Rugby Toffee
Player Valuation: £60m
One of the worst disasters in English football history occurred 27 years ago today [Friday].
On 11 May 1985 Bradford City were playing Lincoln City in a Division Three fixture at Valley Parade and there was a crowd of over 11,000. The wooden, 77-year-old main stand was full for City’s last match of the season.
Amid scenes of celebration the club’s Bradford-born captain, Peter Jackson, had been presented with the Division Three Championship trophy. For the first time since 1937 City would now be playing Second Division football.
A fire broke out just before half-time, with the score 0-0, and within a few minutes the entire main stand was engulfed in flames.
Fifty-six people lost their lives, including two fans of Lincoln City, and more than 200 were taken to hospital.
The subsequent ‘Popplewell Inquiry’ led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at football grounds in the UK. One of the main outcomes was prohibiting the construction of new wooden grandstands.
The main stand at Valley Parade was not surrounded by fencing, so spectators were not penned in and most of them were able to escape onto the pitch. The death toll could have been significantly higher.
The Bradford Disaster Appeal fund, set up within 48 hours, raised over £3.5m.
Today we should remember those football supporters who had the misfortunate to be caught up in that tragic event
R.I.P. and thoughts to all families and people affected.
On 11 May 1985 Bradford City were playing Lincoln City in a Division Three fixture at Valley Parade and there was a crowd of over 11,000. The wooden, 77-year-old main stand was full for City’s last match of the season.
Amid scenes of celebration the club’s Bradford-born captain, Peter Jackson, had been presented with the Division Three Championship trophy. For the first time since 1937 City would now be playing Second Division football.
A fire broke out just before half-time, with the score 0-0, and within a few minutes the entire main stand was engulfed in flames.
Fifty-six people lost their lives, including two fans of Lincoln City, and more than 200 were taken to hospital.
The subsequent ‘Popplewell Inquiry’ led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at football grounds in the UK. One of the main outcomes was prohibiting the construction of new wooden grandstands.
The main stand at Valley Parade was not surrounded by fencing, so spectators were not penned in and most of them were able to escape onto the pitch. The death toll could have been significantly higher.
The Bradford Disaster Appeal fund, set up within 48 hours, raised over £3.5m.
Today we should remember those football supporters who had the misfortunate to be caught up in that tragic event
R.I.P. and thoughts to all families and people affected.
