View source for Bradford Bulls

{{short description|English rugby league football club}}
{{other uses|Bradford Bulls (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby league club
  | clubname               = Bradford Bulls
  | image                  = [[File:Bradford_Bulls_logo.svg|150px]]
  | fullname               = Bradford Bulls Rugby League Football Club
  | nickname               = The Bulls<br />Northern<br />Steam Pigs<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/oct/17/rugbyleague.comment |title=Bradford's fog-bound winters give way to glorious summer |work=The Guardian |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>
  | short name             = Bradford Bulls
  | founded                =  {{Start date and age|df=yes|1907}} 
  | exited                 =
  | colours                = {{leagueicon|bradford|size=18}} Red, amber, black, and  white
  | web                    ={{URL|https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/|bradfordbulls.co.uk}} 
  | ground                 = [[Odsal Stadium]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/57228061|title=Bulls to return to Odsal after RFL deal|date=24 May 2021|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=29 May 2021}}</ref>
  | capacity               = 26,019
  | ceo                    = Jason Hirst
  | coach                  = [[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]]
  | captain                = [[Michael Lawrence (rugby league)|Michael Lawrence]]
  | league                 = [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]]
  | season                 = [[2024 RFL Championship|2024 season]]
  | position               = 3rd
  | current                = 2025 RFL Championship
  |cup1                    = [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championships]]
  | cup1titles             = 6
  |cup1years               = [[1979–80 Northern Rugby Football League season|1979-80]], [[1980–81 Rugby Football League season|1980-81]], [[Super League II|1997]], [[Super League VI|2001]], [[Super League VIII|2003]], [[Super League X|2005]]
  |cup2                    = [[Challenge Cup]]s
  | cup2titles             = 5
  |cup2years               = [[1943–44 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season#Challenge Cup|1944]], [[1946–47 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1947]], [[1948–49 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1949]], [[2000 Challenge Cup|2000]], [[2003 Challenge Cup|2003]]
  |cup3                    = [[World Club Challenge]]s
  | cup3titles             = 3
  |cup3years               = [[2002 World Club Challenge|2002]], [[2004 World Club Challenge|2004]], [[2006 World Club Challenge|2006]]
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| pattern_so1 = _redtop 
| leftarm1    = ffffff
| body1       = ffffff 
| rightarm1   = ffffff 
| shorts1     = ffffff  
| socks1      = ffffff
<!--away kit-->
| pattern_la2 = _blackborder 
| pattern_b2  = _goldvertical
| pattern_ra2 = _blackborder
| pattern_sh2 = _redbottom
| pattern_so2 = _blacktop
| leftarm2    = FF0000
| body2       = FF0000 
| rightarm2   = FF0000 
| shorts2     = 000000 
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}}
The '''Bradford Bulls''' are a professional [[rugby league]] club in [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]], England, and compete in the [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]], the second tier of [[British rugby league system|British rugby league]].<ref name="Operational Rules">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugby-league.com/operational-rules/ |title=Operational Rules |publisher=RFL |access-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008190008/http://www.rugby-league.com/operational-rules/ |archive-date=8 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

The club have won the [[List of British rugby league champions|League Championship]] six times, the [[Challenge Cup]] five times and three [[World Club Challenge]] titles. They have also won many smaller things such as The RFL Yorkshire Cup 11 times.

The club was originally founded as '''Bradford Northern''', but were renamed Bradford Bulls in 1995. Bradford's main rivalries are with [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]], [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]] and [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]]. They have played the majority of their existence at [[Odsal Stadium|Odsal]] and their traditional kit colours are white with red, amber and black chevrons.

==History==
{{More citations needed|date=July 2020}}
{{main|History of Bradford Bulls}}

===1863–1907: Bradford F.C.===
{{main|Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.}}

The original [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Football Club]] was formed in 1863 and played [[rugby football]], subsequently joining the [[Rugby Football Union]]. Initially the club played at Horton Cricket Ground, All Saints Road but were asked to leave because of damage to the pitch. They then moved to Laisteridge Lane and later North Park Road in [[Manningham, Bradford|Manningham]]. A nomadic existence continued as they then went on to [[Peel Park, Bradford|Peel Park]], then [[Girlington]] and [[Apperley Bridge]].

Bradford Football Club and Bradford Cricket Club bought [[Park Avenue (stadium)|Park Avenue]] in 1879 and this resulted in the club becoming "Bradford Cricket, Athletic and Football Club". The club's headquarters were at the Talbot Darley Street, and later The Alexandra, Great Horton Road. The club achieved its first major success by winning the [[Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)|Yorkshire Cup]] in 1884.

After the 1890–91 season, Bradford along with other Yorkshire Senior clubs Batley, Brighouse, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull, Hunslet, Leeds, Liversedge, Manningham and Wakefield decided that they wanted their own county league starting in 1891 along the lines of a similar competition that had been played in Lancashire. The clubs wanted full control of the league but the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union would not sanction the competition as it meant giving up control of rugby football to the senior clubs.

In 1895, along with cross-town neighbours [[Manningham F.C.]], Bradford was among 22 clubs to secede from the [[Rugby Football Union]] after the historic meeting at the [[George Hotel, Huddersfield|George Hotel]] in [[Huddersfield]] in response to a dispute over "broken time" payments to players who were thus part-time professionals. These 22 clubs formed the [[Rugby Football League|Northern Rugby Football Union]] (which eventually became the [[Rugby Football League]]) and [[rugby league]] football was born.

Bradford enjoyed some success in the new competition. In the [[1903–04 Northern Rugby Football Union season]], the team finished level on points with [[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] at the top of the league and then won the resulting play-off 5–0.  In [[1905–06 Northern Rugby Football Union season|1905–06]], Bradford beat Salford 5–0 to win the [[Challenge Cup]] and were runners-up in the [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]]. In [[1906–07 Northern Rugby Football Union season|1906–07]], Bradford won the [[RFL Yorkshire Cup|Yorkshire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]] 8–5 against [[Hull Kingston Rovers]].

During this time Manningham F.C. had run into financial difficulties and, despite a summer archery contest that generated enough money to ensure their survival, its members were persuaded to swap codes and play association football instead. Manningham was invited to join the [[Football League]] in 1903, in an attempt to promote football in a rugby-dominated region, and the newly renamed [[Bradford City A.F.C.]] was voted into full membership of the Second Division without having played a game of football, having a complete team or even being able to guarantee a ground. The creation of Bradford City led to demands for association football at Park Avenue too.  The ground had already hosted some football matches including one in the 1880s between [[Blackburn Rovers]] and [[Blackburn Olympic F.C.]]  In 1895, a Bradford side had beaten a team from Moss Side, Manchester, by 4–1 in front of 3,000 spectators. Following the change at Bradford City, a meeting was called of the Bradford FC members on 15 April 1907 to decide the rugby club's future. An initial vote appeared to favour continuing in [[rugby league]], but then opinion shifted towards [[rugby union]] and the chairman, Mr Briggs, used his influence to swing the committee behind the proposed move to association football. This act, sometimes referred to as "The Great Betrayal", led to Bradford FC becoming the [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Park Avenue Association Football Club]]. The minority faction decided to split and form a new club to continue playing in the Northern Union, appropriately called "Bradford Northern", which applied for and was granted Bradford FC's place in the [[1907–08 Northern Rugby Football Union season]]. Bradford Northern's first home ground was the [[Greenfield Athletic Ground]] in [[Dudley Hill]], to the south of the city. They based themselves at the Greenfield Hotel.

