Tuesday 20th July, 20102 months ago
Bradford, the City which needs to smile
Flicking between channels during The Simpsons advert break one weekday recently, I was shocked to see Valley Parade appear as part of the backdrop behind a BBC national news reporter. The piece actually had nothing to do with Bradford City, it was about how the life expectancy of people living in poorer places like Bradford was a couple of years less than people who lived just a few miles down the road, in nicer areas.
My surprise turned to annoyance. As a Skipton resident, it was great that the reporter was telling me people who lived down the Aire Valley from Bradford are statistically likely to live a bit longer, but why did this national news story have to focus on Bradford at all? It was just another negative media piece about the UK’s sixth largest city, at a time when it seems to be getting especially kicked in the teeth from all sides.
During the recent General Election campaign, the plight of Bradford was highlighted when local resident Emma Heal attacked David Cameron for the way the Conservative Bradford Council had allowed the city to go into decline. She was referring to the embarrassing hole in the city centre where a shopping centre was supposed to have been built long before the term “credit crunch” was heard of by most people.
Then there’s the on-going saga with the Bradford Odeon, an iconic building allowed to rot away through no one having the ambition or vision to do something worthwhile with it. More serious was the recent Bradford murders which generated huge national media coverage, little of which gave a positive impression of the city.
And the negative headlines may not yet be over. Recently Bradford City announced its home game with Southend had been switched from Saturday 28 August to the evening before, without providing any explanation. But it’s recently become clear why, as the English Defence League (EDL) is scheduled to be holding a protest in the city on that day, which has forced the police to ask for the League Two fixture to be moved (the demo is advertised on its website, and there are rumours Bradford businesses will be closing for fear of trouble).
You need only watch footage secretly filmed by the Guardian in May, or check out local media reports of demonstrations the EDL has held in other English towns, to appreciate what might be in store for Bradford that Bank Holiday weekend. One of the organisers told the Guardian reporter, “Bradford will be huge…(it) is a place that has got to be hit.” Memories of the Bradford race riots in 2001 remain fresh, the prospect of similar scenes would have the vast majority of Bradford people despairing, and TV crews charging up the M1.
Far be it from me to influence your political views, but if you are against the EDL’s protest you might wish to visit Centenary Square on Saturday to add your signature to a petition to stop the event.
Regardless of whether or not the demo does go ahead, the problems in Bradford remain. The way the City has been allowed to decline is heart-breaking, and the reputation it has among people who live nearby shows just why it has such a poor national one. So many of my friends talk of going shopping to Leeds or Manchester or Harrogate or anywhere but Bradford, and who can blame them? A few years ago I organised a trip around the pubs of Bradford for my birthday night out. Some friends were genuinely fearful of coming, having pre-conceptions of what the City is like. In the end they were pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable the City Centre pubs were. Not that they’ve been back since, mind.
The City needs shaking up, it needs people with a vision and sense of realism to tackle the issues and give every resident the sort of place to live they deserve. It needs a pro-active commitment that won’t be abandoned when problems arise, it needs more than short-term thinking or a belief that a magic wand can solve everything. It needs help now, but sadly we won’t hold our breath.
And what does this have to do with Bradford City? Not much, but as the new season approaches and we largely remain optimistic about the prospects of glory, perhaps it’s worth reflecting on whether the football club can play a role in lifting some of the gloom.
Of course winning football matches doesn’t remove the problems. We’ve just seen a World Cup held in the World’s poorest continent, which had sparked over-optimism from some people that a football tournament could change these issues. It couldn’t, but it could have helped a little. And even though it’s inevitable that, in years to come, we’ll be treated to media stories about how the World Cup didn’t change Africa and how those lovely stadiums are now under-used, we shouldn’t forget it did some good.
Which Bradford City Football Club could also do locally. For all the negative media stories and problems that affect the City’s image, how good would it be to have Bradford associated with success through reports of the club’s success? “Bradford win again” we might hear every Saturday night on the BBC Football League Show. “Bradford are top of the league” would make a change from hearing about all those league tables the City inevitably appears near the foot of.
