Geoffrey Richmond dead at 85: Ex-Premier League club chairman behind Bradford’s incredible rise dies as tributes pour in

BRADFORD have announced the sad news that former chairman Geoffrey Richmond has died. Richmond was born in Leeds and became the Bradford chairman in 1994. His first act was to lend the club £2.3million to clear its debts. The Richmond era at Valley Parade ushered in the club’s most successful period. He oversaw their first-ever Wembley appearance in the 1996 Second Division play-off final. And in the 1998/99 season they earned promotion to the Premier League. Their stay in the top flight proved to be short-lived, with the club relegated in 2001.