University of Bradford students film Bantams at training

Tongxin Lui, Tanvir Hasan, Alex Vickers and Richard Danklu, who are all students on the University’s MA Filmmaking course, captured footage from a first-team training session followed by player and manager media conferences.

Their visit took place two days before the Bantams’ home clash with Wimbledon. The students were assigned the task of producing a two-minute-long video to give a flavour of their day.

In cold, windy and muddy conditions, the team of four students set up their filming equipment at City’s training base at Woodhouse Grove School in Apperley Bridge.

Their day kicked off with filming of the training session. This included the squad taking part in a series of practice matches as they prepared for that weekend’s match.

During the training session the students worked both as a team and individually as they captured footage for their video of the day’s events.

It was also an extra busy day for the club’s staff as it marked the final day of the winter transfer window.

The second half of the filming day saw the students capture footage from two weekly media conferences held separately with a Bradford City player and the men’s first-team manager Graham Alexander, which were also held at the training ground.

The first of the two interviews saw forward Calum Kavanagh face the media for the first time as a Bradford City player.

He had only been publicly unveiled as a new club signing earlier that day and he fielded questions on a host of subjects including his ambitions at his new side.

Meanwhile, the club’s manager was quizzed about a range of different subjects during his 40-minute session including on Calum Kavanagh, whether the club would be recruiting, or losing, any other players before that night’s transfer deadline.

Students film City's players in a training match (Image: Mark Stanford)

The manager was also asked to give an assessment of his team’s next opponents, AFC Wimbledon, and looked back on Bradford City’s quarter-final victory over Doncaster Rovers in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy just two days before his media conference.

The Wimbledon game two days after the press session ended in a goalless draw.

Throughout the two interviews the University students gathered film footage and were each assigned roles and recording equipment to use. They gave their own post-event reaction to their day.

Tongxin said: “I have learned a lot from my experience. It is the first time I have shot on a muddy pitch. It was freezing weather, but it was good.”

Tanvir said: “We got the opportunity to film the media conferences and the football team.

“We gained some new experiences, which is the main part. I really enjoyed the training session.”

Alex added: “It was really good. It was a new experience, and it was really interesting to see a different type of filming.”

Richard said: “It was interesting. It was my first time filming in the cold. It was a totally different experience.”

The students’ training ground filming visit is the latest link-up between the University and the football club who are official partners.

The thriving partnership started in summer 2022 with a four-year deal to officially launch the University of Bradford Stadium.

The association was further strengthened in summer 2023 when the University of Bradford became the official back-of-shirt sponsors for the next three seasons. This deal sees the University’s logo appear on City’s home, away and alternative shirts.

City media manager Lewis Redmond says the young filmmakers’ visit was further evidence of the teamwork between the University and the football club.

He said: “It was great to welcome students from the University of Bradford to our training ground earlier this month, for an enriching day of filming on the training pitch and in our weekly pre-match press conference.

“With our partnership focusing on the continued development of young talent across the city, we have a responsibility to help expose these students to situations where they can develop their skills and put them into practice.”

University of Bradford students Tongxin Lui, Alex Vickers, Richard Danklu and Tanvir Hasan at City's training ground (Image: Mark Stanford)

Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “Richard, Tanvir, Alex and Tongxin’s visit to the Bradford City training ground is further evidence that the relationship between the University and the football club is thriving.

“The students are all role models to Bradford City fans of all ages as they demonstrate what a difference that a University education can make to a person’s life.”