===1907–1963: Bradford Northern===
Northern moved to part of the Bowling Old Lane cricket ground at [[Birch Lane]] in 1908, although, at times, the club also had to hire [[Valley Parade]] as the capacity at Birch Lane was insufficient for large matches. Bradford Council offered the club a site for a new stadium between Rooley Lane and Mayo Avenue in 1927. However, the NRFU said the site was too small and the club kept on looking. 

On 20 June 1933, Bradford Northern signed a ten-year lease with Bradford council for a former quarry being used as a waste dump at Odsal Top. It was turned into the [[Odsal Stadium|biggest stadium]] outside [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]. The Bradford Northern team played its first match there on 1 September 1934.

Success came to Bradford in the 1940s with a number of cup wins: the [[Yorkshire Cup (rugby league)|Yorkshire Cup]] in [[1940–41 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season|1940–41]], [[1942–43 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season|1942–43]], [[1944–45 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season|1944–45]], [[1945–46 Northern Rugby Football League season|1945–46]], [[1948–49 Northern Rugby Football League season|1948–49]] and [[1949–50 Northern Rugby Football League season|1949–50]]; and the [[Challenge Cup]] [[1943–44 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season|1943–44]], [[1946–47 Northern Rugby Football League season|1946–47]] and [[1948–49 Northern Rugby Football League season|1948–49]]. In the [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]] Bradford found it difficult to win either before the war or after despite being runners up in 1942–43 and 1947–48. On Saturday 3 November 1945, Bradford Northern met [[Wakefield Trinity]] in the final of the Yorkshire Cup held at [[Thrum Hall]], Halifax. Wakefield began the match as favourites, they had lost only one of thirteen matches thus far in the season. However, Bradford won 5–2 Frank Whitcombe scoring the try converted by George Carmichael and lifted the Yorkshire Cup for the fourth time in six seasons.

Bradford defeated Leeds 8–4 to win the [[Challenge Cup]] Final at Wembley in 1947. The 1947–48 Challenge Cup final was notable as it was the first rugby league match to be attended by the reigning monarch, [[King George VI]], who presented the trophy. It was also the first televised rugby league match as it was broadcast to the Midlands. Bradford lost 8–3 to [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] and [[Frank Whitcombe]] became the first player to win the [[Lance Todd trophy]] on the losing side. The 1949 Challenge Cup final was sold out for the first time as 95,050 spectators saw Bradford beat [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]. In [[1951–52 Northern Rugby Football League season|1951–52]] Bradford were runners up in the league but beat [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] at Odsal in the first floodlit football match of any code in the North of England.

In 1953, a crowd of 69,429 watched Bradford play [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] in the [[Challenge Cup]]'s third round. This was Bradford's highest ever attendance. They also won the Yorkshire Cup final 7–2 against Hull. Bradford and [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]] were the first rugby league clubs to stage matches on a Sunday in December 1954, although there was opposition from the Sunday Observance lobby.

Bradford's support declined rapidly in the 1963 season, attracting a record low crowd of 324 against [[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]. The club went out of business on 10 December 1963, having played just 13 matches; winning 1 and losing 12, scoring 109 points and conceding 284, the results were declared null and void, and expunged from the [[1963–64 Northern Rugby Football League season|1963–64 season]]'s records.

===1964–1995: Third club===
A meeting on 14 April 1964 saw 1,500 people turn out to discuss the formation of a new club, and those present promised a £1000 to help get plans for the new organisation underway. Amongst those who led proceedings were former players [[Joseph Phillips (rugby league)|Joe Phillips]] and [[Trevor Foster]]. On 20 July 1964, Bradford Northern (1964) Ltd came into existence. The club's new side had been built for around £15,000 and had [[Jack Wilkinson (rugby league)|Jack Wilkinson]] as coach. On 22 August 1964, [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] provided the opposition in the reformed club's first match and 14,500 spectators turned out to show their support, as Odsal hosted its first 10,000 plus gate for a Bradford Northern match since 1957.

The reformed club won its first cup in 1965–66 by beating Hunslet 17–8 in the final of the [[RFL Yorkshire Cup|Yorkshire]] [[Rugby league county cups|County Cup]]. In 1972–73 Bradford lost the Challenge Cup final against [[Featherstone Rovers]] 33–14. In 1973–74 Bradford won the Second Division Championship and were promoted back to the First Division. During this season [[Keith Mumby]] made his début, becoming the Bradford's youngest player at only 16 years of age, kicking 12 goals and scoring a try in the match against [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]. He went on to make a record 576 appearances for the club. In 1974–75 Bradford won the Regal Trophy 3–2 against [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]].

[[Peter Fox (rugby league, born 1933)|Peter Fox]] joined Bradford as coach for the first time in 1977–78. Bradford won the Premiership final 17–8 against Widnes and were also Championship runners-up.

In 1978–79 Bradford appeared in another Premiership final this time losing 24–2 to [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]]. A year later Bradford won the Championship and Regal Trophy, Peter Fox winning the award for Coach of the Year. In 1980–81 the club made it back-to-back championships. In 1981–82, Bradford lost the Yorkshire Cup final 10–5 against [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]] and lost again in 1982–83, this time 18–7 against [[Hull F.C.]] Keith Mumby won the award for First Division Player of the Year while [[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]] won the Young Player award.

In 1985, [[Ellery Hanley]] left Northern to join [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] for a then record transfer deal, worth £80,000 and a player exchange involving Steve Donlan and Phil Ford. By November 1987, Bradford had cash-flow problems and the local council refused to help financially, but appointed a special committee to administer the clubs' finances. In December 1987, desperate for cash, Bradford transfer-listed 22 players for a total of £210,000 plus Phil Ford for £120,000.

In 1987–88 Bradford won the Yorkshire Cup final replay against Castleford 11–2 after drawing 12–12. [[Ron Willey]] coached Bradford Northern for a short stint in 1989–90 and led them to the Premiership final and success in the Yorkshire Cup final when they beat Featherstone Rovers 20–14.

[[David Hobbs (rugby league)|David Hobbs]] became coach at Northern in 1990 until he left for [[Wakefield Trinity]] in 1994. Bradford lost the Regal Trophy against [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]] 12–2 in 1990–91. Peter Fox returned to Bradford for a second spell as coach in 1991, and in 1993–94, Bradford finished as runners-up behind Wigan on points difference. Fox left the club in 1995.

===1996–2011: Golden era===
In 1996, the first tier of English rugby league clubs changed from a winter to a summer season and played the inaugural [[Super League]] season.<ref name="hadfield20-12-95">{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/rugbys-pounds-87m-deal-gives-murdoch-transfer-veto-1526582.html |work= The Independent |title=Rugby's pounds 87m deal gives Murdoch transfer veto |first=Dave |last=Hadfield |date=20 December 1995|access-date=6 May 2009}}</ref> Bradford dropped the 'Northern' name to become Bradford Bulls. Australian Brian Smith took over as head coach in 1995, with Matthew Elliott as his assistant. The Bulls won the Super League title in the 1997 season, the last before the Play off/ Grand Final structure was implemented in 1998.

