Bradford City 2016-17 Away Shirt with Vintage Sport – 9/10

Bradford City Away Shirt 2016-17 — Featuring Avec Sport, Patchett sponsor, League One piece

In 2016-17, Bradford City played its third consecutive season in League One after narrowly missing out on a return to the Championship. This vintage Bradford City away shirt by Avec Sport, with its prominent local sponsor Patchett, is exactly the kind of piece that tells a story of an era, a club, an identity — far from the big media showcases but rooted in grassroots English football.

Shirt Details

Season: 2016-2017
Club: Bradford City
Type: Away
Manufacturer: Avec Sport
Sponsor: PATCHETT
Condition: 9/10
State: SPONSOR: PATCHETT — authentic wear of a vintage worn shirt, in near-perfect condition

What This Shirt Represents

In 2016-17, Bradford City AFC competed in the EFL League One, the third tier of English football. The Bantams were experiencing a pivotal period: after their historic FA Cup runs in 2015 — where they had eliminated Premier League Chelsea — the club sought to consolidate its status among the solid teams in League One. The pressure of promotion to the Championship was real, and every away game in an away shirt was a challenge in itself in this ultra-competitive division.

This context gives this Bradford City Avec Sport 2016-17 shirt a special flavor. Kit manufacturer Avec Sport, a British brand specializing in lower-league and semi-professional clubs, delivered a discreet but functional kit, typical of what Championship and League One players wear when the major manufacturers aren't at the table. The sponsor Patchett, a local Yorkshire company, reminds us that Bradford City remains, first and foremost, a club deeply rooted in its community, loyal to its territory.

Moments Etched in This Shirt

A League One Season Fought to the End
Bradford City finished the 2016-17 season in mid-table in League One, failing to reach the playoffs. The team, managed by Stuart McCall at the start of the season, then by Simon Grayson and finally by Michael Collins on an interim basis, experienced management turbulence — which did not prevent the Bantams from playing hard-fought matches at Valley Parade and on English pitches.

Valley Parade, Yorkshire Fortress
Bradford's stadium, Valley Parade, is one of the most historic venues in English football — sadly marked by the 1985 disaster, but standing, still alive. This away shirt was the one worn away from Valley Parade, on pitches in Fleetwood, Southend, or Sheffield — the true face of League One football, without cameras, just football.

The FA Cup Legacy and Reconstruction
The 2015 FA Cup run — a 4-2 victory against José Mourinho's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge — remains the absolute benchmark for this generation of Bantams supporters. The 2016-17 season was part of a post-euphoria reconstruction effort, with a group trying to find consistency in the league. This away shirt is part of that legacy of fighting spirit that defines Bradford City.

Authentic vs. Replica

A vintage authentic shirt is not a shirt fresh from the factory to be sold to tourists. It's a piece that existed in the club's real life — bought at the time, perhaps worn on an outing, stored in a drawer or wardrobe, and carrying with it the traces of a specific era. The cut, the finishes, the internal labels, the fabric texture: everything speaks of a real season, a concrete moment in English football.

This one boasts a condition of 9/10 — which is exceptional for a shirt from this period. Barely a few signs of existence, nothing visible at first glance. The Patchett sponsor flocking is intact, the fabric remains clean and structured. For a Bradford City collector's shirt over eight years old, it's frankly above the average of what's available on the market.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage shirts — and even more so those produced by manufacturers like Avec Sport — generally run smaller than current standards. A vintage M from 2016-17 often corresponds to a modern S/M in terms of fit, especially in the shoulders and chest. The finishes are more tailored, closer to the body than the looser cuts found in official stores nowadays.

Before ordering, measure your chest circumference and compare it with a shirt you already own that fits you well. This is the most reliable method. If you are between two sizes, go for the larger one — a slightly loose shirt can be worn, a shirt too tight under the arms, no. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact us directly for the exact measurements of this item.

Why Have It in Your Collection

League One and League Two club shirts are among the most underestimated pieces in the vintage football market. No global superstar, no international marketing campaign — just pure football, local sponsors, independent kit manufacturers. And that is precisely what makes them rare objects over time. A Bradford City 2016-17 Avec Sport away shirt, you'll find very few in circulation. Most have disappeared, been lost, or are in poor condition.

There aren't many in this condition. A 9/10 on a shirt from this period and level of distribution is a real positive anomaly. Whether you're a Bantams supporter, a collector of English football shirts, or simply a fan of authentic pieces that go off the beaten track, this shirt ticks all the boxes. It will not be back in stock.

To Learn More

• Bradford City AFC — Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive — Kit History
• UEFA — European Football

If you're looking for a shirt that represents real English football — not the display cases, but the locker rooms and the team buses on the M1 motorway — you've come to the right place. It's now or never.