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Everything about The Bradford Bulls totally explained

The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. It has been one of the major success stories of the Super League era, with the 2003 season being its best where the club successfully won all of the major rugby league honours, (Challenge Cup, Superleague Championship, World Club Championship, and Minor Premier) The team jersey is white with red, black and amber hoops. The club plays its home games at Grattan Stadium (formerly called Odsal Stadium) which is located to the south of the city centre. Bradford is also one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league teams.

History

1863 - 1907: In the Beginning

The Bradford Rugby Club was formed in 1863. Park Avenue was established as their home ground in 1880. It achieved its first major success by winning the Yorkshire Cup in 1884. In 1895, along with cross-town neighbours Manningham, Bradford was among 22 clubs to secede from the Rugby Football Union after a historic meeting at The George Hotel in Huddersfield, in response to a dispute over "broken time" payments to players. These 22 clubs formed the Northern Rugby Union. In 1903-4 Bradford finished level on points with Salford at the top of the league and then won the resulting play-off 5-0. Manningham ran into financial difficulties and, despite a summer archery contest that generated enough money to ensure their survival, its members were persuaded to change to Association football. The club was invited to join the Football League in 1903, in an attempt to introduce the soccer to the rugby-dominated region, and the newly renamed Bradford City A.F.C. was voted into full membership of the Second Division without playing a game of soccer, having a team or being able to guarantee a ground.
   There was also a demand for Association Football at Park Avenue, which played host to soccer matches as well as Northern Union games. The first game of Association Football played at Park Avenue is believed to have been between Blackburn Rovers and Blackburn Olympic F.C. and in 1895 a Bradford side beat a team from Moss Side, Manchester 4 -1 in front of 3,000 spectators. In 1905-6 Bradford beat Salford 5-0 to win the Challenge Cup and were runners up in the Championship. The following season winning the Yorkshire Cup 8-5 against Hull Kingston Rovers.
   With soccer already successful at Bradford City, a meeting was called of the club members on April 15th 1907 to decide the club's future. An initial vote appeared to favour continuing in the Northern Union, then opinion shifted towards rugby union but the Chairman, Mr Briggs, used his influence to swing the committee behind Association football. This act, sometimes referred to as "The Great Betrayal", led to Bradford becoming a soccer club, Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. and a new team Bradford Northern was created to take the available place in the Northern Union. Bradford Northern's first home was Greenfield Athletic Ground.

Bradford Northern


   Bradford moved to Birch Lane in 1908. Bradford council offered Bradford a site for a new stadium between Rooley Lane and Mayo Avenue in 1927. However the RFL said the site was too small and the club kept on looking. On 20 June 1933 Bradford Northern signed a ten-year lease with Bradford council for a former quarry being used as a waste dump at Odsal Top. It was turned into the biggest stadium outside Wembley. The Bradford Northern team played its first match there on September 1st 1934. Before moving to Odsal Bradford had had two other homes, Greenfield Athletic Ground in Dudley Hill and Birch Lane which was part of Bowling Old Lane Cricket ground, although at times they also had to hire Valley Parade as the capacity at Birch Lane wasn't sufficient enough for large matches.

1940s

Success came in the 1940s with a number of cup wins: the Yorkshire cup in 1940-1, 1942-3, 1944-5, 1945-6, 1948-9 and 1949-50; and the Challenge cup 1943-4, 1946-7 and 1948-9. In the championship Bradford found it difficult to win either before the war or after despite being runners up in 1942-3 and 1947-8.
   On Saturday 3rd November 1945, Bradford Northern met Wakefield Trinity in the final of the Yorkshire Cup held at Thrum Hall, Halifax. Wakefield began the match as favourites, they'd lost only one of thirteen matches thus far in the season. However, Bradford won 5-2 and lifted the Yorkshire Cup for the fourth time in six seasons.
   Bradford defeated Leeds 8-4 to win the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 1947.
   The 1947-8 Challenge Cup final was notable as it was the first rugby league match to be attended by the reigning monarch, King George VI, who presented the trophy. It was also the first televised rugby league match as it was broadcast to the Midlands. Unfortunately Bradford lost 8-3 to Wigan. The 1949 Challenge Cup final was sold out for first time as 95,050 spectators saw Bradford beat Halifax.