In our Bantams bubble we sometimes allow ourselves to believe only those of us inside Valley Parade on a Saturday afternoon care about the team’s fortunes. But who listens to the home radio commentaries BBC Radio Leeds is so jubilant to have agreed again for this coming season? Who else scans the back page of the T&A every day? Who else would join us in Centenary Square to celebrate a promotion? Bradford City does matter to more people than just those of us committed enough to go to the games, and it can do some good in difficult times.
As we prepare for the big kick off, hoping that this time it will finally go in the manner we dream it, it’s worth considering whether who most of all needs Bradford City to get promoted this season is the City of Bradford itself.
Hull did it. Wigan did it. Huddersfield did it. Surely, a move by Bulls to a widened pitch at VP would generate interest and move both clubs forward. I assume that the CUTS will mean the OSV will not be built.So now must be the time to move.
Great article, Jason… I remember Bradford-based friends of mine telling me about the buzz that enveloped the city when the Bantams got promoted to the Premier League – I was living in London (a small town south of Guiseley) at the time and nowadays, as an offcumden to this wonderful city, it would be fantastic to be part of something similar! I do worry for the sanity of the regular army of whingers who inhabit the T&A messageboard and sections of the home stands, however, if (and by that I mean ‘when’ – Operation Optimistic Bradford starts here!) we get promoted… Where to vent their spleen? Let’s hope we get presented with the end-of-season silverware in a torrential downpour – that should keep everybody happy!
Let’s be honest to ourselves, Bradford as a city has been in decline for almost 2 decades, compare it now to say 20 years ago or longer. As for the RACE riots, could those have coincided with the riots by the Kashmiri muslims towards local businesses and the police and local residents and their property? Using the race card for an excuse for the riots has turned many away from the city, and let’s not forget there were riots a few years prior. The riots had nothing to do with race, and some of it was not that far from my grans street, you are talking yards and it is this race card excuse which annoys millions in this country creating ill feeling. I used to travel to Bradford more or less ever single weekend, but now, visit a relative, the football and I will travel there for a curry take-away to either Westgate or Karachi, but I can not honestly remember the last time I actually stepped into the city centre, I really can’t. I hate to say this, but I have turned my back on the city, for my shopping, Leeds and Huddersfield and Wakefield offer so much more, not counting Barnsley and Sheffield or Manchester which is about the same amount of time on the M62. I will praise a lot of the beautiful country around the city, and prefer it to the areas around Leeds, and is comparable to the best Huddesrfield can offer. But Bradford as a city is atrocious, I grew up with Bradford as my 2nd home, hence why I was brought up as a City supporter, but the local council for the last 15 years have been blinded by certain issues and policitcal correctness and never tackled anything worthwhile in a manner to keep Bradford in the echelon it should be. I know many that will avoid Bradford because of it’s population, I will not count myself that ignorant and do that as I have always put money into the city’s local businesses and still do, but it is a sorry fact. Many won’t travel there because there is nothing there, some do not like the city centre as it is on an incline. The city definitely needs a drastic revamp and it will take a decade or 2 to achieve it. As sad as it sounds, I even know City supporters not going to watch Bradford anymore because they will no longer travel to the city and praying for the club to relocate outside the centre, maybe up to Odsal. I do see the bigger picture, but as a proud Yorkshireman, I would love to see Bradford back to how it should be. Also knowing about the EDL doing a protest, I will avoid the city as I did with Leeds, but the media has a lot of the blame at it’s hands trying to broadcast it like a BNP march. We can moan, we can watch the city deteriate, or it is about time Bradfordians did something about it. NOONE ELSE WILL!!! It really is simple, we can pretend people outside of Bradford don’t have certain thoughts, we can pretend things can be fixed with a wave of a magic wand, or we can start admitting certain things and addressing everything that needs addressing. I would prefer the latter as I would love a major thriving bustling cultural city on my doorstep as I hate Leeds for car travel.
And f*ck the EDL… Although that probably won’t get posted…
The city needs a consistant and sizable flow of income to get it off the ground. Possibly by utilising cheap real estate and office space within the city and outer areas to under-cut Leeds and house large company headquarters, admin departments and call centres etc which would boost job prospects in the district.
Following on from that the creation of a real leisure attraction within the city to attract people to the area and spend large quantities of cash. The Westfield complex would have (will be?) been a huge part of this as long as other companies provide facilities in addition to this such as a good concert venue, cinema complex, restaurants, pubs, bowling alley, etc all located within walking distance of each other and in a safe and friendly environment.
