40th Anniversary Of The Bradford City AFC Fire.

Vienna_70 said:
I went along to the service today. As I live so close, and as City aren’t playing today, I thought I should. I wore my City shirt, and I saw a few other football shirts, including a Huddersfield Town jersey. I stood next to a Leeds supporter for the duration of the service, but today wasn’t about football rivalries; it was about a community coming together to remember that terrible day and those who perished. I also stood next to a woman, who told me she should have been there, but was working in a cafe to earn some spending money. She was 16 at the time. Her best friend and her best friend’s father, with whom she would have gone, both died.

It was a very beautiful and fitting tribute to the people who lost their lives and to those 200+ people that were injured in the terrible events at Valley Parade that awful day. The ceremony began with Bradford City Brass Band playing You’ll Never Walk Alone and the City Hall bell tolling 56 times. After each toll of the bell, one of the victims' names was read out.

Stuart McCall, a former player and manager, read a poem, as did current club captain, Richie Smallwood. The manager, Graham Alexander, recited the 23rd Psalm.

Prayers were said, and wreaths were laid, representing many different organisations, including Bradford City Football Club, the Bantams Supporters Trust and Lincoln City Football Club. Family members of the bereaved also laid wreaths.

The service ended with Abide With Me and Take Me Home, Midland Road; the Bantams' adaptation of John Denver’s song.

It was very emotional for me, remembering my own recent loss, as well as the events of 11th May 1985.

R. I. P. The 56.
Click to expand...

Thank you Vienna. That is a lovely account of a fitting memorial to the 56 and those who were injured and traumatised in that horrific tragedy.
 
Vienna_70 said:
I went along to the service today. As I live so close, and as City aren’t playing today, I thought I should. I wore my City shirt, and I saw a few other football shirts, including a Huddersfield Town jersey. I stood next to a Leeds supporter for the duration of the service, but today wasn’t about football rivalries; it was about a community coming together to remember that terrible day and those who perished. I also stood next to a woman, who told me she should have been there, but was working in a cafe to earn some spending money. She was 16 at the time. Her best friend and her best friend’s father, with whom she would have gone, both died.

It was a very beautiful and fitting tribute to the people who lost their lives and to those 200+ people that were injured in the terrible events at Valley Parade that awful day. The ceremony began with Bradford City Brass Band playing You’ll Never Walk Alone and the City Hall bell tolling 56 times. After each toll of the bell, one of the victims' names was read out.

Stuart McCall, a former player and manager, read a poem, as did current club captain, Richie Smallwood. The manager, Graham Alexander, recited the 23rd Psalm.

Prayers were said, and wreaths were laid, representing many different organisations, including Bradford City Football Club, the Bantams Supporters Trust and Lincoln City Football Club. Family members of the bereaved also laid wreaths.

The service ended with Abide With Me and Take Me Home, Midland Road; the Bantams' adaptation of John Denver’s song.

It was very emotional for me, remembering my own recent loss, as well as the events of 11th May 1985.

R. I. P. The 56.
Click to expand...
Thanks for being there, for representing City and for sharing your experience.
 
Zabbasbeard said:
Thank you Vienna. That is a lovely account of a fitting memorial to the 56 and those who were injured and traumatised in that horrific tragedy.
Click to expand...

1961_vintage said:
Thanks for being there, for representing City and for sharing your experience.
Click to expand...
To say I enjoyed it wouldn’t be right, but I’m glad I went.
 
Vienna_70 said:
I went along to the service today. As I live so close, and as City aren’t playing today, I thought I should. I wore my City shirt, and I saw a few other football shirts, including a Huddersfield Town jersey. I stood next to a Leeds supporter for the duration of the service, but today wasn’t about football rivalries; it was about a community coming together to remember that terrible day and those who perished. I also stood next to a woman, who told me she should have been there, but was working in a cafe to earn some spending money. She was 16 at the time. Her best friend and her best friend’s father, with whom she would have gone, both died.

It was a very beautiful and fitting tribute to the people who lost their lives and to those 200+ people that were injured in the terrible events at Valley Parade that awful day. The ceremony began with Bradford City Brass Band playing You’ll Never Walk Alone and the City Hall bell tolling 56 times. After each toll of the bell, one of the victims' names was read out.

Stuart McCall, a former player and manager, read a poem, as did current club captain, Richie Smallwood. The manager, Graham Alexander, recited the 23rd Psalm.

