On 11 May 1985, the last Saturday of the Football League season, 56 people – two of them visiting supporters – lost their lives when fire destroyed the main stand at the Bradford City v Lincoln City match at Valley Parade.
The wooden, 77-year-old stand was full for City’s last fixture. Before the kick-off, amid scenes of celebration, the club had been presented with the Division Three Championship trophy. The fire broke out just before half-time and, within five minutes, the entire stand was engulfed.
More than 200 people were taken to hospital.
The inquiry into the disaster, chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell, led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at football grounds. Among the outcomes of the inquiry were the banning of new wooden grandstands, the immediate closure of other wooden stands deemed unsafe and the banning of smoking in other wooden stands.
The Bradford Disaster Appeal Fund, set up within 48 hours, raised over £3.5m. One fundraising event was a re-playing of the 1966 World Cup Final. It began with the original starting line-ups of England and West Germany and was played at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground.
The Football Association sends its sincere condolences to those families and friends affected by the tragedy.
The St George's flag at Wembley Stadium will fly at half-mast throughout today in remembrance.
