Old Boys giving back through new sports scholarship

The Team Bradford Spirit of Sport Scholarship, which starts during the 2025/26 academic year, will give five University of Bradford students £1,500 per year towards their living costs. 

The scholarship has been funded by the Football Club Old Boys, a 150-strong group of University of Bradford alumni united by their love of sport who have met up annually for almost 50 years. 

Ian Robertson, 56, who studied BEng Electronic Communication and Computer Engineering at Bradford between 1986 and 1990 and now lives in New York, said: “It’s fantastic. We want to leave a legacy and give back to the community. 

“It’s a different University than the one we went to in terms of scale, there are more students here now. It’s good to help out. Coming to this University has stood us in good stead.” 

More on the scholarship

The Football Club Old Boys founded the scholarship to empower future generations of students to succeed and experience the lifelong benefits of playing sport and making friendships. 

The scholarship was launched on Friday 7 March with a football match on campus between Old Boys members. 

Kevin O’Donnell, 69, who studied BTech Industrial Technology and Management at Bradford between 1975 and 1979, said: “We want people to have the same opportunity that we had. 

“I had a fantastic time at Bradford. I found my tribe in the football team.

“The scholarship is also a way to remember the players who are no longer with us.”

Who can apply

Scholarship applicants must play a sport offered by the University Union, either as a team or individual sport, and includes disability sport. Applicants must have experience playing their chosen sport. 

The scholarship will support students committed to University sport, but face challenges in pursuing a life-changing degree.  

All full-time home undergraduate courses at the University of Bradford are applicable for the scholarship. The application process begins in November 2025, with those interested in studying at Bradford asked to register their interest now through an online form. At least two of the five scholarships will be for female applicants. 

Those who wish to support the scholarship can also donate. 

Philip Fisher, Senior Development Manager at the University of Bradford, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our alumni who have given together to help us launch the scholarship. 

“Inspired by their own sporting experiences at Bradford and their lifelong friendships, this scholarship will help students who are committed to University sport, but who face challenges in pursuing their sporting and academic dreams.”

Davide Longo, Bradford City’s Chief Commercial Officer, who attended the scholarship launch, said: “It is great to see people coming together who have been at the University a long time ago and putting funds into the scholarship. 

“Sport is unique in terms of keeping people together.”

Different is what we do

UNACHIEVABLE - We're transforming lives to make the impossible possible

Supporting students through our new sports scholarship is one of the ways the University of Bradford works to help people achieve the unachievable. 
From support and scholarships for students considering University, to boosting graduates’ prospects on the job market we do more than any other University in England to improve students’ life chances.

Other ways we help achieve the unachievable include In November 2024, the University of Bradford was ranked #1 on the Higher Education Policy Institute’s Social Mobility Index for the fourth year in a row. The SMI began in 2021 as a new way of ranking universities based on the difference they make to students’ lives. Measures include things like career progression, attainment rates and salaries. Find out more on our website