I hope you enjoy some of the fascinating stories we have here.#History #Disasters "I was in the main stand when the fire happened," he says. The stories of escapes are legion. ", Hendrie: "We stayed in the pub for hours. I'd seen the film on the Saturday but the bleakness of the stadium burnt out, and the gloom that afflicted everybody, was dreadful. He is quoted as saying: "I don't believe the statement of retired Detective Inspector Raymond Falconer at all. 1985 disaster in Valley Parade Stadium, Bradford, England. Bradford City had just won the Third Division Championship and a record number of spectators over 11,000 had turned out to see the club presented with its first piece of league silverware in 56 years. The mood before the match on the 11 May 1985 against Lincoln City was one of jubilation. Most Bradfordians have accepted the fire was a terrible misfortune. Surviving supporters, former Bradford players, the sole television commentator at the stadium and the judge who led the government inquiry tell the BBC about that fateful afternoon and its aftermath. This included the banning of new wooden grandstands at all sports venues in the UK. The stand itself was engulfed in seconds, almost as if petrol had been ignited throughout the block. Bits of my arms, bits of my legs, part of my face, part of my scalp. [10][16] Geoffrey Mitchell said: "There was panic as fans stampeded to an exit which was padlocked. Coach Terry Yorath described the events as "the worst day in my life. On 23 February 1987, Sir Joseph Cantley found the club two thirds responsible and the county council (which by this time had been abolished) one third responsible. Somebody looked round and grabbed me by the hood of my coat to pull me over. 1908 - Collinwood school fire, in Collinwood, Ohio (soon absorbed by Cleveland ), on March 4, killed 175. Police officers also assisted in the rescue attempts. There was a bit of paper on fire, but it was so small.". He agreed that the inquiry into Bradford, led by the judge Oliver Popplewell, was inadequate and that there are many unanswered questions. "I want the truth to be out, the myths to be broken, so that I can get on with my life rather than knowing this information and having to live with this information. Many were burnt to death at the turnstiles gates, which had also been locked after the match had begun. Football architect Archibald Leitch was commissioned to carry out the work. Pendleton: "Many people still don't want to talk about the disaster. They were not able to use water on the stand immediately because this would have hampered attempts to rescue people being dragged by the police and friends from the stand. He later died in hospital. Criticising Bradford City during the case, Mr. Michael Ogden QC, highlighted that the Club 'gave no or very little thought to fire precautions', despite repeated warnings. I rolled over on my head, jumped up and ran off.". Bradford City initially prospered in the Second Division only missing out on promotion to the First Division in 1988 after failing to beat Ipswich Town at home on the final day of their first full season back at Valley Parade. Martin Fletcher, a Bradford fan who lost three generations of his family in the fire, published a memoir of the tragic event called Fifty-Six The Story Of The Bradford Fire, in which he claimed the blaze at Valley Parade was one of nine fires at businesses owned by or associated with Heginbotham. People who had escaped the fire then tried to assist their fellow supporters. I've never seen anything like it. They were at fault, but the fault was that no-one in authority seems ever to have properly appreciated the real gravity of this fire hazard and consequently no-one gave it the attention it certainly ought to have received. The horrific scenes of people burning alive seemed to live on in an eerie silence as daylight broke over the remains of Bradford City Football Club's ground yesterday. The Bradford City stadium fire occurred during a Football League Third Division match on Saturday, 11 May 1985 at the Valley Parade stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, killing 56 spectators and injuring at least 265. The Bradford City stadium fire was the worst fire disaster in the history of football.. We wanted to record the trophy presentation. Led by former England international Trevor Cherry, the Bantams won only their third divisional title and earned a return to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1937. There is no evidence in the book, he is just pointing out there are some coincidences. Fletcher, who was 12 at the time of the fire, does not make any direct allegations but he does believe Heginbotham's history with fires resulting in payouts of around 27m in today's terms warrants further investigation. [8][9] In the crowd were local dignitaries and guests from three of Bradford's twin townsVerviers in Belgium, and Mnchengladbach and Hamm in West Germany. "Many people still don't want to talk about the disaster. What Is Burning Man? "I'm sorry to spoil what is obviously a very good story, but I'm afraid it is nonsense for many reasons.". A call was made on a police