A Bradford City fire survivor believed to be one of the oldest fans backing the Bantams in their Capital One Cup final at Wembley has died aged 96.

Kathleen Kelly, who featured on the front page of the Telegraph & Argus the day before City’s showpiece clash with Swansea, died a month after Bradford’s 5-0 defeat on Sunday, March 24.

Her son, Bob Kelly, 68, who works in the programmes department at Bradford City, last night paid tribute to his mother, who died four days before her 97th birthday.

He said: “It’s the end of an era and we all miss her very much. She had been a life-long Bradford City fan and used to go regularly before the fire, but she still went to games from time to time and always went to the memorial every year. She was very proud to have been in the T&A before Bradford City’s final and followed the game at her nursing home.”

The great-grandmother, who lived at Howgate Nursing Home in Idle, was 69 when flames swept through the main stand at Valley Parade on May 11 1985. She was rescued by a civilian, David Hustler, who was later awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his actions.

Mr Hustler – despite severe burn injuries to his hands, head and legs – also saved a boy as bubbling paint and burning debris fell from the roof of the stand. She was lifted over a wall and passed to two police officers just as the roof collapsed.

The great-grandma-of-eight and grandma-of-four spent 11 weeks in hospital after the blaze. She was visited by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

She lost her best friend, Nellie Foster, 64, in the tragedy, and was the last to leave Bradford Royal Infirmary’s burns unit after weeks of treatment.

Speaking to the T&A before the final, she said she was looking forward to it.

Her funeral will be held at Nab Wood Crematorium at 2pm on Monday, April 15.