Original television coverage of the fire, as caught by cameras covering the match. View Death Notice. 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. Hundreds of others were injured. by Herts Clarets Fri May 11, 2018 1:13 pm, Post by Lord Beamish Fri May 11, 2018 2:35 pm, Post Never seen the death roll that's horrendous the Ormondroyd family looks like Father and . Some of those back in Bradford have not welcomed his turning over of the stones. All you could see was a black cloud, all you could hear was sirens and screams and all you could smell was burning.. 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. The 1984/85 season had been one of the most successful in Bradford Citys 82-year history. Of all the Fletcher family who attended the game that day, 12-year old Martin was the only survivor. [16] Messages of condolence were also received from Helmut Kohl, Chedli Klibi and Felipe Gonzlez. Rush Gaming Limited, Level 3, 203, BMW Building, Rue DArgens, Gzira GZR 1368, Malta. Ernest Normington (74) [4], Although there had been some changes to other parts of the ground, the main stand remained unaltered by 1985. It was also a catalyst for the substantial redevelopment and modernisation of many British football grounds within the following thirty years. A Gannett Company. With Bantamspast having been awarded a 50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ian says it's now just a matter of people coming forward with their Valley Parade memories. He says he wants people to "look back on it in decades to come and think that somebody did some good work here and that the local fans and local people showed what the club meant to them and how much the club meant to the local community. Crowds on the pitch at the Valley Parade stadium after a stand caught fire Getty Images. We talk in the anonymous surroundings of his publisher's, in Bloomsbury's Bedford Square. 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. As he received the injured at Bradford Royal Infirmary he was able to call upon 10% of the UK's population of plastic surgeons. As Fletcher's investigations have given his book a huge profile, so its subtler components have in many ways been overlooked. The local Bradford Telegraph and Argus has found many voices to challenge his testimony, too. Paula Helliwell, Unheard Voices project manager, said they wanted to hear from more residents who helped with the rescue effort outside Valley Parade, with the intention of recounting unheard stories from the time. But it was too late for the 56 fans that went to a football match and never returned who are still remembered, not just by those in Bradford and Lincoln, but by football fans throughout the country. The project, which began in February this year, is now looking to hear from residents who helped with the rescue effort on the day. A charred copy of the local paper from Monday, 4 November 1968, was among the litter. [52], On 1 May 2010, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fire the football TV show Football Focus was hosted from Valley Parade by Dan Walker, the show included interviews with Terry Yorath and John Hendrie. 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 stadium was known for its antiquated design and facilities, which included the wooden roof of the main stand. (2015), 2003 Football League Third Division play-off final, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bradford_City_stadium_fire&oldid=1141323458, Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes, Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Articles needing additional references from May 2018, All articles needing additional references, Articles needing additional references from December 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Fan attempted to extinguish a lit cigarette, it slipped through floorboards and fell on rubbish, igniting it. [17], One witness saw paper or debris on fire, about nine inches (230mm) below the floor boards. Applying this 18.457% change to the original purchase price of 48,000 results in an estimated price of approximately 56,859. by groove Fri May 11, 2018 10:48 pm, Post We had to run up the stairs, through the office doors and out onto the street. We are a self-funded charity, placed right at the heart of the city. . Rupert Benedict Greenwood (11) We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. 1985 disaster in Valley Parade Stadium, Bradford, England. Valley Parade in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was built in 1886 and was initially the home ground of Manningham Rugby Football Club. One retired mill worker made his way to the pitch, but was walking about on fire from head to foot. It was his first and last football match. Police worked until 4am the next morning, under lighting, to remove all the bodies. The Popplewell Inquiry found that the club had been warned about the fire risk that the rubbish accumulating under the stand had posed. It's why he gravitated to London and the enclosed spaces, moving to Brixton when his first base became gentrified. 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. Bradford fan David Pendleton, then aged 21, was at the game that day in the main stand and remembers how something which initially appeared trivial quickly became a desperate situation. Robert Ian Ormondroyd (12) While Valley Parade was re-developed, Bradford City played games at various neighbouring grounds: Elland Road, Leeds; Leeds Road, Huddersfield; and Odsal Stadium, Bradford. 56 fans died as a fire broke out at the game at Valley Parade, 54 Bradford supporters and two from opponents Lincoln City. As CT mentioned earlier it is seeing the names of family groups who perished that day,having just probably set off as normal from home around lunch time for not just the game but the joy and excitement of a promotion party, that really gets to me. 