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Bantams photos on display to celebrate promotion

Charles Heslett
BBC News, Yorkshire•@CharlesHeslett
Ian Beesley A close-up, shot in black-and white, of a football fan standing up and pointing to his watch while other ers around him remain seated. Ian Beesley
Ian Beesley took photographs of Bradford City fans during his time as the club's artist in residence

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 er took pictures of fans as they watched their team compete against the best football sides in the country.

Ian Beesley A black-and-white photo of a man in a polo shirt crossing his arms as he tries to sign a football programme while giving back a pen to a young football fan.Ian Beesley
Former Bradford City manager Paul Jewell took the club into top flight football after an absence of 77 years

Discussing his time as club artist in residence, the 71-year-old from Bradford said: "I was given an access all areas , 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."

Fay Beesley A selfie shot of a daughter and her father both wearing claret and amber scarves at the final game of Bradford City Football Club's latest season.Fay Beesley
Ian Beesley watched the Bantams secure promotion to League One with daughter Fay

After two seasons in the top flight, Bradford City were relegated and he handed in his 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.

Ian Beesley A black-and-white shot of Bradford City's home ground Valley Parade taken from a distance back in the stands.Ian Beesley
Ian Beesley took the 'Cloudburst over Valley Parade' image during their time in the top division

"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.

Ian Beesley A black-and-white photo of a football crowd with three teenage boys in tracksuits at the front pointing into the air. Ian Beesley
Beesley captured the ups and downs of following the side between 1999-2001

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