The Bantams might not have been the ones lifting the divisional play-off final trophy at Wembley yesterday but their supporters have won silverware of their own.

The City Gent' has been crowned one of the country's best football fanzines after winning the Best League Two Fanzine accolade.

The long-running publication was a clear winner in the New Football Pools Fanzine Awards 2008, while North West Counties League neighbours Silsden won the best non-league category with their fanzine We're Not Playing on THAT Pitch!

The judging panel's comments read: "The City Gent has now been running for over 20 years, oozes quality and is quite possibly the oldest active fanzine in Britain.

"Well written, it contains some excellent articles and is a smart, well-presented fanzine which lives up to its name - a true City Gent!"

Mike Harrison, who has been Gent editor for the last four years, said: "It's very nice to be recognised for the work everyone puts in.

"It's very much a team effort and couldn't be done without people working hard behind the scenes and the many who write in with contributions."

One of the first of its kind when introduced back in 1984 by John Dewhirst, The City Gent is rapidly approaching its 150th edition.

Harrison said: "I know from speaking to others who run fanzines that they say they get The City Gent and that it was one of the reasons why they started one themselves. It is always nice to hear that."

The season just gone may not have produced the promotion fans were hoping for but that has not stopped the Gent upping their output or producing a series of witty front-cover illustrations, courtesy of artist Dave Robinson.

"We decided last summer there was potential to do more editions," said Harrison.

"We have gone from doing six or seven per season to putting out ten last season, so it is nice to be recognised for something we had decided to do anyway.

"We sell enough just to get by so it would be nice if this awards means a few people who still don't know about us will give us a try."

The Gent has continued to remain a popular forum for City fans to air their views despite the introduction of internet sites and message boards.

Harrison said: "There are certainly not as many fanzines as there used to be. I remember (popular fanzine) When Saturday Comes used to devote a couple of pages listing all of them but they've not done that for years.

"But we still have so many contributors and it is testament to City fans that they still have the urge to write in.

"The City Gent is something tangible which you can keep, not just a page on a website. I know some people who have kept every edition."

Silsden's fanzine was launch-ed just over a year ago by Rob Grillo, who has also had recent success with Anoraknophobia,' a book about his life as a Cobbydalers supporter.The fanzine beat off competition from Scarborough FC, Burton Albion, FC United of Manchester and Stevenage Borough.

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