BUDDING football stars of the future are gearing themselves up for Bradford Council’s annual Valley Parade Memorial Football Tournament which returns after it had to be put on hold for the past two years due to the Covid pandemic.

The tournament had been held every year since 1986 to commemorate the 56 people who lost their lives in the fire disaster at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground during a match with Lincoln City on 11 May 1985.

Organised by Bradford Council’s Community Sports Development Unit and supported by the Prison Officers’ Association, the contest will take place over the Easter weekend at Marley Activities and Coaching Centre in Keighley.

 

Academy teams from Bradford City and Lincoln City will play games against a host of junior clubs from across the district.

Unfortunately, teams from Bradford’s twin town of Hamm in Germany have been unable to travel to take part in the tournament this year.

Tomorrow, the Under-12s teams play their games on the synthetic pitch and on Sunday it’s the turn of the Under-14s teams.

The first games on both mornings kick off at 9am and are preceded by a minute’s silence by all players, coaches and match officials, in honour of those affected by the tragedy. The final on both days is held at 2.30pm followed by presentation of individual medals to every player from the 10 teams who took part each day.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Shabir Hussain is due to attend on the afternoon of Easter Sunday to present the trophies and medals alongside Mark Fairhurst, the National Chair of the Prison Officers Association (POA) who sponsor the event.