It was the end of the 2009 season and the Bulls had finished outside of the Super League play-offs for the first time.

A club that once gorged on silverware had become also-rans.

Internet message boards were awash with fans venting their fury, passion seeping their pores as they hammered away on keyboards.

Supporters were concerned – and with good reason.

A common theme emerged. The fans of Bradford Bulls wanted an input into their club.

There was a collective desire to stop the rot and to help recreate the glory days.

In January 2010, a meeting was held to gauge potential support, a fans group was loosely formed and contact with ‘Supporters Direct’ made.

The idea of a trust was mooted and, having seen the success of Warrington’s highly successful ‘Squadbuilder’, BullBuilder was born in May 2010.

The trust, independent from the club itself, focuses on raising funds to provide added investment for the development of young talent at Odsal, while building a link between the Bulls and their fans.

Their main aim is to help attract, develop and retain young talent in the Bulls Academy.

Eighteen months since its formation, the success of BullBuilder is clear.

The trust has arranged and covered the cost of travel for the Academy squad to spend this Sunday training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, an agreement which led to the first-team squad also spending time there this week.

Thus far, BullBuilder have contributed funds for gym equipment at Tong, have committed a considerable sum on floodlights – enabling the club’s Academy players to train at Tong during evenings – and further funds on training ‘skins’ for them to wear during the winter.

Michael Farren, BullBuilder’s media officer, said: “It all started when a few people got in touch on the message board, Red Amber and Black, to discuss how as fans we could do something to help arrest the club’s apparent decline.

“After an open meeting in January 2010, the legal formalities were completed and BullBuilder launched publicly in May with a quiz involving a number of players.”

Membership grew during 2010, and more events were held to raise funds and increase awareness.

Farren added: “We had a ‘Meet the Ref’ evening with Steve Ganson, we conducted interviews with players and staff on the website and we presented highlights of Academy and Under-20s matches via YouTube.

“At the end of the 2010 season, we delivered our first benefit to the club by funding some gym equipment specifically for junior players.

“We followed this up in early 2011 when we sent the Academy on a team-building event at ‘Challenge for Change’ in Manchester, something that Paul Medley said was invaluable in identifying potential future leaders.”

Earlier this year, BullBuilder held their first annual meeting, combining the election of the current board with a Games Night, pitting current Academy players, first-teamers and legends (including Keith Mumby) against each other.

This year has seen membership grow to its current figure of approximately 150.

Farren added: “Our contributions so far in our short existence show we are making a real difference. We are independent but fully dedicated to the future success of Bradford Bulls, through providing additional funding and other forms of support.

“We have already contributed or are committed to spending a significant sum – all of it in areas of real benefit to the young players, and all of it on projects and resources that would not otherwise have happened.”

Bulls chief executive Ryan Duckett said: “These are tough economic times but the excellent work of BullBuilder has allowed the club to spend money that isn’t in our budget.

“Their contributions add real value to our scholarship and academy system and, thanks to BullBuilders’ contributions, next year’s Academy squad will be better prepared and better equipped than ever before.”

Any Bulls supporter can join BullBuilder for as little as £10 per year.

Membership is available for a one-off payment of £10.00 (£5.00 over 60s, £3.00 under 18s), or you can make an even bigger difference by opting to pay a month contribution of £5.00 or more.

Just go to www.bullbuilder.co.uk/becoming-a-member.php, where you join instantly by PayPal, or download a membership form.