MANY supporters of Bradford City have reacted angrily to Martin Fletcher’s controversial new book on the Valley Parade fire disaster.

Trevor Eager, now 76, of Cleckheaton, said he was five yards from where the fire started to watch the match where his son was one of the ball boys and witnessed the terrible scenes as it took hold.

“To imply the fire was deliberate is beyond belief,” he said.

Ronnie Farley, Conservative group leader of Bradford Council at the time of the 1985 fire, contacted the Telegraph & Argus from Spain to express his anger.

He said: “I think the fire killed Stafford Heginbotham ten to 15 years before he should have died.

“I met him on the day of the fire. I tell you that was not the man who had just set fire to a stand, absolutely not.”

Fans have also taken to message boards to vent their dismay at claims the blaze might not have been an accident.

One wrote: “Nothing short of fuming with this story if I’m honest. Why, oh why, does this need to be brought up when the 30th anniversary is just around the corner? Why not wait until after?

“I just hope the money ‘raised’ from his book is going towards the Burns Unit and not his pocket.”

Another commented: “It’s no secret that Stafford had a series of fires at his factories and some were suspicious/bordering on arson. However, to suggest that the Bradford fire was not an accident is ridiculous.

“The fire service investigators, who thoroughly investigated the cause, confirmed this. No doubt they will rubbish the allegations, and the indirect/veiled link to Stafford will go away and he can rest in peace as he should be allowed to do. It’s easier to slur the dead isn’t it.”

One said: “Loads of indebted businessmen burn down their premises, nothing new there, but not in the middle of the day, in front of TV cameras, and when the premises are packed with customers.”

Another supporter wrote: “Martin Fletcher should be ashamed of himself. He may have lost loves ones in the tragedy but they’ll be spinning in their graves reading that.”

Another said: “He’ll get more publicity, therefore more sales and ultimately more money for bringing it out now. That’s what it’s about, money, he hasn’t spared a thought for anyone else that was effected by the tragedy.”

One more added: “Stafford was a lot of things (lovable rogue Jack Tordoff called him) but I don’t think he was capable of putting thousands of lives at risk for an insurance payout.”

And another said: “Stafford was a gent. He was visibly broken by what happened, and I believe the stress ultimately killed him. He attended every funeral personally and visited every injured person in hospital. He had his faults but he was not the evil monster that this allegation insinuates.”

A spokesman for Bradford City Supporters Trust said: “We are not in a position to comment about other issues relating to the circumstances of the disaster, other than to say that if any new, relevant evidence is brought to light, it is right and proper that this is considered by the appropriate authorities.

“In the meantime our thoughts, as always, are with all those who have been affected in anyway by the tragedy.”

A spokesman for the Bradford City Supporters Board said: “The Bradford City Supporters Board is commissioned to plan for the dignified and respectful annual remembrance of those who suffered in the fire disaster. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the tragic events.

“The Supporters Board is not in a position to comment about any other issue relating to the circumstances surrounding the disaster.”

Mr Fletcher did not respond to requests for an interview with the T&A.