When Smith left, Elliot coached the Bradford Bulls to the 1999 Super League Grand Final and in 2000 the Bulls won the Challenge Cup for the first time in 51 years with victory over Leeds in [[Edinburgh]].

[[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]] was appointed Bradford head coach in November 2000.<ref>{{cite news 
  | title = Super League Team-by-team guide
  | work = telegraph.co.uk
  | publisher = Telegraph Media Group Limited 
  | date = 1 March 2001
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/2999879/Super-League-Team-by-team-guide.html
  | access-date = 10 October 2010
| location=London}}</ref> Noble took the Bradford Bulls to the [[2001 Super League Grand Final]] in which they defeated the [[Wigan Warriors]]. As [[Super League VI]] champions, the Bulls played against [[2001 NRL season|2001 NRL]] Premiers, the [[Newcastle Knights]] in the [[2002 World Club Challenge]]. Noble oversaw Bradford's victory. He took the Bulls to the [[2002 Super League Grand Final]] which was lost to [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]].

On 20 April 2006, [[Steve McNamara]] was promoted to head coach of Bradford<ref name="McNamara is Bulls new head coach">{{cite web|url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/2256/McNAMARA%20IS%20NEW%20BULLS%20COACH|title=McNamara is Bulls new head coach|publisher=Bradford Bulls|date=20 April 2006|access-date=1 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224002113/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/2256/McNAMARA%20IS%20NEW%20BULLS%20COACH|archive-date=24 February 2012}}</ref> following [[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]]'s departure to [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]. At the time he was the youngest coach in Britain. In his first season in charge, he guided Bradford to the [[Super League]] play-offs before the club were knocked out in the grand final eliminator by [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]

Following an eighth consecutive defeat, the Bulls' worst run in Super League, McNamara's contract was mutually terminated on 13 July 2010. [[Lee St Hilaire]] was coach for the rest of the 2010 season.

[[Michael Potter|Mick Potter]] became coach in 2011. Despite the club being placed in receivership in 2012, the team was on the verge of making the semi-finals of Super League as Potter remained as unpaid coach.

===2012–2017: Administrations, relegation and liquidation===
In March 2012 the club announced that it was in financial difficulties and needed £1&nbsp;million to keep the club afloat.<ref name=BBC270312>{{cite news |title=Bradford Bulls 'need £1m' to stay in business, as support pours in |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/17521786 |date=27 March 2012|access-date=28 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport}}</ref> A public appeal saw a lot of new funds pour in from supporters,<ref name=BBC270312/> but following the issue of a [[Liquidation|winding up]] petition from [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]] for unpaid taxes the holding company for the club was forced to go into administration on 26 June 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18554519 |title=Bradford Bulls go into administration and face 'extinction' |date=26 June 2012|access-date=28 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport}}</ref> The Rugby Football League announced that had the company been wound up then the team would be allowed to complete their fixtures for the 2012 Super League season under the possible ownership of a supporters trust.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18609190 |title=Bradford Bulls can finish season – even if liquidated |date=27 June 2012|access-date=28 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 2 July 2012, the club's administrator, Brendan Guilfoyle, made sixteen members of staff, including the coach Mick Potter and chief executive Ryan Duckett, redundant, but announced that the club would attempt to fulfill its fixtures.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ian |last=Laybourn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/bradford-bulls-make-16-redundancies-including-head-coach-mick-potter-7903974.html |title=Bradford Bulls make 16 redundancies, including head coach Mick Potter |work=The Independent |date=2 July 2012|access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> Mick Potter continued as an unpaid coach until the end of the season. On 31 August 2012 a bid for the club from a local consortium, headed by Bradford businessman [[Omar Khan (businessman)|Omar Khan]], was accepted by the administrator<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/sep/01/bradford-bulls-sold-omar-khan |title=Future of Bradford Bulls resolved as Omar Khan buys club |date=1 September 2012|access-date= 1 September 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and was ratified by the RFL in early September.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/19570146 |title=Bradford Bulls: Omar Khan takeover ratified by RFL |newspaper=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2012|access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> Days later the RFL also granted the new owners a one-year probationary licence enabling the club to compete in [[Super League XVIII]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/19600011 |title=Bradford Bulls: RFL grants club Super League licence |newspaper=BBC Sport |date=14 September 2012|access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>

[[Francis Cummins]] was appointed as head coach of the Bulls in September 2012.<ref name="Ian Laybourn">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/new-bradford-bulls-head-coach-francis-cummins-is-ready-to-work-with-limited-resources-8144917.html |title=New Bradford Bulls head coach Francis Cummins is ready to work with limited resources |date=17 September 2012|access-date= 18 September 2013|first=Ian |last=Laybourn |newspaper=The Independent}}</ref>
During the 2012/13 season the Bulls appointed Dr [[Allan Johnston (psychiatrist)|Allan Johnston]] to the backroom staff to support the players wellbeing and performance. This appointment was thought to be the first of its kind in Rugby League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/post/bulls-appoint-psychiatrist- |title=BULLS APPOINT PSYCHIATRIST |publisher=Bradford Bulls |date=1 April 2013 |access-date=6 December 2016 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In late December 2013 it was announced that chairman Mark Moore and directors Ian Watt and Andrew Calvert had resigned.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/25507471 "Bradford Bulls directors quit Super League club"], ''[[BBC Sport]]'', 24 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013</ref>

In 2014, relegation was reintroduced to the Super League with two teams being relegated. Bradford were deducted 6 points for entering administration early on in the season and the Bulls were relegated from the top division of rugby league in Britain for the first time in 40 years. [[Francis Cummins]] was sacked around the time of relegation and replaced by [[James Lowes]] and won most of their remaining games.

Bradford began their first Championship campaign in 40 years against [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]] away where they narrowly lost the game. By the end of the regular season they entered the Super 8s finishing second. In the Qualifiers Bradford failed to make the top three for automatic entry to Super League for 2016, finishing 5th which meant a trip to Wakefield to play them in the first ever Million Pound Game. Bradford would lose 24–16, condemning them to a second year in the Championship.

In preparation for the 2016 season, Bradford completed the signings of several experienced players, such as Centre [[Kris Welham]] from [[Super League]] side [[Hull Kingston Rovers]], as well as [[Oscar Thomas]], Mitch Clark, [[Johnny Campbell (rugby league)|Johnny Campbell]], [[Jonathan Walker (rugby league)|Jonathan Walker]] and [[Kurt Haggerty]] from [[London Broncos]], [[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]], [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]] and [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]. Bradford started the season strongly, with a win over fellow promotion hopefuls [[Featherstone Rovers]] by 22–12. [[Omari Caro]] scored a hat-trick in this match. This was followed up by away wins at [[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]] and [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]. Bradford's season was ultimately disappointing with failure to reach [[the Qualifiers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/14650320.Bulls_star_Mellor_targeting_unbeaten_end_to_campaign/?commentSort=score |title=Bulls star Mellor targeting unbeaten end to campaign |work=[[Telegraph & Argus]] |date=29 July 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> this meant Bradford would miss out on a chance of promotion

On 14 November 2016, Bradford Bulls were placed in administration for the third time since 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/37974647|title=Bradford Bulls: Championship club placed in administration for third time|date=14 November 2016|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref> On 16 November, the [[Rugby Football League]] (RFL) cancelled Bradford's membership, making their future uncertain.  In the ensuing weeks several bids to buy the club were made but despite one bid being acceptable to the RFL, none were accepted by the administrator and the club went into liquidation on 3 January 2017.<ref name=BBC030117>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/38418199 |title=Bradford Bulls: Former Super League champions liquidated |work=BBC Sport |date=3 January 2017 |access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>

Following liquidation the RFL issued a statement saying:
{{blockquote|text=While a number of alternatives were considered the Board was most mindful of the planning already undertaken by all other clubs in the competition structure, the season tickets already purchased and the players and staff who will now be seeking employment in and around the sport in 2017.

