The 26th annual Valley Parade Memorial Tournament was held at the weekend to honour those who lost their lives in the Bradford City fire disaster.

Youngsters from local junior clubs took on teams from Bradford City, Lincoln City and teams from Germany and Ireland at the Marley Activities and Coaching Centre, in Keighley, on Saturday and Sunday.

The competition has run every year since 1986, one year after the fire tragedy claimed 56 lives on May 11, 1985, when Bradford City played against Lincoln City.

The event was organised by Bantams fan Carl Dalton, who was in the main stand when the fire broke out.

Mr Dalton, Bradford Council’s community play and activities development unit manager, said the idea of the event came after Howell Williams, then chief recreation officer for Bradford Council, was approached by the Prison Officers’ Association. Mr Dalton said: “He came up with the idea that we would have a living memorial, because there were young children involved.

“I was lucky enough to get out. I have vivid memories of it, so it’s brilliant for me to be involved in something I know is giving back to the community.

“It’s important to recognise they were ordinary folk, who just went along to enjoy the celebrations.”

Mr Williams, 75, travels up from his current home in Northamptonshire each year for the event. He said: “I’m pleased it is still going, because it hasn’t lost its original purpose.

“Nearly everyone you met in Bradford knew someone or was related to someone, and the idea for this was to keep the memory alive.”

This year’s tournament saw Lincoln City under-12s knock out Bradford City under-12s in the semi-final on Saturday, before losing to ASV Hamm 2-0 in the final.

On Sunday Bradford City under-14s beat Bradford Park Avenue under-14s in the semi-final, before going on to beat to Hamm under-14s 1-0 in the final.