Match Thread Bradford City V Burnley 26th August 2026 7.45pm Carabao Cup 2nd Round (with Poll)

When I first started going I had no idea what league we were in or whether we in danger of being relegated as it had no currency. When I had being going for a few years I asked the other half why we couldn’t play in the top league, don’t laugh I was naive. Cup games were well attended at the time and I were always exciting.
So now we have the reverse mainly because the prize of promotion is worth more I suppose.

 

I don't believe for one second that introducing the trophy in the 80s has somehow dwindled crowds in other competitions; for starters, crowds are often down in the Championship, even though they aren't playing in it. I do think Onside makes a good point; since the introduction of Sky, the focus has been on league and playoff football, with the cups getting more and more watered down. It's resulted in teams fully focusing on the league and playing weakened teams, and the younger generations have been more and more focused on the PL and their own team in the league. Put it this way though, if we were playing Man United or Liverpool we'd have sold out at £30 a ticket, unless it's the 'top 6' a lot of people under 40 just aren't interested. It's a big shame because we don't have 1 rivalry with a top 6 team, and I'd always rather play a rival; I include Burnley as one.

 

There was always a buzz about the fa cup and followings in the 70s and 80s were pretty good home and away compared to the league attendances

 

Yeah, loved the FA Cup games... and the replay.. and the 2nd replay... and..

..Anyway, the magic has been diluted by Champ and Prem clubs not fielding full sides and not particularly bothered I don't think.

 

Tickets selling well today with only Block K of the Main Stand lower not sold out, also B, C and D in the Kop lower selling well so won't be long until they are sold out.

 

Don't forget the InterToto, or the Anglo-Italian Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup

 

... and the West Riding.

 

cheaper than a pint

 

Good numbers already

 

We’ve only been in the same division as Burnley for 7 seasons in the last 40 years and we haven’t played them in a competitive game since 2004. Aside from being fairly local, they aren’t really our rivals.

 

Neither are Leeds or Huddersfield then really. Maybe we just talk about Rotherham or Port Vale?

 

How do you define a rival
We have hardly played Leeds in our entire history, but the fans still sing about them
Similar with Town over the past 30 years
If a club is within fairly close proximity and we are playing them
I would class that as rivals

 

Most fans aren't daft, we've watched a lot of football, and for me it's a bit like the 'club size' debate. Fans just have a feeling with some things, but sorry, I can't get up for a game like Rochdale, Port Vale or Swindon, which we've played far more than Burnley, like I can for a Leeds, Huddersfield or Burnley. It's the same for other clubs. Should the Bristol teams, or Port Vale and Stoke, not have a rivalry if we are going to be in the same division for years, as there is a bigger gap now between those teams and us and Burnley?

As someone from Wilsden, I've come across plenty of Burnley fans around Keighley, Skipton and Colne. They absolutely don't like us. I've worked with people who have come in with a grin on their face asking how shitty City had done this week, far more than I have with our 'big' rivals.

 

There wasn’t actually 19,000 there against the Posh. Loads of season ticket holders on holiday