A troupe of cheerleaders are hoping player power will get them back in favour at Bradford City Football Club.

Team captain Stuart McCall and fellow footballers have signed a 3,000-strong petition hoping to persuade City bosses to get the Bantam Belles performing again at Valley Parade.

Gary Walsh, Andy Myers, Robbie Blake, Benito Carbone and David Wetherall are among those who have also signed.

The girls were sacked by marketing manager Barry Pierpoint who said they were "old hat".

But Emma Coombs, 19, a devoted City fan and member of the all-girl dancing group, sat outside the ground until she got the signature of every player.

Stuart McCall said: "The girls have always worked very hard and provided great entertainment at the games.

"They are certainly determined because they waited outside the ground for a long time to get the signatures of all the lads.

"They worked hard at their routines and I know they enjoyed performing at the matches.

"Most of them are City fans and they are desperate to get involved again. That's why we signed the petition."

The determined dancers started the petition after seeing support on the club's official website.

Emma said: "This is really important to us all. I'm a massive fan of the club and really enjoyed dancing for the fans and I know they enjoyed watching us.

"It's great that the players are on our side and I hope now the club will see what it's missing and what all the fans want."

Choreographer Angela Dyer said: "It's fantastic that the players have signed and everybody is really giddy about it.

"It's all down to Emma's hard work and I hope the time and effort she put into this pays off.

"She sat outside the ground after every game, waiting patiently for the players to come out.

"All of us are City fans and Bradford is our home. But we are dancers and if this doesn't work we would have to look into performing elsewhere. Even other football teams are a possibility."

Bradford City declined to comment.

Pictured: Some of the battling Belles.