Born on 7 August 1952, Ces Podd’s journey from the West Indies to West Yorkshire is not merely a tale of athletic endeavour, but one of cultural significance, social progress, and sheer, unbending determination.
PART ONE
In 1961, when the Podd family left St Kitts and sailed across the Atlantic to settle in Leeds, England was a very different place — both socially and culturally. Football, the so-called “people’s game”, had little representation of black players, and even less understanding of the racial barriers that would challenge anyone who dared to step onto the pitch while standing out so clearly.
Yet, as fate would have it, young Ces, as he was affectionately called, found a way to channel his creative energy through both art and football. He enrolled at Bradford College of Art with dreams of becoming a designer, viewing football as a pleasant diversion rather than a career path. However, life often has its own designs, and for Ces Podd, it came in the form of a trial at Bradford City.
Before that pivotal moment, Podd had never played football in an organised structure. His skills were forged in informal games, where flair and improvisation mattered more than tactics or fitness drills. When Bradford City invited him for a trial, few could have predicted what would follow.
The club, founded in 1903 and with a proud if turbulent history — including a Second Division title in 1907–08 and the famous FA Cup triumph of 1911 — were trying to rebuild after years of decline. By the late 1960s, they had yo-yoed between divisions, even slipping into the newly created Fourth Division in 1962 before bouncing back to the Third in 1969.
Amid this flux, a young full-back with a glint in his eye and speed to burn caught the attention of the City scouts. Podd’s blend of athleticism, intelligence, and calm temperament made him a natural defender, though one with an artist’s touch on the ball. Thus, in 1970, Bradford City offered him a professional contract — a modest beginning for a man who would later become a club legend.
Podd made his professional debut for Bradford City in September the same year. The club were not glamorous, the stadium was modest, and the financial resources meagre, but the crowd at Valley Parade — loyal, loud, and unmistakably proud — took to the newcomer with an affection that would only grow deeper with time.
He quickly established himself as a right-back with both composure and courage. While many full-backs of that era were known for crunching tackles and little else, Podd brought something refreshingly different — an elegance in possession, a surging energy to overlap, and the discipline to defend with both intellect and steel.
Moreover, his presence was symbolic. As one of the first black players to establish himself in English professional football, Podd wasn’t just playing for points on a Saturday — he was, knowingly or not, helping to shift perceptions across the terraces.
Over the next fourteen years, Ces Podd became more than a player; he became part of Bradford City’s identity. Week after week, season after season, his name appeared on the team sheet — a constant in a club that knew more about upheaval than stability.
Furthermore, his professionalism was matched only by his loyalty. While bigger clubs occasionally came sniffing around — attracted by his pace, reliability, and positional awareness — Podd chose to stay. Not because of complacency or fear, but because Bradford had become his footballing home.
PART TWO
The mid-1970s brought a renewed sense of optimism to Valley Parade. When Bobby Kennedy took over as manager in January 1975, the club was ready for a change. Kennedy was young, ambitious, and keen to play an attacking brand of football.
The transformation wasn’t immediate, but the signs were promising. By 1976, Bradford City were starting to look like a side capable of challenging for promotion. In the same year, they reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup — a remarkable achievement for a lower-league side.
The Paraders opened their FA Cup campaign on 22 November 1975 with a close 1–0 victory over Chesterfield at home, setting the tone for a series of memorable performances.
As Bradford travelled to Rotherham United on 13 December, Ces Podd helped City to a resounding 3–0 triumph, a result that hinted at the giant-killing feats to come. Moreover, the third round saw Bradford pull off a well-deserved 2–1 win at Shrewsbury Town on 3 January 1976, a performance that combined defensive solidity with attacking flair.
Bradford then faced Tooting and Mitcham at Valley Parade on 24 January, securing a comfortable 3–1 win that demonstrated their blend of skill and grit. Correspondingly, their fifth round victory over First Division Norwich City on 23 February, a stunning 2–1 triumph away from home, underscored the team’s potential.
However, the dream ended in the quarter-finals on 6 March with a narrow 1–0 defeat to Second Division Southampton in front of a bumper crowd at Valley Parade.
During the match, sporadic fighting broke out throughout the terraces, and at least one stabbing occurred, underlining the intensity and passion that football evoked in that era. Despite the chaos, Podd and his teammates performed with resilience, aware that they were representing not just themselves, but the pride of Bradford.
All the action that mattered on the pitch occurred before half-time. In the 41st minute, Southampton won a central free-kick, and former Chelsea striker Peter Osgood flicked the ball up to veteran midfielder Jim McCalliog, who smashed a volley past City’s goalkeeper Peter Downsborough into the bottom corner.
Nonetheless, Bradford nearly equalized before the break, as a 30-yard screamer tested ex-Grimsby Town goalkeeper Ian Turner, who responded with a save later voted “Save of the Season” on Match of the Day. The second half saw Bradford dominate territory but struggle to penetrate a nervy Southampton defense, ultimately succumbing to a 1–0 defeat.
Anyway, as a result of Bradford´s exciting FA Cup run, the city began to buzz again with football fever, and Podd was right at the heart of it.