1950s

In 1951-2 Bradford were runners up in the league but beat New Zealand at Odsal in the first floodlit football match of any code in the North of England. In 1953, a crowd of 69,429 watched Bradford play Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup third round. This was Northern’s highest ever attendance. Northern also won the Yorkshire Cup final 7-2 against Hull. Bradford Northern and Leigh were the first rugby league clubs to stage matches on a Sunday in December 1954, although there was opposition from the Sunday Observance lobby.

1960s

Bradford Northern's support declined rapidly in the 1963 season, attracting a record low crowd of 324 against Barrow. Northern went out of business on 10th December 1963 having played just 13 matches; winning 1 and losing 12, scoring 109 points and conceding 284. In 1964, the Bradford Northern club reformed through the efforts of such people as Trevor Foster and Joe Phillips and were accepted back into the Rugby League. The reformed club won its first cup in 1965-66 by beating Hunslet 17-8 in the final of the Yorkshire Cup.

1970s

In 1972-3 Bradford lost the Challenge Cup final against Featherstone 33-14. In 1973-4 Bradford won the Second Division Championship and were promoted back to the First Division. During this season Keith Mumby made his debut, becoming the Bradford's youngest player at only 16 years of age, scoring 12 goals and a try in a match against Doncaster. He went on to make a record 576 appearances for the club. In 1974-75 Bradford won the Regal Trophy 3-2 against Widnes. Peter Fox joined Bradford as coach for the first time in 1977-78. Bradford won the Premiership final 17-8 against Widnes and were also Championship runners-up. In 1978-79 Bradford appeared in another Premiership final this time losing 24-2 to Leeds. A year later Bradford won the Championship and Regal Trophy, Peter Fox winning the award for Coach of the Year. In 1980-81 the club made it back to back championships.

1980s

In 1981-82, Bradford lost the Yorkshire Cup final 10-5 against Castleford and lost again in 1982-83, this time 18-7 against Hull. Keith Mumby won the award for First Division Player of the Year while Brian Noble won the Young Player award. In 1985 Ellery Hanley left Northern to join Wigan for a then record transfer deal, worth £80,000 and a player exchange involving Steve Donlan and Phil Ford. In 1987-8 Bradford won the Yorkshire Cup final replay against Castleford 11-2 after drawing 12-12. Ron Willey coached Bradford Northern for a short stint in 1989/90 and led them to the Premiership final and success in the Yorkshire Cup final when they beat Featherstone 20-14. Bradford lost the Regal Trophy against Warrington 12-2 in 1990-91. In 1993-4, the last Championship before Super League, Bradford finished as runners up behind Wigan on points difference.

The Super League era

Bradford Bulls Became very successful in the Super League, they've won the title in 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005, the Challenge Cupthe in 2000 and 2003 and the World Club Challenge in 2002,2004,2006.
   

Season Summaries

(Brackets Represent Finals Games)>
Competition
Playing In
Games
Played
Games
Won
Games
Drawn
Games
Lost
Ladder
Position
P R M F W Coach Captain Main Article
Super League 1 22 17 0 5 3/12 Brian Smith Robbie Paul Bradford Bulls 1996
Super League 2 22 20 0 2 1/12
X
Matthew Elliott Bradford Bulls 1997
Super League 3 23 12 0 11 5/12
X
Bradford Bulls 1998
Super League 4 30 25 1 4 112
X
X
X
Bradford Bulls 1999
Super League 5 20 3 5 3/12
X
Bradford Bulls 2000
Super League 6 28 22 1 5 1/12
X
X
X
Brian Noble Bradford Bulls 2001
Super League 7 30 24 0 6 3/12
X
X
Bradford Bulls 2002
Super League 8 30 24 0 6 1/12
X
X
X
Bradford Bulls 2003
Super League 9 28 20 1 7 2/12
X
X
Bradford Bulls 2004
Super League 10 28 18 1 9 3/12
X
X
Jamie Peacock Bradford Bulls 2005
Super League 11 28 16 2 10 4/12
X
Iestyn Harris Bradford Bulls 2006
Steve McNamara
Super League 12 27 16 1 9 3 / 12
X
Paul Deacon Bradford Bulls 2007
Super League 13 27 - - - - - - - - Bradford Bulls 2008
Super League 14 27 - - - - - - - - Bradford Bulls 2009
Super League 15 27 - - - - - - - - Bradford Bulls 2010

