Bradford City remember fire victims at memorial service

The annual memorial service takes place in Centenary Square today to mark the 39th anniversary of the disaster, which claimed 56 lives.

City players and staff will be among those at the event as well as a civic party from Lincoln, the opponents on that fateful day of May 11, 1985.

Dean of Bradford Andy Bowerman and club chaplain Oli Evans will lead the service, which begins at 11am. Director Alan Biggin is laying a wreath on behalf of the Bantams.

City’s players were shown footage of the horrific events and they were talked through it by Evans ahead of their final game of the season.

Alexander admitted the minute’s silence at Valley Parade on that afternoon brought home the strength of feeling that still exists to this day.

He said: “There was obviously talk in the lead-up to it but that was the moment when you really felt the emotion and the memories.

“It’s still prevalent in the minds of Bradford people and rightly so. It shouldn’t ever be forgotten.

“I don’t think it’s ever going to change and it shouldn’t.

“It’s great credit to people who put the effort in to make sure it’s never forgotten.

“You should remember the tragedy, the loss of life and not just the whole event but the repercussions afterwards.

“People are still living with those memories and scars and, ultimately, still living with the grief.

“Every credit to the people who still make sure everyone is well aware of what happened that day and in the days after.”

The memorial statue in Centenary Square, where the service takes place (Image: Newsquest)

Alexander was a young football fan at the time of the tragedy and spoke about the changes within the game that followed.

“There was a lot to learn in football from that period,” added the City boss.

“There were a few tragedies around British football and it did culminate in a lot of changes for the betterment of the game and the fans coming to games.

“I was a supporter back then and the grounds weren’t nice places to visit.

“I don’t know how well fans were treated back then, not just at certain clubs but right across football.

“It’s a shame that such things had to happen for it to change. But it did and hopefully we’ll never see things like that again.

“They are haunting but it’s important that everyone shows the level of respect for everyone who passed and others who were part of that day by remembering them.”