Cry about that selfless action of your gran, mate. It's perfectly right and okay to do so. She did something amazing.

my heart will always be with the 56 who lost their lives in 1985. respect from a Liverpool fan. R.I.P to the 56

I'm American but my husband is English. He has a friend who was there that day. The friend was a policeman on duty. He ended up getting severely burned. Just like that gentleman (Mr. Leesing?) described, his police coat melted as he was trying to help victims. Oh my gosh, I cannot believe the owners weren't prosecuted. I'm glad the families were able to sue and get some money, but wow. I just can't believe there were never any criminal charges filed. "A different time", indeed! I remember reading about the fire. The author said that investigators found newspapers in the rubble that dated back to pre-decimal days. I asked my husband what that meant and he explained about the modern currency coming in during the early 70's. So that wooden stadium had rubbish under it dating back to the 1960's or even earlier! Unbelievable.

I was 22 when this happened , I wasn’t at the match, but at the motorbike shop opposite the ground , when we came out the shop ,noticed fire engine , and smoke , I turned to my friends and said , i knew that was going to happen , telling them a couple of weeks earlier I was at the ground to watch Leeds play Bradford , where we sat in the stand that caught fire, I remember telling my mates ,have you seen all this rubbish under the seats , it’s lethal and what a fire risk , and a danger to life. Not many years later I became a fireman for North Yorkshire fire and Rescue ,it had a lasting effect on me

RIP The Bradford 56, from a fellow Bradfordian. I remember that day so well. So sad, an absolute tragedy that must never be forgotten

everyone remembers hillborough , and rightly so . it should never be forgotten . but please remember valley parade . 90% of the youth have never heard about the disaster . i still get upset now watching it .

Two years later the King's Cross fire happened under the same circumstance: discarded match/cigarette. Both fires were fueled by extremely flammable materials underneath the floor/escalator which helped spread the flames. It's quite an eerie coincidence.

Paul Hudson was there? I had no idea. That lad's grandma saved his life. Her only thought was to get her grandbairn out and she died. That's so sad.

policemen examining the debris came across a copy of the Bradford Telegraph and Argus dated Monday 4 November 1968, as well as a bag of peanuts costing six old pennies (decimalisation had been introduced in 1971). one of those fact stranger than fiction moments when you realise a flammable football stand accomodating thousands of people hadnt been cleaned properly in probably at least seventeen years .

Why is it that almost every deadly fire ever in a large public building was caused by exits being locked?

My grandad was at this match and because of the fire he rushed home early and my grandma wondered why he had arrived back early and all he said was turn in the tv and I know realised that I nearly never knew my grandad and I cherish him being around 👼

Rip to all concerned.Iwas there that day as a 9 year old with my dad n granddad.

There's no way anyone could own a sports stadium and *not* know there were years of dry rubbish under the wooden stands. Not even if they'd only owned the stadium for two years. The owners clearly don't feel responsible, nor were they held responsible. Shocking and disgraceful, imo. And this is the owner who didn't have 7 previous business fires behind him! No, it wasn't arson -- but that doesn't mean Higgenbottom is not responsible for safety at his stadium. The police and fire services should have seen and thus considered the hazard -- at least have been prepared, with hoses ready nearby, in case fire broke out. They would know from training and experience that it could become an inferno in minutes. That was also gross negligence, imo, but at least it wasn't just to save money. Tragedies like this are why safety rules have become so much more strict since the 80s. It takes a lot of spontaneous joys out of life (including making everything much more expensive) but it seems to be necessary, because too many people won't step up to their responsibilities unless they're forced. Very sad, RIP innocent souls.

RIP to all those who passed.

I remember this as if it was yesterday. I was 14 yrs of age. Stood at the top of a hill, saw the flicker, then wept in horror....RIP 56 football fans...x

Feel sorry for the guy- must have felt awful over the years knowing he had accidently caused deaths etc.

We will remember them. Love from all at Glasgow Rangers FC 💙 🇬🇧❤ 🇬🇧 💙 🇬🇧

I have attended a fire training course where this footage was used as a training aid.

I remember coming home from a mini football tournament at school and my parents watching this on the news. I was 12 years old when this happened and seeing the flames rip through the stand and the image of the policeman's hair on fire as he was running from the burning stand are images that'll stay with me for a long time. R.I.P. too all of the 56 football fans who tragically lost their lives.

