On the 11th of May 1985, one of sports biggest disasters broke out in Bradford City. It is, today, exactly 25 years on since 56 fans lost their lives and 265 suffered serious burns in the Bradford City chaos.
The inferno then marked the start of 18 days in which English football was plunged into the Dark Ages. Starting at Valley Parade, Bradford on May 11, 1985. A cigarette end was carelessly thrown to the floor which ignited an antique wooden stand. Rapidly, the whole structure became inflamed taking anyone in it’s path. To this day, Fire Services still use footage of the burning peril for training, to show the extent of how quickly fire can spread.
On the same day, a 14-year-old boy died when a wall collapsed as Leeds and Birmingham fans, or should I say ‘hooligans’, staged a battle on St Andrews pitch. And, before the month came to a close, 39 people died in a stampede at the crumbling Heysel Stadium in Brussels as Liverpool fans charged at Juventus fans.
People may say that football stadia has lost it’s atmosphere, with the abolishment of terracing - but there lay no argument when you compare the safety of our fans from now, to then.
Whoever you support, what ever you may do, today is a day to reflect on progression in football safety, and remembrance of innocent lives lost, in Bradford City.
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