24 Bradford City A.F.C. He agreed that the inquiry into Bradford, led by the judge Oliver Popplewell, was inadequate and that there are many unanswered questions. Loading. Although there was no perimeter fencing, such as led to the devastating crush at Hillsborough, locked turnstiles meant that many fans who tried to escape by that means were killed or seriously injured. Hendrie: "Us players must have been in the tunnel for seconds - and I mean seconds. A Bradford Disaster Appeal Fund raised 3.5m for the victims and their families. All existing grandstands deemed fire risks were faced with immediate closure. It is impossible so far to be accurate about the precise cause of the fire, with grossly conflicting reports from witnesses. Bradford, playing into a strong wind, were struggling to break down a Lincoln side already safe from relegation. "[28], West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council was found to have failed in its duty under the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The club's success had swollen the crowd to 10,000 and arguments will rage about fire precautions at the ground. The Bradford Burns Unit was set up by Professor David Sharpe after he received many of the victims following the fire. The local council was deemed to be one third responsible. [17], One witness saw paper or debris on fire, about nine inches (230mm) below the floor boards. ", ITV football commentator John Helm, who provided live commentary of the unfolding disaster across the nation: "We wouldn't normally have covered that game - no question about it. The entrances to the stand were all at the rear and were higher than the rest of the ground. "Many people still don't want to talk about the disaster. Valley Parade in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was built in 1886 and was initially the home ground of Manningham Rugby Football Club. Your brain tells you, you are not going anywhere. Stories From 11 May. The extinguishers were put there so that they would be out of the way of fans who could use them as missiles, which apparently had happened previously. Parents and children were laughing and joking with the police as the preliminaries to the game began. His most recent painting is a powerful image; two fans in Bradford and Lincoln City kits, surrounded by 54 other figures. Supporters either ran upwards to the back of the stand or downwards to the pitch to escape. My hands suffered the most because they were exposed the most. It wasn't just something that happened in the past.". Popplewell's report was nowhere close to the quality of Lord Justice Taylor's report after Hillsborough, and since reading it as an adult I have always been very disappointed in it and considered it a poor piece of work. 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. "I was burnt from top to bottom, on and off. Two or three burly men put their weight against it and smashed the gate open. Hundreds more telephoned the police to try to trace relatives. A police officer shouted to a colleague for an extinguisher, but his call was misheard and instead the fire brigade were radioed. [39], The club's chairman, Stafford Heginbotham, said: "It was to be our day". It took the firemen four minutes to arrive at the ground but the speed of the fire was such that the blaze also took only four minutes to grip the entire stand. There were no fire extinguishers. Then flames licked the underside of the seats, which were a combination of wood and plastic. Then the flames and smoke were all over the place.'. Edited by BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko. I was there in hospital for eight weeks - it felt like a lifetime. The fire at Bradford City's Valley Parade stadium in which 56 people died and more than 270 were injured is remembered 25 years on. All Rights Reserved. Bits of my arms, bits of my legs, part of my face, part of my scalp. The Bradford Disaster Appeal fund, set up within 48hours of the disaster, eventually raised over 3.5million (11.3million today). Mr Stefan Krolak, a survivor from Bradford , said he saw the smoke start a few seats away from him 'The smoke seemed suddenly to set on fire. There is no malicious vendetta, there is no over-exaggeration, there are no trumped-up facts. "That was the moment that I realised not everybody was going to get out. [51] Another book; 56: The Story of the Bradford Fire (2015) was written by Martin Fletcher to discuss how the disaster was caused, and follows his loss of his father, brother, uncle and grandfather. The other, situated by the main entrance, was donated by the club after its 7.5million (13million today) rebuilding of the original main stand in 2002. At Valley Parade there are now two memorials. Police had an official photographer at the game, watching for crowd disturbance. "I've always loved art but I owned businesses in construction so I've never had the time or a chance to follow it up," he says. The inquiry had found that the club had been warned that the accumulation of rubbish beneath the stands was a fire risk. [10][16] More than 265 supporters were injured. Valley Parade re-opened on 14 December 1986, when Bradford City beat an England XI 21 in a friendly. Martin Fletcher was talking to BBC Look North. [29] The Health and Safety Executive who were also part of the legal action were found to be non-liable. Your brain tells you, you are not going anywhere. The heat inside the stand literally ignited people where they stood. Bradford City were supposed to be celebrating on 11 May 1985. He asks the reader to make their mind up about whether these fires were a coincidence or not.". Some days I had two operations in a day. By the time they got back, the whole thing had taken off. Previous warnings had also been given about a major build-up of litter in the cavity below the seats in the stand. [4] Football ground writer Simon Inglis had described the view from the stand as "like watching football from the cockpit of a Sopwith Camel" because of its antiquated supports and struts. 