I really do not see Westfield completing the Bradford project as there is nowhere near enough money in the local economy to make it profitable. I have spent a lot of time working at Westfield London and Derby and these stores are hugh in size, even the Derby store has a massive daily footfall which i very much doubt Bradford could match. I am sure research was done and approved regarding proposed custom for the store and hope i am proven wrong.
My mates in Bradford never go out in the city and havent for a number of years, prefering Leeds and Halifax etc while even my parents have now moved away from the city.
Without an industrial revolution occuring i very much doubt i will ever move back to Bradford either which is a shame really. It is a sad coincidence that the downfall of BCFC has coincided with the misery of the last 10 years of incompentent governance by the local council along with negative publicity with the recent murders, riots, references connecting Bradford with the Yorkshire Ripper and Shannon Matthews etc.
I do believe a proper feel good factor can affect attitudes and the way people behave and creates positive actions so if the government can lead the way with the popular decision regarding the development of the city centre (and Odeon), the westfield project and good fortunes at VP the future will be bright.
It is sad to say it but i think the only way really is up.
You live in f-ing Skipton. You visit Bradford once a fortnight during the season. I live in Bradford and have done so for more than half my life. Bradford is only a city because of there were rich Bradford nobs shouting before the First World War. It is now the worst city in Britain (and I have been to all the others that might sit on that throne).
The centre of my city could not be any worse if an evil genius had sat down and planned to destroy what little civic pride we had left. Bradford is a Subaru Impreza with no insurance. Someone living in North Yorkshire whining about what the media says about the city they have abandoned does nothing but help the parasites that get paid to destroy my city.
I don’t understand your point. So because I live outside I’m not supposed to have any feelings towards it? I happen to love Bradford as a place, not just because of the football team. It breaks my heart to see what has happened to it in recent years. I have never lived in the city, so I never abandoned it. My wife works in the city, we both regularly shop there despite the lack of choice compared to other cities.
If an outsider is not allowed to have a view then I’m sorry I offended you. It seems I agree in principle with your views, but I’m not allowed to “whine” because it’s got to do nothing to do with me. I’m not trying to add the doom and gloom, I would like to see something done about the situation. But like you say it’s nothing to do with me so I’ll shut up and remember only true Bradfordians are allowed to have an opinion.
I have to correct you there Paul, Shannon’s family are from Dewsbury which is another town which is going down the toilet big time, just watch, it is following Bradford’s trail. You do point a lot of things out, City’s downfall coincides with the city of Bradford, as does the Bulls and also has been talk about Avenue heading towards Leeds for past couple of years and now talk of administration.
There are many reasons people are avoiding Bradford, not just a couple and you have seen it from a business point of view which is the problem, it is that concensus which is the problem. Business is not the problem, that is not why people and other businesses are avoiding Bradford. I have outlined a couple of issues with the city of Bradford in my previous post, and you really need to understand every single person’s attitude towards the city. About 6 years ago, my MD asked me why do I go to watch Bradford City as it is “full of Pakis”, I just told her to actually go to a game. This last comment may not get printed, but it is this attitude why God knows how many people will not visit the City.
I have known people move out of the city with the first riots and because of the local people. I am not suggesting anything drastic, all I am suggesting, we need to not fool ourselves why the city is on a decline. There are call centres in Bradford, and in all honesty, I do not know why Bradford is not chosen over Leeds as cheaper to rent out offices, only the companies in Leeds like British Gas can answer that. Bradford’s decline started well before businesses started to pull out, and the sad thing is, City’s supporters thrive on negativity, I have been going too long for anyone to tell me any other. It is like some want us to fail so many can have a good moan. If you do not believe me, just wait for the first player to slip on a wet surface at valley parade, the first loss of the season even if it is March and all you will hear is relegation talk and Taylor is useless.
It is nothing to do with business, people are not leaving Bradford or avoiding the city because it is better to drink elsewhere, because jobs are elsewhere, Bradford is ideally located for work between Manchester and Leeds, even Huddersfield. People haven’t left the city because all the shops have closed years after they have left and will not be coming back. People really need to understand why the majority are turning their back on the city and sporting clubs. I have practically turned my back on the Bulls and I can not commit to City as much as I would like to because of work, and I do refuse to pay £20 on the gate for 4th division football for the very few games I may be able to attend, I could watch football for a similar price by travelling down the M1 or the M62 corridor in a similar time it takes me to travel to Bradford, plus it will be a higher level of football.
