The deal that cost father and son's lives in 'forgotten disaster'

"Richard, 37, had promised his dad Thomas, 62, he would offer him a hand on his allotment if they could go watch Stanley Matthews play for Stoke on 9 March 1946 against Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park. But the agreement proved fatal, as the father and son from Billinge in St Helens, were among 33 people killed and 400 injured in the crush at the FA Cup tie."

"More than 85,000 people are thought to have poured into the 20,000 capacity ground for the FA Cup tie and a chance to see the star winger before disaster struck."

"Susan Basnett said their deaths were "devastating and the family never got over it", with Thomas's widow dying two years later with "a broken heart". "It was ironic because they weren't going to go to the match - my great granddad Thomas was busy working in his allotment.""

Richard Roby, 37, and his father Thomas, 62, from Billinge in St Helens, were among 33 people killed in a crush at Burnden Park on 9 March 1946 during an FA Cup tie between Stoke and Bolton Wanderers. Richard had persuaded his father to attend the match to see Stanley Matthews play, promising to help with his allotment in exchange. Over 85,000 spectators entered a stadium with 20,000 capacity, causing a fatal crush. The tragedy devastated their family; Thomas's widow died two years later from grief. Richard's granddaughter Susan Basnett recalls her mother waiting hours for them to return, watching buses arrive empty until dark. The family's trauma persisted through generations, with survivors suffering dementia but never forgetting the tragedy.

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