Bradford City 25 years on

[Auchinleckian]

Until Football Focus came on today I had no idea that it was 25 years since the Valley Parade fire. I remember it vividly as Yorkshire television showed the whole thing live, unfolding, before our very eyes. It was unimaginable horror to see, and I hadn't realised how it would affect me 25 years later.
FF mentioned that the television pictures have never been since as they are too shocking to watch.
Listening to Terry Yorath, Peter Jackson, Stuart McCall all reliving their memories of the day jut opened the floodworks for me, and 25 year after the event I grieved to for those who lost their lives that day. Never imagined that hearing testimonies like that could have such a profound effect, but they certainly did.
Lest we forget....

[ashburton-grove]

I was only 13 at the time, but remember going round my friends house and his Dad calling him and us watching it on the BBC.
Most of the memories of that day faded , until I went on a fire training course.
They have a video of that day, and showed us the footage. It was even more shocking now as it was then.
Why do we learn only after these terrible events?
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[ForestMick]

I was only 15 at the time, and didnt really apreciate just how bad that day was. My dad's mate was the linesman on the far side, and he said that it was the most shocking thing he had ever witneseed. That never really hit home to me either. A couple of years ago, we got involved in a project with Notts Fire and Rescue at work, and they show the footage of the whole thing to the young people on the course. Being at work, I have to hide my emotions, but every time they show it, I can feel the lump in my throat, and the tears starting to well in the corners of my eyes. The most horrific part is the guy who walks across the pitch, completely engulfed in flames. He was quickly put out by several people, but it transpired that he was already dead. It's one of the most shocking bits of film I have ever seen, and, along with Hillsborough, makes me realise how lucky we were as kids going to football in the 80's that it didnt happen to us.
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[stodin]

It certainly was a horrific incident and it doesnt get half the media mentions that it should. I have spoken to younger fans who had never heard of the Bradford fire and that shocks me. The speed that the fire spreads is horrible, I think it took only 4 minutes for the whole stand to be engulfed. People stood no chance, especially those who tried to get out the back of the stand only to find all the doors locked, what a frightening way to die.

I worked with someone who was at the game and lost friends. It took him years to attend another game.

Here is the coverage but I must warn anyone who has not seen it that is is horrible to watch, so watch it at your own risk.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4508556187359015063#


We should never forget those who were affected

[Senior82]

I watched the footage a few years ago and it really is bad. Not something I ever wish to see again and it must have been horrendous actually being there.

RIP

[jonnyp]

Being from Bradford myself i know a lot of people at that game and it still haunts them to this day. A sad sad day for all football fans

[bpaafc]

I could not afford to go that day, but a friend ask for my ticket who wanted to go, I asked him to get me a programme and was to see him at Mytholmroyd WMC that night, it was for that stand and I never saw my friend again, perhaps somebody didn't want me their I don't really know.
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[clsyorkshire]

Wanted to comment on this, but didn't want to start a new thread.

It's a tragedy that is largely overlooked because of Hillsborough, but no less sad. The speed that the fire takes hold is just terrifying, I'm not surprised that the footage is used a lot in fire safety talks. It doesn't bear thinking about what the death toll would have been had there been perimeter fences at the front of the stand and people hadn't been able to escape onto the pitch.

The video footage on Youtube is just horrible to watch, it really is.

What a shame it was that it took such a terrible event for safety to have been improved. People smoking on a wooden stand was a disaster waiting to happen.
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[tufcprogs]

Just wanted to add something for what it is worth.

Some real touching posts here. I saw the footage again a few years ago and I, like the rest of, where shocked, as passing of time softens and eases or ever deletes from the mind just how bad things were.

I mean I can't even comprehend two main things, the person who was trapped underneath the locked turnstile unable to get out and all those people that tried to exit through the covered walkway only to find a closes exit. An those people grew deeper and deeper. Welling up as I write.

TV, although images are so shocking, gives us a degree of seperation to the real stories. After today i reread the wikipedia posts and then a link an account from Peter Jackson: You find out the Stuart Mccall's dad was seriously hurt. It hits home all over again the enormaty of what happened.

