David Markham talks to the some of the loyal supporters who cheered City on at Newcastle, and Jim Greenhalf gives his verdict on the big screen showing of the match at Valley Parade.

DAVID MARKHAM writes: Great day out - shame about the result. That was the verdict of the 4,000-plus fans who followed Bradford City to Newcastle.

Despite being split into two corners at the Leazes side of the ground, City's faithful followers cheered their heads off throughout the game as they saw the Bantams do Bradford proud.

Failure to finish ultimately cost Paul Jewell's side the game although most supporters thought the 3-0 scoreline flattered Newcastle.

For many it was the first time they had been to St James' Park since the ground was extensively redeveloped into a 37,000 all-seater stadium.

It was full to capacity for City's visit and provided a perfect stage for the team to show the football that has taken them into second place in the First Division although some fans thought the atmosphere could have been better.

Among them was Paul Smith from Bingley who said: "I didn't think it was as good as Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

"The last time I was at Newcastle was in 1989 when Mark McGhee scored the winner against City right at the death. The ground has changed a lot since then, but I was disappointed that a club like Newcastle had to split City fans into two corners.

"We heard beforehand they were going to do this and it was ridiculous. Most of the Newcastle fans had written us off before the game..

"I think our supporters competed with them well. The noise we generated would have been much greater if we had not been divided into two sections."

Michael Stainthorpe, chairman of the Supporters Club's Disabled Section, sat in one corner of the ground while his wife Julie, who is chairman of the Supporters Club, sat in the opposite one.

He said: "It was a good day, but it just shows the gulf between the divisions when Robbie Blake misses his chance and straightaway Alan Shearer takes his. The score should have been 1-1, but it became 2-0.

"You hear about the atmosphere of St James' Park but you expect more than we experienced. In fact, I was disappointed with the atmosphere although City fans made themselves heard."

Paul Snowden from Brighouse said: "I thought our support was great. We counted 35 coaches all together.

"The general attitude of the Newcastle fans was absolutely superb and they applauded us at the end of the match.

"I was talking to some Geordies afterwards and they said 'We have been in a game today. The scoreline does not reflect the game'.

"One of them told me 'I would definitely put money on you finishing in the to two'.

"I think we played well and the lads did us proud. I have seen the penalty incident on TV and I definitely thought it was a penalty.

"I think referees lean towards Premiership clubs. I am glad it is all over now and we can concentrate on the league.

JIM GREENHALF writes: An experiment well worth repeating. That was the verdict within Bradford City about the screening at Valley Parade of Saturday's FA Cup match against Newcastle.

The club's commercial and stadium manager Allan Gilliver, ill with pneumonia for the past fortnight, surveyed the scene at the ground at the end of the match and said it had been a magnificent occasion.

"Four years ago we were getting 4,500 people in the ground. Now we have got 5,098 people in to watch a screen. It's a reflection of how far the club's come in the past few years.

"We will definitely try this again, perhaps at the end of the season for an away game - if we are still in contention for promotion," he added.

The afternoon was almost like a match day. Up to 190 stewards, bar-staff, waitresses, gate-keepers, and other staff were at Valley Parade (normally there are about 350). All that was missing were the players and officials.

As the wintry afternoon darkened it was almost eerie, sitting in a stadium without the floodlights on; the only illumination coming from the 35 square metre screen suspended over the back of the Kop by the extended arm of a giant yellow crane.

Although huge measured against the yellow-hatted workmen in attendance, the screen, which cost £15,000 to install, must have looked small from the rear seats in the Symphony Stand. The quality of the sound in the pre-match highlights of previous City matches left a lot to be desired as well.

However, once the real business of the afternoon commenced at St James' Park the sound improved and the pictures were bright and clear.

All around me fans reacted with their usual sharp sense of anticipation as City made and squandered good chances.

In the background of the commentary we could hear the roar of the 4,000 City fans at Newcastle, which had the effect of magnifying the noise inside Valley Parade.

Throughout the game, which I watched from the back of the main stand, the 5,000 spectators seemed thoroughly absorbed, applauding when City played well and groaning when the ball was given away - as it was too often in the second half.

Streaming away in the cold and drizzle of post-match defeat the talk was of missed chances rather than anything else.

In future the club might consider putting the screen at the front of the Kop, or hiring a bigger one for the comfort of older fans.

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