Cup fever returns this weekend as the Grecians venture back to the North with a West Yorkshire Visit to Bradford City.
Here’s a travel, tickets and tourism guide to the Utilita Energy Stadium.
The Ground
Stadium
- Name: Utilita Energy Stadium
- Capacity: 25,136
- Year opened: 1886
- Address: Valley Parade, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD8 7DY
The original home of Manningham Rugby Club, Valley Parade was opened nearly twenty years before Bradford City’s formation. Sitting just outside the City Centre, the now sponsored Utilita Energy Stadium is seen as one of the iconic British football grounds.
The first association football game to be played at Valley Parade in 1903 was a friendly against Sheffield United’s FA Cup winning side. The match was organised to boost interest in football after the loss of its Rugby club. This worked, as 11,000 spectators watched Bradford’s first league game against Gainsborough a few months later.
In 1911, the ground hosted 39,146 fans for an FA Cup tie against Burnley during the clubs winning run, which to date makes it the longest standing attendance record in the Football League, dating back nearly 90 years.
We have been allocated 506 tickets for the Bradford Lifts Stand on Midland Road, with the prices as follows:
Ticket prices:
- Adults (24-65) £15
- Senior (65+) - £10
- Young Person (17-23) - £10
- Youth (12-16) - £8
- Junior (11 and under) - £3
Please note that there will be NO pay on the day available. You must purchase tickets in advance.
Also included in the allocation are three pairs of wheelchair and carer tickets. For ambulant disabled, fans must be in receipt of DLA or PIP at the higher level, or middle rate for mobility.
Tickets will go off-sale at 12pm on Friday 5 November.
How to buy:
You can buy tickets online by clicking here.
Tickets will also be able to be purchased from the club shop or by phone, by ringing the club on 01392 411 243 (option 2) (8.30am to 5pm Monday-Friday).
Getting To the Utilita Energy Stadium
The address for the Utilita Energy Stadium is Valley Parade, Bradford, BD8 7DY
By Car: 288 miles (5hrs)
As almost every journey begins from Devon, the M5 is your friend, but there are two routes to get around to Bradford.
Via M6: Take the M6 to Junction 21A at Warrington and merge onto M60/62.
Continue onto the M606 and at J3 turn onto the A6177. Merge onto the A641 into Bradford and follow the instructions below.
Via M1: After merging onto the M1 via the M/A42 from Birmingham continue until J42 to merge onto M62 and follow the instructions below.
At end of the motorway take the middle or right-hand lane and follow signs for Ring Road East (under the tunnel) onto Rooley Lane (signs for Leeds Bradford Airport).
McDonald's is on your left. Go through the traffic lights at Asda Superstore and turn left at the roundabout onto Wakefield Road, staying in middle lane.
Cross two roundabouts staying in middle lane (following signs to Shipley and Skipton) on to Shipley Airedale Road (A6037) which then becomes Canal Road.
After Tesco and Smyths Toys Superstores (on the left) go through the traffic lights and turn left onto Station Road (A6177) and left again into Queens Road.
Continue up the hill to third set of traffic lights and turn left onto Manningham Lane.
After the Gulf Petrol Station (on your left), take the first left onto Valley Parade for the Utilita Energy Stadium.
Parking:
Large stretches of Midland Road and Queens Road are generally used by supporters for matchday parking.
Parking on Midland Road is permitted for disabled blue-badge holders though, if parking in the vicinity of the stadium, be wary of various charges.
By rail: (5hr 10 mins- 1 change)
The nearest railway stations for the stadium are Bradford Forster Square and is a 15 minute walk to the Ground.
06:27 Crosscountry toward Newcastle Depart at Leeds (11:08)
11:12 Northern all the way to Bradford Forster Square (11:37).
The same journey is available from 07:27 with a 12:12 change at Leeds, arrival at BFS at 12:37.
Grecian Travel
Grecian Travel, run by the Supporters' Club is available for City's trip to Bradford City.
The coach will depart from Unit 1 nightclub at 07:00 am for a fare of £45 for adults and £40 for under-16s
Other pick-up points include: Honiton Road park and ride (by Miller and Carter Steakhouse), junction 28 (Cullompton services), junction 27 (Tiverton) and junction 25 (Taunton) All other pick-ups by prior arrangement.
PLEASE NOTE: Face coverings are required to travel on Grecian Travel. This does not apply if you are exempt.
How to buy
Currently Grecian Travel can only be booked directly.
For more information or to book please contact John Bishop on 07904 036334 or by email at: john.bishop760@btinternet.com (after 6pm).
Pubs and matchday refreshment:
The Bradford Arms on Manningham Lane is only about two minutes from the ground and was welcoming to away fans. About a ten minute walk away (this time towards the City Centre) is the 'Corn Dolly' on Bolton Road, which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, as is the New Beehive on Westgate.
Near to Bradford Forster Square Station on North Parade is another pub to feature in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, the Sparrow Bier Bar. This bar offers up to four real ales, plus ciders and continental lagers.
In the City centre, the Turls Green is the local chain pub.
Bradford is famous for its curry house’s and Tripadvisor’s top rated restaurants include ‘The International’ on Morley Street or ‘The Mumtaz’ on Great Horton Road.
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Inside the Ground
Refurbished ahead of the 2021/22 season, kiosks inside the Utilita Energy Stadium open at the same time as turnstiles on a matchday.
Beef burger £3.75 | Cheese burger £4 | Chicken burger £4 | Hot dog £4 | Pukka Pies £3.50
Alcohol and soft drinks are on sale within the Ground as well.
PLEASE NOTE: In Stadium kiosks ONLY ACCEPT CARD payment, and have turned completely cashless.
The FA Cup offers a nice change of pace and always an enticing encounter and we can’t wait to see you in West Yorkshire in your numbers, backing the boys for a potential cup run. As always we wish you the safest travels up to Valley Parade. Up the City!