Sorry, wasn't sure if it should be a thread, but kinda needs more attention than it might get on the Koeman's Page? But this is really, really quite shocking (particularly for those of us around long enough to remember this). http://www.theguardian.com/football...tafford-heginbotham-martin-fletcher?CMP=fb_ot Just......wow.
Blimey! I am glad you mentioned this LTL, not for the "coincidence" of the number of fires the chairman experienced, but for the fact that it is a crying shame that the people of Bradford and those who lost their lives are not remembered quite so dramatically as other events, such as Hillsborough. Both equally tragic. I remember it well. I remember waking up in hospital as a 14 year old to see this on the news. I have been in hospital for a suspected ruptured spleen, having come off my bicycle collecting my Dad's milk round money. It meant I missed the Coventry game at The Dell (we won 2-1), but I soon stopped feeling sorry for myself when I saw that news. Rest in Peace those fans from that day.
That is indeed a mountain of coincidences.......I'm shocked that nobody seems to have picked up on this at the time, and its horrifying if it was arson as intimated. Terrible for the author to lose his brother, father, uncle and grandad all at the same time like that, and then to find out it may not have been accidental
Agreed with both points. The scandal of Hillsborough dominates news of this type, but if this is true it's equally (if not more) appalling and should be recognised as such.
Yes, I remember this at the time too. Recently I stumbled across various videos on Youtube recording the event. There is a particular one showing uninterrupted footage which gives an alarming insight into how fast the fire took hold. If someone had drenched the stand in petrol it could hardly have moved faster. Astonishing and tragic.
Those old wooden stands were like tinder boxes and were tragedies waiting to happen. The evidence does point to the chairman trying an insurance scam, but even if he didn't deliberately start the fire, he must at least be guilty of criminal negligence for allowing the rubbish to accumulate the way it did. I remember very vividly watching the speed the fire spread, as TSS says, and it wouldn't be at all surprising if this was arson. Terrible, tragic, and appalling, and the families of the victims need to see the inquests reopened in the same way the Hillsborough inquests were.
OMG...I had to study this disaster on a course about the affects of fire. Wasn't pleasant to say the least. If this disaster wasn't an accident then there needs to be an investigation to get to the truth
The gentleman who wrote the book, Martin Fletcher has done so with tremendous dignity and I find it remarkable that he has been able to keep his emotions in check. There is no mud slinging or vitriol. Simply calm presentation of facts which pretty much speak for themselves. Perhaps his personal involvement and loss gives this even more weight. I find myself rolling my eyes at the almost weekly launch of a public enquiry following the latest scandal, but when you look back at how things were done 20-30 years ago, you can see their value when conducted correctly
Incredible. It's been well reported that high-up businessmen often have many similar personality traits with psychopathic killers. Seems this Heginbotham may be a prime example. Such a sad story. RIP to the lost.
A terrible day I can remember it far too well. Last year whilst doing my fire warden training we watched the videos again , truly shocking to the extent I got up and walked out. I couldn't watch it again it was just too much. Tragic , RIP to those lost.
This is now featuring on BBC Breakfast news now so the momentum is growing I can see a public enquiry coming to look into this and quite rightly so...there but for the grace of God we go on a weekly basis
How on earth did this guy have 9 business's burn down without anyone being prompted to investigate? Surely the insurance companies would have smelled a rat?Bizarre.
Totally agree. Hillsborough was simply mistake piled on mistake with disastrous results. This, however, might have a far more sinister side which needs looking at for the sake of the victims and their families. I've never understood why (along with Heysel) it seems to be largely forgotten about. The pictures were truly shocking at the time.
Goodness, that was tough listening to the account of Martin Fletcher who escaped the fire. Whether you believe the suggestions or not, that was very moving to listen to.
I've just watched a video of the fire unfolding. It was far worse than I remember; I wish I hadn't watched that again. I won't post it, because it really isn't a good thing.
The lesson of Hillsborough, Bradford and Ibrox to name but three is that it was always seen as OK to treat football fans like cattle. The fact that I can now go to games where I am not herded (hang your heads Nottingham Police at this point for the way you treated Saints fans at the end of the 08/09 season) is one of the many great post-Taylor days of football.
