![]() On Saturday, the 17th anniversary of the disaster, a memorial with the names of those who lost their lives was dedicated at the new entrance to the redeveloped Sunwin stand. Its recommendations resulted in new legislation governing safety at sports grounds across the UK.Ī Bradford Disaster Appeal Fund raised £3.5m for the victims and their families. Tickets for the Bantams’ Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg visit of Carlisle United on Sunday (May 14, 7.00pm) are now ON GENERAL SALE. The cause of the fire is thought to have been the accidental dropping of a match or a cigarette stubbed out in a polystyrene cup and the resulting fire was fuelled by rubbish underneath the wooden stand.Īn inquiry chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell published its final report in 1986. The death toll might have been higher had it not been for the courage of police officers and 22 spectators later presented with bravery awards. It was the worst fire disaster in the history of British football history. The antiquated stand at Valley Parade eventually claimed the lives of 56 supporters and about 265 were injured. Bradford City stadium fire: Police identify man who dropped the cigarette that started the fire Australian Eric Bennett, who has now died, was visiting the stadium with his nephew. There is still no clue as to the cause of the fire. ![]() Otherwise I would not have been able to get out.” Two or three burly men put their weight against it and smashed the gate open. “There was panic as fans stampeded to an exit which was padlocked. “It spread like a flash,” said 46-year-old Bradford City fan Geoffrey Mitchell. One survivor spoke of the horror that he witnessed. Within minutes flames were visible and police started to evacuate people in the stand.īut the blaze spread very rapidly – within four minutes the whole of the roof and the wooden stands below were on fire and police struggled to save those who were too stunned or weak to escape. Just before kick-off Bradford City captain Peter Jackson was presented with the Third Division Championship trophy.įive minutes before half time at 3.40pm a small fire was noticed three rows from the back of G block in the Valley Parade ground and fire-fighting equipment was requested. The match began in an atmosphere of celebration as Bradford City, who had just been promoted to the second division, were about to play Lincoln City watched by more than 11,000 fans. The Queen, the Pope, the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and church leaders have sent messages of condolence to a city in mourning. The tragedy has sent shockwaves around the world. He was former club chairman Samuel Firth, aged 86, who died in hospital from burns. Only one of the victims has been identified so far. Most of the dead are children or elderly people crushed in the rush to escape the inferno. Hundreds of people are in hospital suffering from burns. Paul McCartney contributed some words on the B-side of the record which was titled "Messages".At least 52 people are known to have died and many are missing after fire engulfed the Bradford City football stadium. The band and celebrity members included: Sir Bruce Forsyth, Denny Laine, Jim Diamond, Tony Christie, Rick Wakeman, John Conteh, The Barron Knights, Jess Conrad, Kiki Dee, the Foxes, Rolf Harris, Graham Gouldman, Kenny Lynch, Rick Wild of The Overlanders, Keith Chegwin, Tony Hicks, Colin Blunstone, Tim Hinkley, Johnny Logan, Zak Starkey, Girlschool, Black Lace, John Otway, Gary Holton, Peter Cook, the Nolans, John Entwistle of The Who, Motörhead, Dave Lee Travis, Graham Dene, Ed Stewart, Phil Lynott, Smokie, Joe Fagin, Eddie Hardin, Gerard Kenny, Tim Healy, John Verity, Rose Marie, David Shilling, Chris Norman, Bernie Winters, Robert Heaton, and Frank Allen of The Searchers. ![]() The single gave Gerry Marsden a 'first' in British recording history, by becoming the first person ever to top the charts with two versions of the same song.Ĭontributing musicians and celebrities The record also topped the Irish Singles Chart. 52, leaping to number 4 the following week and then reaching Number 1 on 15 June 1985. The re-recording of the 1963 number 1 hit song " You'll Never Walk Alone" from the Broadway musical Carousel, also a 'football anthem' for Liverpool supporters, entered the UK charts at No. Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers had decided to make a charity record to aid the families of the victims of the disaster (the Bradford City Disaster Fund). The group consisted of singers, actors, television personalities and others. The Crowd was a charity supergroup formed specifically to produce a charity record for the Bradford City stadium fire, in which 56 people died on. ![]()
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