Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
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Wednesday May 11th 2005 is the 20th anniversary of the Bradford City fire at Valley Parade.
On a warm summers day 20 years ago, a tragedy happened that changed the way we watch football today in stadia across the land. That Saturday when Bradford had just been crowned champions of their division it was supposed to be a celebration against Lincoln City, but it soon turned to utter despair and disbelief.
I remember, as many do, where I was and what I was doing at the time of to fire. I clearly remember I was waiting outside my then girlfriends workplace, stood in the doorway of the TV rental shop watching the sport on the BBC, just watching the pictures of some major event that day, wasting 10 minutes until she finished, when the screen froze and then went to a news bulletin, live pictures of a football ground and there was smoke and flames and the flames were getting more intense and the smoke was billowing blacker and thicker.
The crowd in the doorway grew bigger and bigger and we all stared in total disbelief, no words we're uttered as nobody knew what to say, but words weren't needed it was all in the graphic pictures on thirty odd televisions. Slowly one by one people went on their way and we made our way home eventually.
It transpired that 56 people lost there lives and many more were badly injured, we owe a debt of gratitude to the people at Valley Parade that day, through their loss and suffering, we the football supporters of today are safer watching our beloved game. We have no smoking stadia and many other safety measure and practices for the benefit of safety of supporters that are a result of Valley Parade.
Radio Five Live are doing a special broadcast from Valley Parade on Thursday 12th May from 2030 to 2200 to discuss the incident and the changes that followed, the show includes many players, fans and journalists comments and experiences of the day.
Wednesday May 11th 2005 is the 20th anniversary of the Bradford City fire at Valley Parade.
On a warm summers day 20 years ago, a tragedy happened that changed the way we watch football today in stadia across the land. That Saturday when Bradford had just been crowned champions of their division it was supposed to be a celebration against Lincoln City, but it soon turned to utter despair and disbelief.
I remember, as many do, where I was and what I was doing at the time of to fire. I clearly remember I was waiting outside my then girlfriends workplace, stood in the doorway of the TV rental shop watching the sport on the BBC, just watching the pictures of some major event that day, wasting 10 minutes until she finished, when the screen froze and then went to a news bulletin, live pictures of a football ground and there was smoke and flames and the flames were getting more intense and the smoke was billowing blacker and thicker.
The crowd in the doorway grew bigger and bigger and we all stared in total disbelief, no words we're uttered as nobody knew what to say, but words weren't needed it was all in the graphic pictures on thirty odd televisions. Slowly one by one people went on their way and we made our way home eventually.
It transpired that 56 people lost there lives and many more were badly injured, we owe a debt of gratitude to the people at Valley Parade that day, through their loss and suffering, we the football supporters of today are safer watching our beloved game. We have no smoking stadia and many other safety measure and practices for the benefit of safety of supporters that are a result of Valley Parade.
Radio Five Live are doing a special broadcast from Valley Parade on Thursday 12th May from 2030 to 2200 to discuss the incident and the changes that followed, the show includes many players, fans and journalists comments and experiences of the day.