Accordingly the Board has agreed that the wider interests of the sport is best satisfied if it offers a place in the Kingstone Press Championship to any new club in Bradford and that such a club start the 2017 season on minus 12 points. The RFL believes that Rugby League needs Bradford and that Bradford deserves a strong and stable professional club and will work with all interested parties to deliver that outcome.<ref name=TandA030117>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/14998961.UPDATE__Bradford_Bulls_go_into_liquidation___MP_demands_an_investigation/ |title=Bradford Bulls go into liquidation – MP Judith Cummins demands an investigation |work=[[Telegraph & Argus]] |date=3 January 2017 |access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>}}

===2017–2019: Fourth club===
After the Bulls went into liquidation in January 2017 the [[Rugby Football League]] invited bids to form a new club based in Bradford who would be allowed to take the place of the Bulls in the 2017 [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]] but started with a 12-point penalty deduction.

The RFL issued a set of criteria for anyone wishing to bid for the new club and there were 12 expressions of interest of which four were converted into bids submitted to the RFL.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jan/09/bradford-bulls-new-club-rfl-bids |title=RFL assesses four bids to set up new club after Bradford's liquidation |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=9 January 2017|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref>  On 13 January the RFL announced that a consortium to run the new club had been selected and notified of the decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jan/13/rfl-bradford-bulls-replacement-rugby-league |title=RFL finalises deal with unnamed bidder for Bradford Bulls replacement |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=9 January 2017|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref>  The new owner was publicly announced on 17 January as [[Andrew Chalmers (rugby league)|Andrew Chalmers]], the former chairman of the [[New Zealand Rugby League]].  Also involved is former player and coach, [[Graham Lowe]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/38655920 |title=Andrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe named new Bradford club owners |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=17 January 2017 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref>

The parent company of the club is registered as Bradford Bulls 2017 Limited at Companies House, and the team continue to be known as Bradford Bulls, also retaining the club colours, stadium and several players from the 2016 squad. On 20 January 2017 [[Geoff Toovey]] was named as coach and [[Leon Pryce]] as captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/38692702 |title=Geoff Toovey: Australian named coach of new Bradford Bulls |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=20 January 2017 |access-date=20 January 2017}}</ref> However, a delay in processing his paperwork left Toovey unable to fulfil his role and led to Leigh Beattie being appointed as interim coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/15117549.__39_Things_are_starting_to_fall_into_place__39______Leigh_Beattie_on_Bradford_Bulls_progress/|title= 'Things are starting to fall into place' – Leigh Beattie on Bradford Bulls progress|work=Telegraph & Argus |date=26 February 2017 |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

Before the start of the 2018 season, the Bulls appointed the highly experienced [[John Kear]] as coach, and under his guidance, gained promotion to the Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/player_info?524870-John%20-Kear|title=John Kear|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217202658/https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/player_info?524870-John%20-Kear|archive-date=17 February 2018}}</ref>

===2019–present: Move to Dewsbury and Return to Odsal===
In August 2019, Bulls chairman Andrew Chalmers announced that the club could no longer afford to play at Odsal and were to relocate to Dewsbury for two years after the preferred alternatives, [[Valley Parade]] and [[Horsfall Stadium]] were deemed too expensive. On 1 September 2019, Bradford Bulls played the last game at Odsal stadium for the next year and a half, and bade a temporary farewell to the 85-year-old home ground for the team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-49508771|title=Bradford Bulls bid farewell to 'spiritual home' |date=1 September 2019| work=BBC News|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref>
In November 2019, Nigel Wood, Mark Sawyer, and Eric Perez took over the ownership of the club, although Perez's involvement would only be temporary, as interim chair for a few months.<ref name=owners2019>{{cite web | title=Bradford Bulls' new ownership group | website=Last Word on Rugby | date=7 November 2019 | url=https://lastwordonsports.com/rugby/2019/11/07/bradford-bulls-new-ownership-group/ | access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>
The Bulls returned to Odsal in May 2021. In the 2022 RFL Championship season, Bradford finished a disappointing 9th on the table.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57228061|title=Bradford Bulls to return to Odsal Stadium after RFL deal |date=24 May 2021|work=BBC Sport|access-date=6 February 2022}}</ref> The 2023 RFL Championship season and the 2024 RFL Championship season showed that hope was still there as The Bulls managed to get to the semi finals in both seasons but fell short after two losses to Toulouse Olympique. 

==Stadiums==
===1907–1933: Greenfield and Birch Lane===

The Bradford Northern club had played at a number of venues including the [[Greenfield Athletic Ground]] in [[Dudley Hill]] and Bowling Old Lane Cricket Club's ground in [[Birch Lane]].{{sfn|Delaney|1991|pp=44–45}} By the early 1920s, however, Birch Lane's limitations were clear and Northern began to seek another home. Precarious finances prevented the club being able to take up an offer to develop land off Rooley Lane or to upgrade and move back to Greenfield, but in 1933, [[Bradford City Council]] gave them the opportunity to transform land at [[Odsal]] Top into their home ground.

===1934–Present: Odsal===
{{Main|Odsal Stadium}}
[[File:Odsal main stand.jpg|thumb|right]]

Apart from two seasons in 2001 and 2002 when the Bradford Bulls played their home games at [[Valley Parade]], groundsharing with football club [[Bradford City A.F.C]],<ref>{{cite web|url = https://sportmob.com/en/article/980702-top-facts-about-valley-parade-bradford-city-stadium|title = Top Facts About Valley Parade|date = 2022|accessdate=21 May 2023}}</ref> prior to leaving Odsal for [[Crown Flatt]], Dewsbury in 2019, [[Odsal Stadium]] has been the home ground of Bradford Northern/Bulls since 1934 along with regular [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] and [[stock car racing]] meetings over the years, [[BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars|BriSCA F1 Stock Cars]] and [[BriSCA Formula 2 Stock Cars|BriSCA F2 Stock Cars]].<ref name="Yorstox Odsal">{{cite web|url = https://www.yorstox.co.uk/Home/|title = Yorstox Odsal|date = 2021}}</ref> having returned to Odsal since 2021. Odsal Stadium had also hosted many other sports, including association football, [[American football]], [[basketball]], featuring the [[Harlem Globetrotters]], [[wrestling]], [[show jumping]] and [[kabaddi]]. The stadium's largest attendances was 102,569, when [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]] played [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]] on 5 May 1954 in the [[Challenge Cup]] Final replay.