Statistics and records

Stadium

Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls since 1934. The official name of the stadium is currently "Grattan Stadium" due to corporate sponsorship. Odsal has also hosted many other sports, including association football, speedway, stock car racing, basketball featuring the Harlem Globetrotters, wrestling, show jumping and kabaddi. The stadium boasts one of the largest attendances of all time for rugby league (102,569) when Halifax played Warrington on the 5th of May, 1954.

2008 Squad Stats

|} Ever Present
  • 16 Sam Burgess Players used = 24 Average age = 25.8

    Run-on Team 2008

    Subs
  • 5Tame Tupou
  • 6Iestyn Harris
  • 15Matt Cook
  • 17Matt James
  • 18Craig Kopczak Subs
  • 19Simon Finnigan
  • 24Paul Sykes
  • 27Richard Johnson
  • 28Keale Carlile Injured
  • 6Iestyn Harris
  • 7Paul Deacon
  • 14Chris Feather
  • 20Wayne Godwin
  • 23Chris Nero - Out for 7 Weeks - 3rd July 2008
  • 25Semi Tadulala - Out for 6 weeks - 3rd July 2008 On Season Loan
  • 26Jason Crookes - Widnes Vikings

    2008 Out of Contract Players

  • 3 James Evans
  • 6 Iestyn Harris
  • 8 Joe Vagana
  • 10 Andy Lynch
  • 18 Craig Kopczak
  • 19 Simon Finnigan
  • 25 Semi Tadulala
  • 26 Jason Crookes
  • 27 Richard Johnson

