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Bradford Fire- 40 years ago today

cliveclive
edited May 11 in Other Football and Sports

A memorial service has been held to mark the 38th anniversary of the Bradford City fire in which 56 people died.

The disaster happened as Bradford City played Lincoln City at Valley Parade in the Bantams' final home game of the season on 11 May 1985.

As a result of the fire, 54 Bradford City fans and two Lincoln City supporters lost their lives.

The service took place at the Bradford City Fire Memorial sculpture in Centenary Square.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gvjq2mng7o

Comments

  • MrOneLungMrOneLung
    RIP
  • Lewis CoachesLewis Coaches
    Two future players of Charlton Steve Thompson and George Shipley played in that match. 
    Can still see news coverage in my head.

    RIP
  • heckington_redsheckington_reds
    Stacey West stand...(away end..I think) named after the two Lincoln fans who died.
  • heckington_redsheckington_reds
    At sincil bank 
  • UboatUboat
    I was 13 when I watched this unfolding and it’s the first major news story that really affected me. I cried and cried and cried in a way that I don’t think I ever had before. I can still remember an old guy who didn’t even realise his back was on fire and people rushing up to him to put it out. 
  • ChippycafcChippycafc
    Awful was at Dunfermline v Stranraer when that happened. I am sure we were at Man City that day. 
  • oohaahmortimeroohaahmortimer
    Yep I was at Man City that day 48k there to see them promoted as we lamely lost 5-1
    it was unbelievably gutting hearing the news getting back on the coach that day having minutes earlier being surrounded by City fans singing ‘loyal supporters’ to us swapping scarves and I think even a ‘we love you Charlton’  
  • cfgscfgs
    An event that lives long in the memory even though I was ten at the time.  The real time video of the events unfolding is still used occasionally by fire services to demonstrate fire growth.  Not pleasant
  • ChippycafcChippycafc
    Still recall the picture 9f the poor man whose head was on fire, I am sure he survived but just awful

    RIP to all those who sadly lost their lives and best wishes to those still living with this nightmare. 
  • BoomBoom
    heckington_reds said:
    Stacey West stand...(away end..I think) named after the two Lincoln fans who died.
    Correct
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  • Lewis CoachesLewis Coaches
    Boom said:
    heckington_reds said:
    Stacey West stand...(away end..I think) named after the two Lincoln fans who died.
    Correct
    William Stacey age 72 and
    William James West age 78

    Four Minutes to Hell , 
    The Story of the Bradford City Fire written by 
    Paul Firth.
  • AddictedoldgitAddictedoldgit
    Like others I still have the tv images of that disaster in my head.
    One or two people with their hair alight.

    RIP
  • SteveKielyCambridgeSteveKielyCambridge
    It was just an awful time. I grew up in Bradford, was there for the match before, and saw the fire. Just terrible. It was an old wooden stand that just went up and the bitter irony was that it had been intended to be it's last ever game ;- the steel to build a brand new stand was sat in that car park behind it. Nobody of my era from the city will ever forget where they were when they heard the news.
  • cliveclive

    A memorial service marking the 39th anniversary of the Valley Parade Fire Disaster will be held this morning - in conjunction with Bradford Metropolitan District Council. 

    Taking place in Centenary Square, Bradford, by the Bradford City Fire Memorial, and beginning at 11.00am, the service will be attended by relatives and friends of the 56 people who lost their lives and were affected in 1985, as well as club and council officials and members of the public - who are all openly invited and encouraged to attend.

    https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2024/may/annual-fire-memorial-service-today/
  • ValleyOfTearsValleyOfTears
    This, Heysel and Hillsborough such great tragedies. Affected me greatly watching these scenes at the time as a youngster. All could have been averted. Rest in peace. 🙏 
  • soapy_jonessoapy_jones
    Remember watching this unfold on the tv, jaw dropping tragedy.
  • RaplhMilneRaplhMilne
    Remember it well, how could you see it and ever forget. Sadly, isn’t as much in the public eye as Hillsborough and the memorial is not as publicly acknowledged. A tragedy which could have happened at any number of the old school grounds.  
  • guinnessaddickguinnessaddick
    CLUB STATEMENT: We are appalled and disgusted by the damage caused to the Valley Parade Fire Memorial at the University of Bradford Stadium this week.


    WTF 🤬, who would do such a thing, disgusting  & disgraceful.
  • Richard JRichard J
    edited March 28
    Lewis Coaches said:
    Two future players of Charlton Steve Thompson and George Shipley played in that match. 
    Can still see news coverage in my head.

    RIP
    Neil Redfearn also appeared for Imps that day 
  • cliveclive
    Richard J said:
    Lewis Coaches said:
    Two future players of Charlton Steve Thompson and George Shipley played in that match. 
    Can still see news coverage in my head.

    RIP
    Neil Redfearn also appeared for Spirites that day 
     Where were Chesterfield playing that day?
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  • Richard JRichard J
    clive said:
    Richard J said:
    Lewis Coaches said:
    Two future players of Charlton Steve Thompson and George Shipley played in that match. 
    Can still see news coverage in my head.

    RIP
    Neil Redfearn also appeared for Spirites that day 
     Where were Chesterfield playing that day?
    Sorry meant Lincoln
  • cliveclive
    40 years ago today
    A film reliving the events of the day will be shown on BBC Two this evening at 21.00 & will be available on IPlayer shortly after the film ends.

    Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire

    https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/may/10/annual-fire-memorial-service-to-be-held/

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/10/bradford-40-years-valley-parade-fire

  • Hal1xHal1x
    edited May 11
    clive said:
    40 years ago today
    A film reliving the events of the day will be shown on BBC Two this evening at 21.00 & will be available on IPlayer shortly after the film ends.

    Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire

    https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2025/may/10/annual-fire-memorial-service-to-be-held/

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/10/bradford-40-years-valley-parade-fire

    40 years! I cant believe it is 25 years since the Concorde crash either! 
  • aliwibblealiwibble
    There's a 2 part piece in The Athletic too
  • Clem_SnideClem_Snide
    Bloody hell, just finished watching the documentary on BBC2. Tough tough watch. An absolutely horrendous day.
  • Karim_myBagheriKarim_myBagheri
    Very good documentary and well worth getting on catch up if you didn't see it. But as @Clem_Snide says, a tough watch.

    RIP the 56. 
  • thai malaysia addickthai malaysia addick
    I liked @clive’s post eve though it seems the wrong reaction in so many ways. Terrible moment that I recall all too vividly, particularly as I have family that support the club. I will watch soon; I’m sure it’s a tough watch.
  • orpingtonREDorpingtonRED
    cfgs said:
    An event that lives long in the memory even though I was ten at the time.  The real time video of the events unfolding is still used occasionally by fire services to demonstrate fire growth.  Not pleasant
    Recently on a course and this video was played to demonstrate how quick the fire spread. Really scary. I was a bit young to remember it at the time but will watch the documentary. 
    RIP
  • soapy_jonessoapy_jones
    edited May 12
    One of the most horrifying things I have watched unfold on the TV in my long football loving life.

    RIP 
  • cafcnick1992cafcnick1992
    I watched that documentary last night. It is terrifying just how fast that fire spread. I hate to think what would have happened if there had been gates at the front preventing access to the pitch.
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