It was supposed to be one of the best nights ever for supporters of Bradford City FC, but an accidental fire ended all that in under 5 mins.
It was the 11th of May, 1985, Bradford City had one of their best season’s in their history. Bradford captain Peter Jackson, was presented with the Division Three League Trophy before their last game against Lincoln City. The average attendance for the season at Valley Parade was 6,610, 11,076 supporters , 3,000 Lincoln supporters had paid to watch Bradford lift a Trophy for the first time in 56 years in waiting.
The game got under way, but with just 5 mins to half-time the first signs of a fire were noticed, it was only a little glow beneath the stands, one spectator went to fetch a fire extinguisher, but their were none to be found, because it was feared they would be used for violence.
Within 4 minutes the entire stand was engulfed in fire, which had the appearance of a fireball, fans who went to exit gates got trapped as the gates were locked, and there were no stewards on hand to open them.
Most of the fans who escaped on to the pitch were saved, most of which tried to help others escape the fireball.
A total of 56 fan’s died, 2 of which were Lincoln fans, over 200 more were injured. One fitting Image was that of a fan
putting his jumper over a fellow fan’s head to extinguish the flames.
The 56 who died included 3 who tried to escape through the toilets, 27 were found at the exits and turnstiles, 8 or 9 were found at the rear of the stand, 2 elderly people died in their seats and the others were found sitting up-right after a tarpaulin had fallen on them.
The Fire Brigade took only 4 mins to arrive at the seen, but by then the fire had spread throughout the stand.
The Stadium was a disaster waiting to happen, the fire was started by a match or a cigarette butt which had fallen through the wooden seating and onto rubbish beneath, once it lit there was only one scenario. The Stadium was wooden built and once the fire began to spread it was impossible to stop.
Come this Tuesday 11th May, the Bradford 56 will be remembered 25 years after the tragic fire which changed the lives of thousands forever.
R.I.P. The Bradford 56.
