The burnt out stand at Valley Parade in 1985

The burnt out stand at Valley Parade in 1985

It started with a spark in the corner of the Main Stand at Valley Parade, home of Bradford City, catching alight the rubbish under the wooden seats of a wooden stand.

Within four minutes, the stand had been reduced to a burnt-out shell.

Fifty-six people arrived for a game of football on 11 May 1985 – and did not go home.

Two of the fatal casualties were supporters of Lincoln City, Bradford’s opponents on its last game of the season, and 11 were children.

Hundreds more spectators were injured, and thousands witnessed an event that many described as "the worst day of their lives".

The FA and all clubs within the Premier League, the Football League, the Women’s Super League, and at County FA level have been asked to observe a minute’s silence at all matches played in England from Friday 24 to Monday 27 April.

At last weekend's FA Cup semi-finals there was a bucket collection for Bradford's Burns Unit on the Wembley Pedway. You can also make a text-to-donate contribution from a mobile device, by dialling 70070 with the code VPFA56.

The text message VPFA56 5 sent to 70070 will, for example, transmit a £5 donation to the Burns Unit.

For more details, head to: fire-anniversary.brad.ac.uk