Peter Anthony Halliday (34) We talk in the anonymous surroundings of his publisher's, in Bloomsbury's Bedford Square. So do the sounds of some of those 150 people present, packing the little theatre's benches to capacity, needing to leave the dark space and take a moment to recover themselves. We had to run up the stairs, through the office doors and out onto the street. Thick, black . 28 years today; the Bradford City fire disaster. [27], Explaining his decision, Sir Joseph Cantley stated: "As I have already stated, the primary duty was on the Club and the functions of the County Council were supervisory and its liability is for negligent breach of a common law duty arising out of the way in which they dealt with or ignored their statutory powers. He and his mother rattled around in the beautiful detached Nottingham home afterwards and the place "was almost mocking you, like the birds in the trees," he says. It's right to know why it happened." Some had been crushed as they tried to crawl under turnstiles to escape while a man who was captured on television running across the pitch on fire later died in hospital of his injuries. by FCBurnley Fri May 11, 2018 2:53 pm, Post He was actually one of the detectives involved in one of the gravest miscarriages of justices in the country, the murder of Carol Wilkinson in Bradford, where someone was locked up for 20 years for a murder he didn't commit."[60]. [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. 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. This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond . [29] The Health and Safety Executive who were also part of the legal action were found to be non-liable. And there are also repeated references to the smell of burning plastic. Tributes have been pouring in from all corners of the footballing world as today marks 31 years since the Bradford City fire disaster. Gerald Priestley Ormondroyd (40) 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. It's gone," he says. Obviously never come to terms with what he saw, and that's 30 years on. The main stand at Bradford was not surrounded by fencing, and therefore most of the spectators in it could escape onto the pitch if they had been penned in then the death toll would inevitably have been in the hundreds if not the thousands. "Sometimes, it's more of a social thing than a football thing. The aim is to preserve these memories for posterity as part of the club's museum at Valley Parade, together with a DVD, podcasts and more. Performance Analyst and Player Welfare Officer: Robbie Bloodworth. 10th Apr, 2021. by Herts Clarets Fri May 11, 2018 1:13 pm, Post by bfcjg Fri May 11, 2018 12:56 pm, Post The stand became an inferno in about 5 minutes. Post Those are the words of David Pendleton, a survivor of the Bradford City fire disaster, which happened 30 years ago. Crowds on the pitch at the Valley Parade stadium after a stand caught fire Getty Images. Frederick Hindle (76) I go to the football with my two children (both adults now) and have done for many,many years. They are performed once every 10 years. 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. Valley Parade in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was built in 1886 and was initially the home ground of Manningham Rugby Football Club. 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. The files show how the possibility of arson was not even touched upon or tested. Valley Parade re-opened on 14 December 1986, when Bradford City beat an England XI 21 in a friendly. The children were still nestled under the warden's thick overcoat when they discovered them. 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. For every person who died or was injured it is easy to forget that their death/injury impacts dozens or even hundreds of family members and friends . The names of the 56 victims of the Valley Parade Fire Disaster - 11 May 1985 . Another player went into the office space to ensure there was nobody there. Still one of the two or three most haunting videos I've ever seen. The match was recorded by Yorkshire Television for their regional edition of the ITV Sunday afternoon football show The Big Match. In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, celebrate United's League Cup win by listening to Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) [38], The tragedy received immense media attention and drew support from around the world, with those offering their sympathy including Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II. "In memory of the 56 people who went to the match on a Saturday and never returned home." [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. Topic: 25 years ago today, the Bradford City disaster. ", ""This is more about the fans, the people and the ground - even the people who don't come to the ground."". He remembers people coming out of the ground and going into his house and phoning people. There actually used to be an old saying in Bradford: "If you see smoke go up in Bradford after 6pm, that'll be one of Stafford's." Eric Hudson (72) contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. by Lord Beamish Fri May 11, 2018 2:35 pm, Post John Fletcher (34) Among the main outcomes of the inquiry were the banning of new wooden grandstands at all UK sports grounds, the immediate closure of other wooden stands deemed unsafe and the banning of smoking in other wooden stands. The theatre production moved on to London last week, its players and writers wondering as they packed up what the response would be, in the capital city, to a subject even less well known and understood beyond the Yorkshire boundaries. He lost his father John, 34, his 11-year-old brother Andrew, uncle Peter, 32, and grandfather Eddie, 63, in the fire. Bradford City Community Foundations Unheard Voices project is producing a book and 15-minute film on the residents experiences on that fateful day. . 