The Telegraph & Argus has launched a bid to double the crowds at Bradford City FC home matches next season - and almost halve season-ticket prices.

At a time when there are national calls to reduce the price of watching football, supporters are being given the chance to buy the cheapest professional season tickets anywhere in Britain.

The T&A is setting out to find 10,000 people aged 16 or over who are willing to pledge their support for the club - and, in return, Bradford City chief Julian Rhodes has promised to slash season-ticket prices.

The campaign has been running just three days and has already attracted more than 2,000 pledges.

If 10,000 adult fans pledge to buy them over the next four weeks, those 16 and over will pay just £138 to see 23 league matches next season at the Intersonic Stadium. That is around £100 cheaper than the current price - and works out at only £6 per game.

Those aged 11 to 15 will pay £69 and under-11s will go free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. A separate offer will be made to 25-year season-ticket holders.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: "We've launched this campaign because we believe local people want their top football team to do well and if they do well the whole district gets a lift.

"But teams need fans, especially at grounds like Valley Parade, to roar them on to perform at their best. The response so far has been fantastic.

"The great thing about this scheme is that the club are not using it to make money but to cram in the fans and give more of those who can't usually afford it the chance to see City at just £6 per game.

"That strikes a real blow for football and will make Bantams supporters the envy of every soccer fan in the country. All it needs now is for those who really care about the club to get behind them by pledging their support."

City chairman Julian Rhodes said: "We've taken on board the clamour about making football more affordable and we want to be the first club to offer the people of Bradford the chance of watching professional football at these incredibly low prices.

"We are also giving people who wouldn't normally be able to afford to get involved with their local club that opportunity.

"This won't result in us taking more money through the turnstiles. But what it will do is create a much better atmosphere from having a bigger crowd which, in turn, will give the players a better chance of success."

City's home form has suffered badly since the redevelopment of Valley Parade increased the capacity to 25,136 in 2001. They have lost 53 out of 130 league home games in the past six seasons - eight more than they have won.

Attendances have tailed off from an average of 18,511 when the club was last in the Premiership to 8,269 last season.

Readers can pledge to buy a season ticket using coupons in the paper or online, and tickets must then be paid for by the end of April.