Bradford (Park Avenue) owes much of its early identity to Harry Briggs (1862–1920). Born into a prosperous textile family, Briggs assumed the role of principal patron and became the pivotal force in the club’s bold transition from rugby to football.
He invested more than money — he invested faith in a rising club. His financial backing carried Avenue through its formative struggles, enabling infrastructure, player recruitment, and ambition.
But Briggs’s passion was not confined to sport. He was a progressive thinker and a motor enthusiast. In 1906, he invested £10,000 in the flotation of Rolls-Royce and even lobbied to bring the company’s manufacturing to Bradford, ideally placing the plant near Park Avenue. While Derby was ultimately chosen, Briggs’s aspirations illustrated his broader ambition: to elevate Bradford — both the club and the city — into a hub of modern industry and prestige.
When Briggs died in 1920, Avenue lost more than a patron — it lost a guiding spirit. His absence reverberated through the years, as the club struggled to maintain momentum without its visionary anchor. Yet his legacy endures: the ambition, the audacity, and the belief that Bradford (Park Avenue) was destined for greatness.
