Bradford’s Harry Potter magic

BRADFORD CITY

1 BIG IN TIBET

Despite their ailing fortunes, Bradford boast some A- list fans – not least former One Direction heart- throb Zayn Malik and… er, the Dalai Lama. Malik is a local lad, but His Holiness was reportedly seduced by the club’s home strip, redolent of the robes worn by Buddhist monks. The Tibetan spiritual leader even blessed the Bantams ahead of their 2013 League Cup Final. It didn’t work, mind – they lost 5- 0 to Swansea.

2 COLOUR MAGIC

No other professional English team shares Bradford’s claret and amber mash- up. Bradford cashed in early on the Harry Potter movie boom as a result, flogging some 10,000 scarves akin to the wizard’s Gryffindor gear. Curiously, another Harry Potter – this one not dreamt up by JK Rowling – played for the club’s reserves in their early years.

3 “KEEP IT TIGHT…”

City’s Premier League clash with Derby in April 2000 produced a record- equalling seven goals before half- time – a feat seen only three times since 1992. Bradford led 4- 3 through Dean Windass’ hat- trick, but dropped two points after conceding a penalty. Doh.

4 QUIDS IN

You’ve heard of Mark Hughes’ two matches in one day, but Colin Doyle’s pair in the space of 24 hours runs Sparky close. In March 2018, the keeper – signed for precisely £ 1 from Blackpool two years earlier – played a full game for Ireland on Friday night, then landed six hours before kick- off the following day to help Bradford bag their first win for nearly three months. Commitment.

5 THAT’S NUMBERWANG

Bradford are the only English club to feature unique numbers on their players’ shirts, indicating the order in which they debuted. One fastidious Bradford fan spent two years compiling the list. We stand corrected: that’s commitment...