Stafford Heginbotham (1933–95) was a British businessman and football executive, best known as chairman of Bradford City A.F.C. during the 1985 Bradford City stadium fire, which claimed 56 lives.
Born in England, Heginbotham worked as a salesman in the soft furnishings industry before founding Tebro Toys (1971,) a Bradford-based toy manufacturer. His business suffered multiple fires, leading to significant insurance claims. Despite financial setbacks, he remained a prominent figure in Bradford’s business community.
Heginbotham became Bradford City’s chairman in the 1970s, introducing the City Gent mascot and promoting football as “the opera of the people.” His leadership coincided with the club’s 1985 promotion to the Second Division, but financial difficulties arose due to required stadium upgrades. The Valley Parade fire occurred on May 11, 1985, immediately after the club’s promotion celebrations.
Journalist Martin Fletcher’s Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire examines Heginbotham’s history of insurance claims and raises questions about the fire’s origins. The book sparked controversy, though official inquiries maintained the fire was accidental.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Stafford Heginbotham
Football is the opera of the people.
—Stafford Heginbotham
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