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Club News

11 MAY 1985

11 May 2015

Club News

11 MAY 1985

11 May 2015

On 11 May 1985, 30 years ago today, over 11,000 fans packed into Valley Parade to witness Bradford City play Lincoln City and receive the Third Division Championship Trophy at the Bantams' final home match of the season.


However, it would eventually turn out to be the worst day in the football club's 112 year history and one that sent shock-waves around the world as fire engulfed the main stand roughly five minutes before half time.


Tragically, the fire disaster killed 56 supporters - 54 from Bradford and 2 from Lincoln - on that fateful day and left over 250 injured.


Today (Monday) the football club and the city of Bradford will remember those who perished in the disaster during the now-annual service of remembrance held in Centenary Square, Bradford at 11:00am.


As part of the commemoration, the bells of the City Hall clock will toll once for each person who lost their life in the tragedy. The names of each one of the 56 supporters will also be read out.


Reading out the names will be Bantams boss Phil Parkinson, City skipper Stephen Darby, John Helm, who commentated on the match 30 years ago and Shaun Harvey, the chief executive of The Football League and former City chief executive.


There will be a minute's silence which will be followed by 'You'll Never Walk Alone' played by The City of Bradford Brass Band and sung by Opera North soprano, Victoria Sharp.


Today's service will also include prayers and the laying of wreaths. The Lord Mayor of Bradford will lay a wreath on behalf of the city and district.


The Mayor of Lincoln, club representatives from Bradford City, family members of the supporters lost in the tragedy, officers from the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, plus the Oberbürgermeister of Hamm - the German city twinned with Bradford - will also lay wreaths by the memorial sculpture. 


Once these wreaths have been laid, other supporters gathered by the memorial sculpture will be welcome to put down their own floral tribute should they wish to do so.


Following the laying of floral tributes, The City of Bradford Brass Band will accompany the singing of 'Abide with Me'.


On top of the annual service of remembrance in Centenary Square, there will also be a brief memorial held at the Coral Windows Stadium during the afternoon.


Led by Rev Andy Grieff, the short service will be held at approximately 3:00pm outside the Valley Parade fire memorial, which is situated just to the right hand side of the main entrance to the JCT600 Main Stand.


The 1911 Club will be open after this service for any supporters who wish to have tea or coffee.


City fans are also invited throughout today to leave floral and/or other tributes by the fire memorial. 


The JCT600 Main Stand will be open between 12noon and 5:00pm today to allow supporters some time to pause and reflect within the stadium.


Although parts of the stadium will be open to supporters during the day, all club services - administration offices, reception, ticket office - will be closed throughout the day.


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