Bradford school pupil wins BCAFC warm-up shirt design competition

Elodie was surprised at her school by Billy Bantam and Oliver Read, from the Bradford City FC Community Foundation.

A Bradford school pupil has won a competition to design a warm-up shirt which will be donned by Bradford City AFC players before their fixture vs Leyton Orient on Saturday 7th March.

The competition was held as part of Bradford City FC Community Foundation’s Community Takeover Day celebrations, which will take place at the same fixture. The day will be dedicated to magnifying all of the work the charitable arm of the club does in the city, which includes its many programmes and projects, work with the most vulnerable members of society, and commitment to inspiring and uniting the people of Bradford.

Elodie's shirt depicts City mascot Billy Bantam!

The Foundation ran the warm-up shirt design competition in schools across Bradford, and received hundreds of entries. The winning design is by Elodie, a Year 6 pupil, at Laycock Primary School.

Elodie’s design features playful, hand-drawn recreation of City’s mascot Billy Bantam. Elodie is the second winner of the design competition, following the success of Waleed, a pupil at Dixons Manningham Primary School, last season.

Foundation CEO, and former City star, Ian Ormondroyd said: “We’ve been blown away by the talent on display in the shirt competition, and a big well done to everyone that submitted entries. As with last year, we have had fantastic buy-in from schools across our community. We cannot wait to see the shirts on the day as part of our celebrations, and I’d like to personally congratulate Elodie on capturing the spirit of the Foundation, our club, and of course Billy Bantam in her design. We can’t wait to celebrate her and her school as part of our Community Takeover Day on Saturday.”

Elodie's winning shirt design was chosen from hundreds of entries submitted by schools across Bradford.

The presentation took place in a full school assembly at the school, where Elodie was surprised with both the shirt she designed, and a signed Bradford City AFC football. The shirt and the ball were presented by Billy Bantam and Oliver Read, the Foundation’s Head of Premier League and Sport development, who oversees the organisation’s work in schools across the district.

Oliver Read said: “Running this competition has become a fixture in our yearly calendar, and is now a firm highlight. We work in dozens of schools across some of the most socially deprived wards in the city, and being able to visit them and spread joy, celebrate the creative work of their pupils, and welcome them into the Bantams family is a huge part of why we do what we do. Well done to Elodie, well done to the school, and we can’t wait to have them as a key part of our celebrations on Saturday.”

200 pupils, parents and staff members from Laycock Primary School will attend BCAFC's Community Takeover Day fixture.

In winning the competition, Elodie has secured 200 tickets for her school for the Community Takeover fixture. Elodie also won a place as a mascot for the fixture, and will be joined by her fellow pupils in a half-time parade around the iconic City turf, as the Foundation celebrates its ties to schools and community organisations across the city, whilst continuing to foster a deep connection between the Club and members of the community.

Stephanie Canning, Head of School and Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school, said: “As a school we are so excited to have won the Community Takeover competition. From the minute the letters went home with the children, there was a buzz in the air! Our community has a lot of avid Bradford City fans who don't always have the opportunity to attend the matches in person, so it’s fantastic that we as a school can get to a game. As a school we are part of Bradford Girls Power who focus on inspiring and empowering girls in sport, so one of our girls winning this competition is particularly special for us. I’d like to congratulate Elodie for her winning design - she put a lot of hard work into it, and everyone at the school is made up for her. We can't wait to attend the match and really hope that City get a win!"

The Foundation surprised Elodie and her fellow pupils during World Book Day!

Matchgoers are encouraged to support the Foundation’s work at the game through their Bring a Pound to the Ground scheme. Every £1 donated to the Foundation equates to £11 in social value, and allows the Foundation to continue their work in local schools, and providing accessible sport and support for all those who need it.

Supporters can also donate directly to the Foundation via their One Donate page here.