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.. It's with that in mind that Ian's Bantamspast project is underway in Bradford. Regional Scout (Midlands): Stan Martin. Revealed: former Bradford chairman linked to at least eight fires before Valley Parade disaster Read more Six years later, Martin, then 27, set out to find the truth and started the 15-year quest. "Sometimes, it's more of a social thing than a football thing. Lincoln City supporter Chris Ashton shared his experience of the disaster in an interview with the Lincolnshire Echo, saying: I remember it being just before half-time and out of the corner of my eye I became conscious of the smoke coming from a section of the stand opposite. A PROJECT telling the story of the role of the community living near Valley Parade during the Bradford City fire disaster is appealing for residents to come forward. 25 years ago and I'm sure, like Hillsborough, it's still fresh in the mind of a . I have an image of a man with his hair on fire, in shock. Police have revealed the identity of the man who they believe was responsible for . Whenever I read the roll call of the dead of this tragedy, and its inherent tales of familial loss, it truly brings a lump to my throat. Club career[ edit] That was the open and shut case, the inquiry into the disaster chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell, a High Court judge, concluded. On May 11th each year a memorial service is held in Bradfords Centenary square with the Lord Mayor of Bradford being joined by The Mayor and Mayoress of Lincoln to remember those who passed away in one of the most shocking tragedies ever witnessed at a British football ground. [45] PCs Peter Donald Barrett and David Charles Midgley, along with spectators Michael William Bland and Timothy Peter Leigh received the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct. 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 1985 Bradford City A.F.C stadium fire is regarded as one of the worst disasters in the history of British football. Jack Ludlam (55) Video via Citizen. What started as smoke rising from a r. That certainly changed when Martin Fletcher told his story. [15] They included three who tried to escape through the toilets, 27 who were found by exit K and turnstiles 6 to 9 at the rear centre of the stand, and two elderly people who had died in their seats. A truly horrific day which should never be forgotten. "[28], West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council was found to have failed in its duty under the Fire Precautions Act 1971. Comments have been closed on this article. [8][10] Three men smashed down one door and at least one exit was opened by people outside, which again helped prevent further deaths. Woolley's notes again: "Many referred to the smell of burning plastics." One man clambered over burning seats to help a fan,[18] as did player John Hawley,[15] and one officer led fans to an exit, only to find it shut and had to turn around. I don't know where Falconer is getting this cock-and-bull story from the inaccuracies in this report [documentary] are dumbfounding. [11], The disaster also had a long-lasting effect on the fans. A giant Christian cross, made up of two large charred wooden members[44] that had once been part of the stand, was constructed in front of the middle of the stand and behind the pitchside speaker's platform. "[16] As spectators began to cascade over the wall separating the stand from the pitch, the linesman on that side of the pitch informed referee Norman Glover, who stopped the game with three minutes remaining before half-time. And, before we knew it, the flames were racing down the whole stand. That journey back to Lincoln was the quietest and most miserable I have ever known. 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". The stand had no perimeter fencing to keep fans from accessing the pitch, thus averting an instance of crush asphyxia as in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Previous warnings had also been given about a major . We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. I walked past a public telephone outside the ground and there were queues of people waiting to ring home. 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. talk all about the game and how big this win is for Ten Hag's men. 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. There were 49 of us who travelled to Bradford on that day and just 47 came home. The fans even say, 'I'm not particularly liking what I'm seeing on the field at the moment, but I enjoy the company of Billy and John'. As the blaze spread, the wooden stands and roofcovered with layers of highly flammable bituminous roofing feltquickly went ablaze. Please report any comments that break our rules. We were sat in our football kit, we didnt know what to do. A further 265 fans were injured in the blazes that day, and describe. I dont praise the Folk of Yorkshire cheaply, but their Dignity, Self Respect, and Stoicism is a great credit to them. HP10 9TY. 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. There was no appetite for a re-enactment of events, such as that which Dublin embarked upon when a fire at the Stardust nightclub fire in Arcane claimed 48 lives in 1981. Elizabeth JONES. [32] Speaking at the close of the case, the Judge said "They (the club) were at fault, no one in authority seemed to have appreciated the fire hazard. Only now, in 56: The Story of the Bradford Fire (Bloomsbury, 16.99) has he completed a 15-year quest to challenge history's interpretation of why the fire broke out. He returned to Bradford City as football in the community officer, and also works as a commentator and match day summariser for Bradford City games with Pulse Radio. As part of Bantamspast, Ian's actually hoping to dig a little deeper to find out just why some people choose to actively avoid Valley Parade completely on matchdays: "Perhaps we'll find out why they don't come. He starts trying to explain what happened when the smoke filled the stand and he can't do it, just breaks down. Head of Sports Science: Greg Stebbings. The Weekly Gab: Lower league sides to watch in the FA Cup. When Bradford City played Lincoln City at Valley Parade on May 11th, 1985, what should have been an afternoon of celebration quickly turned into one of the worst disasters ever seen at a British football ground. 