The FA Cup draw for the first round will kick off from Bradford next month. The city was chosen because of its historical connection to the FA Cup and to honor its upcoming title as the ‘Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture’ in 100 days. The iconic trophy was created by Fattorini’s of Bradford in 1911, the same year that the Bantams won the competition. Bradford City defeated Newcastle United 1-0 in the FA Cup final replay, and the original cup was used for 81 years until 1992.
An exact replica of the 1911 design was created in 1992 to protect the original cup and allow fans more access to the new trophy. In 2014, a heavier version of the cup with the same design was introduced to make it more durable. The first round of the FA Cup is when 48 EFL clubs from Leagues One and Two, including Bradford City, enter the competition to join the remaining 32 non-league teams.
The main FA Cup draw program will be held at Bradford’s Valley Parade stadium on Monday, 14th October and will be broadcasted on BBC Two from 19:00 that evening. Alex Kay-Jelski expressed his excitement about conducting the draw in Bradford, a city with such strong ties to the competition. He hopes to see some surprising upsets this season.
Katrina Bunker, BBC Head of Yorkshire, shared her enthusiasm for this significant event taking place in Bradford, especially during its UK City of Culture year. Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, highlighted the importance of showcasing the city’s connection to the FA Cup and Valley Parade. Chris Kamara, broadcaster and former Bradford City player, expressed his support for Bradford and hinted at exciting collaborations with BBC Radio Leeds leading up to City of Culture 2025.
The BBC has committed to supporting Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture throughout the year with extensive coverage on various platforms. In June, it was announced that the BBC would be an official broadcast partner, providing coverage across TV, radio, and online platforms. Additionally, new content across arts, education, and factual programming was announced for the city’s momentous year, including the 2025 final of the New Comedy Awards, Contains Strong Language poetry festival, a Countryfile special, and the BBC Bitesize Schools Tour.