PETER Jackson feels it is time for the whole nation to unite and pay its respect to the 56 fans who lost their lives in the Bradford fire disaster.

It has since been described as "the forgotten disaster" but, says Jackson, whatever the reasons for that, the 30th anniversary is a chance for the whole country to collectively remember those who died.

"The Bradford fire has been forgotten in some places over the years – but never in West Yorkshire and certainly not in Bradford," said Jackson, who was captain at the time.

A minute's silence will precede all Premier League and Football League games and the game's governing bodies are backing efforts to help raise £300,000 for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford.

"I think at times in other parts of the country, not in Bradford, the fire has been pushed out of the spotlight," said Jackson.

"I think last season, for example, only two or three clubs had minute's silences. It should have been the whole of the Premier League and the Football League as a mark of respect.

"At times I do think it has been forgotten outside the city of Bradford."

Jackson's father and two brothers were sitting in the main stand that day when it was engulfed by flames shortly before half-time in the final game of the season against Lincoln.

''If you witness something like that, you never forget," said Jackson. "I had family there and I lost them in the melee. Thank God they all got out alive."

The former City boss refused to comment on the controversial new book, '56 – the Story of the Bradford Fire', written by Martin Fletcher, who lost his dad, brother, uncle and grandfather in the fire.

Jackson said: "I must admit, the book shocked me. But I haven't read it, so can't really comment on it. As far as I'm concerned, it was an accident.

"If anything good can come out of a disaster like that, then I think two positives are the way stadiums have improved all over the world since the fire and the work of the burns units in Bradford and at Pinderfields Hospital.

"New techniques were developed to deal with horrific injuries. So two good things did come out of it – if anything possibly can."