Due to financial concerns amidst rising administration costs of using the single-use [[RFL]]-owned stadium, the rent reported to be £450,000 rent per year, the Bradford Bulls left Odsal in 2019, temporarily playing at [[Crown Flatt]] in [[Dewsbury]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/17842186.bradford-bulls-bid-farewell-odsal-dewsbury-move-confirmed/|title = Bradford Bulls Leave Odsal|date = 2019}}</ref> including home matches of the [[COVID-19]] abandoned [[rugby league]] season of 2020 plus three league fixtures of the 2021 season, however they returned to Odsal during the 2021 season when stock car promotors YorStox <ref name="Yorstox Odsal"/> successfully returned professional stock car racing as co-tenants at the now multi-use venue, absorbing stadium hire costs, a flattened shale track laid to re-enable motorsports events. The Bulls' acting chief executive, Mark Sawyer, told Rugby League Live at the time: "Staging [[motorsport]] events is the first piece in the jigsaw puzzle towards how we're going to balance the books at Odsal", stressing that he believed Bulls supporters were positive about the return of motorsports, quoted as saying "The feedback we get from our Bradford supporter base is that a number of them are interested in watching motorsport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/bradford-bulls-motorsport-racing-team-19826820| last=Heppenstall|first=Ross|title=Bradford Bulls May Form Motorsport Racing Team |date=12 February 2021 |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref>

In September 2024 it was revealed that the Bradford Bulls had issued a warning surrounding the club's finances, calling for more financial support from the RFL. Despite a £22,000 profit in their latest set of accounts, the chief executive Jason Hirst warned it will take the increasing backing of owners, benefactors, sponsors, supporters and volunteers to keep the Bulls in the black.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Doug |date=2024-09-30 |title=Bradford Bulls issue warning and call for more financial support from RFL |url=https://www.totalrl.com/bradford-bulls-issue-warning-and-call-for-more-financial-support-from-rfl/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Total Rugby League |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Crest and colours==
===Crest===
Up until the Super League era the club was known as '''Bradford Northern''' and used a stylised boar's head similar to the one atop the Bradford city coat of arms. When the club was rebranded '''Bradford Bulls''' the crest was changed to a similar design to that of the [[Chicago Bulls]].

===Colours===
Bradford's traditional playing colours are a red, amber and black hoop, on a white background. Bradford's home strips are predominantly white with a red, amber and black hoop or "V".  Away strips have had many designs and colours, but usually integrate the traditional red, amber and black into the design. In some cases, Bradford have been known to have a third kit that has had many different designs such as the 2024 season where the third kit pays homage to a shirt, the design of which was 90 years old to celebrate the time they have spent at Odsal.

==Kit sponsors and manufacturers==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year !!Kit Manufacturer!!Main Shirt Sponsor
|-
| 1980–1986 || rowspan=3|[[Umbro]] || rowspan=1|SGS Glazing
|-
| 1986–1987 || [[Wang Computers]]
|-
| 1987–1992 || Samuel Websters
|-
| 1992–1995 || Ellgreen || [[Vaux Breweries]]
|-
| 1996–1997 || [[Mitre Sports International|Mitre]] || rowspan=2|[[Compaq]]
|-
| 1998 || rowspan=2|[[ASICS|Asics]] 
|-
| 1999 || rowspan=2|[[ASICS|Asics]] 
|-
| 2000 || rowspan=3|Joe Bloggs Clothing
|-
| 2001 || [[Skylark]]
|-
| 2002 || rowspan=4|[[JCT600]]
|-
| 2003 || BULLSNET.COM
|-
| 2004–2006 || [[International Sports Clothing|ISC]] 
|-
| 2007–2012 || [[Kooga|KooGa]] 
|-
| 2013–2016 || rowspan=3|[[International Sports Clothing|ISC]] || [[Provident Financial]]
|-
| 2017 || [[Utilita Energy]]
|-
| 2018 || Visionon.net
|-
| 2019 || rowspan=2|[[Kappa (brand)|Kappa]] || Lowe
|-
| 2020 || rowspan=2|Sedulo
|-
|2021–2023 || [[Steeden]]
|-
|2024–
|[[Kappa (brand)|Kappa]]
|Varleys Builders Merchant
|}

==Rivalries==
{{see also|West Yorkshire derbies#In Rugby League}}
Bradford's main rivals historically whilst playing in the [[Super League]], were the [[Leeds Rhinos]] who they have played in multiple finals, especially during the early years of the competition, and also the [[Huddersfield Giants]] and [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] whom they faced in two successive Challenge cup finals during the golden era. Since the Bulls were relegated to the RL Championship in 2014, their main local rivalry is now between themselves and the [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax Panthers]], the Championship a division below the Super League. 

They also have a lesser local rivalry with [[Keighley Cougars]], although this was arguably considered a one-way rivalry as competitive fixtures were rare since they mostly played in different divisions.

==2025 squad==
{{Rugby league squad
|squadname=Bradford Bulls 2025 Squad
|BC1=white
|FC1=black
|BC2=black
|FC2=white
|source=[https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/squads/first-team First Team Squad] 
|date=3 January 2025
|list1a={{Rugby league squad player|no=1|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tom Holmes (rugby league)|Tom Holmes]]|pos=FB|pos2=SO|pos3=SH}}
|list1b={{Rugby league squad player|no=3|name={{flagicon|Fiji}}[[Waqa Blake]]|pos=CE|pos2=WG}}
|list1c={{Rugby league squad player|no=5|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Guy Armitage]]|pos=WG|pos2=CE}}
|list1d={{Rugby league squad player|no=6|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[James Meadows (rugby league)|James Meadows]]|pos=SO|pos2=SH|pos3=FB}}
|list1e={{Rugby league squad player|no=7|name={{flagicon|IRE|rugby league}} [[Joe Keyes (rugby league)|Joe Keyes]]|pos=SH|pos2=SO}}
|list1f={{Rugby league squad player|no=8|name={{flagicon|JAM}} [[Michael Lawrence (rugby league)|Michael Lawrence]]|pos=PR|pos2=LF|captain=1}}
|list1g={{Rugby league squad player|no=9|name={{flagicon|ENG}}[[Jordan Lilley]]|pos=HK|pos2=SH}}
|list1h={{Rugby league squad player|no=10|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ebon Scurr]]|pos=PR}}
|list1i={{Rugby league squad player|no=11|name={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Zac Fulton]]|pos=SR|pos2=LF}}

|list2a={{Rugby league squad player|no=12|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Matty Gee]]|pos=SR}}
|list2b={{Rugby league squad player|no=13|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[James Donaldson (rugby league)|James Donaldson]]|pos=LF|pos2=SR}}
|list2c={{Rugby league squad player|no=14|name={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mitch Souter]]|pos=HK}}
|list2d={{Rugby league squad player|no=15|name={{flagicon|SCO}} [[Logan Bayliss-Brow]]|pos=PR}}
|list2e={{Rugby league squad player|no=16|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nathan Mason]]|pos=PR}}
|list2f={{Rugby league squad player|no=18|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Hallas]]|pos=LF|pos2=HK}}
|list2g={{Rugby league squad player|no=19|name={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tyran Ott]]|pos=HK|pos2=SO}}
|list2h={{Rugby league squad player|no=20|name={{flagicon|IRE|rugby league}} [[Ronan Michael]]|pos=PR|pos2=LF}}

