Take me home, Midland Road. A heavyweight love for the Bantams of Bradford City

Words: George Wood

Images: George Wood

My name is George Wood and I am a sports photographer from Bradford, West Yorkshire, covering many different sports in the North of England.

From an early age, I supported Bradford City and attended matches with my dad, grandad and sister. As with most supporters, the love for a club is passed from older generations to their kids, and then to their kids and gets you hooked forever.

At upper school, I gained an interest in photography and worked as a voluntary photographer at two local football clubs.

I also took my camera to Bradford City matches to capture the atmosphere of match-day.

In 2017, after building a portfolio I had the good fortune to be invited by the club to photograph at Bradford City for the season.

As a 16 year-old, this was an amazing opportunity to develop my skills at a professional club and one which was so close to my heart.

©George Wood/ Terrace Edition. Bradford City AFC.

Unlike many football clubs that have moved into soulless bowls in recent years, Valley Parade sits amongst rows of terrace houses in its original home at the heart of the Manningham community and still retains its character.

The view of the stands and the floodlights above the nearby rooftops conjures up a whole range of emotions of such a special place that is home to so many people.

I particularly wanted to capture the match-day experience from the eyes of a supporter. The coming together of thousands of people sharing of a common desire of supporting Bradford City.

The wonderful stadium, the packed stands, the buzz and jubilation of the crowd and of course the vivid colours of the club, the claret and amber that is unique to Bradford.

One of my favourite pictures from the 2017/18 season is the celebration of the kop following an Omari Patrick goal against Blackpool on the first day of the season.

As with many old stadia, Valley Parade still retains its character. This is part of the club’s identity and for a photographer offers fabulous opportunities to capture the emotion and moral fibre of a club integrated in the heart of the community.

One of my other favrourite shots is taken from a kickabout area at a nearby Community Centre with the lens pointing towards the South stand (Holywell Ash Lane).

The image is structured around an old football I found lying around which I placed in the foreground. Set against the backdrop of the stadium and an overcast sky the image, for me, portrays the grittiness of grass roots football and the sobriety of a basement league northern football club.

The following photographs symbolise matchday, a weekly ritual, a way of life.

Whether it is walking down the same road with streams of supporters in the distance, a mixture of nerves and excitement, the fanzine seller, the smell of the burger stand or the queue for the turnstile, it’s everything that makes football so engaging and emotive, visually dynamic subject matter for the photographer.

George is on Instagram: @georgewoodphotography

His website is: www.georgewoodphotography.co.uk

Time and Mossley

To the valley

The entertained

Over the brow

Tigers burning bright