Bradford City’s magical promotion season which saw them reach Wembley twice was the stuff of fairytales.

And now it is the subject of a new children’s book, aimed at getting six and seven-year-olds reading.

League of Dreams is based on the remarkable story of the club in the past year through the eyes of football-mad local lad Jimmy, who grew up with the ambition of one day playing at Wembley.

The main character is, of course, centre forward James Hanson and it charts his progress from young boy through his time working in the Co-op to becoming a professional footballer and scoring in the play-off final.

The book was the brainchild of keen fan Jamie Fletcher who put the idea to the Friends of Bradford City – a supporters’ group set up to give positive assistance to the club.

Member Mick Shackleton, who produced the book, said: “We’ve turned it round in three months from the original concept to the printed copy.

“I work in the greeting card industry, so I’ve got access to illustrators and writers. It is an ideal resource to pull something like this together.

“The writer, Mark Graham, is actually a Carlisle fan but he lives in West Yorkshire. Illustrator Rob Palmer runs a team in Thackley and they are both real football supporters.

“It is fully illustrated and full colour and it’s a true story right from the start to the end.

“There are obviously some ups and downs, like the cup final defeat at Wembley. But on the back of that, we finish very strongly on a major high.”

The book goes on sale tomorrow at WH Smith and there are a limited number of copies signed by the Bradford City striker.

Mr Shackleton added: “The purple band on the side of the book is the reading level to show that it is right for the six and seven-year-olds.

“We are talking to a backer who can hopefully supply it free to every Bradford primary school with a pack of six along with some educational cards.

  • League of Dreams costs £5 with £1 going to Bradford City’s football in the community foundation charity.