[Football] Bradford Fire 40 Years Ago

[ExmouthExile]

I remember when we played Bradford at the Goldstone a few months after the disaster, I think we played them in the league and the league cup. Some of the victims were our guests of honour and they came out onto the pitch at half time to receive a collection that had been made before the game. Some of them were still in bandages and walking on crutches but it was good to see their love of the game and for their club hadn’t been put off by what happened on that dreadful day.

 

[ROSM]

John Helm the ITV commentator who was covering the game for The Big Match tells of people throwing things at the TV gantry and shouting at them to stop filming. But that he was told a few years ago that many thousands of lives have been saved by the training schemes that use that footage to demonstrate the speed and way that fire spreads in similar structures. The roof was basically bitumen which created a huge shower of molten tar and acrid smoke.

He worked the next day on speedway from Odsal (where Bradford played for some of the next 2 seasons) but had his request for a day off declined. He, like the emergency services and players/officials of Bradford city got and others affected received no counselling or support.

 

[Dr Q]

A terrible day, that thankfully should never be repeated due to the changes it instigated. The city has always treated this with a stoic dignity and respect that is often overshadowed by more media 'interest' events.

RIP the 56

 

[studio150]

I have just watched the BBC documentary that was shown over the weekend, an emotional watch. A well balanced showing of the events with comments from players, fans, reporters and photographers who were present on the day.

RIP the 56