Last year saw the publication of a book that is destined to take its place in the canon of soccer literature, alongside the likes of The Miracle of Castel di Sangro, Among the Thugs, and The Ball is Round. Martin Fletcher's Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire is an engrossing, saddening, maddening page-turner.
The Fire
On May 11, 1985, Bradford City Football Club was playing at home versus Lincoln City. Valley Parade stadium was packed with more than 11,000 fans. It was the final game of the Football League Third Division (now League One) season.