No doubt there are things planned for next years 30th anniversarry but (I dont know what or how) but could I offer an idea for this board. No worries if it is deemed not a good idea. BUt perhaps we could all raise funds by offering a programme from our collection each over the next season and raise funds as a site. I am rubbish at how it can be done logisticaly but I reallly would like to offer something for the 30th.

I cannot believe some kids haven't even heard of it and I think an idea like this would not only draw a little attention to the Fund but make people realise that it is an event that affected so many peoples lives and that should NEVER EVER be forgotten...

To all those lost and affected by the events of that day: My thoughts and best wishes are with you.

[Fishy]

To all those lost and affected by the events of that day: My thoughts and best wishes are with you.[/quote]

I was playing for Devon in a pool match in Plymouth when this happened - needless to say the match stopped for a while and I can't even remember the result or who we were playing.

A very sad day.

RIP

[derby1884]

Loathe to mention this as it still brings back bad memories - but I was at Valley Parade a year or so earlier and, as we walked along the concourse behind that grandstand, I noticed all the rubbish lying underneath and said to my mate "that's a fire hazard". Just as anyone might have done. An off-the-cuff remark.

But when I saw the pictures of the fire on the news I felt sick and immediately remembered that particular day.

Not that it would have made a blind bit of difference, of course, but I wish I had said something to someone at the ground that day.
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[sellsell39]

I would like to fully enhance the point that TUFC is making here.

We could, as a considerable collective body or a forum, buy one programme from a fellow forum member with all proceeds going to a central nominated person, who could then log each cheque or donation on a special page within the forum here (maybe CLSYorkshire can advise us who would be deemed appropriate or from the local Bradford area so that our money reaches the Bradford families etc).

Alternatively we could just send a cheque or make contributions or allocate 100% of a programme sale towards the cause, if indeed there is something to mark the 30th anniversary - I am sure there will be.

Maybe highlighting the disaster on our computers will be deemed enough to attract nationwide publicity ? I am not really sure how all of this works.

Anyway I look forward to reading your thoughts, I am happy to receive cheque payments/contributions and log them for all to see, (if selected).

I like TUFC, would like to do something, however small.

See ya

[tufcprogs]

I know this is a couple of years on from the last post but I would like to restate that I would like to offer up one of my programmes to sell to raise funds. If many of us do this we can raise some funds. I know sellsell39 was in agreement too.

Not sure how we would go about it - how the money would be held or if we all send monies in individually - would be better to send as a whole amount as it is disjointed otherwise...

...just testing the water but is anyone else interested in offering up one fro their collection?

[tufcprogs]

Long time on now but this is still something I think we could do. sellsell39 was on board and his simplistic explanation in the quote is very doable.

We have a good 6 months before the next anniversary.. who is in?

sellsell39 wrote:

I would like to fully enhance the point that TUFC is making here. We could, as a considerable collective body or a forum, buy one programme from a fellow forum member with all proceeds going to a central nominated person, who could then log each cheque or donation on a special page within the forum here (maybe CLSYorkshire can advise us who would be deemed appropriate or from the local Bradford area so that our money reaches the Bradford families etc). Alternatively we could just send a cheque or make contributions or allocate 100% of a programme sale towards the cause, if indeed there is something to mark the 30th anniversary - I am sure there will be. Maybe highlighting the disaster on our computers will be deemed enough to attract nationwide publicity ? I am not really sure how all of this works. Anyway I look forward to reading your thoughts, I am happy to receive cheque payments/contributions and log them for all to see, (if selected). I like TUFC, would like to do something, however small. See ya

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Very good idea, I'm with you all the way.

I was watching Grandstand that afternoon, while helping a mate to tile my bathroom, and we had to stop and watch as the news came in. We were both horrified and sickened by what we were watching. It will never leave me.

[tufcprogs]

Great PPP.

I guess first thing needed is to work out the best way to maintain the monies and have someone head that up and how we go about it.

Also a list of programme(s) a person is willing to sell.

Any other thoughts?

I need to double check my collection but when we do start I would like to offer up three or four.

[RIKERBCFC]

We still do a ground collection on the last home match of every season plus other events with the money going to the Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit (PSBU) at Bradford Royal Infirmary where research is still ongoing into the treatment of burns with the results helping people all around the world in the treatment of burns.