THE 30th anniversary of Bradford City’s return to Valley Parade following the fire disaster will be marked with an event at the ground.

City were forced to play their home games at Odsal stadium, following the tragedy on May 11, 1985, which killed 54 Bradford City and two Lincoln City supporters.

The stadium officially re-opened with a friendly between Bradford City and a England XI, featuring Kevin Keegan, Peter Reid, Peter Shilton and Cyrille Regis, and managed by Sir Bobby Robson, on Sunday, December 14, 1986.

This was followed by a return to Second Division action in a 1-0 defeat against Derby County on Boxing Day 1986.

The club’s return to its home will be marked with a celebration event at Valley Parade on Thursday, November 3, from 7.30pm.

The event, organised by BantamsPast in association with the Friends of Bradford City, will include a question and answer session with a number of former players, coaches, writers and current executives of the club.

These include Terry Dolan, who was assistant manager when the Bantams returned to Valley Parade, former striker Ian Ormondroyd, who had two spells with the club, and Simon Parker, the Telegraph & Argus’s City reporter for the last 16 years.

James Mason, the club’s chief executive, will bring fans up to date with how the ground has changed over recent years.

The event has been organised by Jason McKeown, 35, the editor of the club’s Width of the Post fanzine and author of Reinventing Bradford City.

He said: “It is something to mark the 30th anniversary of the return to the stadium and celebrate it too.

“Valley Parade has a special bond with the fans and the club.

“The event will see the panel share special stories and memories of the last 30 years, of the club’s ups and downs.

“It will include our Premier League era. It will look back on some really good memories.”

Tickets for the event are priced £5, or £10 including a pie and peas supper.

Any profit made, following the costs being covered, will be donated to the University of Bradford’s Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU).

Tickets are available from the Friends of Bradford City, at friendsofbradfordcity.co.uk/shop.

For more information on the event, email widthofapost@gmail.com.