We are a self-funded charity, placed right at the heart of the city. The horrible thing is reading that list the number of fatalities that were obviously families wiped out. She said: Over the years, the story of the Bradford City fire has been told many times - the story of the supporters and the players, but one story that had never been told was the story of how the local people had helped. He became famous for his height and build, in a similar manner to that of Peter Crouch . You must log in or register to reply here. That was the open and shut case, the inquiry into the disaster chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell, a High Court judge, concluded. The fact is that no one person was concerned with the safety of the premises. He became famous for his height and build, in a similar manner to that of Peter Crouch. RIP to those who died and condolences to all persons connected to Bradford City Football Club. IN MEMORIAM. [40] Matthew Wildman was 17 at the time and needed crutches to walk because of rheumatoid arthritis. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. My friend was there in the stand opposite that one. by FCBurnley Fri May 11, 2018 2:53 pm, Post Fans in the next stand (the "Bradford End") pulled down the fence separating them from the pitch. 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. The Popplewell Inquiry found that the club had been warned about the fire risk that the rubbish accumulating under the stand had posed. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. The stadium was known for its antiquated design and facilities, which included the wooden roof of the main stand. I've never seen anything like it. The play reflects that it had been "the Yorkshire way" not to make a fuss, to bear a loss and move on. Tributes have been pouring in from all corners of the footballing world as today marks 31 years since the Bradford City fire disaster. [31] In 1988, the first compensation payments were made to survivors of the fire, with over 40 people receiving up to 40,000 each. A charred copy of the local paper from Monday, 4 November 1968, was among the litter. One, now re-situated to that end of the stand where the fire began, is a sculpture donated on the initial re-opening of Valley Parade in December 1986 by Sylvia Graucob, a then Jersey-based former West Yorkshire woman. The files show how the possibility of arson was not even touched upon or tested. Even the received wisdom is enough to make you rage against football's breathtaking complacency: the same complacency which would turn the terrace at Hillsborough into a killing ground, four years later. Of all the Fletcher family who attended the game that day, 12-year old Martin was the only survivor. Jack Ludlam (55) on: May 11, 2012, 10:28:10 am . The inquiry into the disaster, chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell and known as the Popplewell Inquiry,[25] led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at the UK's football grounds. The next day work began on clearing the burnt out shell of the stand, and Justice Popplewell released his findings into the disaster. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. [1] When the association football club was formed, the ground was changed very little and had no covered accommodation. City were presented with the Division Three championship trophy before kick-off and such was the air of excitement that over 11,000 people were at Valley Parade that day, almost double the usual average for the season. When this house was purchased in December 2020 the House Price Index for WEST YORKSHIRE was 129.5. by ashtonlongsider Fri May 11, 2018 6:28 am, Post Some of those back in Bradford have not welcomed his turning over of the stones. The 1985 Bradford City A.F.C stadium fire is regarded as one of the worst disasters in the history of British football. Eric Hudson (72) Within minutes the fire had spread through the stand due to the windy conditions with some fans claiming that they could feel their feet getting warmer as debris began to burn below them. 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. Nellie Forster (64) by Lord Beamish Fri May 11, 2018 2:35 pm, Post . "In memory of the 56 people who went to the match on a Saturday and never returned home." [10][11], Bradford's Telegraph & Argus newspaper published a souvenir issue for 11 May, entitled, "Spit and Polish for the Parade Ground". 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. due to the harrowing nature. 28 years today; the Bradford City fire disaster. Elizabeth Muhl (21) Some of the local residents opened their houses so people could make phone calls, but until I arrived home my mum and my brother had no idea whether I was alive or dead.. Applying this 18.457% change to the original purchase price of 48,000 results in an estimated price of approximately 56,859. Something caught my eye, he later explained. by Herts Clarets Fri May 11, 2018 1:13 pm, Post There were a lot of wooden stands in those days, PNE Bury to name but two. [36], In 2010, Susan Fletcher's son and survivor of the Bradford City fire (and witness to the Hillsborough disaster), Martin Fletcher, openly criticised the club's hierarchy at the time of the fire and the subsequent investigation. Community Foundation was set up in 1988 by the PFA. by ClaretTony Thu May 10, 2018 11:46 pm, Post In March 1985 the club's plans became more apparent when it took delivery of steel for a new roof. First-Team Therapist: Nick Akerman. A police officer shouted to a colleague for an extinguisher, but his call was misheard and instead the fire brigade were radioed. Kit Manager: Dom Lister. "[35], The total amount of compensation to the 154 claimants was reported to be as high as 20million, with the payouts covered by insurance taken out by the club. I walked past a public telephone outside the ground and there were queues of people waiting to ring home. Norman Hall (71) Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. BRADFORD, N.H. (AP) An explosion and a fire at a school bus transportation company building in Bradford critically injured two people, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's . The stand had already been condemned, and the demolition teams were due to start work two days later. As Ian puts it: "Bradford's been on a big rollercoaster over the past ten years and previously. Instead, there is nothing. Part of the Appeal funds were raised by a recording of "You'll Never Walk Alone"[42] from Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Carousel by The Crowd (including Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers, who had recorded the 1963 version that led to Liverpool adopting it as their motto and team song), which reached number one in the UK Singles chart. Peachs Picks: Five managers under pressure, Wigan Athletic: Tour needs our full support!, The Weekly Gab: Championship relegation picks, Kenny Dalglish: I couldnt have picked two better sides to play for, Sir Kenny Dalglish, MBE, Joins FansBet as Giving Back Ambassador, Getcha Gooner! 