900 Degrees
4.8/5
Critic Rating
On 11th May 1985, Bradford City FC were playing in the final match of the season. It was a day of celebration that saw 11,076 supporters at Bradford’s ground, Valley Parade, to see the club collect its first trophy for 56 years. But minutes before half time, smoke began rising from one of the stands. And within four minutes a fire engulfed one side of the ground, reaching a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius. 56 men, women and children were killed and 265 were injured. It was one of the most deadly fires in British history. And an inquiry found it had all started because of...
Critic Reviews
Score: 4.5
Fiona Sturges • Financial Times • Mar 19, 2023
"Listening to the first episode, which describes in painstaking detail the fire that broke out on May 11 1985 at Bradford City’s Valley Parade football ground, killing 56 people and injuring hundreds more, I had to pause a few times and take a breath. Fletcher remains convinced the fire wasn’t an accident, and it’s these claims, related to Bradford City’s late chair Stafford Heginbotham (the Bradford fire was one of several blazes at businesses owned by him), that form the centrepiece of this series. If I have one complaint it is that Azhar takes too long getting to this. He sows the seeds of doubt early on, hinting at foul play, but chooses not to elaborate until the fourth and latest episode. Nonetheless, 900 Degrees tells a remarkable story of a shattering and seemingly avoidable tragedy."
Score: 5
Hannah Verdier • The Guardian • Mar 16, 2023
"...moving and powerful podcast..."
