Football has always been a game of passion, but on one cold night in 1981, it became a literal lifesaver.
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On 18 November 1981, an explosion rocked the General Foods factory in Banbury, Oxfordshire. A cloud of corn starch ignited, causing a massive blast.
Nine workers were seriously injured. But the toll could’ve been worse—many employees had left early to catch England’s World Cup qualifier.
England needed at least a draw against Hungary to reach the 1982 World Cup. The match drew national attention, even inside the factory.
Factory worker Rosemary Barratt recalled letting the lads listen to the game in the changing room during their shift.
While England’s Paul Mariner scored the decisive goal, workers queued to clock out—just before disaster struck, reports BBC.
At 10:00 PM, a blast echoed through the plant. “Get the F out of here now,” yelled a manager as chaos unfolded.
A government report said corn powder formed a dense fog. A spark triggered a “wall of flame” and “gale force wind” of fire.
Had workers not gathered for the match, many could’ve been in the blast zone. That night, football did far more than entertain.