|list3a={{Rugby league squad player|no=21|name={{flagicon|PNG}} [[Emmanuel Waine]]|pos=SR}}
|list3b={{Rugby league squad player|no=22|name={{flagicon|Albania}} [[Elliot Peposhi]]|pos=SR|pos2=LF}}
|list3c={{Rugby league squad player|no=23|name={{flagicon|SAM}} [[Jorge Taufua]]|pos=WG|pos2=CE}}
|list3e={{Rugby league squad player|no=26|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Luke Hooley]]|pos=FB}}
|list3f={{Rugby league squad player|no=30|name={{flagicon|IRE|rugby league}} [[Jamie Gill (rugby league)|Jamie Gill]] |pos=PR}}
|list3g={{Rugby league squad player|no=31|name={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Ackroyd]]|pos=HB}}
|list3h={{Rugby league squad player|no=34|name={{flagicon|TON}} [[Konrad Hurrell]]|pos=CE}}
|list3i={{Rugby league squad player|no=37|name={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jayden Okunbor]]|pos=WG|pos2=CE}}

|coach={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]]
|assistant={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Lee Greenwood (rugby league)|Lee Greenwood]]
|assistant2={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Keith Senior]]
}}

==Players==

===Notable former players===

====Harry Sunderland Trophy winners====
The [[Harry Sunderland Trophy]] is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in the [[Super League Grand Final]] by the [[Rugby League Writers' Association]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season !! Recipient 
|-
|[[1977-78 Northern Rugby Football League season|1977–78]]
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Bob Haigh]]
|-
|[[Super League IV|1999]]
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Henry Paul (rugby)|Henry Paul]]
|-
|[[Super League VI|2001]]
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Michael Withers]]
|-
|[[Super League VII|2002]]
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Deacon]]
|-
|[[Super League VIII|2003]]
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Stuart Reardon]]
|-
|[[Super League X|2005]]
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Leon Pryce]]
|}

====Lance Todd Trophy winners====
The [[Lance Todd Trophy]] is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in the [[Challenge Cup Final]]. Introduced in 1946, the trophy was named in memory of [[Lance Todd]], the [[New Zealand]]-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the [[Second World War]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season 
! Recipient 
! Position
|-
|1947
| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Willie Davies (rugby)|Willie Davies]]
| {{rlp|SO}}
|-
|1948
| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Frank Whitcombe]]
| {{rlp|PR}}
|-
| 1949
| {{flagicon|England}} [[Ernest Ward]]
| {{rlp|FB}}
|-
|1996
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Robbie Paul]] 
| {{rlp|FB}}
|-
| 2000
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Henry Paul (rugby)|Henry Paul]] 
| {{rlp|SO}}
|}

====Steve Prescott Man of Steel winners====
The [[Steve Prescott]] [[Man of Steel Award]] is an annual honour, awarded by the [[Super League]] to the most outstanding player in the British game for that year.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Winner!!Position
|-
|[[1984-85 Rugby Football League season|1985]]||{{flagicon|England}} [[Ellery Hanley]]||{{Rlp|LF}}
|-
|[[Super League II|1997]]||{{flagicon|England}} [[James Lowes]]||[[Rugby league positions#Hooker|Hooker]]
|-
|[[Super League III|1998]]||{{flagicon|England}} [[Jamie Peacock]] ||[[Rugby league positions#Second row|Second row]]
|}

====Treble winning team====
{{Main|2003 Bradford Bulls season}}
This list contains the players who played in the [[Challenge Cup]], [[Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Nat!!#!!Name
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}}||1||[[Robbie Paul]]
|-
|{{flagicon|TON}}||2||[[Tevita Vaikona]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||3||[[Leon Pryce]]
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}}||4||[[Shontayne Hape]]
|-
|{{flagicon|TON}}||5||[[Lesley Vainikolo]]
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}}||6||[[Michael Withers]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||7||[[Paul Deacon]]
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}}||8||[[Joe Vagana]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||9||[[James Lowes]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||10||[[Paul Anderson (rugby league, born 1971)|Paul Anderson]]
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}}||11||[[Daniel Gartner]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||12||[[Jamie Peacock]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||13||[[Mike Forshaw]] 
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||14||[[Lee Gilmour]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||15||[[Karl Pratt]]
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}}||16||[[Alex Wilkinson (rugby league)|Alex Wilkinson]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||17||[[Stuart Reardon]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||18||[[Lee Radford]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||19||[[Jamie Langley]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||20||[[Scott Naylor]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||22||[[Karl Pryce]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||26||[[Chris Bridge]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||27||[[Rob Parker (rugby league)|Rob Parker]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||29||[[Stuart Fielden]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}}||30||[[Richard Moore (rugby league)|Richard Moore]]
|}

===Captains===
'''From 1996 -'''
*[[Robbie Paul]] 1996–04
*[[Jamie Peacock]] 2005
*[[Iestyn Harris]] 2006
*[[Paul Deacon]] 2007–09
*[[Andy Lynch (rugby league)|Andy Lynch]] 2010–11
*[[Heath L'Estrange]] 2012–13
*[[Matt Diskin]] 2012–14
*[[Chev Walker]] 2015
*[[Adrian Purtell]] 2016
*[[Leon Pryce]] 2017
*[[Sam Hallas]]/[[Scott Moore (rugby league)|Scott Moore]] 2017
*[[Lee Smith (rugby)|Lee Smith]] 2018
*[[Steve Crossley]] 2019-2023
*[[Michael Lawrence (rugby league)|Michael Lawrence]] 2023–Present

==Staff==
===Past coaches===
Also see ''[[:Category:Bradford Bulls coaches]]''

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 1936–60 [[Dai Rees (rugby, 1920s)|Dai Rees]] 
* 1960–61 [[Trevor Foster]] 
* 1961 [[Doug Greenall]]
* 1961–62 [[Jimmy Ledgard]]
* 1962–63 [[Harry Beverley (rugby league, born 1907)|Harry Beverley]]
* 1963 [[Jack Wilkinson (rugby league)|Jack Wilkinson]]
* 1964–71 [[Gus Risman]]
* 1971–72 [[Harry Street (rugby league)|Harry Street]]
* 1973–75 [[Ian Brooke]]
* 1975 [[Albert Fearnley]]
* 1975–77 [[Roy Francis (rugby)|Roy Francis]]
* 1977–85 [[Peter Fox (rugby league, born 1933)|Peter Fox]]
* 1985–89 [[Barry Seabourne]]
* 1989 [[David Hobbs (rugby league)|David Hobbs]]
* 1989–90 [[Ron Willey]]
* 1990–93 [[David Hobbs (rugby league)|David Hobbs]]
* 1993–95 [[Peter Fox (rugby league, born 1933)|Peter Fox]]
* 1995–96 [[Brian Smith (rugby league, born 1954)|Brian Smith]]
* 1996–2000 [[Matthew Elliott (rugby league)|Matthew Elliott]]
* 2001–06 [[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]]
* 2006–10 [[Steve McNamara]]
* 2010 [[Lee St Hilaire]]
* 2011–12 [[Mick Potter]]
* 2013–14 [[Francis Cummins]]
* 2014 [[Matt Diskin]]
* 2014–16 [[James Lowes]]
* 2016–17 [[Rohan Smith (rugby league)|Rohan Smith]]
* 2017 [[Geoff Toovey]]
* 2018–22 [[John Kear]]
* 2022–23 [[Mark Dunning]]
* 2023 [[Lee Greenwood]] (interim)
* 2024 [[Eamon O'Carroll]]
* 2025 [[Brian Noble (rugby league)|Brian Noble]]
{{div col end}}

