Bradford City’s FA Cup run this season might be over but the association between the Bantams and the competition continues in the arrangements made by the club, the FA and the University of Bradford to honour the 30th Anniversary Commemoration of the Bradford City Fire Disaster, which occurred on May 11 1985 during a game at City’s home ground, Valley Parade, versus Lincoln City.
City will be holding the traditional minute’s silence at its last home game of the regular season, against Barnsley on April 25th 2015. The FA has called for all football matches played in England over the weekend of April 25/26 to hold a similar minute’s silence in memory of all those who suffered in the Fire Disaster of 1985. This will include all matches played in the Premier League, the Football League, the Women’s Super League, and at county FA level. The FA chairman, Greg Dyke, will be present at Valley Parade, on April 25th.
The previous weekend sees the FA Cup semi-finals played at Wembley. The FA will be marking the Commemoration with a series of measures at the semi-finals. A delegation from Bradford and Lincoln will be invited to attend the Royal Box at Wembley. Efforts will be made to draw attention to the Commemoration, and to signal the desire to make the minute’s silences of the following weekend transcend all the differences and rivalries within the football community.
The Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU) at the University of Bradford stands as a lasting memorial to all those who suffered in the Fire Disaster. The club, the FA and the University of Bradford will be working together to raise funds for the Burns Unit at the FA Cup semi-finals, towards the target of £300,000 that has been set for the 30th Commemoration. If the target is achieved, the Burns Unit’s future will be secured for some time to come.
The FA will also be represented at the annual Memorial Service to be held in Bradford’s Centenary Square on May 11 2015, and flags will be flown at half-mast on the same day at St George’s Park, the FA’s national training ground.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, Prof. Brian Cantor said "The University is delighted to partner the Plastic Surgery & Burns Research Unit fund-raising appeal, as part of the 30th Anniversary Commemoration of the Bradford City FC fire. This will be hugely valuable in progressing the University's Centre for Skin Science's research efforts in the key area of wound healing".
Mr Ajay L Mahajan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Director of PSBRU said "The PSBRU is very grateful to the Bradford City fans and their supporters nationally for their relentless efforts in raising funds for our Unit. With their ongoing support, we have come a long way since we started, following the Bradford fire. Thanks to their support, we have been able to carry out very valuable research work in our Unit that strives to improve patient care for the future. The unit runs on funds that are raised from time to time and if the current target is achieved, the Unit’s future will be secured for a few more years to come."