THE 56

I will have been stood about five yards to your right @Bronco . Went in the paddock for most of the previous 5 to 6 seasons after a spell in the Kop . That picture really brings tears to my eyes knowing what was to follow.

 

The guy you were down at the forum with I remember from years ago did he stand with you ?.

 

He did go in the paddock but he went with his son in another part. Usally just behind the dugouts ,in fact he used to place his flask on the wall.

 

I used to buy 10p sports mixtures bags from the kiosk between the paddock and the kop every week.

Thank god I wasn't there that day

 

A few more comments, if I may.

"I only am survived to tell the tale." (from the Book of Job)

"Evil betide me if I do not open the door to know if that is true which is said concerning it. So he opened the door...and when they had looked, they were conscious of all the evils they had ever sustained, and of all the friends and companions they had lost and of all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had happened in that very spot; ...and because of their perturbation they could not rest." (from David Jones, In Parenthesis, quoting from the Mabinogion: Branwen the Daughter of Llyr)

"It is both a blessing / And a curse / To feel everything / So very deeply" (David Jones)

I wasn't there; we had long ago moved out of England, never mind Bradford. I had had thoughts of coming back for a visit, to celebrate finishing a degree, and soon turning 22, and, of course, City's championship. But as a once and now continuing student there wasn't the money. We had surprisingly decent tv coverage of the football league over here, so I tuned in that morning as always, hoping, as always, to see something of City. And so I did; the full footage with Helm's commentary, live or as near to live as makes little difference.

It is also both a blessing, and a curse, to have a very good imagination.

As with soldiers who are reluctant to talk about their experiences, so with a tragedy such as this. But it is important and, speaking both as a scholar with a scholar's desire to learn and understand, and as a Bradfordian, City supporter, and human being, I am grateful to all those who are willing to open that door.

RCB

 

I wasn’t there that day. We lived in Wales, but we had been following City’s wonderful season from afar. We had actually been to Bradford a couple of weeks earlier to see family. We had a young family so money was very tight. We always went in the Paddock when on the few occasions we could manage to go.

However, I will never forget the images I saw that day. It just filled the TV screen we both just looked at each other in total and utter shock, I never seen a fire move as fast. We just sat there most of day watching, crying and feeling totally helpless.

We feel grateful that we wasn’t there, and guilty that we wasn’t. When it is your club, it is like family because no matter where you go in the world, your club comes with you.