radio to the police operations room in Bradford and relayed to the fire brigade at 3.43 pm. Most of the fans who took this escape route were killed or seriously injured. "I was operated on every other day because I had so many burns and so many areas to work on. "The fire still has a big impact on people," Parker says. The local council was deemed to be one third responsible. The smoke was choking. One man clambered over burning seats to help a fan, as did player John Hawley, and one officer led fans to an exit, only to find it shut and turn around.Bradford City's coach Terry Yorath, whose family was in the stand, ran onto the pitch to help evacuate people. I had to put my jumper over his hair to put the blaze out. ", There has always been a close bond between the club and its supporters since the fire, he adds. The team's coach, Mr Terry Yorath, ran on to the pitch to try to help people away from the stand. The Man burns on September 02, 2023. [57] Following the 30th anniversary of the fire, a number of news organisations named this man as Eric Bennett who was visiting his nephew in Bradford from Australia and attended the game on the day. "We couldn't run back down the tunnel. Just look at how many people were standing around just 50-60 meters away from the blazing inferno. [] I still have terrible memories of the day, but it is the humanity of those that helped us that I reflect on."[41]. 1909 - Flores Theater fire, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, on February 15, killed 250. Pendleton: "As I ran away I remember turning around and looking and just seeing this wall of grey smoke pouring out and pushing thousands of people in front of it. Ironically, off-duty firemen were at the ground selling raffle tickets for a charity football match which should have been held yesterday. "I feel such information should be made public and people should look at those facts, then make their mind up on those facts. [2] By 1911, his work was completed. While Valley Parade was re-developed, Bradford City played games at various neighbouring grounds: Elland Road, Leeds; Leeds Road, Huddersfield; and Odsal Stadium, Bradford. ', Bradford City Fire Website messages of condolence from around the world, "Chuckle Brothers' single for Bradford City fire anniversary", "Bradford City stadium fire: The untold stories of the 1985 fire", "Emotive play of Bradford City fire disaster raises cash for burns unit", "Book Review: Four Minutes to Hell: The Story of the Bradford City Fire by Paul Firth football book reviews", "Football Focus 1st May 2010 Bradford City Part 1", Bradford City A year of healing Documentary, "Bradford fire: expert demands new investigation into blaze", "Bradford City stadium fire 1985 IPCC investigation decision", "BRADFORD CITY FIRE: Accidental cause of tragedy 'not in any doubt', says detective", "Bradford City fire 'started by cigarette', "Bradford City fire: Briton attacks 'inaccurate' BBC documentary claiming his uncle started blaze", "Bradford fire: Sir Oliver Popplewell defends 1985 inquiry interview in full", Living with Jacko From Touchline to Lifeline, Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire, The full Interim Report by Lord Popplewell into the Bradford City Fire, British Medical Journal article on the treatment of burns casualties after the Bradford City Fire, Peter Jackson's account of the Bradford City Fire, Nationally broadcast Yorkshire Television programme covering the fire, broadcast the following day, ITN bulletin covering the fire, also from the following day, ITN bulletin covering the aftermath, from three days later, Chelsea F.C. [10][16] More than 265 supporters were injured. The 1984-85 season had been one of the most successful in Bradford City's 82-year history. All that was left of. "I was burnt from top to bottom, on and off. However, when Bradford City won promotion to the highest level of English football, Division One, in 1908, club officials sanctioned an upgrade programme. [10] Bradford City's coach Terry Yorath, whose family was in the stand,[19] ran onto the pitch to help evacuate people. Bradford City players line up to observe a minutes silence for the 25th anniversary of the 1985 Bradford stadium fire prior to the Coca Cola League. Only one person had been positively identified by police by early last night. "I got pushed down to the front and I remember looking around and suddenly this smouldering, small fire had taken over virtually half a block and was starting to hit the roof. I asked the director to get the camera to go a little closer. All Rights Reserved. He appealed to people to be patient while forensic experts identified bodies. "As well as those who lost their lives or were injured, there are the relatives and friends, the others who were at the game, and those who would normally have gone to the match but decided not to that day. His face was burned and his car, which he had parked outside the ground, was destroyed. People ran onto the pitch with their clothes on fire while others were trapped at the back of the stand where they had gone to try to escape through the turnstiles. His most recent painting is a powerful image; two fans in Bradford and Lincoln City kits, surrounded by 54 other figures. His son Christopher normally watches from the stand but on Saturday he joined other fans elsewhere. Most of those who escaped onto the pitch were saved.