Bradford is in the doldrums and will remain until the issues are taken by the scruff of the neck and pretending it is just a one horse race to the finish line. It isn’t. You need to look at people’s perception and attitudes outside of Bradford and address them about the people of Bradford, about Bradford as a city, Bradford as a day out, Bradford as a night out, Bradford for sport, Bradford for recreation. Manchester has Trafford Park, Leeds White Rose, Cas has Escape I believe. What does Bradford have? Many see Bradford as an Islamic state, do you think all the business in the world will attract them? Some see Bradford as a dump, some see Bradford as a poor man’s alternative to towns throughout west Yorkshire and I am even counting the major ones like Huddersfield or other cities. Let’s say the shops come back, business comes back, would there be any different ones to every other city, Smiths, Wilkinsons, Greggs, HMV. Only the people of Bradford can change the attitude of the people outside of the city, like they did a couple of times with the riots over a few years. The football is part of the city and been a victim of it all too as have all us supporters. Here is a though, what percentage of the Bantam support is outside of say 6 miles from Bradford centre? Why do you think there are many calling for the club to leave Bradford and relocate on the outskirts.
The key is with the Bradfordians, noone else, and noone from outside like you suggest Paul.
@ Glyn, part of Skipton is in West Yorkshire I believe.
I understand where you are coming from, I have been frustrated watching my 2nd home been left to rot. You can’t really have a go at Paul, it is more important knowing why he has turned his back on the city and not lambast him. That would help solve the issues.
Bradford has some of the most amazing buildings in the North but unfortunately many of them are abandoned and run down. It strikes me that with rather limited input many of those buildings could be renovated in a way that offered a genuine opportunity for starter homes. So many people under 30 cannot afford owt decent and if houses/appartments that were nice but not too costly became available, people would move towards the centre, making retail centres much more viable
A thoughtful article Jason, summing up the reasons why I keep coming back to the BfB site. I hope I don’t offend your previous contributor when I say that although I was born and bred in Bradford I have not lived in the city for many years. That’s life – things happen – we move on. And yet I retain a strong affection for the city, and Bradford City FC has always played an important part in my life. It saddens me to see the demise of the city, which has occured during a period when other urban centres have been thriving. There may be many reasons for this, but those who have been entrusted with political leadership in the city must bear a significant, and damming, responsibility. I too am hopeful for a successful season for BCFC. Recent times have been painful both for those loyal supporters who have stood by their team and also the club management who appear to have worked hard for little reward. A successful football club does reflect well on the city and I certainly recall the positive image engendered by “the premiership years” on the other side of the Pennines. Let’s hope that Peter Taylor and the players he has gathered around him live up to our hopes and that the business and political communities of Bradford are able to capitalise on sporting success and give us all something to smile about.
A great article about a subject I feel strongly about. Too many people from Bradford have a bleak view of the city , forget those from outside and we do need more brave people like that lady who challenged David Cameron on the shortcomings of all those “representing” our city in town hall and Westminster.
I moved to the Bradford area christmas 1979 when I 10 years old and do love this city for what it was and what it could be and i will always see the positives , it isn’t difficult. Little Germany has one of the highest concentrations of listed building anywhere in the country , the town hall in itself is a wonderful building. We have the National Museum of Media , n Industrial Museum to rival any other in the country , Lister Park , Cartwright Hall and the small matter of a World Heritage Site in Saltaire , how many of our more revered neighbours can lay claim to having that in their city. Everybody within the city can be in some wonderful countryside in 20 to 30 minutes (Bingleys St Ives Estate , Shipley Glen , Baildon Moor … should I go on).
Commercially things do look to be improving slowly. Has anyone seen what Marks and Spencer , a company with Leeds origins , have built at the top of the M606. We have companies to be proud of with Bradford origins , Morrisons Supermarkets and Pace to name two.
And one of the most critically acclaimed living artists , David Hockney , is a Bradfordian.
OK we can’t go shopping , but that will change , we can go drinking in the city centre , albeit in perhaps less salubrious establishments , in safety and where you will find some great characters (every town has it’s problems of an evening where booze is concerned). We are culturally diverse but hasn’t that always been Bradfords way throughout its history ? It can be used to our advantage , lets hope work similar to that of Zesh Rehmans happens in all parts of the City.
