Bantams photos on display to celebrate promotion

Photographs taken while Bradford City were last in the top tier of English football have gone on display to celebrate the club's recent promotion.

Renowned social documentary photographer Ian Beesley added the images to his exhibition at Salts Mill in Saltaire after the club secured League One status.

He took the black and white photos while he was artist in residence for the club after they gained promotion to the FA Carling Premiership in 1999.

For two seasons, the lifelong supporter took pictures of fans as they watched their team compete against the best football sides in the country.

Discussing his time as club artist in residence, the 71-year-old from Bradford said: "I was given an access all areas pass, I thought I'd landed my dream job.

"How wrong I was - I found the transition from fan to photographer, spectator to observer, unbearably difficult."

He added: "I really didn't enjoy the experience."

After two seasons in the top flight, Bradford City were relegated and he handed in his pass and returned to the stands - where he has "stayed put" ever since.

He was with his daughter Fay at Valley Parade earlier this month when a last-gasp winner ended the Bantams' six-year stay in League Two.

"Every couple of months we put a new section in to keep the exhibition current," Beesley said.

"Ever since it looked like the Bantams might be going up I've been planning to add these images to the walls at Salts Mill.

"I refused to jinx it by installing them too early, being a football fan I'm always a bit pessimistic."

The Life Goes On exhibition at Salts Mill runs until 31 December.

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