    2008 Fixtures/Results

    2008 Engage Super League
    Date Competition Round Opponent Result Score Home/Away Venue Tries oals ttendance V eport
    10/02/2008 League 1 Wakefield L 24-26 Away Belle Vue Newton (2), Platt, Sykes Deacon (4/5) 9,851 Highlights Report
    16/02/2008 League 2 Huddersfield W 38-12 Home Grattan Stadium Newton, Finnigan (2),Evans,Sykes, Morrison Deacon (7/7) 10,124 Highlights Report
    22/02/2008 League 3 St Helens L 16-22 Home Grattan Stadium Evans,Sykes (2) Deacon (2/3) 10,756 Highlights Report
    01/03/2008 League 4 Wigan L 14-28 Away JJB Stadium Godwin, Feather Deacon (3/3) 15,444 Highlights Report
    08/03/2008 League 5 Catalans W Away Stade Gilbert Morrison, Hape, Finnigan Deacon (4/4) Highlights Report
    16/03/2008 League 6 Warrington W 23-10 Home Grattan Stadium Sykes, Burgess, Jeffries Deacon (5/6) (1dg) 11,838 Highlights Report
    20/03/2008 League 7 Leeds L 2-44 Away Headingley - Deacon (1/1) 19,296 Highlights Report
    24/03/2008 League 8 Harlequins W 32-24 Home Grattan Stadium Burgess,Halley,Solomona, Evans,Deacon Deacon (6/6) 8,428 Highlights Report
    30/03/2008 League 9 Castleford W 50-4 Home Grattan Stadium Godwin, Evans,Tadulala(3) Sykes, Jeffries, Hape, Nero Deacon (6/8)
    Harris (1/1)
    10,119 Highlights Report
    06/04/2008 League 10 Hull FC W 24-8 Away KC Stadium Nero, Cook, Burgess, Tadulala Deacon (4/6) 13,617 Highlights Report
    13/04/2008 League 11 Hull KR L 18-20 Away New Craven Park Tadulala, Sykes, Solomona Harris (3/3) 8,377 Highlights Report
    19/4/2008 Cup 4 Toulouse W 98-6 Home Grattan Stadium Burgess, Jeffries (2), Tadulala (3), Morrison (3), Evans, Halley (4), Finnigan (2), Tupou Harris (15/17) 3,569 Report
    27/04/2008 League 12 Wigan W 26-12 Home Grattan Stadium Tadulala, Hape, Jeffries, Evans Deacon (5/7) 11,896 Highlights Report
    3/05/2008 League 13 Leeds L 26-40 Home Millennium Stadium Tadulala (2), Hape, Burgess Deacon (5/7) 30,628 Highlights Report
    11/5/2008 Cup 5 Catalans W 46-16 Home Grattan Stadium Tadulala (3), Burgess, Halley, Langley, Nero, Hape Deacon (7/7), Harris 0/1 5,057 Report
    18/05/2008 14 Castleford W 46-24 Away The Jungle Sykes,Newton,Burgess,Morrison,Langley, Platt, Jeffries,Finnigan Deacon (7/8) 7,855 Highlights Report
    23/05/2008 League 15 Leeds L 14-30 Home Grattan Stadium Solomona, Halley, Tupou Sykes (1/3) 14,013 Highlights Report
    1/6/2008 Cup QF Hull FC Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    08/06/2008 League 16 Catalans Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    13/06/2008 League 17 St Helens Away Highlights Report
    22/06/2008 League 18 Hull FC Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    29/06/2008 League 19 Hull KR Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    06/07/2008 League 20 Huddersfield Away Galpharm St Highlights Report
    27/7/2008 Cup SF Highlights Report
    13/07/2008 League 21 Warrington Away Halliwell Jones Highlights Report
    20/07/2008 League 22 Wakefield Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    03/08/2008 League 23 Harlequins Away The Stoop Highlights Report
    08/08/2008 League 24 Leeds Away Headingley Highlights Report
    23/8/2008 Cup Final Wembly Stadium Highlights Report
    17/08/2008 League 25 Hull FC Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    24/08/2008 League 26 Hull KR Home Grattan Stadium Highlights Report
    07/09/2008 League 27 Away The Jungle Highlights Report
    12/09/2008 Playoffs PO1 Highlights Report
    13/09/2008 Playoffs PO2 Highlights Report
    19/09/2008 Playoffs PO3 Highlights Report
    20/09/2008 Playoffs PO4 Highlights Report
    26/09/2008 Playoffs PO5 Highlights Report
    04/10/2008 Playoffs SLGF Old Trafford Highlights Report

    Results summary

    As of Rd 14, 18th May 2008
    Overall Home Away
    Pld Pts W D L PF PA PD W D L PF PA PD W D L PF PA PD
    15 16 8 0 7 373 322 +51 4 0 3 225 154 71 3 0 4 148 168 -20

    Results by round

  • As of Rd 14, 18th May 2008
    Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
    Ground A H H A A H A H H A A H H A H H A H H A A H A A H H A
    Result L W L L W W L W W W L W L W L 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

    2009 Transfers In/Out

    In
    Name Signed from Fee Date
    Out
    Name Signed for Fee Date
    Shontayne Hape Bath Rugby May 2008
    Re Signing
    Name Contract until Years Signed Date
    Paul Deacon 2010 2 years April 2008
    Glenn Morrison 2009 1 year May 2008
    Michael Platt 2011 3 Years May 2008
    Wayne Godwin 2011 3 Years May 2008
    Dave Halley 2009 1 Year May 2008

    Captains

    From 1996 -
  • Robbie Paul 1996 - 2004
  • Jamie Peacock 2005
  • Iestyn Harris 2006
  • Paul Deacon 2007 -

