Less than three months ago, the Lord Mayor of Bradford was among the Wembley crowd cheering on his beloved Bantams at the club’s Capital One Cup final against Premier League Swansea.

But Councillor Dale Smith will be forced to miss Bradford City’s return to the capital for their play-off final against Northampton – because it clashes with the annual Lord Mayor’s Parade.

In one of his last civic duties during his tenure as Lord Mayor, Coun Smith and his wife Margaret will watch as about 1,000 children and adults from across the district parade in bright, colourful costumes to celebrate the his Sprinkle Sunshine fundraising campaign on Saturday.

However, he is hoping football fans will bring some play-off fever to the celebrations by wearing claret and amber during the event in City Park.

“I feel mixed emotions,” he said.

“While my wife and I would have loved to go to Wembley again, we have to put our public duties first.

“I want everyone who is taking part in the parade, aside from those in fancy dress, to display some claret and amber to send their good wishes to our team.

“I’m sure the day in Bradford will be well supported and full of merriment.”

Coun Smith, who will hand over his mayoral chains to new Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Khadim Hussain the following Tuesday, said he hoped to keep up-to-date with the action from Wembley on the day.

“Hopefully we’ll get a tip-off at half time, so we know what’s happening,” he added.

“I’m sure we’ll be able to keep abreast with the score by the cheers from people celebrating in City Park.

“They are bound to be following on Facebook and using the internet on their phones to check the score!

“The clash of dates is bound to have an impact on numbers, but it may be that those who aren’t going to Wembley want to join a celebration in the city.

“We need to use this as an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the team.”

The Lord Mayor’s Parade, which starts and finishes in City Park, will begin at 12.30pm and will be followed by live music, street theatre, face painting, balloon modelling and games on the City Park’s big screen between 1pm and 5pm. From 8.30pm, it will then be transformed into a giant open air nightclub as part of Bradford Council’s new Urban Festival.

On Friday and Saturday the award-winning public space will be decorated with four stages, a sound system and nightclub lighting, which will surround the audience with what is being described as “360 degrees of pure electro-jazz bliss”.