Bradford City intend turning their first campaign of Premiership reserve team football into 'Family Fun Days' next season.

The Bantams' promotion to the top flight also means that their second string side will be facing the likes of Manchester United, Leeds and Liverpool next term.

Last season, City switched a number of games to Farsley Celtic due to the dreadful state of the Valley Parade pitch in the second half of the 1998-99 campaign.

However City chief Geoffrey Richmond says that all games will take place at Valley Parade with the emphasis being on family entertainment.

He said: "The league will be split into ten teams in the north and south and, following our promotion, we will be part of the new set-up.

"That means our reserve side will be facing ten of the best reserve sides in the country. As a result of the reduced number of first team league games compared to the Nationwide League, we have decided to play all our games at Valley Parade.

"The problem that we have for next season is that the supply of first team tickets will not satisfy demand for home fixtures. That is why we want to make the reserve games something special.

"It will give some of our supporters a chance to see some of the biggest names in English football. To help the fans enjoy the occasion more, we intend making every home reserve game a family fun day.

"We are quite excited about the possibility of setting up the family fun days for next season."

As a result of the switch, City's reserve side could be lining up against the likes of Manchester United's European Cup heroes Teddy Sheringham and Olly Gunnar Solskjaer, who spent most of the campaign in the Reds' second team.

Meanwhile, Richmond has congratulated Watford on their promotion to the Premiership following their victory over Bolton in the play-off final.

He said: "I went along to the game. I must say that Wembley is the best place in the world for winners but an awful place to lose in a play-off final. I really felt for the Bolton players, fans and officials.

"Watford did deserve to win the game, though, and I feel that Graham Taylor does deserve tremendous credit for what he has done.

"I spoke to a number of the Watford board after the game and they were obviously elated. They all expressed the fervent wish that both Watford and Bradford City would survive next season".

Striker Jamie Forrester, Scunthorpe's leading scorer last season, has joined Dutch Division Two side FC Utrecht on a free transfer.

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