And then there’s the mighty Bantams. What more can I say but Promoted by Christmas , Champions by Easter !
A great debate proviking article. Ive lived in Bradford all my life(26 years). I went to a school where if you didnt hang around in a group of your mates you would have been taxed(a nice word for mugged) by the groups of pakistanis that ‘ran’ the school. The fire that burned my hatred towards them had already been lit by getting mugged on boxing day in bradford city centre, getting marched up(i was 11 or 12 at the time) by the side of the cathedral to have my xmas money and presents that id just bought taken off me. Its these kind of pakistanis which ruin the reputation for the good, in my experiences however only the ‘few’. It is not just this group of people that have wrecked the image of the city or the city itself. You have to look at everything, I went into the centre a week ago and I came out thinking(i want to emigrate). The dross and scum that live in the city are no different to the dross and scum that live in any other. Its just in my city the dross and scum are the majority(probably because nobody with a brain would want to shop in bradford). I fear for this city, as i have for many years, but like Britain, Bradford in my eyes is beyond repair, having let the minority become the majority.
“It is nothing to do with business, people are not leaving Bradford or avoiding the city because it is better to drink elsewhere, because jobs are elsewhere.”
I am and do, fairly frequently. A night out in Bradford is not for me, there are few venues/pubs that I enjoy, although some notable exceptions (BPH, Shoulder, St George’s). There simply aren’t enough of these good, interesting places.
Also, re: shops etc. There are some rehashed arguments I’ll try and avoid, as we all know there are massive problems, and there has been an inept council for some time. The shortsightedness of such bodies as the council undoubtedly act as a catalyst in this downturn (local one NOT the national one which seemed a macro version of ours), but they are not alone. HMV (part of the Kingfisher group who also own Waterstone’s) were given the opportunity to move into Zavvi thus having two big, not competing but complementary shops, which could have played off against each other, but instead they opted to stay in the grotty building round by Jessop’s.
Fairly longwinded, but I hope it demonstrates my point. We Bradfordians can help, but it needs a push from the council and retail leaders, the latter of which I think will certainly not come as their outlook gets bleaker.
Bradford as a City is dead. Pains me to say it but for me the only solution is to become part of a “Greater Leeds” area such as Greater Manchester is. No amount of investment in the city centre will drag the folks who have moved out to the Aire Valley back to visit Bradford, what is there to do apart from the Media Museum.
For example, next week I’m off with the kids. We plan to get the train to Leeds for the day(20 mins) go see a film, have something to eat, look around the shops. Can’t do that in Bradford.
Agree that BCFC could be the postive influence for Bradford, but the council can’t see the benefits as don’t local businesses. I was at a meeting yesterday and the MD of Seabrook gave a presentation on how proud they are to be a Bradford company. Part of the presentation was on their marketing and covered the fact they are now the “official crisps” of Old Trafford, Villa Park + a couple of other premiership teams. I asked a question on when they would be the “offical crisp of Valley Parade. the MD (a Liverpool fan) laughed and said “is that Bradford?”. I said yes your local team. He advised basically advised that there is history there and they have no plans to support BCFC.
Seems some serious bridge building needs to be done both at BCFC, local businesses & the council to start to build “good news” stories about Bradford for a change.
Jason
I think this persons comments highlight some of the problems anyone who tries to ‘repair’ the city woudl face.
Like you I have never lived in Bradford, but through supporting the football team have developed a certain affection for the city as a whole. I don’t go very often because it’s not easy to get to and not very rewarding once there (at the moment). But it can be fixed. In my opinion, the asian population is a positive which makes the city stand out in the UK. Other cities have ‘China Towns’ and I think Bradford could benefit from being proud of it’s asian population. It woudl be relatively easy to generate some positive PR these days given how fashionable all things bollywood have become.
Just a quick comment regarding your reaction to my post from Andrew B. I agree with a lot of what you are saying but i am writing as a bit of an outsider looking in where you may not be. I know Shannon Matthews parents were from Dewsbury but to the national press this was refered to as Bradford nine times out of ten. I lived in Cambridge at the time and the impression of some of the half wits on the news did not present the city in a good light but if thats the locals thats the locals i suppose. Same as during the 2001 riots when i lived in France and i had to explain that the burning city on the TV was my home town.
