Today is the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster where 96 Liverpool FC fans were crushed to death in the Leppings Lane end of Hillsboroough Football Stadium in Sheffield. It marked the end of enclosed fencing at football matches, better policing and better fan behaviour and should not be allowed to be forgotten.
I don't know anyone on Merseyside or its immediate surrounding area, or any football fan countrywide who doesn't remember what they were doing when it happened. I was 14 years old. I was watching the match with my brother (a red) keen to see if we'd have another derby final between my blue boys and Liverpool when it began to unfold. I remember clearly feeling numb as I watched the chaos unfold, first wondering if it was crowd trouble before seeing the images of the people trapped in the cages in agony made me realise that it was something far far far more sinister. I remember the day playing out, everything was quiet. No one did anything except watch in horror as the number of dead and injured were pulled out of the crowd and the number ticked up. 10, 20, 50, 80. and eventually after several weeks 96.
I was moved to tears many times seeing the sea of flowers laid at the Kop end of Anfield in the days following the event. People came from everywhere, to mourn the loss of friends, family members and just the insanity of it all. Nothing seemed to move forward, like walking through soup. How could this have happened? Who was to blame? Why did this happen? There are mixed feelings about the answer to all of those questions, my personal opinion is that it doesn't matter, there cannot be one set of people to blame more than any other. It was a tragedy waiting to happen and it happened. We must NEVER allow it to happen again.
The thing that moved me the most about the whole thing was that colour didn't matter. Rivalries (which are mainly in jest as teams divide families into reds and blues) which are long held were put aside. Amongst the red scarves there were the scarves and shirts of my beloved Everton, showing that this wasn't just a tragedy for Liverpool fans alone, but for anyone who knew,worked with, was mates, with, had family who were Liverpool fans. This wasn't about colours, it was about families, sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers who didn't come home.
This is a reason why I do not reduce myself to disparaging the Reds when they're not doing so well. I'd sooner they win over anyone else in the country than not, as long as they don't beat us. Petty sniping and bitching is all very well but when it comes down to it, you insult them, you insult half your own blood. It is a reason I will NEVER buy the Sun newspaper - although to be honest it's not really the kinda rag I'd read anyway and it is the reason why I am proud to be an Evertonian from a family of proud Reds (cept my dad, he's a Man U fan of all things), it is why I'm proud to live in a city where on days that mean so much we are able to become the only city in the world that can be Purple.
3.06pm today, I will remember.
3 comments:
Your post has had me in tears.
me and Jo sat in the office listening to five live as they read each name of the 96 that lost their lives followed by the silence and then the choir singing you'll never walk alone.
Well said, Skips, well said.
Even though I'm a Red, at that time I wasn't so much into football (apart from Liverpool/Everton matches, naturally!). I don't remember if we had the match on or not, but I do remember all the news reports. Especially when one of the lads who went to my school was interviewed after leaving hospital. He escaped with a broken leg. And I remember the uproar after that scummy paper... Yeah.
But yep. Proud to be purple.
It was an amazing service, St Frances (behind my house) chimed the bells 96 times before the silence began. It was really moving.
Purple is a great colour I think :)
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