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On 11th May 1985, Bradford City FC were playing in the final match of the season. It was a day of celebration that saw 11,076 supporters at Bradford’s ground, Valley Parade, to see the club collect its first trophy for 56 years. But minutes before half time, smoke began rising from one of the stands. And within four minutes a fire engulfed one side of the ground, reaching a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius. 56 men, women and children were killed and 265 were injured. It was one of the most ...
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Despite fading in the nation's memory, the impact of the Bradford City Fire will be everlasting for anyone who was there that day. It’s perhaps this reason why many fans have declined to engage in another examination of the evidence. But Mobeen thinks another examination is needed. And there’s one more piece of the incomplete and ugly puzzle. Mobee…
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Four years after the Bradford City Fire, tragedy struck again. Hillsborough Stadium played host to the semi-final of the 1989 FA Cup. The police failed to manage the entrance to the stadium and an ensuing crush led to the deaths of 97 more football fans. It raises the question, why weren’t those in authority taking the safety of football fans more …
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There were countless heroes on the 11th of May 1985. Without the selfless actions of fellow fans, police officers and nurses, the death toll would have been even higher. Mobeen hears remarkable testimony detailing the heroics. But as his investigation deepens, he also discovers more evidence that questions the official conclusion of the inquiry. Wh…
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The inquiry which examined the Bradford City Stadium Fire didn't name anybody as being responsible for starting the blaze. But it did find that the fire was started accidentally - likely via a dropped cigarette. But how strong was the evidence? And did the investigation look into any of Stafford Heginbotham's previous fires? Mobeen investigates the…
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Bradford City has had a tumultuous history. For decades before the fire in ‘85, the club had lingered in the lower leagues of English football. But they may have ceased to exist at all. For many fans, the fact they are still a club today is down to one man: Stafford Heginbotham. Mobeen goes in search of those who remember the club’s enigmatic chair…
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Mobeen goes to meet a fan who has some lingering questions about the true nature of the Bradford City Fire. Martin Fletcher was just 12 years old when he and four members of his family went to watch his beloved football team play on the 11th of May 1985. He tells Mobeen how he came to fall in love with the club and how that day came to totally alte…
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Chapter 2 - The Inquiry As the Sunday papers went to press, the British public wanted answers. How could a fire so tragic have happened? Why were so many lives needlessly lost? The locals of Bradford and the victims’ families were especially keen to know, as rumours were now circulating. Mobeen speaks to those who followed the aftermath of the fire…
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Saturday the 11th of May 1985 was supposed to be a day of celebration for the fans of Bradford City AFC. They’d just clinched the Division Three title and the last game of the season against Lincoln City was set to be a lap of honour. But as half time approached, faint wisps of smoke appeared from the Main Stand of Valley Parade. They quickly turne…
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On 11th May 1985, Bradford City FC were playing Lincoln City in the final game of the season. It was a day of celebration that saw 11,076 supporters at Bradford’s ground, Valley Parade, to see the club collect its first trophy for 56 years. Minutes before half time, smoke began rising and within four minutes the fire engulfed the entire stand, reac…
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