I will never forget that day...i was at Dunfermline v Stranraer when i asked a guy behind me how charlton were doing, he said he didnt know but there had been a fire at valley parade...Not sure whether we had Man City away that day and got humped 5-1.
Got into the car after leaving Maine Road and couldn't believe what I was hearing on the radio. The defeat by City became totally insignificant and it was a very quiet journey home - all four of us were stunned that a fire could have spread so quickly causing such a large loss of life. I think the death toll was over 50 from memory.
What was bad is that the owner that had several businesses go up in flames was never investigated. Lots of evidence apparently that the fire had been set.
What was bad is that the owner that had several businesses go up in flames was never investigated. Lots of evidence apparently that the fire had been set.
Conspiracy theory I believe - not sure there was any evidence. Negligence most definitely.
I can remember it like is was yesterday, truly horrendous.
Me too, and watching it unfold live on TV not fully understanding what a tragedy was unfolding was, looking back, terrifying.
RIP the 56 poor souls, and thoughts for those who still carry the wounds to this day.
I somehow found myself in the electrical department of Alders in bromley for this and Hillsborough. Just watched the full video in the link above, i've seen many programmes on it over the years yet that one seemed to hit me most.
Chairman had made insurance claims on EIGHT previous fires at various businesses and claimed millions; one hell of a sequence of bad luck, all though he did do well out of them all.
He had only just been told it would cost £2mil to make the stand comply with new promotion.
He was in financial trouble and would have been unable to pay his work force to the end of the month.
The club had been warned several times as to fire risk.
There was also other suggestions about the speed of the fire spread that is speculation.
None other than the fire risk warnings was heard at the massive 5 day enquiry.
Chairman had made insurance claims on EIGHT previous fires at various businesses and claimed millions; one hell of a sequence of bad luck, all though he did do well out of them all.
He had only just been told it would cost £2mil to make the stand comply with new promotion.
He was in financial trouble and would have been unable to pay his work force to the end of the month.
The club had been warned several times as to fire risk.
There was also other suggestions about the speed of the fire spread that is speculation.
None other than the fire risk warnings was heard at the massive 5 day enquiry.
I can't imagine any of the insurance companies involved paying out massive sums on several policies, all of which involved fire, to the same businessman, without doing a couple of background checks first.
Done. There was an interview with Gaby Logan about the fire in the Telegraph last week (might be paywalled, so if you can't get past the first couple of paragraphs give me a shout and I'll copy and paste it), and apparently there's a programme about it on BTSport tonight at 9.
Truly dreadful day, will never forget the picture of the man trying to climb over the wall with either his coat or hair on fire. God rest those that perished and thoughts with their families.
Done. There was an interview with Gaby Logan about the fire in the Telegraph last week (might be paywalled, so if you can't get past the first couple of paragraphs give me a shout and I'll copy and paste it), and apparently there's a programme about it on BTSport tonight at 9.
For those without BT Sport this is the film due to be screened tonight,well worth watching.
Truly dreadful day, will never forget the picture of the man trying to climb over the wall with either his coat or hair on fire. God rest those that perished and thoughts with their families.
Worse was the poor bloke they focused in on who was just wandering around alight, before people in the crowd tried to help him by smothering him with coats etc. I understand he died of the injuries, just a horrific sight and a horrible way to go.
RIP the 56 who died.
I know we moan about modem identikit stadiums and pine for the middle of housing, 4 different stands etc type stadiums, but thank goodness the new ones prevent things like the Bradford fire & the Hillsborough and Ibrox crushes.
Truly dreadful day, will never forget the picture of the man trying to climb over the wall with either his coat or hair on fire. God rest those that perished and thoughts with their families.
Worse was the poor bloke they focused in on who was just wandering around alight, before people in the crowd tried to help him by smothering him with coats etc. I understand he died of the injuries, just a horrific sight and a horrible way to go.
RIP the 56 who died.
I know we moan about modem identikit stadiums and pine for the middle of housing, 4 different stands etc type stadiums, but thank goodness the new ones prevent things like the Bradford fire & the Hillsborough and Ibrox crushes.
that is the image that stays with me too.
Not running, or flailing around, just walking ablaze.
My son and his mate were going to this game and no mobile phones then, when I saw it on TV my wife nad I were in a terrible state until he came home later, not aware of the fire
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RIP the 56.
RIP
RIP the 56 poor souls, and thoughts for those who still carry the wounds to this day.
RIP never forgotten
He had only just been told it would cost £2mil to make the stand comply with new promotion.
He was in financial trouble and would have been unable to pay his work force to the end of the month.
The club had been warned several times as to fire risk.
There was also other suggestions about the speed of the fire spread that is speculation.
None other than the fire risk warnings was heard at the massive 5 day enquiry.
I was driving back from Main Road as the news gradually came out.
http://sport.bt.com/video/one-day-in-may-the-story-of-the-bradford-city-fire-91363980609335
RIP the 56 who died.
I know we moan about modem identikit stadiums and pine for the middle of housing, 4 different stands etc type stadiums, but thank goodness the new ones prevent things like the Bradford fire & the Hillsborough and Ibrox crushes.
Not running, or flailing around, just walking ablaze.
RIP all