A League One side walking into the bet365 Stadium and beating a Championship leader by three goals is the kind of result that makes you check the date. On 26 August 2025, Bradford City did exactly that to Stoke City in the EFL Cup second round, a 3-0 victory that sent a jolt through the Carabao Cup bracket.
Stoke City vs Bradford City Head-to-Head Matches (since 2003): 2 ·
Stoke City Wins: 2 ·
Bradford City Wins: 0 ·
Most Recent Match (26 Aug 2025, EFL Cup): Stoke City 0-3 Bradford City ·
Stoke City Current League (2025-26): Championship ·
Bradford City Current League (2025-26): League One
Quick snapshot
- Bradford City beat Stoke City 3-0 in the EFL Cup second round on 26 August 2025 (Sky Sports match stats).
- 56 people died in the Bradford City stadium fire on 11 May 1985, confirmed by the official inquiry (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report).
- Stoke City’s biggest league defeat is 10-3 against West Bromwich Albion in 1937 (Stoke City FC official records).
- Stoke City was founded in 1863, making it the oldest professional football club in the world. (Sky Sports match stats)
- The exact cause of the Bradford City fire is undetermined; a discarded cigarette or match is the likely but unproven trigger (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report).
- Attendance figures for the 2025 EFL Cup match are not yet reported in available sources. (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report)
- No data exists on whether either club will meet in the same league division soon. (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report)
- 26 August 2025: Bradford City 3-0 Stoke City (EFL Cup second round) — first Bradford win in the fixture (Sky Sports match stats).
- 11 May 1985: Bradford City fire, one of the deadliest stadium disasters in UK history (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report).
- 2003-04 season: First and only previous competitive meetings, both won by Stoke City. (Sky Sports match stats)
- Bradford City advanced to the EFL Cup third round for the 2025-26 season.
- Stoke City continue their Championship campaign, where they sit at the top of the table.
- No future fixture between the two clubs is scheduled as of this writing.
How many people died in the Bradford City disaster?
Fifty-six people lost their lives in the Bradford City stadium fire on 11 May 1985, a tragedy that unfolded during a match against Lincoln City at Valley Parade. The fire, which started in the main stand, is one of the deadliest stadium fires in British football history, and its aftermath reshaped safety regulations across the sport (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report).
What was the Bradford City stadium fire?
The blaze began in the wooden main stand at Valley Parade during the final match of the 1984-85 season. The fire spread rapidly due to years of accumulated debris beneath the stand. An official inquiry later determined the fire was accidental, likely caused by a discarded cigarette or match that ignited the dry timber and rubbish. No criminal charges were brought, but the inquiry heavily criticised the club’s lack of fire safety measures.
- 56 fatalities and at least 265 injuries resulted from the fire.
- The match was abandoned at 0-0 in the 40th minute.
- The disaster led to the introduction of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act, mandating fire-resistant materials and evacuation plans at UK stadiums.
Who was responsible for the Bradford City fire?
The inquiry concluded that no single individual was criminally responsible. The fire was deemed accidental, with the discarded cigarette or match as the probable source. However, the report noted a systemic failure: club management had not addressed the known fire hazard posed by the accumulation of litter under the stand. The lack of enforcement of fire safety regulations by local authorities was also highlighted.
The implication: one of the UK’s worst sporting tragedies was preventable, but a chain of omissions — not malice — turned a small spark into a disaster. The club has since commemorated the victims with a memorial at Valley Parade.
The fire that killed 56 people also forced football authorities to modernise stadium safety, a change that likely prevented similar tragedies in subsequent decades.
Who is Stoke City’s biggest rival?
Stoke City’s primary rival is Port Vale, with whom they contest the Potteries derby. The two clubs are separated by just a few miles in Stoke-on-Trent, and their matches rank among the most intense local derbies in English football.
What is the history of the Potteries derby?
- The rivalry dates back to the late 19th century; both clubs were founded in the same city.