Prayers were said, and wreaths were laid, representing many different organisations, including Bradford City Football Club, the Bantams Supporters Trust and Lincoln City Football Club. Family members of the bereaved also laid wreaths.

The service ended with Abide With Me and Take Me Home, Midland Road; the Bantams' adaptation of John Denver’s song.

It was very emotional for me, remembering my own recent loss, as well as the events of 11th May 1985.

R. I. P. The 56.
Click to expand...
Class as always my friend
 
Bobby the blue said:
Devastating tragedy and one that the people of Bradford deal with with a great sense of respect and dignity.

I’ve watched a few bits and read a few things on it and it’s truly shocking.
I often wondered why everyone didn’t just go on the pitch but I read somewhere that people’s psyche will be to get out the way they came in so people headed back to the turnstiles which were locked.

Just a heartbreaking situation all round.

I know there is a resident Bradford fan here but if anyone else knows the answers I’ve always wondered.

Were the two Lincoln fans in the home end that day. I’ve often wondered that although plainly not important.

And secondly is there a belief that the chairman had anything to do with it . I read somewhere that he was under suspicion for a number of fires related to him or his business.

Sorry if crass and I’ll delete if cause any upset to the Bradford fan who is always decent and respectful and knowledgeable.

RIP the 56 poor souls.
Click to expand...
Think the two poor Lincoln fans must have been among the home support :( sadly

Ss for the chairmen i think he had a fair few factorys go up but i think the blame towards him that day was a load of crap ..............he and his family where sat in the stand that went up so why would he put his and his families life at risk ?????,
 
saw the YT video of the John Helm YTV coverage once - will never watch it again. I see there is a documentary tonight and I can't watch that either. Its not out of disrespect its out of horror linked to the fact that I was jumping for joy on the Kippax whilst it all unfolded. Neither thing is related but for me its a juxtaposition that I always struggle with. RIP the 56 - just sent to a match and never came home because of a horrific event.
 
willipp said:
It’s a tough watch it really is. Like so many tragedy’s there are decisions and moments that just decided people’s outcomes. Turn left and you survive, turn right and you have no chance. So so sad.
Click to expand...

Wooden stands in the 80's is a disgrace though - back then fans made up more of a clubs revenue yet were still treated like an afterthought
 
bluethrunthru said:
Wooden stands in the 80's is a disgrace though - back then fans made up more of a clubs revenue yet were still treated like an afterthought
Click to expand...
Watching the documentary it mentioned about fires previously at Brentford Norwich and Brighton,I can’t remember any of those, but that could partly be down to thankfully being no fatalities at them grounds ..
 
deano ou812 said:
Watching the documentary it mentioned about fires previously at Brentford Norwich and Brighton,I can’t remember any of those, but that could partly be down to thankfully being no fatalities at them grounds ..
Click to expand...

Probably right but for me those would be just red flags going unheeded. Also today remember Ian Hambridge who died on the same day

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Tributes to 'forgotten' teenage victim of football hooliganism 40 years on

The 15-year-old died at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground when a wall collapsed at his first live match on May 11, 1985
www.birminghammail.co.uk www.birminghammail.co.uk
 
A harrowing watch that. Am pleased they mentioned the burns unit at the hospital and how the developments it made after that day have been used worldwide since. My sister was a teacher at a primary school in Bradford and they have a claret and amber day every year where they raise money for that even now.
 
R.I.P The 56

I have to say, I thought the documentary on BBC2 was very good - a horrible, tragic, subject, but done in a very respectful manner

The fires at other grounds, I think happened when matches weren't on.

Living in Norwich, I remember it happening and their next match was vs QPR, who at the time were sponsored by Guinness

A mate of mine who was working on demolishing the stand after the fire said that Guinness, the company, sent crates and crates of the black stuff to the workers.

I think, sometimes, allegiences aside, football, and the human race, does come together - as they did for the Bradford tragedy
 
Was a truelly awful, upsetting day and I remember it well and later in the day trying to contact family who were at the game. A real football tragedy which affected every football fan everywhere which should never be forgotten. A really moving documentary.
 
I'm watching now. The 56 have been forgotten until now. May they RIP. X

The Kippax and Platt Lane were wooden and we thought nothing of it. So frightening in hindsight.

I remember hearing about the event on the radio on the way back from the 5-1 promotion win against Charlton.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top