8 fires in 13 years? HELLO. And NO body held accountable for this fire? Shocking.

The horribly ironic thing is that the stand was going to be replaced at the end of that season. RIP 56 football fans from a fellow football fan

Anyone who's watched Fascinating Horror knows that the biggest body counts in tragedies happen in pile-ups near locked or too-small exits

I still cannot believe it only took a few minutes for the entire stand to burn down.

1980s was no doubt the worst decade in English football for supporters. Hooligans, fire, injuries, crushing, and deaths

I watched this tragedy on live television. It made me cry to see some of those supporters on fire.

Watched this for the first time today, very upsetting and my thoughts go out to all involved... 😔

Dropping the cigarette was not the fault. Poor management and greed are the root causes.

I remember this well, even though I am from the US, Texas. This event was big news across the pond as well. God Bless all those souls, and everyone who was touched by this awful tragedy.

For those wondering why the fire service only wrote advisory letters in the years before the fire, it's because they had no jurisdiction over the ground. The Fire Precautions Act 1971 would only have covered the admin offices and the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (a reaction to the 1971 Ibrox "Staircase 13" disaster) wasn't specifically a fire safety law and was administered by the local council (the fire service being an 'interested party' but no more than that). The Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987, brought in after Bradford amended both the Fire Precautions Act and Safety of Sports Grounds Acts to bring stadia under proper fire safety legislation. Sheffield United still had a wooden stand when I started going there as a first aider, but as a result of the change in law was no smoking, had every exit manned by a steward and was littered with loads of extinguishers and dedicated fire stewards - if this had been in place at Bradford things would have been different. ~Unfortunately, with the exception of the most recent fire safety legislation (Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) UK fire legislation has been 'tombstone' legislation requiring a major disaster to kick start it: Eastwood Mill Fire = Factories Act 1961 Fire Certificate requirements; Hendersons Department Store Fire = Offices, Shops & Railways Premises Act 1963 Means of Escape Certificate requirements; Rose & Crown Hotel Fire = Fire Precautions Act 1971; Bradford Fire = Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987; Kings Cross Fire = Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989

31 years ago even now is still sad

Thank god they didn’t have fencing in front of that stand. I was14 when this happened and watched it being reported on Grandstand. Heart breaking.

Ibrox, Glasgow - 1902 - 25 deaths Burnden Park, Bolton -1946 - 33 deaths Ibrox, Glasgow - 1971 - 66 deaths Valley Parade, Bradford - 1985 - 56 deaths Hillsborough, Sheffield - 1989 - 96 deaths Britain has had more than it's share of football tragedies

I was 4 years old that day and remember hearing the news or rather seeing pics on the news that night of the fire I said to my dad is that a fireworks display soo young did understand.

Remember the day well , as it was my birthday . I was at St Andrews watching Birmingham play Leeds , when the news came through of this awful tragedy . Of course with all the problems at our game with the fighting fans . It barely registered with us . But later when the enormity of what happened at Bradford sank in . It just totally froze & upset me . To think of all those poor people had died . Needless to say I did not enjoy my birthday at all . Even now thinking or being reminded of that day . Chills me to the bone .feel so sorry for the gentleman who lost his gran . Devastating .

God the 80s had disaster after disaster it seems. The herald of free enterprise , Bradford fire , kings cross fire , Lockerbie , hillsborough.

I was only 6 years old when this happened, but I remember it very well after seeing it on TV, especially the man on fire. I had the pleasure to visit Valley parade twice to see my home town Portsmouth play on the last game of the season. One we had to win to stay up and the other we had already been crowned champions of Division one (now the championship). We invaded the pitch at full time on both occasions as did the Bradford city fans. When the Police line that was in-between us broke, we were all having a party, shaking hands etc. Truly awesome supporters. RIP to all of those that lost their lives and my thoughts are with those that survived, but still struggle today.

my son had a fire safety course about a month ago and the bradford fire film was used, so sadly the aftermath has done some good since the tragedy

My Dad was at the fire and one of the players give him a footie over the fence so he could escape it! He would've only be a young lad

We had a similar thing happen here in the US called The Station nightclub fire which killed 100 people, that too was the result of poor planning and people in charge living in denial of the potential danger.

