When The Levee Breaks
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2015
- Messages
- 520
I was 5 years old, when the fire happened. I was playing on the back street outside my house. My house was 1.5 mile from Valley Parade. I can remember seeing the plume of black smoke rising above the surrounding area. I didnt understand what it was though.
I also remember going into my house and my Dad telling my Mum that Valley Parade was on fire. Think he had Grandstand on and they were reporting from the match.
In later years I learned my older cousin was at the match. Thankfully he was in the Kop, which stands to the right of the stand that caught fire. He managed to get onto the pitch. The days before mobile phones though. Only as I've got older and I'm a parent myself, its dawned on me how much stress my Auntie and Uncle must have been going through that day.
When I was a barman, I also got talking to a retired fireman. He was on duty, that fateful day. Said he will never forget the stench. He got home afterwards and sat in the bath for hours just scrubbing himself and crying.
I also remember going into my house and my Dad telling my Mum that Valley Parade was on fire. Think he had Grandstand on and they were reporting from the match.
In later years I learned my older cousin was at the match. Thankfully he was in the Kop, which stands to the right of the stand that caught fire. He managed to get onto the pitch. The days before mobile phones though. Only as I've got older and I'm a parent myself, its dawned on me how much stress my Auntie and Uncle must have been going through that day.
When I was a barman, I also got talking to a retired fireman. He was on duty, that fateful day. Said he will never forget the stench. He got home afterwards and sat in the bath for hours just scrubbing himself and crying.