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 fire happened during a football match. We had not been told anything.". Copyright 2023 IBTimes UK. The fact the inquiry also embraced the investigation into another incident which happened on the same day, a riot in which a young boy died at Birmingham City, makes it seem more frivolous. But many, including Harrison, believe it could unnecessarily reopen wounds if it does happen. 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. The courts held the club to be two thirds responsible, finding that it gave "no or very little thought to fire precautions" despite repeated warnings. "It is hard to imagine how Martin and his mother have managed to cope over the last 30 years and we have always respected him," Harrison says. Each year Lincoln send representatives to the annual memorial service in Bradford city centre and between 2007 and 2009, were managed by Bradford's captain that day, Peter Jackson. Most of those who escaped onto the pitch were saved.[10]. [45] In total, 28 police officers and 22 supporters, who were publicly documented as having saved at least one life, later received police commendations or bravery awards. The fire started five minutes before half-time during the match on 11 May between Bradford and Lincoln City. At the final home match against Barnsley at the end of April, Bradford City fans collected more than 8,000 in a bucket collection. "But the feeling here is that it is hard to believe that someone would purposefully start a fire. Pendleton: "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. Fire disaster at football match (Bradford City stadium fire) - YouTube Sign in to confirm your age 0:00 / 5:23 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users.. [26], In July 1985, an inquest was held into the deaths; at the hearings the coroner James Turnbull recommended a death by misadventure outcome, with which the jury agreed. And then suddenly, in the space of 120-odd seconds, it really kicked in. All that was left of the main stand were rows of bare steel and stone, with blackened timbers hanging from the few remaining roof supports. I asked the director to get the camera to go a little closer. A minute later he saw a small plume of smoke so he poured his coffee on it and so did his son. Guided by the values expressed by the 10 Principles, Burning Man is a global ecosystem of artists, makers, and community organizers who co-create art, events, and local initiatives around the world. [10] The stand seats did not have risers; this had allowed a large accumulation of rubbish and paper waste in the cavity space under the stand, which had not been cleared for many months. The fire was described as the worst fire disaster in the history of British football, and the worst football related disaster since 66spectators died at Ibrox in 1971. "[16] At the front of the stand, men threw children over the wall to help them escape. And all you could smell was burning.". However, the turnstiles were locked and none of the stadium staff were present to unlock them, leaving no escape through the normal entrances and exits. By the time the fire brigade arrived they were faced with huge flames and dense smoke. ", Popplewell: "I'm sorry to spoil what is obviously a very good story, but I'm afraid it is nonsense for many reasons.". Within five minutes the whole stand was engulfed in flames. The 51 other bodies of children, women and men were so badly burned that identification will take many days. Martin Fletcher, whose brother, father, grandfather and uncle all died in the fire: "I'm taking the opportunity to lay out the facts that were not laid out in 1985 at the time of the inquiry or the inquests. 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". "That was the legacy of the tragedy. [47] Scriptwriters of the play spent hours with the survivors and victims families. "[59], Raymond Falconer's reliability had previously been questioned by Daniel Taylor in The Guardian who stated that: "The Bradford Telegraph and Argus described him as a 'top detective'. [8][10] Three men smashed down one door and at least one exit was opened by people outside, which again helped prevent further deaths. 'This was a dreadful afternoon. The match, Bradford against Lincoln, was to have been a joyous climax to the club winning the Third Division championship and being promoted to the Second Division. 1908 - Rhoads Opera House fire, Boyertown, Pennsylvania, killed 170. Owing to windy conditions, less than four minutes later the entire wooden stand was engulfed in smoke and fire. Police worked until 4am the next morning, under lighting, to remove all the bodies. Although some attributed Lincoln City's sudden demise to the psychological effects of the fire on its players (together with the resignation of successful manager Colin Murphy shortly before the fire), it symbolised the wider crisis that the introduction of new safety legislation brought to Lincoln's Sincil Bank home. 