[10]. The stadium was known for its antiquated design and facilities, which included the wooden roof of the main stand. It's a nice little business and it's something positive that came out of a tragedy. BBC Sport looks back at the Bradford City fire disaster that claimed the lives of 56 spectators when a stand became engulfed in flames on 11 May 1985. It is impossible so far to be accurate about the precise cause of the fire, with grossly conflicting reports from witnesses. There were no extinguishers in the stand's passageway for fear of vandalism, and one spectator ran to the clubhouse to find one but was overcome by smoke and impeded by others trying to escape. It made me realise life is too short and I'm a happier person for it.". [10] The call was timed at 3:43pm. Nigel Adams who worked for 12 years as a fire investigator with a British fire service was spurred on by the book to join the call for a fresh inquiry, stating that Fletcher's book was "one of the best accounts of a fire, as seen from a victim's point of view, and as a piece of investigative writing, I have ever read". There is no malicious vendetta, there is no over-exaggeration, there are no trumped-up facts. No one gave it the attention it ought to have received.. .. After 40 minutes of the first half, fans had begun to complain about the drab match and the 0-0 score. "If we were fed a lie about it being an accident, then we will be educated. It is a simple account laid out for all to see. The playing area and stands were very basic but the ground had enough room for 18,000spectators. The heat inside the stand literally ignited people where they stood. 1908 - Rhoads Opera House fire, Boyertown, Pennsylvania, killed 170. Most of the exits at the back were locked or shut and there were no stewards present to open them, but seven were forced open or found open. There is a twin memorial sculpture, unveiled on 11 May 1986, which has the names of the dead inscribed on it. Spreading with almost unbelievable speed, a small fire under a wooden. "It's therapeutic and I've met so many people through doing this." [6], The 198485 season had been one of Bradford City's most successful seasons, ending with City clinching the championship title courtesy of a 20 victory against Bolton Wanderers in the penultimate game of the season. Bradford City Stadium Fire 56 Dead & 100's Injured The Bradford City stadium fire was a stadium disaster that occurred during an English League Third Division fixture between Bradford City and Lincoln City on Saturday, 11 May 1985, killing 56 and injuring at least 265. Mr Antony Burrows said: 'One man was stood near me with his hair on fire. We were sat in our football kit, we didn't know what to do. " Burning Man," " Burning Man Project," " Black Rock City ", and . The next day work began on clearing the burnt out shell of the stand, and Justice Popplewell released his findings into the disaster. Those who rescued people were themselves burned in the process. My hands suffered the most because they were exposed the most. Today marks the 35th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in the history of British football. The entrances to the stand were all at the rear and were higher than the rest of the ground. Valley Parade during the early 1990s, after it had been redeveloped following the fire. There was hardly anything left of him.'. "We went out on to the pitch and I could see so many happy faces. That duty was not a duty to the Club but a duty to the spectators and other persons in the stand. We were given the trophy before the game in front of the supporters and had to do a lap of honour. 05/10/15 AT 12:00 PM BST Crowds on the pitch at Bradford City's Valley Parade stadium after the stand caught fire Getty Images Fifty-six people were killed, 265 were injured and thousands. Exactly 79 years to the day after the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, another tragic fire occurred in New York City. [13], The match kicked off at 3:04pm and after forty minutes of the first half, the score remained 00,[14] in what was described as a drab affair with neither team threatening to score. As he scaled the brick perimeter wall at the front, his father stayed behind to help others escape. It transpired that the wooden stand had already been condemned and was set to be demolished just two days after the tragedy. [19] One fan put his jumper over a fellow supporter's head to extinguish flames. Yet in 2015, allegations surfaced which shifted the focus to the club's then chairman, Stafford Heginbotham. "I was dragged on to the pitch and into a line of people, who couldn't do much for themselves and were lying there. "I remember not being able to watch it, but we couldn't get out. No fire extinguishers had been installed over fears of vandalism and less than four minutes after the fire was reported, the fire had engulfed the whole stand. The fundraising events included a reunion