I know the general negative attitude of many Bradford people does not help in the cities cause, i moved my season ticket (which i shared with my brother) every season as we were consistantly sat next to some whinging know it all who never piped down regardless of performance.
I just do not see the city thriving or even improving until money is brought in by business thus improving the general social well being of the demographic thus creating a positive attitude, employment, a city to be proud of and a decent reputation to follow.
The diverse nature of the city is a positive asset but there is a thin line between the likes of the very impressive China Town area in Birmingham city centre and Manchesters curry mile and what we have available in Great Horton and Manningham, in fact it is not a thin line it is a world apart.
It is up to Bradfordians who live and breath the city to make/force change but without leadership from the council/govornment and the business community i do not think this will happen as stereotypes are hard to shake off and Bradford is stuck with a massive one.
Where is this supposed clamour to move Bradford City up the Aire Valley or to Odsal? Apart from a handful of comments on message boards I have never heard City fans pleading to leave Valley Parade – in fact it is usually the complete opposite. I often hear that ‘no one’ visits Bradford anymore, either for shopping or leisure, but astonishingly when I go into town there are lots of people there, I feel like shouting ‘what are you all doing here?’
I know we all view the world through different pairs of eyes, but please try to remember that your view, is just that. Indeed, try and remember that the views of people who have left Bradford to live up the Aire Valley are unlikely to be positive. They left for a reason – sometimes a dislike of different races – and so don’t be shocked that they will, aided and abetted by the national print media, reguritate the usual horror stories and tell everyone they are so glad they left, etc.
I live in inner-city Bradford. Apart from the traffic, cars full of terrified white people escaping the city centre doubtless, it’s OK. The housing is cheap, buses run every few minutes and there are curry houses, chip shops and pubs galore. My worst neighbours are a white family who drink all day and do little else, but I usually ignore or humour them. The shopping used to be better in town, but I can get everything I need there – although I have to add the rider that I am hardly obsessed with consumerism, buying more things for the sake of it seems to be a huge advertising con to me. Indeed, shopping as a leisure activity is one of the most depressing developments of the 21st century. Some of my nicest neighbours are of Pakistani descent. Not all of them drive high powered cars playing Snoop Dog at high volume – in fact I’d say 99.9% don’t. Neither are 99.9% planning a riot or a bombing campaign against the decadent west. I’m as likely to be mugged by a drug fuelled white boy from Buttershaw than an Ali G wannabe from Barkerend (thankfully despite decades wandering the inner-city streets I’ve never been mugged).
Race is a big issue in Bradford, but is usually a bigger issue for those who don’t live here. Bradford becomes the sum of all their fears. If you are white and affluent and have left Bradford then complaining that Bradford doesn’t have many white affluent people is well… hypocritical? Bradford has changed, and hardly for the better, but it has changed. I accept it, I try to be positive in my outlook and accept the different cultures. I hate the poverty, noise and rubbish much more than the colour of the faces around me.
If you cannot accept what has happened to Bradford (and a hundred other communities in Britain) then I guess you’ve already left. That’s fine, I do not seek to judge anyone on here or in the wider world, but if you have left Bradford because you dislike certain aspects of it, then forget about us, move on and leave us to rot in our supposed multi-cultural hell hole. A lot of people in the print media, and on bar stools, like to sneer at Bradford. Well, that’s their problem, I suggest they take a look in the mirror and come to terms with their ingrained prejudices before judging others. Bradford has an uphill task regenerating, partly due to its own problems, but also due to the problems in the minds of other people. We can attempt to fix the former, but I’m not sure of the latter.
As for the EDL, and the inevitable counter demonstration, please go somewhere else, I thought we were playing on the Friday because we were on Sky! Now becasue of angry people on both sides, I have lost my usual happy Saturday in town. The latest score from Bradford – Hate 1 Love 0.
