.

The Bulls had a tough schedule in June and July. They beat Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos (Vainikolo's last game). They also beat St Helens. However, the Bulls were docked two Super League points. An independent panel found that the club had spent too much money on player salaries. The Bulls reached the Challenge Cup semi-final but lost to St Helens.

Celebrating 100 Years: August 2007

To celebrate their 100th season, a local newspaper announced a "Team of the Century." The Bradford Bulls also played a special touch rugby match against Leeds, featuring former star players.

Tough Times: 2012–2017

Financial Struggles and Administration: 2012

In March 2012, the club announced it was in financial trouble. They needed £1 million to survive. Fans raised a lot of money, but the club still faced problems with unpaid taxes. On June 26, 2012, the club's holding company had to go into administration.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) said the team could finish the 2012 season. On July 2, 2012, the club's administrator made many staff members, including the coach, redundant. Coach Mick Potter continued without pay until the end of the season.

On August 31, 2012, a local group bought the club. The RFL gave them a one-year license to play in Super League in 2013.

Relegation and Liquidation: 2014–2017

Francis Cummins became the head coach in September 2012.

In 2014, relegation was brought back to Super League. Bradford was deducted 6 points early in the season for entering administration. For the first time in 40 years, the Bulls were relegated from the top division of rugby league in Britain. Francis Cummins was sacked and James Lowes took over.

Bradford began their first Championship season in 40 years. They finished second in the regular season. However, they failed to get promoted back to Super League for 2016. They lost a special "Million Pound Game" to Wakefield, meaning they stayed in the Championship.

In 2016, Bradford signed several experienced players. They started the season well but ultimately failed to reach the play-offs for promotion.

On November 14, 2016, Bradford Bulls went into administration for the third time since 2012. Two days later, the RFL cancelled Bradford's membership, making their future very uncertain. Despite several offers to buy the club, none were accepted by the administrator. The club officially went into liquidation on January 3, 2017.

The RFL then released a statement. They said that rugby league needed Bradford. They offered a place in the Kingstone Press Championship to any new club in Bradford. This new club would start the 2017 season with a minus 12-point deduction. The RFL wanted to help create a strong and stable professional club in Bradford.

|