May 11th 1985
Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:44 am20 years to the day since the Bradford City Fire. I just wanted to post this to remember.
Our thoughts go out to the families who lost loved ones.
Bradford Fire Disaster
Saturday 11 May 1985, the day should have gone down in the history books
as a day of celebration following the nine months of sweat, tears and toll
which shot Bradford City to the Third Division Championship.
But it turned out to be the day which sent shockwaves round the world as
fire engulfed the antiquated Main Stand at Valley Parade and eventually
claimed the lives of 56 supporters.
11,076 fans were present at Valley Parade on that fateful day when
Bradford City met Lincoln City and prior to kick off they had witnessed
locally-born captain Peter Jackson being presented with the Championship
trophy by the Football League's Life President at the time, Dick Wragg.
Never in the annals of the Football League's history had a team's
achievements been so tragically overshadowed.
At 3.40pm the first signs were noticed and fire-fighting equipment was
requested. Within four minutes the flames were visible and the Police
began to evacuate people in the area of Block G.
Match Referee Don Shaw from Sandbach stopped play three minutes before
half-time with the score at 0-0 after having been alerted to the situation
by one of his linesmen. The Football League subsequently ordered the
scoreline at the time of the abandonment to remain.
What followed will live in the memory forever.
There were 56 supporters who lost their lives and approximately 265
injured.
Reaction to the horror was instant with messages of sympathy arriving from
the Queen, the Pope, the Prime Minister, Church leaders and a host of
political figures from around the globe.
According to forensic scientist Dr. David Woolley, the attributable cause
of the fire was possibly the accidental dropping of a match or acigarette
stubbed out in a polystyrene cup.
Our thoughts go out to the families who lost loved ones.
Bradford Fire Disaster
Saturday 11 May 1985, the day should have gone down in the history books
as a day of celebration following the nine months of sweat, tears and toll
which shot Bradford City to the Third Division Championship.
But it turned out to be the day which sent shockwaves round the world as
fire engulfed the antiquated Main Stand at Valley Parade and eventually
claimed the lives of 56 supporters.
11,076 fans were present at Valley Parade on that fateful day when
Bradford City met Lincoln City and prior to kick off they had witnessed
locally-born captain Peter Jackson being presented with the Championship
trophy by the Football League's Life President at the time, Dick Wragg.
Never in the annals of the Football League's history had a team's
achievements been so tragically overshadowed.
At 3.40pm the first signs were noticed and fire-fighting equipment was
requested. Within four minutes the flames were visible and the Police
began to evacuate people in the area of Block G.
Match Referee Don Shaw from Sandbach stopped play three minutes before
half-time with the score at 0-0 after having been alerted to the situation
by one of his linesmen. The Football League subsequently ordered the
scoreline at the time of the abandonment to remain.
What followed will live in the memory forever.
There were 56 supporters who lost their lives and approximately 265
injured.
Reaction to the horror was instant with messages of sympathy arriving from
the Queen, the Pope, the Prime Minister, Church leaders and a host of
political figures from around the globe.
According to forensic scientist Dr. David Woolley, the attributable cause
of the fire was possibly the accidental dropping of a match or acigarette
stubbed out in a polystyrene cup.
