For Stuart McCall, the memories of May 11, 1985 will never fade. As Bradford City celebrated promotion from the old English Third Division, a day of joy quickly became one of devastation as a fire ripped through the timber main stand at Valley Parade towards the end of the first half, claiming 56 helpless victims. Just 21 years of age, McCall returned to his car, only to find the door handle was burning hot because it had been parked so near to the blaze. Upon learning his father, Andy — one of a large group of McCall’s relatives at the game — had been badly burned and was missing, the young midfielder set off frantically through the streets of Bradford.In 1985 the main stand of Bradford's Valley Parade caught fire, killing 56Inquiry found the fire had probably started via stray match or cigaretteMcCall was playing that day and his father was badly burned in the blazeBradford fan Martin Fletcher claims the fire may not have been an accidentFletcher's father, uncle, brother and grandfather lost their lives in the fireFletcher claims chairman Stafford Heginbotham may have been to blameBut McCall refutes those claims insisting it was just an accident
Former Bradford player _ does not believe the fire was anything other than an accident. But _ said: ‘Since I’ve been here, I would say the criticism has been unfair because he has not done a lot wrong.