Mansfield Town

Minutes silence to be held at our match with Portsmouth in April.

All matches in the Barclays Premier League and Sky Bet Football League on the weekend of 25 April will be preceded by a minute’s silence to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Bradford Fire Disaster in which 56 supporters lost their lives and hundreds more were injured. The date coincides with Bradford City’s last home match of the season, when the Club traditionally marks the anniversary of the disaster which occurred on 11 May 1985.

The Football Association, the Premier League and The Football League will also support efforts to help raise £300,000 for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU) at the University of Bradford.

The Football League’s Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “This period of silence will give fans across the country the opportunity to remember the terrible events that occurred at Valley Parade back in 1985 and, in particular, the supporters of Bradford City and Lincoln City that lost their lives. The disaster’s impact continues to resonate within the Bradford community and within football and we must ensure that the lessons learned from it are never forgotten.”

The Football Association’s Chairman, Greg Dyke, said "Next May it will be 30 years since the terrible tragedy that cost 56 people their lives when a fire destroyed the main stand at the Bradford City v Lincoln City match at Valley Parade. It's important that football comes together to mark the tragedy and remember those who lost their lives. The Football Association sends its sincere condolences to those families and friends affected by the tragedy.

"The FA welcomes the Football League and Premier League's commitment for other clubs to join Bradford City FC in their minute's silence ahead of their final home game of the season on 25 April. The FA will also mark the anniversary at Wembley where we will also encourage fans to support fundraising for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at Bradford University"

In addition to the minute’s silence at matches on 25 April, the official Commemoration will include a service of civic remembrance in Centenary Square, Bradford, on Monday 11 May, as well as the annual Memorial Football Tournament for young people in Bradford during Easter weekend, 05/06 April.

Mark Lawn, the co-Chairman of Bradford City said: “I'm personally delighted that the FA, The Football League and Premier League have got involved. I would like to remind people that the PSBRU is solely reliant on charitable donations by the public, charitable organisations and businesses, and has no funding from the Government.

“I'm extremely pleased that Bradford City FC has helped to fund the PSBRU through the supporters raising money. This has been enough over the years to help maintain and exceed the standards coming from the Unit.”

To donate to the PSBRU please visit www.fire-anniversary.brad.ac.uk/donate/.