“They were 96 real people, our kin, our flesh and blood, real people who did not come home from a football game.” – Trevor Hicks
And I think how it could have been me and I feel bad sometimes for being thankful that it wasn’t me. 20 years ago today, a terrible tragedy unfolded which saw 96 lives lost and a campaign for justice that has never been fulfilled.
96 people died at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield on the 15th April 1989. 96 football fans, 96 Liverpool fans who when they started their day, and their trip to South Yorkshire, would have never believed for a second that they wouldn’t make the trip back.
The Leppings Lane end was too small an area for the contingent of Liverpool fans trying to get into the terraced area to see this FA Cup Semi Final against Nottingham Forest. Concerns had been raised after the previous, but the pleas fell on the deaf ears of the Football Association.
The kick off was at 3pm on a very sunny Saturday. Liverpool Football Club were the most successful team in England and quite possibly the most well known in the world at that stage. The build up was almost the same as last year, it was Nottingham Forest again in the semi final. Maybe it is fitting that the then manager the late Brian Clough’s legacy has been thrust in the spotlight recently.
Liverpool fans by the car and coach load headed for one place, Hillsborough. Motorway diversions and traffic problems saw a last minute scramble to get to the ground. Crucially the decision was not taken to delay the kick off of the match.
The decision was made by officers and Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, who was overseeing his first major match, to authorise the opening of the exit gates as the old turnstiles just couldn’t move quick enough for the crowd. No direction was given and so everyone made their way to the central pens.
Crucially police did not steward the entering fans into the relatively empty side pens. Instead some 2,000 supporters eager to watch the match piled into the already crammed central area where a perimeter fence guarded against the threat of a pitch invasion.
People were crushed and began to suffocate. Panic and fear swept through those near the giant fences as they fought not to be trampled. Panic and fear may have swept through those coming into the pen as they didn’t want to miss the start of the match..
As the players took to the pitch and the game started, none knew what was happening. Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar later said he could hear the shouts from the pen “ Bruce, people are dying”. As fans tried to get over the fences the police forced them back.
Finally at 3.06pm the players were taken off the pitch and the chaos ensued. 96 people lost their lives. Liverpool fans that made it out of there, tried to help others, using advertising boards to help carry people across the pitch.
The disgrace of the unnamed Police officer(s) who told the “Truth” which the Sun newspaper published was million of miles from what happened that day. Of the 42 ambulances called to the ground, three were only able to get in.
People were dying, people were suffering and the first thing that most of the authorities probably thought was that it hooliganism all over again. It was the late 80’s, it was nearly at its peak, should peak be the word to describe such an act.
That David Duckenfield froze and shunned blame, that statements from Police officers were later said to be altered that justice has never been served, that 96 people died and no one will take responsibility. Even to simply say they made a mistake. No, it unfortunately will never happen. Those that should be to blame have been pensioned off.
96 people died that day and there hasn’t been any justice served. Grandfathers, Fathers, Mothers, Daughters and Sons lost their lives, families lost their loved ones. Some people left Liverpool that day and never came home.
Grief came to Liverpool fans around the world and for a lot of people has never left.
I watched the match live on RTE television on the 15th April 1989. I was 10 years old and did not think then that it could have been me there, because I was going to Liverpool games around that stage.
To the support groups, I say keep trying, keep going. I really hope some day there is justice.
Lives were lost and lives were changed forever, let us hope nothing like this ever has to happen again .
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 and is filed under Pain and suffering.
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