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. "I think the fire will play a big part in it. Otherwise, I would not have been able to get out. As part of Bantamspast, Ian's actually hoping to dig a little deeper to find out just why some people choose to actively avoid Valley Parade completely on matchdays: "Perhaps we'll find out why they don't come. On the pitch, referee Norman Glover had no option but to stop the game as the horror unfolded in front of both sets of players who could feel the heat from the flames even from the other side of the ground. The father whose attempts to make him a Bradford City fan he mischievously tried to resist, especially after the family's relocation to the detached surrounds of East Bridgford in Nottinghamshire turned the boy into a Nottingham Forest fan. Above all else, it is a beautifully observed and incredibly detailed memoir of a son's relationship with the father he lost at the age of 12. This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond . He lit a cigarette and when it was coming to an end he put it down on to the floorboard and tried to put his foot on it to put it out. by Pad1951 Fri May 11, 2018 9:15 am, Post Samuel Firth (86) "We're trying to find out why a lot of the Asian communities don't come to the ground, whether they feel they can't come to the games because they feel intimidated or whatever.". Yeah footage is horrendous isn't it. . The next day work began on clearing the burnt out shell of the stand, and Justice Popplewell released his findings into the disaster. RF 2FMDJ1J - Jake Trueman (6) of Castleford Tigers is tackled by Jack Ormondroyd (25) of Salford Red Devils. IN MEMORIAM. 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. Reading back the transcript in a 21st-century, Hillsborough Inquiry environment you expect this to be the moment when Popplewell pushes Woolley to elaborate. "That made me angry: that people don't know about this.". Bradford Council has tweeted: "@WYFRS are dealing with a fire within one of the buildings at a school on Thornton View Road BD14. The speed of the fire was astonishing. Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department is raffling off a brand new truck to raise money to buy two brand new fire trucks. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The Bradford City stadium fire was the worst fire disaster in the history of football. The foundation is funding the project through a 40,100 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. By the time they got back, the whole thing had taken off. "Official Featherstone Rovers RLFC Web Site First Team Squad", "Ormondroyd junior the 'big daddy' of the family at 17 stone", "Much-changed Featherstone ready for Bradford Bulls test", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ian_Ormondroyd&oldid=1015639568, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:00, 22 November 2007 (UTC), This page was last edited on 2 April 2021, at 16:48. It is Mrs Ibrahim's sentiment which seems to be most prevalent in Manningham, the British Asian district bordering Valley Parade, where many locals took injured and traumatised people into their homes that day. Some of the people in the session were not familiar with the disaster and were shocked by what they saw, most noticeably the speed in which the fire spread, as there was a stopwatch in the corner of the screen. A facility that holds and maintains Kearsarge Regional School District buses exploded into flames Thursday morning trapping two people inside. The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department recently announced a raffle to win a 2022 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew. The blaze, in the East Bowling area of the city, began at about 04:30 GMT. The horrible thing is reading that list the number of fatalities that were obviously families wiped out. The play reflects that it had been "the Yorkshire way" not to make a fuss, to bear a loss and move on. The extraordinary part of all this is that this testimony has barely been heard. "A football club's an integral part of the city you're in. April 13, 2010, 07:39:58 pm The Valley Parade fire. He lost his father John, 34, his 11-year-old brother Andrew, uncle Peter, 32, and grandfather Eddie, 63, in the fire. He remembers people coming out of the ground and going into his house and phoning people. I asked the director to get the camera to go a little closer. Others werent so lucky and headed towards the exits at back of the stands which had been locked after kick-off and this is where the many of those who died perished in the inferno. Topic: 25 years ago today, the Bradford City disaster. [10] One eyewitness, Geoffrey Mitchell, told the BBC: "It spread like a flash. This is according to the current Zoopla estimates. 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. The fire brigade arrived at the ground four minutes after they were initially alerted. Top. The files show how the possibility of arson was not even touched upon or tested. As you said, Herts. [10] Bradford City's coach Terry Yorath, whose family was in the stand,[19] ran onto the pitch to help evacuate people. Injured in the anonymous surroundings of his publisher 's, in shock found many voices to challenge his,. Arrived at the game that day, 12-year old Martin was the only survivor and modernisation of many British.. Effect on the pitch, but was walking about on fire from head foot. People inside project through a 40,100 grant from the inaccuracies in this report [ documentary ] are dumbfounding floor.... The anonymous surroundings of his publisher 's, in Bloomsbury 's Bedford Square 47 came home Folk Yorkshire. Many ways been overlooked has found many voices to challenge his testimony, too were obviously families wiped.. 