** Content Warning ** This podcast contains some distressing interviews that may not be suitable for all audiences.
On the 11th of May 1985, a fire broke out in a wooden stand during a football match between Bradford City and Lincoln City.
It will be forever remembered as one of the worst football tragedies in history.
On the 40th anniversary of the fire, the stars aligned to make it special.
Off the pitch, Bradford was the 2025 UK city of culture, and on the pitch the Bantams fight for promotion went all the way down to almost the final kick of the final home game of the season.
This is a podcast mini-series exploring the story of how a community honoured a tragedy that they have vowed will never be forgotten.
This is Sacred Valley: The tragedy and triumph of the 40th anniversary of the Bradford fire.
Featuring interviews with: the ITV commentator for the game John Helm, the Bradford City player at the time John Hawley, Editor of the City Gents fanzine Mike Harrison, the Chairman of the Lincoln City Fan Advisory Board Tony Smith, Head of the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford Professor Ajay Mahajan, co-writer of the play 'The 56' Gemma Wilson, Clive Michallat and Iain McDonell who were in the main stand that day.
The proceeds of this podcast will go to the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford, set up in the aftermath of the fire, the unit has led the world in pioneering techniques.
Some have called the Bradford fire the forgotten disaster, it will never be forgotten. Many of the people who participated in this podcast found the telling of their stories extremely difficult. But they never want the Bradford fire, and the bravery and humanity the Bradford community witnessed that day, to ever be forgotten.
This podcast is dedicated to the 56, the 265 who were burned, the 11,000 at the ground who bore witness, the heroes who rushed to the aid of those in danger, the emergency service police officers and fire crews who ran towards the danger to save others, the doctors, nurses and medical workers who worked tirelessly for weeks to heal the injured; and for the community of Bradford who have astonished me time and again by their incredible spirit.