FIRE AT THE CITY GROUND

On August 24th 1968 The First Division fixture between Nottingham Forest and eventual champions, Leeds United, was halted when a fire broke out in the Main Stand at the City Ground. Although the wooden stand was destroyed in similar circumstances to what would happen  at Valley Parade, 17 years later, thankfully none of the 31,126 fans present at the ground that day suffered injury. The match was abandoned shortly before half time with the score at 1-1.

                   

It was shortly before half-time. Forest and Division One leaders Leeds were locked at 1-1 in front of 30,000 people when the wisps of smoke were seen emerging from between seats of the Main Stand.Then a series of explosions were heard, from deep beneath the floor, and the fire started to rip through the Trent end of the stand.

As the crowds fled the flames above ground, the players were suddenly faced with danger below. Forest captain, Terry Hennessey, later described how he and a group of others had to batter down a door to get clear. And Bob McKinlay added: "It was a good job Peter Hindley - nicknamed Tank - was with us to help get the door down." Leeds United boss, Don Revie, rounded up his team and with great relief said: "My boys are safe."

Hampered by lack of water pressure, firemen, helped by fans, hauled hoses around the front of the stand from the river to tackle the spreading blaze. Several Forest and Leeds players and officials lost clothes and belongings and three ATV cameras were destroyed. The fire had apparently started near the dressing rooms but it is not known exactly what caused it. Miraculously, the huge crowd left the ground without a sign of panic. As smoke billowed over West Bridgford, traffic ground to a halt on Trent Bridge to allow access for emergency services from across Nottingham.

There were no reports of injuries. It was little short of miraculous, as one spectator  "It was a miracle that the wind was in that particular direction," he said. “The breeze blew the smoke away from the ground and over the city. Had it been blowing the other way, the whole crowd would have been choked by the smoke and seared by the heat.” 

Contrast that with the tragic Bradford City fire in 1985 which claimed the lives of 56 people. 

The 1-1 scoreline - Dave Hilley was the Forest marksman - was scrubbed out and the match was replayed later in the season. The next six "home" games were played at Meadow Lane. The Reds did not win one, taking only three points from three draws. Forest played 13 fixtures during their homeless period, winning just one, despite the remarkable feat of Ian Storey-Moore scoring 13 goals.