Matchday programmes have developed from the simple team sheets of Victorian days which listed players and, sometimes, their distinguishing features as numbered shirts did not appear until 1928.

A Blackheath vs Bradford rugby uinion programme from 1892 is featured in "Images of Sport, Bradford Rugby League Club, Bradford, Northern and Bulls" compiled by Robert Gate. Therefore it is possible that some sort of team sheet at least could have been issued for top rugby and cricket matches at Park Avenue. However it is not known whether any were produced for association matches which were less well attended.

While no such publications have yet been traced for home matches, local historian Graeme Wright managed to purchase this very rare and invaluable issue from Bradford's second visit to Bramall Lane in 1899, reproduced here by kind permission. Interestingly this includes a list of fixtures featuring on their half-time scoreboard.  Scores from United's first team's visit to Nottingham Forest that day, at the newly opened City Ground, were to be updated every 15 minutes.  In the absence of radio, the internet or mobile phones, this service no doubt attracted many extra spectators to reserve matches.

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