05/12/15 AT 9:58 AM BST. The stand had been officially condemned and was due to be replaced with a steel structure after the season ended. 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 boy Fletcher discovered soon enough how boundlessly and profoundly life-affecting the afternoon would prove to be. England won the re-match 64. It was the brainchild of Bradford City fan Lloyd Spencer with all profits going to the Bradford Royal Infirmary Burns Unit.[43]. The school hall, like the theatre, was still and noiseless as the children listened to this passionate and indefatigable woman, whose family home should be full of the sound of many grandchildren, by now, but who is instead still seeking what meagre consolations she can find from the wreckage of Bradford's forgotten tragedy. Many of the residents, who were mostly Bangladeshi, took people into their homes, brought out blankets and drinks and let them use their home telephones. This is according to the current Zoopla estimates. Yes it is I try to leave a scarf and floral tribute on behalf of Burnley fans.and will do so tomorrow. However, the fire had consumed the stand entirely by that point and they were faced with huge flames and very dense smoke. Even if you're in a small town, it's the main focal point," says Ian Ormondroyd. by Herts Clarets Fri May 11, 2018 12:21 pm, Post A capacity 6,000 crowd attended a multi-denominational memorial service, held on the pitch in the sunny shadow of the burnt out stand at Valley Parade in July 1985. A further 265 fans were injured in the blazes that day, and describe it as a traumatic memory and one of the saddest days in English football. Moira Helen Hodgson (15) [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. William Stacey (72) Thoughts and prayers to the 56 who lost their lives in this truly awful and harrowing tragedy. Fletcher's appearance on BBC regional news programme Look North looked like an inquisition, with playback in his headphones as he spoke from a London studio contributing to the difficulty. "I think if we go out there and ask local people who've been in a house for 24 or 25 years, a lot of their memories will be about that. 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 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'. Some of those who died were still sitting upright in their seats, covered by remnants of tarpaulin that had fallen from the roof. "The rumours of the fire came slowly and took hold slowly but when things became clear, I threw down my bags and ran. These are the kinds of loose ends which would now be investigated to the end of the earth by the Hillsborough team. 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 ClaretTony Thu May 10, 2018 11:46 pm, Post The Valley Parade fire took hold, it has always been said, because a match must have been dropped into the reservoir of rubbish in the dark cavity beneath the main stand's seats. [11], The fire escalated very rapidly, and flames became visible; police started to evacuate the stand. As Bantams Community Manager, Ian hopes it will reveal what people living around the ground really think. Ran home and put the television on." Today we remember the 56 fans who tragically lost their lives in the Bradford fire disaster 31 years ago. Fans flee to the pitch to avoid the flames in the wooden main stand, Mr Justice Popplewell, who led the inquiry into the fire, at the 'Turnstile Shrine' in the stadium (Rex), Martin Fletcher, author of '56: The Story of the Bradford Fire', A relative of one of the victims breaks down amid the ruins of the stadium (Rex), Thirty years after football's 'forgotten tragedy', the truth of what exactly happened when 56 people died in a fire at Bradford City's Valley Parade stadium remains elusive, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Claims the disaster was started deliberately 'nonsense', Archives reveal the desperate rush to conjure an explanation, New evidence casts more doubt on verdictfirewas accident, BradfordCitystadiumfire: The untold stories of the 1985 fire, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off selected items using this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. I once stumbled across the radio commentary from that day on YouTube. Please use the search above if you cannot find the record you require. 