His overlapping runs, precise crosses, and never-say-die spirit became trademarks of that period. Furthermore, Kennedy’s faith in him never wavered. He was named the club’s first-ever “Manager of the Month” in January 1976, and with Podd marshalling the defence, Bradford achieved promotion to Division Three in the 1976–77 season.
The early weeks of the season were a mixed bag, as Bradford began with a 2–1 defeat away to Aldershot on 21 August 1976 before immediately bouncing back with emphatic wins over Swansea City (4–1) and Darlington (3–1) at Valley Parade.
By early autumn, the Bantams were finding their rhythm. They brushed aside Southport 4–0 and won 3–0 against Torquay United and Halifax Town. Yet, as is often the way in football, the winter months brought turbulence. November and December delivered a patchy run — goalless draws with Watford and Cambridge United tested patience, while a heavy loss to Southend United reminded fans that promotion was rarely a straight road.
In addition, the Christmas period offered the perfect tonic. Bradford nicked a narrow 1–0 home win against Colchester United followed by a away victory over Rochdale. Consequently, as the New Year dawned, the Yorkshire side found themselves well within reach of the promotion pack.
January and February were crucial months. Bradford’s 4–1 demolition of Workington at the start of 1977 was followed by determined displays — a 3–1 win over Aldershot, a 1–0 triumph against Southport, and a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Torquay.
However, the season’s climax tested even the hardiest of Bantams supporters. March brought heavy defeats — a 4–0 thumping at Brentford and a 2–0 setback at Newport — but also stirring home wins against Huddersfield (3–1) and Doncaster (3–1).
Correspondingly, April became the month of destiny, as Kennedy’s men surged toward promotion with a string of vital wins. They beat Hartlepool 1–0 away, edged Crewe 1–0 at home, and destroyed Scunthorpe 4–0 under the Valley Parade lights on 4 May — a night that all but sealed their rise to Division Three.
By the season’s end, Bradford City finished fourth in Division Four — mission accomplished.
PART THREE
Now, if one moment symbolised Ces Podd’s standing in the game — both as a footballer and as a pioneer — it was his testimonial match on 30 March 1981.
After more than a decade of service, Bradford City granted him a testimonial — the first ever awarded to a black professional footballer in England. But Ces Podd being Ces Podd, he didn’t want a conventional send-off. Instead, he used the occasion to celebrate the rising influence of black players in British football, assembling a team known as the “Black All-Stars” to face Bradford City.
The line-up was nothing short of historic. Among those who joined him were Cyrille Regis, Brendan Batson, Bob Hazel, Vince Hilaire, Luther Blissett, Remi Moses, Ricky Hill, Tony Cunningham, and Justin Fashanu — a who’s who of black footballing talent in an era still marred by racial prejudice.
The event was not just a football match; it was a statement. Against a backdrop of social unrest and racial tension in Britain, Podd’s testimonial became a beacon of unity and pride. As a result, it also highlighted how respected Podd was among his peers — many of whom travelled long distances just to honour him.
Eventually, even the most enduring careers must find their final chapters. In August 1984, after fourteen seasons at Valley Parade, Ces Podd signed for Halifax Town. The move may have seemed a step down to some, yet for Podd it represented a continuation of his love affair with football.
By the time he left , he had amassed 565 senior appearances for the club, including a staggering 502 in the Football League — both club records.
At Halifax, he brought not only his defensive nous but also the leadership and mentoring qualities that had defined him at Bradford. He became an anchor figure in the dressing room, helping to steady younger players through the turbulent realities of lower-league life.
Then came Scarborough, a club with ambition and character in equal measure. Podd joined them at a crucial time — and, fittingly, was part of their greatest achievement to date. During the 1986–87 season, Scarborough won the Football Conference title, earning promotion to the Football League for the very first time.
Thus, from Bradford’s well-worn terraces to Scarborough’s seaside charm, Podd had lived the full arc of English football’s grassroots reality.
Retirement didn’t bring rest. Football, it seemed, still had plans for him.
After hanging up his boots, Podd served as assistant manager at Scarborough, applying his quiet wisdom and deep understanding of the game to the touchline. His ability to read players and situations made him a natural coach.
However, his impact extended beyond tactics. During the early 1990s, Ces became deeply involved in community work in Chapeltown, Leeds — an area where football was often both an escape and a unifier for young people facing social challenges. Through coaching and counselling, he helped channel the potential of local youth, teaching them the same values that had shaped his own career: discipline, respect, and belief.
Moreover, he joined Leeds United’s Football in the Community programme, where he continued to inspire the next generation, using football as a bridge between aspiration and opportunity.
In 1999, fate took Ces Podd back to where his journey had begun — the Caribbean. Only this time, he returned not as the boy who had left for Leeds, but as an accomplished football man ready to give back.
He was appointed manager of the Saint Kitts and Nevis national team — affectionately known as the “Sugar Boyz” — a role he would hold until 2002.
Under his stewardship, Saint Kitts and Nevis enjoyed a period of renewed belief and structure. While the nation’s football infrastructure was limited compared to larger Caribbean powers, Podd brought discipline, tactical awareness, and professionalism.
Later, Podd’s expertise was sought by another Caribbean nation. He became the technical director of the Saint Lucia Football Association, overseeing development programmes and helping to modernise their footballing approach.