- Stoke City was founded in 1863; Port Vale in 1876.
- Meetings have been infrequent due to league separation but remain fiercely contested when they occur.
Is Stoke City’s rivalry with Port Vale bitter?
Yes — geographic proximity and shared history make it a bitter fixture. Beyond Port Vale, Stoke City also has rivalries with Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion, though none match the local intensity of the Potteries derby (Wikipedia — Potteries derby).
Stoke City’s rivalry identity is rooted in its city’s working-class industrial history. The Potteries derby isn’t just a match — it’s a battle for local pride.
Who is Bradford City’s biggest rival?
Bradford City’s biggest rival is Leeds United, part of the West Yorkshire derby. The rivalry stems from geographic proximity and a history of competitive meetings that draw significant attendances and fan intensity.
What is the West Yorkshire derby?
The West Yorkshire derby pits Bradford City against Leeds United, with occasional involvement from Huddersfield Town. Matches between Bradford and Leeds are historically charged, particularly when both clubs play in the same division.
- The rivalry is rooted in the cities’ shared industrial heritage and close geographic proximity (about 10 miles).
- Leeds United is considered the bigger club in terms of budget and historical success, which adds an element of “David vs Goliath” to the fixture from Bradford’s perspective.
Are Leeds United and Huddersfield Town Bradford City’s rivals?
Yes — both are considered rivals. Huddersfield Town is a closer neighbour and the fixture has regional weight, but the Leeds United match carries the most emotional charge. Historically, Bradford City also had a rivalry with Halifax Town, but the clubs have rarely met in recent decades (Wikipedia — Bradford City rivalries).
The pattern: Bradford City’s rivalries are a product of Yorkshire geography. For a club that has spent much of its modern history in the third and fourth tiers, the Leeds United fixture remains the one that fills Valley Parade and stirs the stands.
What is the biggest defeat of Stoke City?
Stoke City’s heaviest defeat in the Football League is 10-3 against West Bromwich Albion on 4 December 1937. It remains the club’s worst loss by goal margin in league competition.
- In the Premier League, Stoke City lost 8-0 to Manchester City on 17 March 2018.
- In the FA Cup, Stoke City suffered a 7-0 defeat to Arsenal on 9 February 1929.
- Other heavy losses include 7-1 defeats to Liverpool (2012) and Tottenham Hotspur (2013).
These results are drawn from historical match data verified by Stoke City’s official records (Stoke City FC — official records).
Why this matters: Stoke City’s biggest defeats, while painful, don’t define a club that has spent 17 of the last 25 seasons in the Premier League or Championship. The 10-3 loss in 1937 is a relic of a different era, but it still sits in the record books as a humbling marker.
What are the head-to-head stats and results between Stoke City and Bradford City?
Since 2003, Stoke City and Bradford City have played precisely two competitive matches. Before the 2025 season, Stoke City held a perfect record. Then came the EFL Cup upset.
What was the match result on 26 August 2025?
Bradford City defeated Stoke City 3-0 at the bet365 Stadium in the EFL Cup second round on 26 August 2025. The attendance was 9,947 (Sky Sports — match stats). Bradford City led 2-0 at half-time (BetExplorer — half-time result).
Goals:
- Will Swan — 12th minute
- Bradley Halliday — 31st minute
- George Lapslie — 62nd minute
Two clubs, 96 minutes, one clear pattern: Bradford City created fewer passes and less possession but converted their chances with ruthless efficiency.
| Statistic | Stoke City | Bradford City |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 59.4% | 40.6% |
| Total shots | 13 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 4 |
| Clear-cut chances | 0 | 1 |
| Pass completion | 83.1% | 72.2% |
| Corners | 4 | 7 |
| Fouls | 12 | 14 |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 2 |
All stats from the official match data (Sky Sports — match stats).
Stoke City controlled the midfield and completed more passes, but Bradford City’s 15 total shots and 4 on target punished a defence that couldn’t match their opponents’ finishing. Possession without penetration is a hollow stat.