==Seasons==

===League history===
{|
|-
|valign="top"|
*1907–1973: [[Rugby Football League Championship|Division 1]]
*1973–1974: [[Rugby Football League Championship Second Division|Division 2]]
*1974–1996: [[Rugby Football League Championship|Division 1]]
*1996–2014: [[Super League]]
*2015–2017: [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]]
*2018: [[League 1 (rugby league)|League 1]]
*2019–Present: [[Championship (rugby league)|Championship]]
|}

===Super League era===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|Season
!colspan="9" scope="col"|League
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|[[Super League play-offs|Play-offs]]
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|[[Challenge Cup]]
!colspan="2" rowspan="2" scope="col"|Other competitions
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Tries
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Points
|-
!scope="col"|Division
!scope="col"|P
!scope="col"|W
!scope="col"|D
!scope="col"|L
!scope="col"|F
!scope="col"|A
!scope="col"|Pts
!scope="col"|Pos
!colspan="2" scope="col"|Top try scorer
!colspan="2" scope="col"|Top point scorer
|-
!scope="row"|[[1996 Bradford Bulls season|1996]]
|[[Super League I|Super League]]
|22||17||0||5||767||409||34
|{{won|place=3rd}}
|
|style="background-color:#DDD"| [[1996 Challenge Cup|RU]]
| ||
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Robbie Paul]]
| 23
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve McNamara]]
| 170
|-
!scope="row"|[[1997 Bradford Bulls season|1997]]
|[[Super League II|Super League]]
|22||20||0||2||769||397||40
|{{won|place=1st}}
|
|style="background-color:#DDD"| [[1997 Challenge Cup|RU]]
| ||
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[James Lowes]]
| 17
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve McNamara]]
| 299
|-
!scope="row"|[[1998 Bradford Bulls season|1998]]
|[[Super League III|Super League]]
|23||12||0||11||498||450||24
|5th
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|R5
| ||
| {{flagicon|TON}} [[Tevita Vaikona]]
| 13
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve McNamara]]
| 170
|-
!scope="row"|[[1999 Bradford Bulls season|1999]]
|[[Super League IV|Super League]]
|30||25||1||4||897||445||51
|{{won|place=1st}}
|style="background-color:#DDD"|Lost in [[1999 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]
|SF
| ||
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Michael Withers]]
| 21
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve McNamara]]
| 221
|-
!scope="row"|[[2000 Bradford Bulls season|2000]]
|[[Super League V|Super League]]
|28||20||3||5||1004||408||43
|{{won|place=3rd}}
|Lost in Preliminary Final
|style="background-color:#FE2"|''' [[2000 Challenge Cup|W]]'''
| ||
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Robbie Paul]]
| 19
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Henry Paul (rugby)|Henry Paul]]
| 404
|-
!scope="row"|[[2001 Bradford Bulls season|2001]]
|[[Super League VI|Super League]]
|28||22||1||5||1120||474||45
|{{won|place=1st}}
|style="background-color:#FE2"|''' Won in [[2001 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''
|style="background-color:#DDD"| [[2001 Challenge Cup|RU]]
| ||
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Michael Withers]]
| 31
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Henry Paul (rugby)|Henry Paul]]
| 457
|-
!scope="row"|[[2002 Bradford Bulls season|2002]]
|[[Super League VII|Super League]]
|28||23||0||5||910||519||46
|{{won|place=1st}}
|style="background-color:#DDD"|Lost in [[2002 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]
|R4
|[[World Club Challenge]] ||style="background-color:#FE2"|''' [[2002 World Club Challenge|W]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Michael Withers]]
| 20
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 336
|-
!scope="row"|[[2003 Bradford Bulls season|2003]]
|[[Super League VIII|Super League]]
|28||22||0||6||878||529||44
|{{won|place=1st}}
|style="background-color:#FE2"|''' Won in [[2003 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''
|style="background-color:#FE2"|''' [[2003 Challenge Cup|W]]'''
| ||
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Lesley Vainikolo]]
| 26
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 389
|-
!scope="row"|[[2004 Bradford Bulls season|2004]]
|[[Super League IX|Super League]]
|28||20||1||7||918||565||41
|{{won|place=2nd}}
|style="background-color:#DDD"|Lost in [[2004 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]
|R4
|[[World Club Challenge]] ||style="background-color:#FE2"|''' [[2004 World Club Challenge|W]]'''
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Lesley Vainikolo]]
| 39
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 282
|-
!scope="row"|[[2005 Bradford Bulls season|2005]]
|[[Super League X|Super League]]
|28||18||1||9||1038||684||37
|{{won|place=3rd}}
|style="background-color:#FE2"|''' Won in [[2005 Super League Grand Final|Grand Final]]'''
|R5
| ||
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Lesley Vainikolo]]
| 34
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 391
|-
!scope="row"|[[2006 Bradford Bulls season|2006]]
|[[Super League XI|Super League]]
|28||16||2||10||802||568||32
|4th
|Lost in Preliminary Final
|R5
|[[World Club Challenge]] ||style="background-color:#FE2"|''' [[2006 World Club Challenge|W]]'''
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shontayne Hape]]
| 22
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 277
|-
!scope="row"|[[2007 Bradford Bulls season|2007]]
|[[Super League XII|Super League]]
|27||17||1||9||778||560||33
|{{won|place=3rd}}
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|SF
| ||
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Lesley Vainikolo]]
| 19
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 244
|-
!scope="row"|[[2008 Bradford Bulls season|2008]]
|[[Super League XIII|Super League]]
|27||14||0||13||705||625||28
|5th
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|QF
| ||
| {{flagicon|Fiji}} [[Semi Tadulala]]
| 23
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 190
|-
!scope="row"|[[2009 Bradford Bulls season|2009]]
|[[Super League XIV|Super League]]
|27||12||1||14||653||668||25
|9th
|
|R4
| ||
| {{flagicon|Fiji}} [[Semi Tadulala]]
| 14
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Deacon]]
| 201
|-
!scope="row"|[[2010 Bradford Bulls season|2010]]
|[[Super League XV|Super League]]
|27||9||1||17||528||728||19
|10th
|
|QF
| ||
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brett Kearney]]/{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Steve Menzies]]
| 14
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Sykes (rugby league)|Paul Sykes]]
| 114
|-
!scope="row"|[[2011 Bradford Bulls season|2011]]
|[[Super League XVI|Super League]]
|27||9||2||16||570||826||20
|10th
|
|R5
| ||
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Patrick Ah Van]]/{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Shad Royston]]
| 12
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Patrick Ah Van]]
| 242
|-
!scope="row"|[[2012 Bradford Bulls season|2012]]
|[[Super League XVII|Super League]]
|27||14||1||12||633||756||23
|9th
|
|R5
| ||
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brett Kearney]]/{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Elliott Whitehead]]
| 15
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Luke Gale]]
| 143
|-
!scope="row"|[[2013 Bradford Bulls season|2013]]
|[[Super League XVIII|Super League]]
|27||10||2||15||640||658||22
|9th
|
|R5
| ||
| {{flagicon|Malta}} [[Jarrod Sammut]]
| 25
| {{flagicon|Malta}} [[Jarrod Sammut]]
| 167
|-
!scope="row"|[[2014 Bradford Bulls season|2014]]
|[[Super League XIX|Super League]]
|27||8||0||19||512||984||10
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|13th
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|
|QF
| ||
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Luke Gale]]
| 14
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Luke Gale]]
| 147
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|[[2015 Bradford Bulls season|2015]]
|[[2015 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|23||18||1||4||828||387||37
|2nd
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|R5
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Williams (rugby)|Danny Williams]]
|rowspan="2"| 25
|rowspan="2"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ryan Shaw (rugby league)|Ryan Shaw]]
|rowspan="2"| 286
|-
|The Qualifiers
|7||3||0||4||167||240||6
|5th
|-
!scope="row" |[[2016 Bradford Bulls season|2016]]
|[[2016 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|23||13||2||8||717||446||28
|5th
|Won in Shield Final
|R4
|
|
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kris Welham]]
| 29
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Addy]]
| 193
|-
!scope="row" |[[2017 Bradford Bulls season|2017]]
|[[2017 RFL Championship|Championship]]
|23||6||0||17||500||719||0
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|12th
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|
|R4
|
|
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[James Bentley (rugby league)|James Bentley]]
| 18
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Oscar Thomas]]
| 139
|-
!scope="row" |[[2018 Bradford Bulls season|2018]]
|[[2018 RFL League 1|League 1]] 
|26||23||0||3||1197||282||46
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|2nd
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|Won in Promotion Playoff Final
|R5
|
|
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ethan Ryan]]
| 36
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Dane Chisholm]]
| 312
|-
!scope="row"|[[2019 Bradford Bulls season|2019]]
|[[2019 RFL Championship|Championship]] 
|27||16||1||10||717||522||33
|6th
|
|QF
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||R2
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ethan Ryan]]
| 20
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Keyes (rugby league)|Joe Keyes]]
| 136
|-
!scope="row"|[[2020 Bradford Bulls season|2020]]
|style="background:#C0C0C0;"|[[2020 RFL Championship|Championship]]{{efn|The [[2020 RFL Championship|2020 Championship]] was abandoned due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]]. Statistics shown are those at time of abandonment and are not official.}}
|style="background:#C0C0C0;"|4||style="background:#C0C0C0;"|2||style="background:#C0C0C0;"|0||style="background:#C0C0C0;"|2||style="background:#C0C0C0;"|90||style="background:#C0C0C0;"|60||style="background:#C0C0C0;"|4
|style="background:#C0C0C0;"|7th
|{{N/A|None Played}}
|R5
| ||
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Matty Dawson-Jones]]
| 4
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Rowan Milnes]]
| 44
|-
!scope="row"|[[2021 Bradford Bulls season|2021]]
|[[2021 RFL Championship|Championship]] 
|20||12||0||8||514||501||24
|5th
|Lost in Elimination Playoffs
|R3{{efn|Officially round 1 due to the competitions temporary restructure in 2021.}} 
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||R1
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
!scope="row"|[[2022 Bradford Bulls season|2022]]
|[[2022 RFL Championship|Championship]] 
|27||11||0||16||523||677||22
|9th
|
|R5
| ||
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
!scope="row"|[[2023 Bradford Bulls season|2023]]
|[[2023 RFL Championship|Championship]] 
|27||16||1||10||677||572||33
|3rd
|Lost in Semi-final
|R5
| ||
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
!scope="row"|[[2024 Bradford Bulls season|2024]]
|[[2024 RFL Championship|Championship]] 
|26||16||2||8||682||387||34
|3rd
|Lost in Semi-final
|R4
|[[RFL 1895 Cup|1895 Cup]] ||SF
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

