Admin phantom Posted May 11, 2019 Admin Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 On 11 May 1985 - 34 years ago today - over 11,000 fans packed into Valley Parade to witness Bradford City play Lincoln City and receive the Third Division Championship Trophy at the Bantams' final home match of the season. However, it would eventually turn out to be the worst day in the football club's history and one that sent shockwaves around the world as fire engulfed the main stand roughly five minutes before half time. Tragically, the fire disaster killed 56 supporters - 54 from Bradford and 2 from Lincoln - on that fateful day and left over 250 injured. That day is one of those where we always remember where we were when the news broke, sadly this disaster doesn't seem to get as much publicity as other disasters. Live footage of the TV recordin that day is below but please view with caution as there are some very upsetting images in the footage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
On 11 May 1985 - 34 years ago today - over 11,000 fans packed into Valley Parade to witness Bradford City play Lincoln City and receive the Third Division Championship Trophy at the Bantams' final home match of the season. However, it would eventually turn out to be the worst day in the football club's history and one that sent shockwaves around the world as fire engulfed the main stand roughly five minutes before half time. Tragically, the fire disaster killed 56 supporters - 54 from Bradford and 2 from Lincoln - on that fateful day and left over 250 injured. That day is one of those where we always remember where we were when the news broke, sadly this disaster doesn't seem to get as much publicity as other disasters. Live footage of the TV recordin that day is below but please view with caution as there are some very upsetting images in the footage
slartibartfast Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 Terrible tragedy rip Strange it doesn't get as much coverage as Hillsborough . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 11 minutes ago, phantom said: 69 views On 11 May 1985 - 34 years ago today - over 11,000 fans packed into Valley Parade to witness Bradford City play Lincoln City and receive the Third Division Championship Trophy at the Bantams' final home match of the season. However, it would eventually turn out to be the worst day in the football club's history and one that sent shockwaves around the world as fire engulfed the main stand roughly five minutes before half time. Tragically, the fire disaster killed 56 supporters - 54 from Bradford and 2 from Lincoln - on that fateful day and left over 250 injured. That day is one of those where we always remember where we were when the news broke, sadly this disaster doesn't seem to get as much publicity as other disasters. Live footage of the TV recordin that day is below but please view with caution as there are some very upsetting images in the footage When you see the names arranged alphabetically like this you realise just how many families died together. We can only assume from the ages but there are several children who were with their fathers and adults who were with theirs. A truly tragic day and one that should never be forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bar BS3 Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 I remember seeing the whole video footage of this on a fire safety training course in work. It’s astounding to see just how quickly the fire spread and how horrific this actually was. Very sad and should never be forgotten. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonBristolian Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 I was too young to be aware of it at the time but I have read about it since and it is horrific. Thoughts with all those who lost friends or family members that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivorguy Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 The 'Old Stand' at Ashton Gate was similar. You could see between the wooden planks all the accumulated rubbish lying underneath. Thank god we have learnt the lessons since this dreadful disaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Junkie Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 Great post @phantom. It IS strange that this doesn't get the coverage that Hillsborough does and I find that very sad. R.I.P the 56. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 Ffs why do people bring Hillsborough into it every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 I remember watching a video on a fire training course many years back never been in a room with such silence before. Could not get over how quickly it all happened. So sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Junkie Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 10 minutes ago, Super said: Ffs why do people bring Hillsborough into it every time. Two disasters within the same decade where lots of fans lost their lives maybe? One gets lots of coverage while the Bradford disaster doesn't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorksRed Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 An absolutely terrible day. I recall hearing about it on the radio which was just shocking and then the news came through that a 15 year old boy had also been killed at St Andrews when a wall fell on him which made it even worse. I think that Valley Parade disaster is probably less well remembered as Heysel then happened a few weeks later. What a terrible year for football. I understand why people bemoan the commercialisation of football and how it has been sanitised to an extent. But the poor conditions at many grounds, the violence on occasions and the treatment that fans often had to put up with in the 80s were terrible. Watching football now at somewhere like Ashton Gate nowadays is a world apart from how things were then and it’s absolutely for the better . More than just being treated with respect as a paying “customer” and being able to enjoy a decent environment, nobody should be putting their safety at risk when they go to a match. RIP those who died doing what we all love to do - just enjoying a Saturday out watching their team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTRFTG Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 Remember we were at home to Reading (think Horrix may have been in their line up and we lost.) Recall those on the terrace with radios conveying the awful news that an initial, quirky, 'delay in game' due to smoke on the pitch becoming news of multiple deaths. After which football, as it is, became a total irrelevance. The conspiracy, not without some substance, concerning their chairman, was never fully investigated but makes an interesting read. Decent book from the son of one of those who sadly perished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 43 minutes ago, Ska Junkie said: Two disasters within the same decade where lots of fans lost their lives maybe? One gets lots of coverage while the Bradford disaster doesn't? Do you think that’s because one still has ongoing Court cases? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
054123 Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 4 hours ago, slartibartfast said: Terrible tragedy rip Strange it doesn't get as much coverage as Hillsborough . Duckenfield, Bettison and Thatcher didn’t endeavour to cover the affair up by smearing innocent victims, is only a guess i suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
054123 Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 2 hours ago, Ska Junkie said: Two disasters within the same decade where lots of fans lost their lives maybe? One gets lots of coverage while the Bradford disaster doesn't? Duckenfield, Bettison and Thatcher didn’t endeavour to cover up the affair up by smearing innocent victims, is only a guess i suppose. 2 hours ago, Super said: Ffs why do people bring Hillsborough into it every time. Agreed the Bradford City fire was an unnecessary disgrace in its own right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Junkie Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 1 hour ago, Big C said: Do you think that’s because one still has ongoing Court cases? Sorry Big C, I most certainly didn't mean to cause any angst, just to remember those that died. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 1 hour ago, 054123 said: Duckenfield, Bettison and Thatcher didn’t endeavour to cover the affair up by smearing innocent victims, is only a guess i suppose. Never mind the blame game, people, lots of people died at Bradford as well, just it hardly merits a mention ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
054123 Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 26 minutes ago, slartibartfast said: Never mind the blame game, people, lots of people died at Bradford as well, just it hardly merits a mention ! No one disputes that. The question raised was why is Hillsborough still a topic of discussion. I merely gave the correct answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 44 minutes ago, 054123 said: No one disputes that. The question raised was why is Hillsborough still a topic of discussion. I merely gave the correct answer. my point being, every adversary of Hilsb. the papers and media are full of it, but not so much (in fact nowt )Bradford, that's all I'm saying. In fact ,I wouldn't have realised if not for OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordie Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 11 hours ago, Bar BS3 said: I remember seeing the whole video footage of this on a fire safety training course in work. It’s astounding to see just how quickly the fire spread and how horrific this actually was. Very sad and should never be forgotten. RIP Same here but the guy who took the training was a Bradford season ticket holder but couldn’t go to that game. Horrific scenes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clevedon Red Posted May 11, 2019 Report Share Posted May 11, 2019 10 hours ago, Ska Junkie said: Two disasters within the same decade where lots of fans lost their lives maybe? One gets lots of coverage while the Bradford disaster doesn't? Or Heysel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highburnred Posted May 12, 2019 Report Share Posted May 12, 2019 The Bradford disaster always brings a lump to my throat as I sat in that stand earlier in the season watching city as a 15 year old lad, always makes me think what might have been if the fixtures had us playing there on the last day instead. RIP fellow fan's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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