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. He was evidently very successful when his mother's acquaintance with local Bradford broadcaster Tony Delahunty whose commentary of the fire is part of many Bradfordians' recollections helped fix him some work experience, as a 14-year-old. The match itself, however, had to be interrupted before half time as a fire quickly broke out, with memories of title celebrations now replaced with this horrible tragedy. Yeah footage is horrendous isn't it. Otherwise, I would not have been able to get out. ? pic.twitter.com/VkqiAEXBR8, billy clarke (@billyclarke7) May 11, 2016. 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. Ian says that Bantamspast is about much more than just the football: "It's where people come socially. Scott Richard Advertisement The fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. at the site. ";s:4:"text";s:3462:" Visit us for exclusive Galen Center Special Events throughout the year! Adrian Mark Wright (11). The Bradford Disaster Appeal fund, set up within 48hours of the disaster, eventually raised over 3.5million (11.3million today). James has 2 jobs listed on their profile. Tickets are $20 each, and all proceeds will go toward funding the purchase of two new twin custom KME fire trucks for the department.. One letter from the council said the problems "should be rectified as soon as possible"; a second said: "A carelessly discarded cigarette could give rise to a fire risk." It's with that in mind that Ian's Bantamspast project is underway in Bradford. IN MEMORIAM. talk all about the game and how big this win is for Ten Hag's men. "[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. 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. Chartered Management Degree at the University of Bradford, alongside working full time in an equally . I've never seen anything like it. It seemed to put it out. Club coach Terry Yorath incurred minor injuries while taking part in the rescue. Andrew Fletcher (11) by NottsClaret Fri May 11, 2018 2:00 pm, Post [10] The call was timed at 3:43pm. View James Ormondroyd's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. The speed at which fire engulfs the entire stand is insane. Robert Ian Ormondroyd (12) Since then, it has been further re-developed and, today, Valley Parade is a modern 25,136 all-seater stadium, which is virtually unrecognisable from how it was at the time of the disaster, save for the original clubhouse that still stands beside the main stand, and the flank support wall that runs down the Hollywell Ash Lane at the "Bradford End". [22], Immediately after the fire, Sharpe planned and treated the injuries of over 200 individuals, with many experimental treatments being used. Or for a full-blown 91-day inquiry like the one which investigated the 1987 fire at London's King's Cross St Pancras Tube station, though Bradford claimed twice as many lives. Ernest Normington (74) She was Hazel Greenwood the mother whose children, 13-year-old Felix and 11-year-old Rupert, had been ushered away from the flames of the stadium fire all those years ago by a traffic warden, seeking to shelter them under his tunic. Harold Mitchell (79) And Bradford seemed happy with it: five days of testimony, a 27-page report and everyone moved on. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Police have revealed the identity of the man who they believe was responsible for . by ClaretDiver Fri May 11, 2018 6:49 am, Post Head Physiotherapist: Dayle Avison. We are trying to find people who came out of the ground and were helped by people in the community. [8][10] Three men smashed down one door and at least one exit was opened by people outside, which again helped prevent further deaths. Supporters either ran upwards to the back of the stand or downwards to the pitch to escape. He became famous for his height and build, in a similar manner to that of Peter Crouch . Bradford City Stadium Fire 56 Dead & 100's Injured. "Take care if you are in the area and allow space for the crews . Fire crews from . When a memorial service was held on the pitch later in summer, part of it was in Urdu and Punjabi in recognition. The money raised from this record was contributed to fund the internationally renowned burns unit that was established in partnership between the University of Bradford and Bradford Royal Infirmary, immediately after the fire, which has also been Bradford City's official charity for well over a decade. -- Eleven people were injured, including four in critical condition, when a fire broke out at an apartment building in Bradford West Gwillimbury Monday afternoon. "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. [citation needed] Spectators later spoke of initially feeling their feet becoming warmer; one of them ran to the back of the stand for a fire extinguisher but found none. [57] Following the 30th anniversary of the fire, a number of news organisations named this man as Eric Bennett who was visiting his nephew in Bradford from Australia and attended the game on the day. For the first-minute people were laughing and joking, it wasnt anything serious, he told the BBC in 2015. The Bradford City stadium fire was the worst fire disaster in the history of football. 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