    Coaching Register

    From 1930 -
  • Dai Rees 1936 - 1960
  • Trevor Foster 1960 - 1961
  • Doug Greenall 1961
  • Jimmy Ledgard 1961 - 1962
  • Harry Beverley 1962 - 1963
  • Jack Wilkinson 1963
  • Gus Risman 1964 - 1971
  • Harry Street 1971 1972
  • Ian Brooke 1973 - 1975
  • Roy Francis 1975 - 1977
  • Peter Fox 1977 - 1985
  • Barry Seaborne 1985 - 1989
  • David Hobbs 1989
  • Ron Willey 1989 - 1990
  • David Hobbs 1990 - 1993
  • Peter Fox 1993 - 1995
  • Brian Smith 1995 - 1996
  • Matthew Elliott 1996 - 2000
  • Brian Noble 2001 - 2006
  • Steve McNamara 2006

    Player Records

    All-time Top 5 Bradford Bulls Tryscorers
  • Jack McLean - 261
  • David Redfearn - 240
  • Tommy Winnard - 167
  • Eric Batten - 156
  • Robbie Paul - 156 All-time Top 5 Bradford Bulls Point Scorers
  • Paul Deacon* - 2,306
  • Keith Mumby - 1985 All-time Top 5 Bradford Bulls Appearances
  • Keith Mumby - 588
  • George Carmichael - 473
  • David Redfearn - 470
  • Trevor Foster - 433
  • Ernest Ward - 391

    Former Super League Players

  • Paul Anderson
  • Ryan Atkins
  • Michael Banks
  • Marcus Bai
  • Chris Birchall
  • Graeme Bradley
  • Chris Bridge
  • Justin Brooker
  • David Boyle
  • Matt Calland
  • Gary Christie
  • Richard Colley
  • Paul Cook
  • Kevin Crouthers
  • Jason Donahue
  • Brandon Costin
  • Jeremy Donougher
  • Bernard Dwyer
  • Shaun Edwards
  • Abi Ekoku
  • Karl Fairbank
  • Brett Ferres
  • Stuart Fielden
  • Mike Forshaw
  • Daniel Gartner
  • Stanley Gene
  • Lee Gilmour
  • Nathan Graham
  • Jon Hamer
  • Gareth Handford
  • Neil Harmon
  • Ben Harris
  • Carlos Hassan
  • Richard Hawkyard
  • Ian Henderson
  • Tommy Hodgkinson
  • Andy Hodgson
  • Harvey Howard
  • Phil Howlett
  • Paul Johnson
  • Warren Jowett
  • Simon Knox
  • Toa Kohe-Love
  • Davide Longo
  • Paul Loughlin
  • James Lowes
  • Brad Mackay
  • Greame Mackay
  • Nathan McAvoy
  • Brian McDermott
  • Craig McDowell
  • Chris McKenna
  • Steve McNamara
  • Paul Medley
  • Richard Moore
  • Adrian Morley
  • Brad Meyers
  • Scott Naylor
  • Sonny Nickle
  • Rob Parker
  • Henry Paul
  • Robbie Paul
  • Danny Peacock
  • Jamie Peacock
  • Karl Pratt
  • Leon Pryce
  • Karl Pryce
  • Lee Radford
  • Stuart Reardon
  • Tahi Reihana
  • Shane Rigon
  • Jon Scales
  • Roger Simpson
  • Aaron Smith
  • Andy Smith
  • Hudson Smith
  • Stuart Spruce
  • Gareth Stanley
  • Marcus St Hilaire
  • Logan Swann
  • Glen Tomlinson
  • Lesley Vainikolo
  • Tevita Vaikona
  • Alex Wilkinson
  • Michael Withers
  • Jeff Wittenberg
  • Nick Zisti

    Retired numbers

  • 21 Karl Fairbank
  • 28 Stuart Spruce
  • Team of the Century

    As announced in Bradford's T&A Paper on 31 August, 2007 :Bradford's Team of the Century
    Head Coach
  • 00 Brian Noble Kit man
  • 00 Fred RobinsonFurther Information

    Get more info on 'Bradford Bulls'.


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