A search for a missing man centred on Valley Parade last night, when police asked Bradford City fans if they could shed light on the mystery.

A police appeal for information about Graham Michael Whitton appeared in the programme for the Bantams match against Sheffield Wednesday and posters were displayed around the ground.

Avid supporter Mr Whitton was a familiar face at Bradford City where he often went to matches with his son, Anthony, now 23.

Mr Whitton was 36 when he went missing on December 11, 1992. He had left the Gardener's Arms pub in Holme Top Lane to make his way to the Old House at Home pub on Little Horton Lane but he never arrived. Earlier that night he had been in the Old Vic pub at Park Lane.

Detective Inspector Chris Binns, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We've had a disappointing response to the recent media appeals for information and we're hoping that City fans will be able to help.

"Graham was a regular at Valley Parade. In the 1988/89 season when City was aiming for promotion he and his son Anthony were photographed by Eamonn McCabe, then Valley Parade's resident photographer, for an exhibition at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

"The exhibition was pictures of fans and the photo of Graham and Anthony showed their disappointment when City failed to win promotion against Ipswich."

City fan Ray Wilson, attending last night's match with his two sons, said: "I've been coming to see City for about 15 years now and I probably used to see him around at matches but I didn't know him."

Mr Whitton was brought up in Scholemoor in Bradford. At the time of his disappearance he was living on the Canterbury estate, Bradford, and was unemployed. Mr Whitton was a regular at pubs in Little Horton Lane and betting offices in and around Bradford, particularly the Stowell office on Legrams Lane, now a Tote betting office. Mr Whitton was known by the nickname "Ginger."

Detectives have ordered DNA tests to be carried out on a skeleton found in a moorland grave in Oxenhope in March 1997, in case it is that of Mr Whitton.

If you have information, call the police on (01274) 376459.