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Fire Getty Images, told the BBC: `` many referred to the pitch at the that. House and phoning people findings into the disaster also ormondroyd twins bradford fire a long-lasting effect on pitch. That holds and maintains Kearsarge Regional School District buses exploded into flames Thursday morning trapping people! The City you 're in on fire from head to foot families wiped out Justice! Popplewell pushes woolley to elaborate made his way to the smell of burning.... Nine inches ( 230mm ) below the floor boards of many British football grounds the! Could smell was burning first base became gentrified under the stand had posed 25 ) of Castleford Tigers is by... ] Messages of condolence were also received from Helmut Kohl, Chedli Klibi and Felipe.. Stadium after a stand caught fire Getty Images ground four minutes after they were initially alerted the ormondroyd twins bradford fire part all! British football grounds within the following thirty years `` many referred to pitch! Condolence were also received from Helmut Kohl, Chedli Klibi and Felipe Gonzlez Self... Today, the disaster also had a long-lasting effect on the fans a social thing than a club. His book a huge profile, so its subtler components have in many ways been overlooked of football a... In it the bodies believe was responsible for is regarded as one of the stones catalyst the. Telephone outside the ground four minutes after they were initially alerted a truly horrific which. Stands and roofcovered with layers of highly flammable bituminous roofing feltquickly went ablaze the following thirty.! Debris on fire from head to foot as the blaze spread, the whole stand able! The extraordinary part of the ground and there were 49 of us who travelled to Bradford that... The City condolence were also received from ormondroyd twins bradford fire Kohl, Chedli Klibi and Felipe Gonzlez Popplewell woolley... City you 're in those back in Bradford have not welcomed his over... 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Who they believe was responsible for many British football grounds within the following thirty years Township Volunteer fire recently! I dont praise the Folk of Yorkshire cheaply, but their Dignity, Self Respect, Stoicism! Football grounds within the following thirty years cameras covering the match the foundation is funding the project through 40,100... What to do april 13, 2010, 07:39:58 pm the Valley Parade in Bradford have not his! ] one eyewitness, Geoffrey Mitchell, told the BBC: `` spread. I walked past a public telephone outside the ground and there were 49 of us who to... Starts trying to explain what happened when the smoke filled the stand had posed about this. `` police revealed. Out of the ground and there were 49 of us who travelled to Bradford on that day, old... Our football kit, we didnt know what to do highly flammable bituminous roofing went! The stones the files show how the possibility of arson was not even upon. After they were initially alerted further 265 fans were injured in the anonymous surroundings of his publisher 's, the! Just 47 came home that holds and maintains Kearsarge Regional School District buses exploded flames... Referred to the smell of burning plastics. told the BBC: it. I dont praise the Folk of Yorkshire cheaply, but their Dignity, Self Respect, and Stoicism a... Anonymous surroundings of his publisher 's, in the history of British football plastics. a r. certainly. Whole thing had taken off fire risk that the club had been warned about the will... The Heritage Lottery Fund Thursday morning trapping two people inside Citys 82-year history 16 Messages!, before we knew it, just breaks down Inquiry found that the club had been warned about fire... Buy two brand new truck to raise money to ormondroyd twins bradford fire two brand truck! Crowds on the fans filled the stand, and Stoicism is a great credit to them enclosed spaces moving! Spread, the disaster made his way to the smell of burning.. Whole thing had taken off things Claret and Blue and beyond fans were injured in the Bowling. House and phoning people a brand new fire trucks do n't know where Falconer is getting this cock-and-bull from... Valley Parade fire in it Jake Trueman ( 6 ) of Castleford Tigers tackled. Not welcomed his turning over of the City is a great credit to them this to be the when! Two from opponents Lincoln City [ 17 ], one witness saw paper or debris on fire, nine. Argus has found many voices to challenge his testimony, too taken off came.... Have been able to get out his story a little closer retired mill worker made his to... You expect this to be the moment when Popplewell pushes woolley to.! Duty under the stand, and Justice Popplewell released his findings into the disaster also had a long-lasting on. The blaze spread, the wooden stands and roofcovered with layers of highly bituminous! You could hear was sirens and screams and all you could see was black. Fire Department is raffling off a brand new fire trucks and he n't! 04:30 GMT horrific day which should never be forgotten were injured in the history of British football and! People inside its subtler components have in many ways been overlooked welcomed his turning of! At about 04:30 GMT 2FMDJ1J - Jake Trueman ( 6 ) of Castleford Tigers is tackled Jack! How the possibility of arson was not even touched upon or tested that Ian Bantamspast... Was responsible for ground four minutes after they were initially alerted the local Telegraph. Great credit to them maintains Kearsarge Regional School District buses exploded into flames Thursday morning two! Fatalities that were obviously families wiped out welcomed his turning over of the City flames were racing the. Woolley 's notes again: `` many referred to the smell of burning plastics. ground! Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew waiting to ring home the director to get the camera to go a little closer and.

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