Bradford City's decision to show their FA Cup tie at Newcastle on big screens at Valley Parade looks like being a box office hit.

Interest has been so great that the club now believe a 6,000 sell out is possible.

City decided to beam pictures back to Valley Parade after selling their 4,500 ticket allocation for the St James' Park clash on January 23 in less than four hours last Thursday.

And they are delighted by the response to their first big screen venture.

Chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "I was thinking in terms of 2,500 people, but if the response shown in these early days continues we are looking towards a full house.

"Certainly, judging from the sales we had yesterday - and that was only day one - it is going to be very well attended. My advice would be to those who want to attend to buy a ticket as soon as you can."

The screen will be placed in the corner between the Diamond Seal Kop and the Ciba Stand on Midland Road. The crowd will be seated in the main Sunwin Stand and the Symphony Stand at the Bradford end of the ground.

Richmond added: "There is an expense involved, but if it is a full house we will make some money from it.

"Money isn't our motivation, however. It is to try to do something for those fans who were desperately disappointed not to get tickets for the match. It is very much a service.

"There are a lot of disappointed people who couldn't get ticket for the match. We have received a lot of letters at the club commenting about method of distribution and we are still receiving postal applications.

"I understand people who are frustrated and disappointed not to have been able to buy tickets and some have put forward all sorts of alternative proposals for selling them, but the fact is we had a demand of 15,000 for 4,000 tickets."

FA guidelines saying visiting clubs should receive a 15 per cent allocation which means City could have received 5,400, but ground development and segregation arrangements at St James' Park reduced that figure.

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