==Honours==

===League===
*[[Rugby Football League Championship|Division 1 / Super League]]:
::'''Winners (6)''': 1979–80, 1980–81, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005
:::*[[League Leader's Shield]]:
::::'''Winners (1)''': 2003
*[[Rugby Football League Championship Second Division|Division 2 / Championship]]:
::'''Winners (1)''': 1973–74
:::*[[Championship Shield]]:
::::'''Winners (1)''': 2016
*[[Rugby Football League Championship Third Division|Division 3 / League 1]]:
::
:::*[[League 1 Play-offs]]:
::::'''Winners (1)''': 2018
*[[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]]:
::'''Winners (1)''': 1977–78
*[[RFL Yorkshire League]]:
::'''Winners (1)''': 1947–48

===Cups===
*[[Challenge Cup]]:
::'''Winners (5)''': 1943–44, 1946–47, 1948–49, 2000, 2003
*[[League Cup (rugby league)|League Cup]]:
::'''Winners (2)''': 1974–75, 1979–80
*[[RFL Yorkshire Cup]]:
::'''Winners (11)''': 1940–41, 1941–42, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1965–66, 1978–79, 1987–88, 1989–90

===International===
*[[World Club Challenge]]:
::'''Winners (3)''': 2002, 2004, 2006

==Records==
{{main|List of Bradford Bulls records and statistics}}

===Club Records===
*Biggest win: 
::124-0 ''v.'' {{leagueicon|canberra|16}} [[West Wales Raiders|West Wales]] (at [[Odsal Stadium|Odsal]], 6 May 2018)
*Biggest loss: 
::6-84 '' v.'' {{leagueicon|Wigan Warriors|16}} [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] (at [[DW Stadium]], 21 April 2014)

*Highest Super League attendance: 
::24,020 ''v.'' {{leagueicon|leeds|16}} [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] (at [[Odsal Stadium|Odsal]], 3 September 1999)

==See also==
*[[Bradford Bulls Women]]
*[[Bradford Bulls Academy]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |title=The Grounds Of Rugby League |last=Delaney |first=Trevor |year=1991 |publisher=Trevor&nbsp;R. Delaney |location=[[Keighley]] |isbn=0-9509-9822-2 }}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=Room at the Top|last=Dewhirst |first=John |year=2016 |publisher=bantamspast.net |location=[[Shipley, West Yorkshire|Shipley]] |isbn=978-0-9566984-5-2 }}
*{{cite book |title=Life at the Top|last=Dewhirst |first=John |year=2016 |publisher=bantamspast.net |location=[[Shipley, West Yorkshire|Shipley]] |isbn=978-0-9566984-8-3 }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
*[http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/ Bradford Bulls in T&A]
*[http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league Sky Sports Rugby League]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171102154459/http://www.rugby-league.com/championship__league1 RFL Championship and League One]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league BBC Rugby League]

{{Bradford Bulls Rugby League}}
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| list  = 
{{Bradford Bulls Millenium Masters}}
{{Bradford Bulls Bull Masters}}
{{Bradford Bulls Team Of The Century}}
{{Bradford Bulls Captains}}
{{Bradford Bulls Coaches}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2000 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2001 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2002 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2003 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2003 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2004 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Bradford Bulls - 2005 Super League Grand Final winners}}
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[[Category:Bradford Bulls| ]]
[[Category:Rugby league teams in England]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1907]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Sport in Bradford]]