NEW Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson led the tributes to the 33 people killed in the Burnden Disaster — as a plaque was unveiled at the site of the tragedy.

The Whites boss said he was acutely aware of how the disaster, which happened 70 years ago this year, resonates with the people of Bolton because of his experiences at his old club Bradford City.

A fire at the club's Valley Parade stadium in May, 1985 killed 56 people, and alongside Burnden and Hillsborough is one of the worst football stadium disasters in Britain's history.

Mr Parkinson attended a special dedication ceremony at the Asda supermarket in Manchester Road, at the site of the old ground.

A plaque containing the names of the 33 people who died on March 9, 1946 during an FA Cup semi-final between Wanderers and Stoke City, was unveiled during a short service led by Wanderers club chaplain Phil Mason.

Mr Parkinson said: "It's good that the plaque has been unveiled here on the site of Burnden Park, a ground I played at many times for opposition teams.

"It's the first time I've been back here since I played here.

"Being at Bradford, with the Bradford fire it makes you aware of disasters which have happened in the football world, and at Bradford we commemorated it every year.

"People who lost their lives shouldn't be forgotten, its tragic that people would come to a football match and lose their lives.

"The names that are up on the board should never be forgotten.

"It means a lot to the people of Bolton that it is remembered. Seventy years seems like a long time ago but especially today it is at the forefront of people's minds."

The tragedy unfolded as about 85,000 people packed into Bolton Wanderers’ home ground to see their team in action.

As the teams emerged onto the pitch five minutes before kick-off, spectators in the overcrowded Embankment end surged forward, causing two barriers to collapse.

A crush developed, and people were pushed into heaps three or four deep and were trodden on as the surge became uncontrollable with fans spilling onto the pitch.

Thirty-one men, one woman and one child died, and hundreds were injured.

Yesterday's service is the latest event to take place during the anniversary year of the disaster.

The plaque unveiled is similar to the one revealed at the Nat Lofthouse statue at the Macron Stadium in May.

Asda store manager Jonny Kirkham added: "We have always had really close links with the local community and Bolton Wanderers, so when Phil Mason asked if there was something we could do to help the tragedy we were more than happy to help."