Pride and glory for all to share

Every Bradfordian - young or old, man, woman or child - cannot fail to have been affected by the Bantams' elevation to the top flight of English football.

The spirits of even those uninterested in football will surely have been lifted by the club's astonishing rise to prominence. And, even if it hasn't, they will not be able to avoid its significance in the months to come.

Bradford City have achieved what countless community and civic leaders have consistently failed to do for as long as we can remember: they have put Bradford on the map.

Bradfordians have long known that theirs is a great city. But, so often in the shadow of Leeds, it has failed to take its place alongside other great English cities. Now, for a year at least - and, hopefully, much longer - the name of Bradford will be up there in lights alongside Manchester, Liverpool and the rest.

The sheer scale of media coverage afforded to the exploits of Premier League clubs means that few will escape hearing mention of Bradford on the national sporting stage in the months to come.

That, in itself, will put a spring in the step of every citizen and, instead of the embarrassed mutterings of some when asked from whence they come, every one of them will be able to answer with pride: Bradford, home of Bradford City football club.

Above all else, the club's incredible success this year will give the city a base on which to build even greater achievements.

The support for our "The Only Way Is Up" campaign has been brilliant and loyal supporters everywhere can feel pleased, rightly, at the way they have rallied behind the Bantams.

But to Geoffrey Richmond, to Paul Jewell, to every member of the team, however large or small the part they have played in this historic season, on behalf of all Bradford we have just one thing to say: Well done - and thank you.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.