Bradford Bulls to be first away club to have fans

Bradford Bulls will become the first sporting club to be backed by away fans, since the start of the pandemic, at their match against London Boncos this weekend.

Around 300 are expected to be at Sunday’s game at London after the Broncos made a small allocation available.

The limited crowds so far this week in Super League and football’s play-offs have been restricted to home supporters only.

Bradford Bulls Coach John Kear said: “I’m very excited to have crowds back.

“It certainly made a difference to all the Monday games I watched in Super League and to the football as well. Straight away there’s a greater element of passion and emotion that’s generated.

“I just can’t wait to be in and amongst that and I know the players feel the same.

“Manchester United display the banner saying ‘football is nothing without fans’ and I think that’s the same for any elite sport.

“You obviously start playing it for your own enjoyment but as you progress through there obviously greater things take over.

“I just think it’s part of the game with that interaction with the crowd, whether that’s jeering or cheering. I can’t wait to experience it once again.

“With home fans, it’s a bit one-sided. If you’ve got an integration of both sets of supporters, it just adds more to it.”

London Broncos head of commercial James Milner is not surprised by the take-up of tickets from West Yorkshire.

He said: "Bradford is always one of the biggest games for us when we play them at home because they are such a well-supported club.

"The fact that they are in the stadium will create the atmosphere that people have missed behind closed doors.

"To have one set of fans is great but to have both will make the fixture even more special."