Hi David, no disrespect, but your attitude is the attitude I have pointed out in previous posts on here. What good does “leave us alone if you don’t like us” have with anyone from outside Bradford? As a City supporter, I could use that attitude amongst all the Town and Beeston United supporters/fans for the past decade I have been outnumbered and surrounded by. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I actually give them as good as they give!!! I really am sorry David, but your attitude does not do Bradford any good. You love your city, then promote it, do not use the race card constantly as you seem to bad mouth “white people” that will just breed further hatred, and why colour code us and noone else may I ask? As for Bradford being busy, come on, you been to Leeds recently or any other major town or city or remember Bradford what it used to be like compared to what it is like now? Apart from Foster square, which in all fairness is an ok place to shop AND it provides free accessible parking to a major city centre, which is the one and only reason I will not drive to Leeds, saying that though, easy access with the train which is cheap enough. I really do mean this with no disrespect, Bradford is not a bustling metropolis as you paint it to be, it is a dead giant, there are people walking about at peak times, but it isn’t busy compared to smaller towns let alone cities throughout the country. Honestly David, compared to the other cities, noone from outside the city visits Bradford for MANY reasons and will not even think about it. As for my mentality for the city, don’t forget Bradford was my 2nd home growing up, I am a proud Yorkshireman, and I hate any Yorkshire city with any negative press. I would love to see every single city, town and village thrive, but only the Bradford people, media, and businesses can do that. Noone else. All you are doing is shutting everyone out with the way you come across. Noone is interested in your neighbours, they are one family in how many millions. You want Bradford to be where you want it to be, then bring people in and not push them out. I have noticed my previous post has not been published on here, maybe it was too close to the bone to be published. One last thing, to point out the incompetence of Bradford council, they knock all the buildings down then did that “Come visit Bradford” promotion, people came and saw a dump, saw a building site, saw empty shops and will never come back. That is what the council advertised. To me, I would have run that AFTER all the work had been completed or in all honesty, before it all started while there was still a great city to visit. BRADFORDFORDIANS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL CREATE A BETTER BRADFORD, NOONE ELSE WILL. So do not shut yourselves off.
Quick note – Yes Andrew I didn’t publish your other comment for the simple reason that I didn’t think it was best to send this debate down the race route. While that is a topic of discussion in itself, I think it’s best that this particular debate sticks to the topic of Bradford as a city and what could/couldn’t/should/shouldn’t be done to tackle its decline.
I appreciate your stance Jason, but at the end of the day, we all want the best for the city, the club and the Bradford people. We just need to realise and deal with the many ignorances that anything with the Bradford label receives. I will acknowledge the negatives people have, and in doing so, that is the first step in confronting them. We need to be brave enough to say things as they are as that is the only way we can educate people no matter how close to the bone things get. I have travelled all over the country and the only places that generate a smile or a conversation are Huddersfield and Leeds. As an answer to you sticking to the topic of Bradford as a city, it is the people and businesses that make the city. You think of Detroit you think of Ford, you think of Batley you think of Foxs, Bradford really does have many positives, the point I am trying to convey is that it really is up to the local people and businesses to change everyone outside of the city’s perceptions and ideals. I personally do not think that this debate is limited to Bradford as a city because every single city town, metropolis is made up of people and businesses. If this site had an uncensored sister link for people with no links to Bradford and got their comments about the city, about its decline, would it really surprise anyone of the disgusting garbage that would be published? This is what we need to realise and deal with. I still promote Bradford, more so than Leeds, but not as a true Bradfordian, I can not change people’s stance.
Just a quick note Jason, Bradford is a tarnished brand at the end of the day. I will ask a simple question. Why? That is THE question that needs answering the most, and the next most important question is Who is going to do what about it? That really is as easy or difficult as the “city” can make it. The city needs get it’s house into order and to open its doors up.
Hi Andrew
There is no quick fix solution to the problems Bradford has, though it’s clear the council needs to be taking a lead and it appears to have contributed a great deal to the decline. I think it’s down to each and every person who lives in the city to make it the sort of place they want it to be, as simplistic as that sounds, and as others have commented it’s difficult and probably inappropriate for people who live outside the city to dictate how this should be done. As a nearby resident who loves the city, I would love to see a pro-active approach that is full of realism because I think Bradford can be a lot better than it is with the right attitude, but it’s not for me or you to dictate.
Incidentally, I understand this article either inspired or was mentioned in a BBC Radio Leeds phone in about Bradford last Thursday, it would have been interesting to listen to what was said.
ps – I would like to echo what David said that there are plenty of positives about Bradford and we should not forget that.