BANTAMS SUPPORTERS TRUST

It is rapidly coming to that time of year when we will all be coming together give our respects to those who tragically lost their lived in the Valley Parade fire, and this year will mark the 41 st anniversary. Last year, we had approximately 15 volunteers, with mostly our members and supporters from the Disability Club and Shipley Bantams. For the 40 th anniversary we raised an amazing £7,387.70 during the bucket collection before the match, almost double on what was raised the year before. This year, our last home match of the season, versus Bolton Wanderers is on the 25 th of April, and as always there will be a bucket collection. If you would like to be involved in the bucket collection please contact us at hello@bantamstrust.co.uk . We normally expect volunteers to arrive from 1pm outside the WD Gate entrance - the large gates opposite the club shop. Our names will be ticked off before we all receive buckets and then stand outside the various entrance points around the ground. We don’t think it will be any different. We’ll be putting out another reminder next week so we hope to have confirmation by then.

It is coming round to that time of year when we will all be coming together give our respects to those who tragically lost their lived in the Valley Parade fire, 41 years ago now. This year, our last home match of the season, versus Bolton Wanderers is on the 25 th of April, and as always there will be a bucket collection. The bucket collection is a way of allowing all supporters to help participate in raising vital funds for Bradford’s Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU). This collective practice helps adds to the impact of the remembrance as well as the one-minute silence we have just before Kick off. If you would like to be involved in the bucket collection please contact us at hello@bantamstrust.co.uk Last year, we had approximately 15 volunteers, with mostly our members and supporters from the Disability Club and Shipley Bantams. For the 40 th anniversary we raised an amazing £7,387.70 during the bucket collection before the match, almost double on what was raised the year before. We’ll be putting out another reminder in the run up to this last match of the season with details of the time and where to meet to sign out the buckets from the Club for the collection.

Here is a personal account of Bantams Supporters Trust Board member, Tony Deacon, describe the very successful event of Tony Delahunty talk about his experiences as a commentator for Pennine Radio in the 80’s in aid of the Burns Unit. On Good Friday Helen Jeffery and I welcomed Tony Delahunty to the exchange on behalf of Bantams Supporters Trust. There were a lot of fans assembled in the Pub wanting to hear his talk. Over the next 45mins Tony delivered a very emotional and moving talk about his experiences on 11th May 1985, and the subsequent aftermath. He told of how he was asked to leave Pennine radio shortly after the fire. This was due to people writing to the radio station and saying his voice was too distressing. From Pennine radio he went to radio Trent. After a disastrous interview he thought, ‘seen as I’m here I will blag an interview with Brian Clough’, which he did. When this interview aired, radio Trent got in touch and said you’ve got the job. He then went on to be one of the few journalists Clough would talk to. He ended the talk by telling us about the documentary, ‘The Unforgotten’, that Manny Dominguez and I were privileged to attend the premiere of at the media museum ahead of the BBC screening last year. It has been nominated for a BAFTA. After the talk I took the time to walk him to his taxi. During this time he said he really enjoyed doing the talk and was made to feel so welcome in the Pub. He also said he would love to do another talk with more humorous stories about City & Clough. On behalf of the Supporters Trust we would like to thank Tony Delahunty for a very informative talk. Also Ben Hoole for allowing us to use the Pub. A collection for the Burns unit was held during the talk and extended during the day. So hopefully we will have raised quite a bit. Tony Deacon