6/22/2021 - AP "I wept with joy," she says. Whether they don't feel welcome, for instance. [3] It included a main stand which seated 5,300fans, and had room for a further 7,000 standing spectators in the paddock in front. Bradford fan David Pendleton, then aged 21, was at the game that day in the main stand and remembers how something which initially appeared trivial quickly became a desperate situation. Performance Analyst and Player Welfare Officer: Robbie Bloodworth. Called 'The 56' the play dramatises actual accounts of the Bradford City Fire with the purpose of the play showing how in times of adversity, the Football Club and the local community came together. William James West (78) [10] The call was timed at 3:43pm. [48] Profits from the play's run at The Edinburgh Fringe were donated to the Bradford Burns Unit. There was talk of "a raincoat smell" about 15.40pm that afternoon, as the fire took hold. [11] Those who escaped were taken out of the ground to neighbouring homes and a pub, where a television screened World of Sport, which broadcast video recorded of the fire just an hour after it was filmed. Head Physiotherapist: Dayle Avison. Bradford City Community Foundation is the community charity of Bradford City Football Club. When a memorial service was held on the pitch later in summer, part of it was in Urdu and Punjabi in recognition. The residents also helped take victims to hospital. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Simon Neil Ward (18) by tim_noone Fri May 11, 2018 9:25 am, Post [46], In 2014, the theatre company Funny You Should Ask (FYSA) premiered their heartfelt tribute to the 56 people who died at the fire. The sling is now used internationally in the treatment of burns. Sylvia Lund Pollard (69) Those are the words of David Pendleton, a survivor of the Bradford City fire disaster, which happened 30 years ago. A total of 56 fans died in the fire on May 11, 1985, in a match between Bradford City and Lincoln City, with around 265 more injured. From the tragic fire at Valley Parade in May 1985 to the club's slide from the Premier League to administration in more recent years, people will obviously have many memories of Bradford City FC - both positive and negative. I was there 3 weeks before with Burnley. Leo Anthony Coxon (44) The Weekly Gab: Lower league sides to watch in the FA Cup. Bradford City Stadium Fire 56 Dead & 100's Injured. Video via Citizen. [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. "Yes you've already told us you were concerned," the inquiry's QC effectively says, before he moves the conversation along. The scene in there was one of silence and shock. by Imploding Turtle Fri May 11, 2018 8:35 am, Post Thats when I thought this is time to get out of here. Gregg Ormondroyd has denied sleeping with his sick wife's carer. Derek Dempsey (46) Watching it I asked myself why people didn't use the rear exits and what those late people were doing all that time, apparently the rear exits were boarded or padlocked. ", Ian Ormondroyd is searching for Valley Parade memories, A Bradford landmark - and a focus for many memories. As you said, Herts. Fifty-four Bradford City supporters and two Lincoln fans would die in the horror, the youngest were three 11-year old boys, the oldest being the clubs former chairman, Sam Firth who was 86. Fire crews from . Led by former Leeds United and England international Trevor Cherry, the Bantams won only their third divisional title and earned a return to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1937. Reading back the transcript in a 21st-century, Hillsborough Inquiry environment you expect this to be the moment when Popplewell pushes Woolley to elaborate. 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. Lincoln City's board responded by committing 1.1million (3.5million today) to their ground's renovation in the year that immediately followed the fire at Valley Parade, and over the following decade made improvements that eventually totalled 3million. There was a documentary on local Yorkshire TV a couple of years ago, the guy who does the weather reports here was at the game as a youngster. Hundreds of others were injured. There are . [10][16] Geoffrey Mitchell said: "There was panic as fans stampeded to an exit which was padlocked. Martin Fletcher, a survivor who lost 3 family members is convinced of it. [30], The outcome of the test case resulted in over 154 claims being addressed (110 civilians and 44 police officers)[31] by the injured or bereaved. ClaretMoffitt Posts: 3889 Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:19 pm . James has 2 jobs listed on their profile. He is quoted as saying: "I don't believe the statement of retired Detective Inspector Raymond Falconer at all. 25 years ago and I'm sure, like Hillsborough, it's still fresh in the mind of a . The players were told to go to the pub at the top of the road, John Hendrie would later reveal. Ian Ormondroyd (born 22 September 1964) is an English former professional footballer who made more than 350 appearances in the Football League and Premier League. The project, which began in February this year, is now looking to hear from residents who helped with the rescue effort on the day. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, Ormondroyd played for Bradford City, Oldham Athletic, Aston Villa, Derby County, Leicester City, Hull City and Scunthorpe United. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. May 11, 2019 #12 Erebus Full Member. 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