of the 1966 World Cup Final Starting XI that began with the original starting teams of both England and West Germany, and was held at Leeds United's stadium, Elland Road, in July 1985 to raise funds for the Appeal fund. The government inquiry into the disaster concluded the fire spread "faster than a man could run". The main stand at Bradford was not surrounded by fencing, and therefore most of the spectators in it could escape onto the pitch if they had been penned in then the death toll would inevitably have been in the hundreds if not the thousands. More than 200 people were taken to hospital, many with terrible injuries. One letter from the council said the problems "should be rectified as soon as possible"; a second said: "A carelessly discarded cigarette could give rise to a fire risk." It was a gruesome sight to see bodies still sitting upright in their seats, covered in tarpaulin. I was there in hospital for eight weeks - it felt like a lifetime. People had walked through turnstiles and along a wooden corridor before descending the steps into their seats. In those days there was a lot of hooliganism and violence, so my initial thought was: 'I hope it has not kicked off - that's the last thing we need'. "All you could see was black cloud. It was also a catalyst for the substantial redevelopment and modernisation of many British football grounds within the following thirty years. "The scene became progressively horrendous, grotesque, and I was having to describe things you couldn't possibly imagine.". We sat in the main stand the week before, but we had decided to move on that day," he says. More than 250 others were injured in one of the. [49], Parrs Wood Press published Four Minutes to Hell: The Story of the Bradford City Fire (2005) by author Paul Firth;[50] the title refers to the estimated time it took for the stand to be completely ablaze from the first flames being spotted. 2022 DECOMPRESSION WAS DREAMY . On 11 May 1985 a blaze ripped through Bradford City stadium's wooden structure in minutes as the club played Lincoln City in an end of season match. [36], In 2010, Susan Fletcher's son and survivor of the Bradford City fire (and witness to the Hillsborough disaster), Martin Fletcher, openly criticised the club's hierarchy at the time of the fire and the subsequent investigation. The chairman of the football club, Mr Stafford Heginbotham, was near to tears as he explained what had happened. At Valley Parade there are now two memorials. The name of the event comes from its culminating ceremony: the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred to as the Man, that occurs on the penultimate night of Burning Man, which is the Saturday evening before Labor Day. He asks the reader to make their mind up about whether these fires were a coincidence or not.". He was actually one of the detectives involved in one of the gravest miscarriages of justices in the country, the murder of Carol Wilkinson in Bradford, where someone was locked up for 20 years for a murder he didn't commit."[60]. "[28], West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council was found to have failed in its duty under the Fire Precautions Act 1971. Fletcher said that "The club at the time took no actual responsibility for its actions and nobody has ever really been held accountable for the level of negligence which took place. It's terrifying how quickly fire spreads in the wrong circumstances. The fire at a Brooklyn lumber storage building sent plumes of smoke over Williamsburg on Tuesday. About 3,000 people were in Valley Parade's main stand, escaping by climbing over walls on to the pitch or through the usual exit gates. It was during this treatment that Sharpe began to develop the Bradford Sling,[21] which applies even pressure across sensitive areas. Treatment of casualties and Burns Research Unit, Dramatisations, documentaries and published works, West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of accidents and disasters by death toll, List of United Kingdom disasters by death toll, "Hideous images linger after carnage of 'celebration' day", "Caught in Time: Bradford City win the Third Division, 1985", "EXCLUSIVE: Bradford's Valley Parade fire must be remembered like Hillsborough", "History of The Bradford Sling The Bradford Sling", "Bradford City football stadium blaze surgeon honoured", "Research centre to be living memorial to Bradford City FC fire disaster", "The Papers of the Popplewell Inquiry into Crowd Safety at Sports Grounds", "Popplewell Inquiry Bradford City Fire", "Bradford remembered: The unheeded warnings that led to tragedy", Joseph Canley summing up statement from test case court transcripts, Newspaper report from Sport and the Law April 21st 1989, "The Glasgow Herald Google News Archive Search", Los Angeles Times report on Bradford City test case findings, Court transcript from the test case brought by Susan Fletcher and Others against Bradford City and Others, "Bradford fire survivor attacks judge over Hillsborough comments", "The Story of the Bradford Fire: 'could any man really be as unlucky as Stafford Heginbotham?

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