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 was a bit of paper on fire, but it was so small.". Steel was to be installed in the roof,[8] and the wooden terracing was to be replaced with concrete. People were arriving in a daze outside Bradford police headquarters on Saturday evening and early yesterday. However, the fire had consumed the stand entirely by that point and they were faced with huge flames and very dense smoke. Lincoln City's board responded by committing 1.1million (3.5million today) to their ground's renovation in the year that immediately followed the fire at Valley Parade, and over the following decade made improvements that eventually totalled 3million. The match between Bradford City and Lincoln City, the final game of that season, had started in a celebratory atmosphere with the home team receiving the Third Division championship trophy. The Popplewell Inquiry found that the club had been warned about the fire risk that the rubbish accumulating under the stand had posed. Pendleton: "I walked past a public telephone outside the ground and there were queues of people waiting to ring home to say: 'I'm OK'. "We went out on to the pitch and I could see so many happy faces. 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. It's a nice little business and it's something positive that came out of a tragedy. Fifty people die in a fire in the grandstand at a soccer stadium in Bradford, England, on May 11, 1985. [3] It included a main stand which seated 5,300fans, and had room for a further 7,000 standing spectators in the paddock in front. "One of my most haunting images was being on the bus home after dark and going past Valley Parade. On Saturday 11 May 2002, the 17th anniversary of the disaster, a memorial with the names of those who lost their lives was dedicated at the new entrance to the redeveloped Sunwin stand. [15], At 3:44pm, five minutes before half-time, the first sign of a firea glowing lightwas noticed three rows from the back of block G,[10][16] as reported by television commentator John Helm. I saw one man lying on the ground, burning from head to foot. As a result, Bradford-born captain Peter Jackson was presented with the league trophy before the final game of the season with mid-table Lincoln City at Valley Parade on 11 May 1985. We had to run up the stairs, through the office doors and out on to the street. Police officers also assisted in the rescue attempts. [4], Although there had been some changes to other parts of the ground, the main stand remained unaltered by 1985. Mr Antony Burrows said: 'One man was stood near me with his hair on fire. [10] The call was timed at 3:43pm. I hope you enjoy some of the fascinating stories we have here.#History #Disasters Disaster struck at 3.43 pm. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Revealed: former Bradford chairman linked to at least eight fires before Valley Parade disaster, Martin Fletcher: Maybe the reason I am here is to finally reveal the truth, TheStory of the Bradford Fire: could any man really be as unlucky as Stafford Heginbotham?. As the blaze spread, the wooden stands and roofcovered with layers of highly flammable bituminous roofing feltquickly went ablaze. It made me realise life is too short and I'm a happier person for it.". Yet in 2015, allegations surfaced which shifted the focus to the club's then chairman, Stafford Heginbotham. A fire at a third division match between Bradford City and Lincoln City killed 56, including 11 children, and injured hundreds more. The chairman of the football club, Mr Stafford Heginbotham, was near to tears as he explained what had happened. Bradford City continues to support the burns unit at the University of Bradford as its official charity. Part of the Appeal funds were raised by a recording of "You'll Never Walk Alone"[42] from Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Carousel by The Crowd (including Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers, who had recorded the 1963 version that led to Liverpool adopting it as their motto and team song), which reached number one in the UK Singles chart. > Contacts> Join us> Circulars> Training courses> Sign up to Rollcall. Some of the dead were found at the bottom of these steps. I rolled over on my head, jumped up and ran off.". We didn't know how serious it was.". "I saw people die in the stand - but it was only until then that I realised the scale of it.". Lincoln City suffered two successive relegations, first to the Fourth Division in 1986, and again in 1987, becoming the first team to be automatically relegated from the Football League itself. It seemed to put it out. So I threw myself over the wall and luckily someone dived in to catch me before I hit the floor.". Twenty nine years ago on this date, 56 people tragically died when a fire erupted at Bradford City's Valley Parade ground The day was supposed to be one of celebration for Bradford who had just won the Third Division trophy. People who had escaped the fire then tried to assist their fellow supporters. Fifty-six people died. "I was in the main stand when the fire happened," he says. Fans in the next stand (the "Bradford End") pulled down the fence separating them from the pitch. Forty-two minutes into the first half of the game, he looked to his left to see smoke and flames rising from the old wooden seats. Fletcher has taken facts and presented them in such a way that it should make it moralistically impossible for this incident not to be looked at again. The wooden roof that burned was scheduled to be replaced by a steel roof later that same . On the recording are Dene Michael (Black Lace), The Chuckle Brothers, Clive Jackson of Dr & The Medics, Owen Paul, Billy Pearce, Billy Shears, Flint Bedrock, Danny Tetley and Rick Wild of The Overlanders. "When I got to one of the final walls, there was an eight-foot drop at the other side, concrete at the bottom. Former Bradford midfielder John Hendrie, who was playing in the match: "We had already won the league, all the hard work had been done. "Then we ran out in our tracksuits each holding a massive card with a letter. Warnings had been issued over the ground's antiquated wooden structure, which had been condemned and was due to be pulled down and replaced with steel and concrete. It was fairly clear that somebody had dropped a lighted match or cigarette between the floorboards.". Following his own 15 year investigation Into the fire, which killed four of his family members while he escaped, former tax accountant Martin Fletcher released 56: The Story of the Bradford Fire (2015). It was unprecedented.". The book also raises concerns about the speed of the inquiry and the fact that it commenced a few weeks after the fire and lasted for only a few days, whereas other inquiries into similar incidents, pre and post the Bradford fire, have taken years to come to fruition and months to be heard. 