▁May ▁ 1 9 0 3 ▁and ▁then ▁elected ▁into ▁the ▁Football ▁League ▁to ▁replace ▁Don c aster ▁Ro vers ▁in ▁the ▁Second ▁Division . ▁They ▁finished ▁in ▁ 1 0 th ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁league ▁and ▁reached ▁the ▁fourth ▁qual ifying ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁FA ▁Cup . ▁ ▁Brad ford ▁City ▁were ▁formed ▁following ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁meet ings ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁half ▁of ▁ 1 9 0 3 ▁and ▁replaced ▁the ▁former ▁rugby ▁league ▁club ▁of ▁Mann ingham , ▁whose ▁Valley ▁Par ade ▁ground ▁they ▁used . ▁The ▁club ▁had ▁already ▁signed ▁six ▁players ▁before ▁they ▁were ▁accepted ▁into ▁the ▁league ▁before ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁side ▁were ▁later ▁signed ▁by ▁a ▁five - man ▁committee . ▁The ▁board ▁direct ors ▁appointed ▁Robert ▁Campbell ▁as ▁the ▁club ' s ▁first ▁manager . ▁Brad ford ▁City ' s ▁first ▁game ▁ended ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 – 0 ▁defeat ▁at ▁Gr ims by ▁Town ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁home ▁game ▁resulted ▁in ▁another ▁loss ▁to ▁G ains borough ▁Tr inity . ▁Club ▁captain ▁Johnny ▁Mc Mill an ▁finished ▁the ▁top ▁goals cor er ▁with ▁ 1 4 ▁league ▁and ▁two ▁FA ▁Cup ▁goals . ▁ ▁Background ▁ ▁Organ ised ▁league ▁football ▁had ▁been ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁R iding ▁of ▁York shire ▁since ▁ 1 8 9 4 ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁York shire ▁League , ▁but ▁no ▁side ▁from ▁the ▁county ▁had ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁Football ▁League . ▁So ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁January ▁ 1 9 0 3 , ▁Sc ots man ▁James