history firegeezer on 11 May 2008 01:49 pm
Bradford Stadium Fire Commemorated
IT WAS ON THIS DATE TWENTY-THREE YEARS AGO, MAY 11, 1985, that one of the most horrific tragedies to take place at a sporting event occurred. In Bradford, England, the Bradford City Football (soccer) team was playing at home against the Lincoln City team in a Division 2 contest that was the final game of the season.
Near the end of the first half, a fire broke out in the grandstands that swept through the stadium and killed 56 fans and injured hundreds of others, many seriously burned.
BBC News
Today a commemoration was held in Bradford in honor of those who died in a catastrophe that has had strong, lasting effects on the city. The BBC News has an ARTICLE on today’s events. Firegeezer recounted that day in a posting last September and we would like to re-run it for you today:
Bradford’s stadium, Valley Parade, was a 77-yr.-old wooden structure that hadn’t been maintained because of chronic financial difficulties. With a capacity of 6,000 it was configured to restrict movement of the patrons from one section to another or to gain access to the playing field.
The Lincoln City game was the final one of the season and Bradford had clinched the league championship. Everybody was ready for a game day of celebration. But shortly before the completion of the first half, a fire erupted underneath the stands in the G section and spread rapidly, causing panicky fans to pour out of the stands. The referee stopped the match as the crowd continued to pour onto the pitch. Within four minutes the fire had raced through the entire grandstand on that side of the field, trapping many patrons in the back.
When it was over, there were 56 people dead, nearly 250 seriously injured, most with severe burns, and another 200 injured but not transported. Most of the deaths were people trapped in the rear and unable to get out because of inward-opening doors and locked turnstiles.
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The match was being televised regionally.
Click to play this video © Yorkshire Television
Warning: Graphic scenes of people burning.
“Oh, that poor man ….. he’d only come to watch the football…”
