On Saturday Bradford Local Studies Library hosted a talk by Rob Grillo, author of several sporting histories. His new book ‘Late to the Game’ covers the introduction to and early years of football in Bradford as it took over from rugby as the main winter sport. However it took the round ball game a long time to come to the West Riding and to Bradford in particular. The book is the sixth in a series of volumes in the Bantamspast series published by John Dewhirst who introduced the talk.

In his talk Rob explained how Bradford had many early failed attempts to create a successful soccer team in the late 1880s and how the current Bradford City AFC was founded in 1903. In the book there is a section on the women’s game and the reporting of early exhibition games before the FA banned women from playing on FA grounds in 1921. The book covers the successful Bradford schoolboys team, English champions in 1916 as well as details of all of the teams around the city including Bingley and Shipley.

A big thank you from Local Studies to Rob Grillo for a great morning and for sharing his expert knowledge and detailed research in this often neglected area of Bradford’s social history.

‘Late to the Game: The origins of association football in Bradford and the story of its pioneering clubs’ by Rob Grillo (bantamspast 2019) 9780956698490

‘The Origins of Soccer in Bradford’

A talk by Rob Grillo with an introduction by John Dewhirst

Bradford Local Studies Library,
Margaret McMillan Tower (side entrance), Princes Way,
BD1 1NN

Saturday 8 June
10.30am-12.00 noon

FREE
All welcome

For further details and to book a place please contact Bradford Local Studies Library on 01274 433688 or email: local.studies@bradford.gov.uk

During the second half of the nineteenth century Bradford established a proud reputation as a leading centre of sport and was known for the enthusiasm and prowess of its sports clubs. Bradford City and Bradford (Park Avenue) football clubs need no introduction, but over the years there have been a myriad of amateur football teams that have strived to better themselves.

Rob Grillo is the author of several sporting histories. His most recent book ‘Late to the Game’ covers the early years of association football in Bradford.

He will speak about his research findings; the early teams and league and cup competitions in the city as well as the early pioneers of the sport. He will also explain how the growth of soccer in the West Riding in the early years was affected by the region’s professional rugby league clubs.

John Dewhirst is well known for his interest in the history of Bradford sport in particular football and Bradford City AFC. He was co-founder of the City Gent fanzine and has authored several books in the BantamsPast series.

Come along and meet these two experts. Hear about the remarkable story of Bradford’s sporting history and there will be the opportunity to ask questions after the talk.

There will be a display to accompany the event which will remain in the Local Studies library until the end of June.

Earlier this year, Gary Cavanagh one of the co-authors of Noise of the Valleys books, gave a talk at Bradford Local Studies Library on the music scene in Bradford and surrounding areas. He focused upon musical acts from the 60’s to the 80’s and mainly upon the more mainstream and ear friendly artists which included a band called Three Good Reasons  from Keighley that reached no 1 in the Dutch charts with a cover version of the Beatles ‘Nowhere Man’!

He also charted the history of the hidden musical gems of the area whilst giving the backstory to better known artists like Kiki Dee and her history with Motown and even Bingley’s Rodney Bewes with the single for the theme tune from his first sitcom, on which he performed the vocals. Gary outlined his quest to seek out these and other rare tracks for his ‘Noise of the Valleys’ project which now comprise of 14 CDs worth of music from the local area and two volumes of books.

It was an informative and entertaining talk and Gary’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of the local music scene and its history and importance shone through and some  members of the audience remembered going to the old venues and clubs he mentioned in association with the artists and bands. The talk was interspersed with snippets from rare tracks including a song from Keighley’s own Linda Russell and former Shipley based American soul star Tommy Hunt!

The Noise of the Valleys books and CDs are a real labour of love for Gary Cavanagh and Matt Webster and an important preservation of the rich spectrum of local music heritage for the people of Bradford and surrounding areas.  Volume three of the books which will cover the era 1999-2009 is currently being compiled and written. You can support this project here:

https://www.bradfordnoise.com/