Bradford City fans’ stories shared at stadium project
Bradford City AFC supporters’ memories of the club have been brought to life through an innovative virtual reality (VR)-inspired project from the University of Bradford.
‘Stories from Valley Parade’ has seen academics create a digital copy of the University of Bradford Stadium, traditionally known as Valley Parade, which people can explore through VR.
The project was officially launched at the stadium with an action-packed family fun day.
Two young Bantams pose for a photograph. Images credit: Thomas Gadd (Bradford City)
Professor Chris Gaffney, Professor of Archaeological Science at the University of Bradford, said: “We had a fantastic day showing the stories that the supporters have shared with us.
“The stories have shown what it is like to be a fan of a football club in a city like Bradford. The stories they have told us are heart-warming and bring the digital copy of the stadium alive.
“What we have really enjoyed about this project is that the individual stories could be told by any one of us, such as coming to your first football match.”
Davide Longo, Bradford City AFC’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We were delighted to host the ‘Stories from Valley Parade’ event, which offered supporters a spectacular insight into iconic moments from our history in the virtual world.
“The work done by the talented team at the University of Bradford to make this possible has been remarkable.
“As a club, we were honoured to see what our home looked like in VR, packed with memories from supporters.”
Fans took a virtual reality tour of the University of Bradford Stadium at the ‘Stories from Valley Parade’ event. Images credit: Thomas Gadd (Bradford City)
More on Stories from Valley Parade
Participants in the ‘Stories from Valley Parade’ project, which launched last year, were asked to answer questions about their experience of supporting Bradford City, nicknamed the Bantams.
The questions include sharing memories of their first and most memorable Bantams match, how they started supporting the club, family members’ memories of following the Bantams, where they sit at the University of Bradford Stadium and what it means to be a Bradford City AFC supporter.
The survey included a question on how people and communities supported each other following the fire at the stadium on May 11, 1985, which claimed 56 lives and injured 258 others.
A host of artists, including Lucie Lee Sykes, an interdisciplinary artist and researcher; Morgan Archer, a filmmaker and writer, and Samantha Walsh, a fashion and graphic designer, brought fans’ stories to life.
Podcast producer, Richard Dunbar, who interviewed fans for their memories of the 1985 fire and celebrating the club’s promotion to Sky Bet League One in May 2025 for a six-minute video which featured in the project, said: “It was a real honour for people to share their deeply personal stories, especially about the fire and what that meant for people who were there.
“It has been a time of remembrance and celebration this year and I wanted to put those two things together in the film.”
The VR headset proved a hit with Bradford City fans. Images credit: Thomas Gadd (Bradford City)
What happened at the launch day?
Fans who attended the event, held at the University of Bradford on Sunday 22 June, explored the digital copy of the club’s ground through a VR headset, joined a pitch side talk carried out by Davide Longo and Tony Baker, Bradford City AFC’s Commercial Executive, sat for their own personal Bradford City-inspired caricature, took part in a ‘Spot the Ball’ competition and designed their own Bantams kit.
Visitors also learned more about the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU), based at the University, and were invited to take part in a competition to put on a Bradford Sling (an arm elevation sling to offer support and immobilisation for injured arms, developed by Unit founder Professor David Sharpe) in the quickest time.
The University of Bradford signed a four-year sponsorship deal with Bradford City in 2022. This includes the University’s logo appearing on the back of the team’s home, away and alternative kits and Valley Parade being re-named as the University of Bradford Stadium.
The project forms part of the University’s Bradford 2025 programme, celebrating the sense of pride, belonging and wellbeing that being a football fan brings to people in the city. The project’s 3D data collection has been made possible by substantive investment from the Arts & Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Capability for Collections (CapCo) fund.
Caricatures were available to those who attend the ‘Stories from Valley Parade’ event. Images credit: Thomas Gadd (Bradford City)
Different is what we do
UNIMAGINABLE – We’re shaping the future in ways people couldn’t have imagined
Inviting people to share their stories of supporting Bradford City AFC is one of the ways the University of Bradford is helping to shape the future of archaeology and heritage.
Other ways include working with refugee and mixed communities in Jordan to explore digital heritage, and protecting heritage for the future. Find out more on our website
People were encouraged to share their memories of supporting Bradford City. Images credit: Thomas Gadd (Bradford City)