Man oh man - that hits home.
YNWA - RIP....
YNWA - RIP....
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thanks guys
its even harder for me as me dad was also a survivor and died a few years ago,he always stood by me as he knew the pain that tragic day had on my young life
after movin up to the north east to be with my misses(a geordie)
he dint uderstand everything about 15th april but now is well educated and understands why i m so down around this time off year more than ever
Justice Justice Justice for 96 heroesComment
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I was out of the country at the time ... and I haven't been to a game since 1992, but that's what I remember about growing up on the Kop. There was a feeling of belonging, a kindness in the older generation. I remember many times my Dad asking people to shift to the side to allow me to see - you'd always get a few helping out. As Moonlight Graham said in "Field of Dreams" -"Once a place touches you like this, the wind nevers blows so cold again."Originally posted by TORRES-2008 View Post
Something was lost that day - some innocence, perhaps.
RIP the 96.I'm playing all the right notes. Not necessarily in the right order. I'll give you that, sunshine.Comment
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Hillsborough - a personal memory
Steve Wilson | 14:43 UK time, Thursday, 9 April 2009
It was a run-of-the-mill conversation with a friend in a pub. The kind of conversation you might have any night of the week - the kind that might change your life.
I had just bought my ticket for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, a ticket for the Leppings Lane end. I had been to Hillsborough enough times to know that the view from this sunken terrace was of railings and boots almost at eye-level.
My friend Tony, a Manchester United fan, sympathised over a pint and told me that he had found a way to the open segment of terracing over the corner flag. "Less atmosphere, but if you want to actually get a decent view of the game it might be worth checking out. Just get through the turnstile and head left."
At about two o'clock on 15 April, I made my way into Hillsborough and was confronted by the low-ceilinged tunnel that led to the central terracing behind the goal - already looking full.
I headed left.
This Saturday, Football Focus will be live at both Anfield and Hillsborough to mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground - a disaster which claimed 96 lives and which changed British football forever.
As part of the programme, I was asked to return to Hillsborough to retrace my steps that day. I had some misgivings about taking part. Firstly, I felt my story was insignificant compared to that of so many others - I'd been safe throughout and didn't know anyone who died. Secondly, although I had been back to Hillsborough as a commentator, I hadn't stood on the Leppings Lane in the 20 years that have passed. I expected it to be difficult. It was.
The turnstiles are still there, the tunnel is still there. Everything about the place resonates, everything so familiar. Just being there induced a feeling of nausea in the pit of my stomach.
For the purposes of the camera, I went through the turnstile and was confronted by that low ceilinged tunnel - empty. Again I headed left for the terracing that had been my vantage point on that awful afternoon.
For 96 people who paused at the tunnel and headed straight on, there would be no chance of safety. No chance to step away from the seemingly trivial decision they had just made. No way to escape from the cage behind the Hillsborough goal.
I was 21 in April 1989 - older than many of those who died. In the 20 years since, I have been blessed with a happy marriage, three children and a fulfilling career. What might the 96 have done in that time? What love affairs have never been, what friendships never forged, what children never conceived?
The game has changed, and some say not completely for the better. But if you are lucky enough to be able to take your children to a match and sit in safety; to be treated with respect by those who police our grounds and to get home again without being crushed or scared, give those 96 a thought.
Honour, for a moment, those whose deaths made it happen.Comment
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Football Focus
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I'd just echo what others have stated, words seem inappropriate from someone who has little if anything to add to what's already been said. It has been very difficult reading the articles in the Liverpool Echo during the last few weeks featuring interviews with people directly affected by the tragedy. It's impossible to imagine how the families must feel. Although this anniversary brings everything back into the public focus, it never goes away.Comment
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Anyone listening to the documentary on 5 Live?Comment
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Anne Williams from the Hope for Hillsborough group is selling T-Shirts to raise funds for her fight for justice.
If anyone wishing to purchase one then please email at [email protected].
Price is £10 plus P&P (£2.50) outside the UK please email for a quote, all proceeds go to the Hope For Hillsborough.
Cotton rib crew neck. Full cut styling, shape retention. Twin needle stitching detail on neck, sleeves and hem.
