Four years after the Bradford City Fire, tragedy struck again. Hillsborough Stadium played host to the semi-final of the 1989 FA Cup. The police failed to manage the entrance to the stadium and an ensuing crush led to the deaths of 97 more football fans. It raises the question, why weren’t those in authority taking the safety of football fans more seriously? The Bradford Fire has long drawn comparisons to Hillsborough. But unlike Hillsborough, it has faded into obscurity. Why? Mobeen discovers it may be down to a reluctance among many to ask difficult questions. But in 2015, Martin Fletcher published a book questioning the official verdict. It looked like those difficult questions would finally get some satisfactory answers. It certainly seemed necessary. So what happened next?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Chapter 8: Always Remember The 56

On 11th May 1985, Bradford City FC were playing in the final match of the season. It was a day of celebration that saw 11,076 supporters at Bradford’s ground, Valley Parade, to see the club collect its first trophy for 56 years. But minutes before half time, smoke began rising from one of the stands. And within four minutes a fire engulfed one side of the ground, reaching a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius. 56 men, women and children were killed and 265 were injured. It was one of the most deadly fires in British history. And an inquiry found it had all started because of a dropped cigarette - a tragic accident. But to some, there is an alternative ending. They believe that the fire was no accident. That the facts are more sinister, that the fire has links to organised crime, a cover up and even the British government. Now, British journalist, presenter and filmmaker Mobeen Azhar embarks on a journey to find out what really happened that day. In this compelling eight-part series created by What’s The Story Sounds, Mobeen goes back to his place of birth in West Yorkshire to speak to survivors of the Bradford City Fire, to police officers, to witnesses and to those involved in the inquiry. And he uncovers a remarkable new claim which forces him to question everything he thought he knew about the incident. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.