I was 15 years old in 1985 and I was not fully aware of all the facts surrounding this disaster until i got the internet, I regularly pray for the 56 and I cry now and again as I watch remembrance videos

I've never been a fan of football if I'm honest (I detest it, especially now that I reluctantly live within a few hundred yards of a major [new] football stadium) but what happened at Bradford City was a genuine tragedy and I truly sympathise with all those who were affected by it. I was just beginning secondary school at the time of the fire and distinctly remember it in the news; it was heartbreaking. RIP to all those who perished while watching their favourite game. Peace.

I remember going watching Oldham play in the late 70s through the 1980s and the chaddy end. Had wooden stand and half a ton of trash under the floors tinderbox just needed dry summer and a match or a stray smoke 🔥🔥🔥🔥😬

In this day and age, there still would be no prosecution. Grenfell.

The Elephant in the Room with all of these Stadium Disaster's are the Owners,Greedy and Corrupt....

All fires with a large number of deaths seem to be because of locked or blocked exits, whether accidental or intentional.

never forget watching this on TV I was only ten absolutely horrorfying the same day a young lad was killed as Leeds and Birmingham fans rioted and a few weeks later the heysel disaster happened very very dark days for football 😔 RIP Bradford 56 YNWA

May 1985 was an horrific time in English football history.

Poor lad and his grandmother.

I remember this. I was watching TV at my grandparents home...there was a news break.. TV USA. We were hprrified… and saddened...

Dropping cigarettes and matches to light cigarettes has a lot of answer for doesn't it. Bradford and Kings Cross were started in that way.

I remember that day, we had live updates from BBC's Grandstand, is was tragic ... We should never forget all of those 56 people who went to a football match and lost there lives. Given what is in this documentary (and it was known then) The Football League, the Bradford City's Board, the Local Authority, Fire and Police knew of its Health and Safety INADEQUACY'S ... They have the RESPECTABILITY .... I do not know how they can Live with Themselves.

I first saw the footage at my fire marshals fire door inspectors course. It was shocking how quick that fire started to spread. but then looking at the details like wooden decking, all that rubbish underneath like tickets programs sweet rappers, it's a miracle it never happened sooner in a larger scale. Imagine they had the fences up or it was during the 40 or 50s when they would pack people in.

The two businessmen should be fined heavily & locked up... especially with having 8 previous fires... sounds like a massive insurance scam to me

When the spectators came to the Bradford City Stadium on May 11th, 1985, the stadium was a tragedy just waiting to strike.

R.I.P Nelly

I remember seeing the fire on tv, it grew so fast, but I didn't know anyone had actually died until watching this. It feels like there wasn't enough publicity after the event.

Never forget this awful disaster. Rip to the 56 souls lost on that day

My grandpa saved a lady from the fire and got an award 🥇

Never forgotten! :-(

I think everybody in Bradford will remember what they were doing on that day (me included). A lad I went to school with was one of the 56 who perished that day. His sister and dad perished as well. A neighbour was at the match with his dad and had been sitting in G block where the fire started. They were in the clubhouse when the fire started so they had a lucky escape. I remember seeing one of those pictures the off-duty copper took being published in The Times. I also remember the investigation finding rubbish dating back to the 1960s that had accumulated under the floorboards of the stand so this was an accident waiting to happen.

Those poor people going to a football match and not coming home and indeed the survivors. They have to live with the terrifying memories. I'm 99.9% confident now that it would never happen again, due to safeguarding. Which wasn't really present back then.

I've always thought Jack Tordoff is a liar.

RIP the 56 people who lost their lives on this day. From a Liverpool season ticket holder.