T-Shirt sizes (Please note these are only a rough guide)
(S) 35/37”
(M) 38/40”
(L) 41/43”
(XL) 44/46”
(XXL) 47/49”
(XXXL) 50/52”Comment
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You may recognise the artwork from yesterdays game or if you watched Football Focus. Our brothers over on Scouser Tommy were at the front of the Kop
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EDIT: I have realised this video was produced by D*nk but its been ripped from yesterdays coverage from Sky. John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp feature also.Last edited by Joe King; 12-04-09, 09:09 PM.Comment
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chairman's message of support to liverpool
Newsroom Staff
THIS coming Wednesday, April 15, marks the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, when 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during an FA Cup semi-final. It was a tragedy that stunned the world of football.
Ahead of this week’s anniversary, Celtic chairman, John Reid, has written to Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry, to pass on the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the Celtic family to their Liverpool counterparts at such a sad time.
Dear Rick
Even 20 years later, the tragedy Liverpool Football Club and your supporters suffered at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989 is, I am sure, still very painful and difficult to comprehend.
The events that day changed domestic football forever and it is very regrettable that such a disaster was the catalyst for the safety we now take for granted in stadia up and down the country.
Throughout all that time your club conducted itself with great dignity and I know that several members of your staff at that time attended each of the 96 funerals. That must have been unbelievably distressing and those involved can only be commended.
I recall with both pride and sadness that Celtic hosted a benefit game in what was to be Liverpool’s very first match following that fateful cup tie and that strengthened what were already very strong bonds between our two clubs.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the team and the wider Liverpool FC family as you approach this anniversary.
With very best wishes to you all,
Yours sincerely
Dr John Reid
Chairman
Celtic Football Club
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PRIME MINISTER: THE TRUTH ABOUT REDS FANS
Paul Rogers 13 April 2009 [Liverpoolfc.tv]
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has spoken exclusively to LFC TV about his admiration for the 'magnificent' Liverpool fans who fought to save lives at Hillsborough and claimed those who attempted to blame them for the disaster had been proven wrong.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's anniversary of Britain's worst ever sporting disaster, the Prime Minister, a Raith Rovers supporter, was determined to let the city of Liverpool know that 20 years on, the country remains right behind the families who lost loved ones at the FA Cup semi-final in 1989, insisting:
# The behaviour of fans was magnificent
# Those who blamed fans were wrong
# We can never forget the 96 people who died
# Families deserve Freedom of the City
In obvious reference to one particular newspaper's disgraceful and now infamous front page attack on Liverpool supporters just four days after the disaster, Brown made a point of twice chastising those who tried to blame the very people who were doing most to save lives on the day.
"People will never forget that day; it's etched on our memories," Mr Brown told LFC TV, in an exclusive interview to be screened for the first time at 9pm tonight during a special edition of 'This is Anfield'. "I remember just hearing half hour by half hour the news as it came across from the Hillsborough stadium. It was then that I started to realise what a major disaster that this was. I also remember how the Liverpool fans helped each other, coming to the aid of people who were in difficulty and trying to rescue fellow fans - both young and old. I don't think we can ever forget the 96 people who died.
"I think that the families, in trying to cope with this disaster, have had the support of all decent minded people across the country. I think that's probably what matters most: that people understood that the behaviour of Liverpool fans in helping each other was, as I think the judge said, 'Magnificent'; that it was wrong for people to blame, as some did, Liverpool fans on that day and it's right that the Freedom of the City has been given to the families of Liverpool fans on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of this disaster."
When questioned on what he thought the legacy of the disaster was, Mr Brown again reiterated his point about how the actions of Liverpool supporters on the day were not just heroic but totally at odds with how they were portrayed in certain sections of the media following the disaster.
"I think people have learned first of all not to rush to instant judgements and some of the people who did rush to instant judgements have been proven wrong and that's why the Liverpool people are so respected throughout the country," he said. "The work that they did to help each other on that day and subsequent events when people had to help each other through the difficult times is something that will never be forgotten."
When quizzed in the interview to be shown later tonight on whether he thought there was a still a legal route open to the families in their continued search for justice or whether even an apology would go some way to help ease the pain and suffering of those who lost loved ones that day, the Prime Minister refused to be drawn, preferring instead to repeat his praise for the fans and the families who've acted in such a dignified way over the past 20 years.
"I feel that the best thing that we can do," claimed Mr Brown, "is say that the memories of these fans who died will always be in our minds, that the country understands the difficulties that people have gone through and that there is huge public support and affection for the families that have had to suffer so much. Let's never forget the fans that cruelly lost their lives on a day when we know the people of Liverpool were trying, if they were in that ground, to help each other and that's the spirit of Liverpool."Comment
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