Just watching bt sport film about the fire at valley parade. Remember it well and i have to admit ive had a few tears. So sad. So many died. So many brave heroes who risked life to save others. Watching terry yorath cry on film makes u very emotional. 4 minutes from wat looks like a small fire to the whole stand a shell. Wow.
I remember seeing that on the news. For some reason it impacted me more than Hillsborough. A terrible tragedy .
I remember it only too well. The Country Band I managed at the time were on the bill at a weekend holiday camp Country Festival in Wales and I'd travelled over on the Friday to take in their performance. I had a few drinks with the lads so booked a room overnight and travelled back to Doncaster on the Saturday the 11th May. I had just got on the M18 south of Sheffield when I put the radio on to listen to the football commentaries and they were reporting the events at Valley Parade. I turned off in Rotherham and managed to get a coffee in Morrisons . Remember as a football fan I felt really sorry for all those poor folk who went to support their team and never got to return home. So very sad when you think it was probably started by a discarded cigarette igniting rubbish that had accumulated down the years underneath the Stand.
It's odd that this comes up this week, I was talking to mr Bradford City mates about this on Saturday. Two brothers one was much older and the other only 9 years old at the time were both there on the day. The older one telling the younger to cover his eyes. Some things you wish you could unsee, but are in your consciousness for ever. Said they were nervous when looking at the west stand.
I know what you mean - I think possibly the visual of the stand in flames has more of an impact than a crush as that wasnt clear to see at the time. Even though both were just as tragic - you dont expect to go to a football match and never come home again
All very sad. And whilst I don't know every detail, it seems sad that an aged police officer is now facing manslaughter charges. When the fundamental cause of the Bradford and Hillsborough tragedies was the fencing impeding escape onto the pitch. Fencing that promptly disappeared as anonymously as those who instructed its installation.
Can’t remember fencing being involved in the Bradford disaster. Stand corrected if so. But remember seeing it unfold on tv. Very very tragic. As was Hillsboro by the way.
Tragic. The fire spread so quickly. Hopefully modern H&S does seem to have stopped disasters like this happening at football. Obviously Grenfell has highlighted other areas, that hopefully will be learned from.
I remember it better than Hillsboro' being on holiday in Queensland and watching it happen on Channel 7. Having sat in that strand I couldn't comprehend how many lost their lives. RIP those victims of carelessness.
Fencing didn't contribute to the Bradford disaster, it was a fatal combination of wooden stands and a build up of rubbish underneath the stand. I remember watching it, the fire spread so fast. The stand was completely engulfed within about five minutes. I still remember that poor bloke who was on fire on the side of the pitch with police officers and fans desperately trying to save his life. Heart breaking.
Fencing wasnt an issue at Bradford it was the locked gates to stop gate crashes which they only used to be unlocked about ten minutes before final whistle . Most of the bodies were found at these locked gates as the fire prevented them getting to the pitch so made their way to the back exit , It was a heartbreaking scenario and that’s why all exit gates are now manned by stewards at all times .
