Family of Bradford City fire victim recall his final words to them before tragedy

ITV News

09-05-2025

The family of one of the victims of the Bradford City stadium fire have recalled how he told them "I might be late" before he left home for the last time.
Derek Dempsey, 46, was among 56 people who lost their lives when the club's Valley Parade ground was destroyed by a huge blaze on 11 May 1985.
Commemorations to mark the 40th anniversary of the disaster will take place in the city this weekend.
Mr Dempsey, a long-time Bradford fan, had gone to watch the Bantams play Lincoln City after his side had clinched the Division Two title.
His daughter, Georgie, said: "He was really excited, he was giddy. He was like a kid. And then, when it was time for him to go, he came and gave my mum a proper kiss and he picked her up and spun her round."
Mr Dempsey's widow Glenys added: "He got to the back door and he turned round and he said to me, 'don't start cooking at the normal time because I might be late home, because there will be a lot of people'.
"And he never came home at all."
Normally taking his place in the kop at Valley Parade, Mr Dempsey's family say he had "treated himself" to a ticket in the main stand for what should have been a day of celebrations.
At 3.44pm that day, as a dull game approached half-time, a discarded cigarette started a blaze which, within less than five minutes, had engulfed the entire stand.
Mr Demspey's body was later found trapped at a turnstile, along with that of one of his friends.
Glenys and Georgie Dempsey were at home following the game on the radio when the fire took hold.
"I was upstairs doing homework and I was listening to the match on the radio," Georgie said.
"Mum said she knew [her husband had died] straight away."
Glenys said: "It was like a light had been switched off."
Georgie said as the hours passed she went into denial.
"I said 'he'll be busy, he'll be helping people'. I was just trying to pretend to myself it wasn't happening."
Glenys said friends of the family went on a frantic search of several hospitals hoping to find her husband.
The only possession of Mr Demspey's that survived was a pendant of St Christopher given to him by his wife, which she wears to this day.
Glenys and Georgie, who now live on the Isle of Man, visited Valley Parade as the anniversary of the tragedy approached.
Speaking at the ground Glenys said: "It's bittersweet but it's good... it's nice to come back to the ground and see it in its current glory."
Georgie added: "It feels a bit like a hug.
"It needs remembering, it deserves to be remembered, and being here is a bit like flying the flag for dad and I'm proud to do that."
"It is important that it is remembered and that people who perhaps weren't born when it happened know about it."