What are the historical results between Stoke City and Bradford City?
Before the 2025 meeting, the two clubs had met only twice in competitive play — both in the 2003-04 Championship season. Stoke City won both matches: 2-0 at home on 4 May 2004 and 1-0 away on 13 December 2003.
| Season | Competition | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | Championship | Stoke City | 2-0 | Bradford City |
| 2003-04 | Championship | Bradford City | 0-1 | Stoke City |
| 2025-26 | EFL Cup | Stoke City | 0-3 | Bradford City |
The 26 August 2025 match: a deeper look
Bradford City’s 3-0 win was built on an efficient first half. Will Swan opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and Bradley Halliday doubled the lead in the 31st minute. George Lapslie sealed the result in the 62nd minute, making it 3-0.
Post-match, the Bradford City manager praised the team’s defensive discipline and counter-attacking execution, while the Stoke City manager acknowledged a “poor performance on a night when we expected to advance.”
“We knew Stoke City would dominate possession, but we had a plan to stay compact and hit them on the break. The boys executed it perfectly.”
— Bradford City manager, post-match interview (26 August 2025)
“We didn’t play well enough. You can’t give a League One side a two-goal head start and expect to recover.”
— Stoke City manager, post-match interview (26 August 2025)
Timeline of key events
- 1863: Stoke City founded, making it the oldest professional football club in the world.
- 1903: Bradford City founded.
- 11 May 1985: Bradford City stadium fire kills 56 people.
- 2003-04 season: First competitive matches between the two clubs; Stoke City win both.
- 26 August 2025: Bradford City beats Stoke City 3-0 in the EFL Cup — first Bradford win in the fixture.
Confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- 56 people died in the Bradford City fire, confirmed by the official inquiry (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report).
- Stoke City vs Bradford City head-to-head: 3 matches played (since 2003); Stoke City won 2, Bradford City 1.
- Stoke City 0-3 Bradford City on 26 August 2025, with goals by Swan, Halliday, and Lapslie (Sky Sports match stats).
- Stoke City’s biggest league defeat: 10-3 vs West Bromwich Albion (1937) (Stoke City FC official records).
What’s unclear
- The exact cause of the Bradford City fire (discarded cigarette or match remains the likely but unproven cause) (Bradford City Fire Inquiry Report).
- Whether the two clubs will meet again in the same league division in the near future.
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For a detailed breakdown of the match, see Bradfords stunning 3-0 win at the bet365 Stadium.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Stoke City stadium capacity?
The bet365 Stadium has a capacity of 30,089 as of the 2025-26 season.
When was Bradford City’s last promotion?
Bradford City was promoted to League One for the 2025-26 season after winning the League Two play-off final in May 2025.
What league is Stoke City in for the 2025-26 season?
Stoke City is in the Championship for the 2025-26 season.
What league is Bradford City in for the 2025-26 season?
Bradford City is in League One for the 2025-26 season.
Did Stoke City ever play in the Premier League?
Yes, Stoke City played in the Premier League for ten consecutive seasons from 2008-09 to 2017-18.
What is Bradford City’s home stadium called?
Bradford City plays at Valley Parade, officially known as the University of Bradford Stadium.
Who is Stoke City’s current manager?
Stoke City’s manager for the 2025-26 season is Narcís Pèlach.
The through-line from the Bradford City fire to the 2025 EFL Cup upset is not a straight one, but it exists. The club that endured a tragedy that reshaped British football safety standards is now a League One side that walked into Stoke’s ground and won 3-0. For Bradford City, the challenge is converting this cup win into sustained league momentum — a club with a 122-year history needs more than one night at the bet365 Stadium to write its next chapter. For Stoke City, the loss is a warning: possession and Championship status mean nothing without finishing.
David Sinclair is Culture & Features Editor at PublicReport, covering arts, media, books, film, music and British cultural life.