BRADFORD (Park Avenue) have had some legends in their time, with names such as Kevin Hector, John Clancy and Len Shackleton topping the list, and one player who became a cult hero was Kenny Hibbitt.

Having broke into the Avenue first team after an apprenticeship within Bradford, Hibbitt had to endure tough circumstances with the club before making his big move to Division One side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1968.

Hibbitt reflected on his time with Bradford back in the late 1960s, saying: “I had an opportunity to go to several Yorkshire clubs when I was leaving school.

“But I was a big fan of Bradford (Park Avenue) and used to go and watch them at home one weekend and then Bradford City the following weekend.

“I was quite lucky we had two sides in the Football League I could go and watch on a Saturday.

“Avenue I supported as a kid, and when the opportunity came, I said to my dad that although there was the Sheffield sides, Huddersfield and Halifax all interested, I wanted to play for my hometown club.

“I felt if I was going to progress it looked better going upwards rather than starting at the top and coming downwards.

“Also, it enabled me to be able to stay at home and get on the bus every morning when I was an apprentice.”

Hibbitt’s apprenticeship was a difficult one, which meant the midfielder had to help with the everyday goings on at the club.

He said: “It was probably one of the hardest apprenticeships any kid could have.

“There was no time for me to train with the first team or the reserves, and we didn’t have a youth team to start with, so I had to go back sometimes on a Tuesday or Thursday night to train with the amateurs.

“Part of my job was to sweep the stands on a Monday or Tuesday after a home game, do the boots too, and the groundsman, Jack, wouldn’t let me out until the dressing room was clean.

“It was white and green around the dressing room and where the players had had their studs, there were black marks everywhere.

“Eventually I said to my dad, I’m not playing enough games, I might pack it in.

“But he told me to keep going and it all changed.

“Jack Rowley came in, brought some more apprentices in, and got a youth team set up and going so I was able to play at my age level of 15 and 16.

“It just took off from there. I got in the first team at 16 and was very fortunate, but I loved that time.”

Hibbitt made his move to Wolves in 1968 for a fee of £5,000, which helped Bradford during their financial difficulties.

He said: “When I broke into the first team, there were one or two interested clubs, but Wolves was the only top tier club I’d heard of with interest.

“I didn’t think I was going to get transferred or moved away as I hadn’t signed any professional forms.

“But when they came in, I hadn’t got a clue where Wolverhampton was, but I knew of them obviously because they were a big club in the 50s and 60s.

“(The transfer fee) helped Avenue stay stable for another year in the Football League,

“I went down to Wolves in 1968 and my father had just died of a heart attack at 40.

“Terry, my brother, was at Leeds and I wasn't sure if I should go, as I'd be leaving my mum and my sister by themselves.

“But my mum said that that’s what your dad wanted to see, you and Terry playing at the top level.

“So I got on the train at Forster Square and every time it stopped I wanted to get off and go home.

“But I kept going, and I think that my dad was pushing and pushing it. I arrived in Wolverhampton and it all started from there.

“My dad was a big influence on mine and Terry’s careers and he never saw the end product of the hard work he put into me and Terry.

“He lived long enough to see Terry play for Leeds but he never saw me play in the League Cup final (for Wolves) in 1974 or Terry (for Newcastle) in the 1974 FA Cup final, which was always our dream as kids.”

Having recently had a role in the PGMOL, reviewing the work of referees, Hibbitt remains thankful to Bradford, even keeping a close eye on their current games.

He said: “Hard work has never hurt me at all and I think that was the experience I had at Bradford.

“I was only 15, I left school on the Friday and started the apprenticeship on the Monday, I was very young but it taught me so much.

“Even though I was under so many managers in a short time, I have to thank them, they will always be in my heart.

“I’ve been looking for a number plate with BPA on, but I can’t find one.”