The FA remembers the Bradford City fire disaster

Monday 11 May 2015
FA Chairman Greg Dyke and England boss Roy Hodgson at Valley Parade
It started with a spark in the corner of the Main Stand at Valley Parade, home of Bradford City, catching alight the rubbish under the wooden seats of a wooden stand. 

Within four minutes, the stand had been reduced to a burnt-out shell. Fifty-six people arrived for a game of football on 11 May 1985 – and did not go home.

Valley Parade Memorial

The Valley Parade Memorial in Bradford

Two of the fatal casualties were supporters of Lincoln City, Bradford’s opponents on its last game of the season, and 11 were children. Hundreds more spectators were injured, and thousands witnessed an event that many described as "the worst day of their lives"

30 years on from this terrible day in the history of English football, we remember those affected by this tragedy.

FA Chairman Greg Dyke and England manager Roy Hodgson attended the game between Bradford City and Barnsley at Valley Parade on 25 April when they left their own tributes to the victims of the disaster. 

By FA Staff