Bradford City fire: Your memories 25 years on

Up to 2,000 people have turned out in Bradford to mark the 25th anniversary of the fire at Bradford City's Valley Parade stadium in which 56 people died.

Here, fans who witnessed the events of that day share their memories.

I was 19-years-old and had gone to celebrate promotion with thousands of other fans, after following the team home and away throughout the season.

I don't remember the match being anything special football-wise, but the atmosphere was carnival-like.

I was in the Bradford end of the ground. When the smoke first became visible people began spilling over the perimeter wall from the terraced paddock, the paddock in front of the seating area in the main stand, and on to the pitch.

It was the day before my brother's 18th birthday - he was in that paddock area, but I couldn't see him come over the wall.

The heat intensified, more and more supporters were jumping over the wall, the pitch was covered with people running.

Unbelievably some young guys were singing and dancing in front of the TV cameras as the fire spread behind them.

All of a sudden a fireball raced along the stand under the roof towards us, standing at the changing room end of the pitch.

We made our way down the stairwell to the back of the terrace in an attempt to get out of the ground and away from the fire.

The exit doors were locked and had to be kicked open.

We were a close-knit football club, and it seemed that everybody in the area knew somebody who died or was injured in the fire

As we managed to get out onto Holywell Ash Lane I heard the sound of breaking glass, followed by [former Bradford City player] Terry Yorath - who I now occasionally see in a pub in North Leeds - jumping from the window to escape.

There were people everywhere, most of them in a state of shock.

We made our way to a shop on Manningham Lane and joined the queue to use the telephone in order to phone home and let relatives know we were ok.

There was no sign of my brother, it was another three hours before he turned up safe and well.

Unfortunately there were too many other people who didn't.

We were a close-knit football club, and it seemed that everybody in the area knew somebody who died or was injured in the fire.

Bradford City and its supporters will never forget.

I was 15 at the time and remember it like it was yesterday.

I went with my mate from across the street, mainly to celebrate City's promotion and to see some silverware at Valley Parade!

I was in the City end and remember that everyone was in a jovial mood.

The game started and after the opening 10 minutes or so, I remember someone saying behind me, "oh the idiots have set the stand on fire".

The main stand was to my left as I looked at the pitch, and I saw people at the far end scrambling over the wall.

The game was still going on at this point. Soon it was clear that this was not a small fire and the thick smoke that was coming out of the stand through the roof resulted in the referee stopping the game.

The flames swept along the main stand within 30 seconds, until the whole stand was ablaze.

I stood there just watching, not believing what was happening.

My mate said we should get out of the shed, where we were.

We saw people with scorched clothes and blackened faces

We were one of the first to get to the gate at the back of the shed, which was locked.

I was pushed out of the way and some bigger men kicked the gate until it gave way.

Looking back I don't think we were in any danger of getting caught up in the fire, but we were not going to stay to find out.

We made our way out on to the street and around toward the back of the stand that was on fire.

I got pushed in the back by someone and was amazed to see City player Peter Jackson in his full kit, with his boots still on and his suit over his arm.

We saw people with scorched clothes and blackened faces, as well as fire crews and ambulance men running around.

We decided to head home and it wasn't until we switched on the news, and saw the television pictures that we realised just what we had been through.

I will never forget it, and I hope the people who lost their lives and their families will never be forgotten either.

My memory of that fateful day at Valley Parade remains crystal clear.

I was seated alongside my friend Kevin Wilkinson in Block D in seats that we had shared for many years.

I used to remark year after year that my discarded cigar packs remained under my seat among a great deal of other rubbish.

As I reached the back of the stand, I saw the smoke rolling towards us and making a "whooshing" noise

The first sign I saw of the fire was when I looked to my left, at the far left of the old wooden stand I saw a blaze, one that initially looked innocuous.

I quickly ran to the back of the stand while my friend went on to the pitch. Neither of us spoke, I think we just reacted, realising that something serious was developing.

As I reached the back of the stand, I saw the smoke rolling towards us and making a "whooshing" noise.

Rapidly everyone was engulfed in smoke and I recall a chap walking towards me motioning his hands in a downward manner begging everyone to be calm.

Someone had kicked down a narrow doorway and it was through that gap that I made my exit, coughing through smoke inhalation, but I believed I had escaped reasonably easily.

Outside the ground there was not so much panic but confusion. I waited to see people I knew were at the ground.

It seemed an age, but I eventually found out that everyone I knew was safe.

A friend's son came running towards me in tears with burning tar on his head, traumatised, but he was safe.

Afterwards I reflected on how my own two sons had been to a previous match, but that day against Lincoln I went alone - a blessing in disguise.

Anyone connected with Bradford City, and certainly those that were there that day, will tell you there is now a special bond between supporters and an unbelievable respect for those fans who lost their lives.

They will quite simply never be forgotten.

I attended the match with a friend and stood on the Kop behind the goal.

The previous week I'd been to see City with my father and sat in the stand approximately where the fire started.

Luckily he was at home on the day of the fire, but watched the tragedy unfold on TV.

Initially we thought a smoke bomb had gone off, but very quickly it became obvious there was a major problem.

When we saw people fleeing the stand with their clothes on fire, we made for the exits.

Thankfully they were open and we got home safely.

I often wonder what would have happened if I'd attended with my father.

We would have naturally gone to the back of the stand to get out but those exits were locked as the ground was full.

It was a very sad day and as I was living in Manchester at the time I realised it touched many people well beyond Bradford.

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