Bradford City say they have been ‘appalled and disgusted’ by vandalism damage to the Valley Parade Fire Memorial.
The League Two outfit recently expressed their outrage over the vandalism of the Valley Parade Fire Memorial at the University of Bradford Stadium, an incident that occurred earlier this week.
The club described the act as “utterly incomprehensible” and far beyond merely “wholly unacceptable,” with the memorial paying respect to the 56 supporters (54 from Bradford City and 2 from Lincoln City) who tragically lost their lives in the Valley Parade Fire Disaster on May 11, 1985, along with the hundreds more who suffered life-altering injuries.
Installed in 2001, the memorial is meticulously maintained daily by club staff, reflecting its deep importance to the club, its fans, and the broader Bradford community.
The damage, which has since been repaired, was met with a strong statement from the club condemning the disrespect shown to this tribute and the memories it preserves.
They are actively reviewing CCTV footage and collaborating with local authorities to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, urging anyone with information to come forward.
This incident has sparked widespread anger, with the club and community united in their determination to ensure such an affront is neither tolerated nor forgotten.
CLUB STATEMENT: We are appalled and disgusted by the damage caused to the Valley Parade Fire Memorial at the University of Bradford Stadium this week.#BCAFC
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) March 27, 2025
STATEMENT:
Bradford City AFC is appalled and disgusted by the damage caused to the Valley Parade Fire Memorial at the University of Bradford Stadium this week.
To say this act is wholly unacceptable does not go far enough – it is utterly incomprehensible.
This memorial is sacred to our club, our supporters, and the people of Bradford.
It is a place of remembrance and reflection, honouring the 56 Bradford City and Lincoln City supporters who lost their lives in the Valley Parade Fire Disaster, and the hundreds more who were left with life-changing injuries. Since it was carefully installed in 2001, the memorial has been tended to daily by our staff, who clean and maintain it with the utmost care and respect.
For someone to deface or damage it in any way is not only an attack on a physical tribute, but a disgraceful insult to the memory of those we lost and to the families and community still affected.
We are reviewing CCTV footage and working closely with local authorities to identify those responsible. We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.
While the damage has since been repaired, the pain this has caused cannot simply be undone. We stand together as a club and as a city in condemning this shameful act.
We urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
Bradford City AFC will not tolerate such disrespect.
We will always remember.
A post emerged on the Bantams Talk forum, it was sent to the club via social media, it read: “The memorial outside Valley Parade has been vandalised overnight by some moron(s).
“A shopping trolley has been rammed into the marble frontage smashing it and the metal cappings have been broken off.
“All the memorial things have been scattered about.
“I was chatting to the chap who is repairing it all, and astonishingly he showed me what had been written into the concrete underneath the marble edging, obviously done by the builder when the monument was erected. It reads SUPER LEEDS UNITED, I kid you not.”
The likes of former Bantams player Gary Jones, James Hanson and Billy Clarke are joining firefighter Mark Hayward in walking 75 miles from Lincoln to Valley Parade.
As part of the 56for56 campaign, the hope it to raise £56,000 for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU).
“There’s about 35 of us walking,” Mark Hayward, crew commander of Bradford green watch, said per Telegraph & Argus.
“I’m a lifelong City fan from a family of City fans. I work at Bradford fire station and everyone knows it’s the 40th anniversary this year.
“We wanted to do something a little bit special.
“Lads from Lincolnshire fire rescue service are joining us and the rest are firefighters from Bradford.
“It’s a windy route and we’ve walked it in stages. The lads from Lincoln have done the first bit, we’ve done the middle and the end.
“We know what we’re up against. Lincoln’s flat but over the middle there are a lot of roads where there are no paths.
“It will be 1am but we’ve got a fire engine behind us and a 4×4 in front to light it all the way up.”
“I’ve done full marathons but not a lot of distance walking. We’ve been training doing 30 and 20-mile walks, but never 75.
“But it helps when you get halfway and you’ve got Gary Jones looking at you! That really perks you up and keeps everyone going.
“We’ve done a lot with Bradford City. It’s not just the walk we’re doing, there is also a black-tie do with Dean Windass speaking in June.
“We’ve also got a game at Valley Parade against Bradford City legends on May 17 – so hopefully we won’t be in the play-offs!
“The main thing is getting people to donate as much as possible.”
To donate £10 text 10BRADFORD or £20 text 20BRADFORD to 70470, or click on this link HERE to donate on their JustGiving page.
Twitter users reacted with Bradford City ‘appalled and disgusted’ by vandalism damage to the Valley Parade Fire Memorial…
@PeterBr27295261:
Disgusting.
All proper fans and decent people are in solidarity with you over this.
I hope they’re caught and punished
KRO
BCFC/BCFC
@redamberblack: A couple of months ago, the memorial to police Sgt john Speed in Leeds City Centre was also damaged deliberately. Within a few days, the offender was apprehended and charged. Let’s hope the Bradford Police put a similar amount of effort into successfully bringing charges to those responsible for this appalling crime.
@theWishyman80: Disgrace. Should be made to contact the families of people lost and apologise
@WHUFCGeezer: What is wrong with people. 🤬
@james_cufc2000: Shocking hope you catch the bastards
@Simontimofish: What utter scum descrating a memorial for the Bradford fans sadly lost in the fire that is 1 of the darkest days in the football league I hope you find who did this and they go to prison
@Transfer_JimITK: Get the cctv footage out publicly if there is any. Someone will identify them
@charlhennessy1: Im so sorry to read this. Is there anything we can do to help repair/clean it up? Sending love to the bereaved families, this must have been deeply upsetting for them.
@allmoshnopit: Wow. Hope the cunts get found, there’s probably a few people who’d like a friendly conversation with them
@lofty2021: Disgusting. Thank you to everyone from the club who tends to the memorial and thank you for not publicising this absolute rats’ handy work. Hopefully they’re identified and suitably punished.
@davito1973: What kind of idiot does this??? Truly pathetic and shameful.
@PhilipShortland: From a Bolton fan, that’s truly despicable. My heart goes out to their loved ones.
@LadLeamore: Just when you think people can’t go any lower……
@clivemichallat1: This has left me choked up and completely disgusted. How can anybody do that to something that means so much to us as a City.
@TonyHom33: I remember watching this tragedy unfold on TV, haunting images. How could anyone do this? Show some respect to the victims and to the families of those that lost their loved ones 🙏
@SteveJ333: As a @LincolnCity_FC supporter who stood in the Stacey West stand as a lad, words absolutely fail me that someone would do such a thing… I hope they catch the ones responsible and quickly! 🔴⚽⚫
@Thecityvent: Utterly vile, cowards wouldn’t try it on a match day would they? Would get a right hiding which is nothing short of what they deserve. Hope they are found and dealt with.
@BCAFCBH: They’re no words to correctly describe how repulsive and disgraceful these people are. They need to face the full force of the law and have the book thrown at them. Absolute scum of the earth.
