![]() Some fans descended the stands, to climb a wall at the bottom and drop to the pitch others were sent backward, toward the tunnels behind the stands where there were turnstiles and gates to exit the stadium. The evacuation of G Block was orderly, given the circumstances. The flames came from directly beneath G Block, from under the stands. In the middle of the first half, spectators in and near G Block reported the smell of burning plastic. And on that day, Martin and his dad, along with Martin's little brother, his uncle, and his grandfather, filled five seats of G Block in a large wooden stand at Valley Parade. ![]() There was no way they would miss this event. His dad was even crazier about Bradford City. But the day was a big deal for Bradford fans. The Lincoln City match was, in itself, meaningless. Before the match began, the team would be presented with its first trophy in 56 years. Bradford City had secured first place and a promotion. It was the final game of the Football League Third Division (now League One) season. Valley Parade stadium was packed with more than 11,000 fans. On May 11, 1985, Bradford City Football Club was playing at home versus Lincoln City. Martin Fletcher's Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire is an engrossing, saddening, maddening page-turner. ![]() Last year saw the publication of a book that is destined to take its place in the canon of soccer literature, alongside the likes of The Miracle of Castel di Sangro, Among the Thugs, and The Ball is Round.
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