1985 really was a dark year for English football

That gentleman may have accidentally been the catalyst, but the CAUSE was decades of people throwing down trash and NO ONE picking it up. Let the blame lie where it should: with the club and the grounds managers. Maybe they couldn't build a brand new stadium because of money, but they damned sure could have picked up the trash!

i watched this live on tv the day this happened

As a supporter (lover) of Glasgow Celtic my thought and prayers are with the loved ones of the poor people lost in this tragedy 🙏🏻 I would feel the same if this happened to Glasgow Rangers fans, OBVIOUSLY!! Sadly I KNOW some (thankfully a minority) rangers fans wouldn't care too much if this happened to Celtic fans but that is the way these people are brought up, or should I say dragged up?!?! These people are scum of the earth & I say this from personal experience .... To call these bastards "animals" would be an insult to the animal kingdom . Got Bless all those killed, injured & effected by this human tragedy of 1985 🙏🏻🇮🇪✊🏻🇮🇪🙏🏻

Anyone watching on TV will always remember the fire.

thanks for sharing the bradford city fire

My great uncle was there that day he was a worker he luckily did not die but my mum and grandad sat there knowing he was there just a couple miles away with a massive fire

8 fires???!!!

Is was fifteen years old and at a friend's house when I sore a watched the disaster, rip the 56 who died

That Heginbotham had blood on his hands.

I dont think the guy with the cigarette can be held responsible for it

Burn your stand down, claim on the insurance as it was just about to be demolished anyway? That man Heginbotham, must have had friends in high places.

Watched it live on UK telly as a kid. The excitement of the game soon changed to confusion, shock and bewilderedment. Such a terribly horrid tragedy. Rip the victims.

My thought is that it's a miracle that died only 56. Anyway a high number, so sad

Imagine if the fans in Valley Parade had been caged in like those at Hillsborough - no access onto the pitch? Makes me shudder! The death toll would have been unthinkable!

Sad day for all who were there. Heart goes out to the families & friends of those who perished. RIP....

I would agree that multiple fires are very rare....RIP all those that died.

John Helm's incredible commentary

You should never go to a football match and never come home. Criminal what happened that day.

Anyone with an iota of sense would have seen the danger long before this happened . What a pity Bradford dint have anyone like that .

Brings tears to my eyes to see so many die 56 in that fire though as far as I'm aware the police in THIS instance did a good job along with some members of the public getting people out as quickly as possible I remember i was 14 at the time. With this on 11th may 1985 Heysel Tragedy on 29 May 1985 and Hillsborough Tragedy on 15th April 1985 to all those who passed RIP and those who were injured and traumatised may you be have the strength and courage to go on with your lives

I think it's often complacency, in many areas and with many people, not just the owners chaining fire escapes shut but people like the gentleman refusing to move until he got his change, people often don't take fire seriously enough whether that be from a building management standpoint and fire safety procedures, or members of the public reacting to fire. As a fire warden I've seen my manager have coffee thrown on her when she told people they had to leave during a fire evacuation, I've been sworn at for asking someone to move an item that they'd placed in front of a fire evacuation door, and I've had to report multiple colleagues for propping open fire doors that would slow down the spread of flame and smoke and give people more time to evacuate. People never think it's going to happen to them and fire safety gets lax until a disaster, but every time there is an incident it's only a matter of time before people get lazy again. Problems found don't get followed up and serious issues get put on the "we'll do it next year" cycle permanently. Grenfell was another example of inadequate fire escapes, condemned extinguisihers, and poor material choice.

RIP to the 56 Bradford and 2 Lincoln fans 🙏

@ 10.05 mins. Guy states the gap between the wooden slats and the floor was 'about' two feet. I can remember it being a lot more than that. The amount of debris underneath the stand was huge. It was tinder dry, as the roof protected it. The signs were there, long before that terrible day. When city scored you literally used to have to hold on for dear life as the boards would 'bounce' up and down. It.

Rest In Peace 56.

Absolutely sad and tragic 😞

Holy crap, Peter Jackson is a man of many talents.

How sad!! I survived a fire my self I feel the pain of all who suffered! I have to ask what about fire suppression system? Perhaps I am wrong I did not see a fire extinguisher!

It's a bloody good job that stand wasn't fenced in.

I remember seeing this on the news.

Heartbreaking..

That stand went up like it was covered in petrol. In a minute it was engulfed.

Still remember the news report. Absolutely tragic

I witnessed this when I eleven. The tears today are worse because I see people who tried in a hopeless situation. The police should be given a bit of respect for that day.

They removed all of the fire extinguishers. Are you kidding me?

Has anything like this happened in other stadiums?

That many fires is no coincidence. Disturbing.