Carlisle United fans' message in memory of Bradford City fire victims

Blues fans placed a wreath at the Valley Parade memorial ahead of the League Two semi-final first leg.

It followed a crowdfunding campaign led by the Flags for United movement.

And the message attached to the wreath underlined the Blues supporters' regret over the disrupted minute's silence during last season's meeting between the clubs.

The message attached to the wreath laid by Carlisle fans at Valley Parade last night (Image: News & Star)

The message said: "Carlisle United remember the 56.

"The minority do not represent the majority."

The message also confirmed that a donation will be made to the Bradford Burns Unit, as well as to the family of Neil Matthews, the Bantams' academy manager who died recently and who was remembered with a minute's applause before the first leg game on Sunday night.

The gofundme campaign started by Flags for United has raised more than £1,800.

The group, who have been behind successful fundraising campaigns for flags and banners at Brunton Park, said they wanted to make a sincere gesture in memory of the 56 people who tragically died in the 1985 fire at Bradford's ground.

The wreath was laid at the front of the memorial before last night's game (Image: flagsforunited)

They added that it was also a response to the disruption of minute's silence in the final fixture of the 2021/22 season last May, at the memorial game when Carlisle were the visitors, as well as some "disturbing" comments posted online by "so-called Carlisle fans".

"We are putting money together to show that the minority do not represent the majority and as a club we respect and remember the 56 that unfortunately lost their lives," the fans group added.