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 next day work began on clearing the burnt out shell of the stand, and Justice Popplewell released his findings into the disaster. The whole fire seemed to erupt in seconds,' he said. It detailed the safety work which would be carried out at Valley Parade as a result of the club's promotion, admitting the ground was "inadequate in so many ways for modern requirements". "[35], The total amount of compensation to the 154 claimants was reported to be as high as 20million, with the payouts covered by insurance taken out by the club. Within 48 hours of the disaster, the Bradford Disaster Appeal Fund had been set up and would eventually raise over 3.5m ($5.4m). "The scene became progressively horrendous, grotesque, and I was having to describe things you couldn't possibly imagine.". 1908 - Collinwood school fire, in Collinwood, Ohio (soon absorbed by Cleveland ), on March 4, killed 175. [56], On 17 April 2015, retired Detective Inspector Raymond Falconer, in a report by the Bradford Telegraph and Argus, said the police were aware of an Australian man who admitted to starting the fire. Bradford fan David Pendleton, then aged 21 and stood in the main stand: "For the first minute people were laughing and joking, it wasn't anything serious. [6] 1908 - Parker Building, New York City, January 10. Keep an eye out as you ride your bike through the city you will see a new solar-powered Man, fewer gas and . His son Christopher normally watches from the stand but on Saturday he joined other fans elsewhere. The fact is that no one person was concerned with the safety of the premises. [22], Immediately after the fire, Sharpe planned and treated the injuries of over 200 individuals, with many experimental treatments being used. I've never seen anything like it. You could hardly breathe. Once we went out it was mayhem, manic, chaotic. "The scene when I arrived was horrendous. Another player went into the office space to ensure there was nobody there. Earlier this year, Town gave up working in construction to pursue painting full-time through his business Stadium Portraits. 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. [10][11], Bradford's Telegraph & Argus newspaper published a souvenir issue for 11 May, entitled, "Spit and Polish for the Parade Ground". This day was for them. Witnesses of the fire have come to terms with the tragedy in different ways. The disaster led to rigid new safety standards in UK stadiums, including the banning of new wooden grandstands. People had walked through turnstiles and along a wooden corridor before descending the steps into their seats. The two sides met for the first time after the fire in April 1989, when they arranged a benefit match in aid of the Hillsborough disaster, at Valley Parade. Ironically, off-duty firemen were at the ground selling raffle tickets for a charity football match which should have been held yesterday. 56 people dead. Four police officers, constables David Britton and John Richard Ingham and chief inspectors Charles Frederick Mawson and Terence Michael Slocombe, and two spectators, Richard Gough and David Hustler, were awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for their actions. 05/12/15 AT 9:58 AM BST Crowds on the pitch at the Valley Parade stadium after a stand caught fire Getty Images Police have revealed the identity of the man who they believe was responsible. Today marks the 35th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in the history of British football. "[11] Police Superintendent Barry Osborne, divisional commander for the area, said many of his officers cried when they saw how badly people had been burned. "It made me realise life is too short." "[23], On the 25th anniversary of the fire, the University of Bradford established the United Kingdom's largest academic research centre in skin sciences as an extension to its plastic surgery and burns research unit.[24]. 1985: Fans killed in Bradford stadium fire. "[55], Adams also went on to state that "I have read in some newspapers that he is being berated for his campaign to have a new inquiry. He had to undergo counselling and was unable to go to another game for several years. The fire brigade said that when heat builds up so quickly it can cause flames to move much quicker than people can walk. It wasn't until later on when assistant manager Terry Yorath came in and said: 'It's not good.'". It is not thought that there was any crowd trouble in this section but one theory the police are investigating is that a flare or smoke-bomb was thrown or was accidentally dropped. Now they will begin another inquiry, into the cause of the Bradford fire. [1] When the association football club was formed, the ground was changed very little and had no covered accommodation. We were sat in our football kit, we didn't know what to do. The stand slopes downwards from the South Parade. The Documentary highlighted the 'poison pen letters' and graffiti targeted at the then club chairman Stafford Heginbotham over accusations that he was in some way personally responsible for the deaths of the 56 people who died at the fire.[54].
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