I wanted to share this story about just a few of the people I have
met who suffered and still live with Hillsborough weighing heavy on
their minds,
I often want to post about football on here but it is hard finding
the time to write, this piece is entitled "But I Was Wrong"
But I was wrong
Living in Merseyside, I try to attend the Hillsborough memorial
service every year and I have only missed two services, due to
being away overseas at the time. I can't remember where I was on
the second occasion, but the first time I was in Istanbul preparing
to go to Gallipoli. The two sombre days are close together in the
annual calendar with the Hillsborough memorial service coming on
the 15th of April, just ten days before Anzac Day on the 25th.
On the twentieth anniversary of the disaster, I was working the
early shift in work starting at 7am; finishing at around 330 in the
afternoon. I asked my manager if I could leave early that day and
she let me go at around 2pm. I ran upstairs quickly, got changed
and was out the front gate, halfway along the dock road. Upon
checking the time, I realised I wouldn't make it if I caught the
bus so I hurriedly crossed the road and flagged down a taxi. I got
in the taxi and the driver asked "Where are you going mate?" I
asked him to take me up to Anfield. I explained that I was going to
the Hillsborough service; he did a double take and enquired "Why'd
you leave it so late?" I explained to him that I was still meant to
be in work and that I'd been fortunate enough to finish early that
day."I was at Hillsborough" he said turning back towards the
road.
There is a small pub on County Road where we all get together and
sing a few songs before and after going to the match. One night
after a game, I was standing at the bar next to an old boy who was
almost doubled over; I could hardly understand him when he spoke,
my friend Andrew was singing "Justice", there had been a justice
mosaic in the Kop before that night's game, the old guy leaned over
and said to me "I was there." I bought him a fresh pint and told
Andrew, he muttered and looked down shaking his head then he went
over to him.
My first away day was at Wigan with Andrew on the train. This is
what we usually refer to as a 'doorstep away', over time a small
collective grew; a group of us would hire a van and drive across
the country to see our beloved reds play. One day, Andrew who
worked as a teacher told me he had Peter who drives the van come to
his class and speak to his students about Hillsborough. Until then,
I never realised Peter was there. Andrew explained that Peter was
in the Leppings Lane pen had been crushed, lost consciousness and
was passed out, over the top of the fence and resuscitated on the
pitch, his wife was pregnant with his son Tom at the time.
Earlier in March this year, I had asked Peter if there were any
spare tickets 'about for the Derby', he had passed my number on to
a friend of his. On a wet and rainy Tuesday night, outside the
Stanley pub, I met his softly spoken friend Damian, who wouldn't
even let me buy him a pint as a thank you for helping me out. Only
yesterday did I realise Damian was at Hillsborough too.
In every town in New Zealand, in even the smallest towns, you will
find a memorial to the soldiers who died at Gallipoli, everyone
everywhere was affected by it. The same rings true for Hillsborough
on Merseyside; every one of the 96 fans who died was someone's son
or daughter, someone's brother or sister, someone's husband or
wife, someone's cousin, friend or neighbour, everyone was affected
red and blue alike. I always used to liken my regard for
Hillsborough to Anzac day in that we should simply remember and
respect. I put it to Andrew that "96 fans went to a football game
and didn't come home" but I was wrong "No kiwi" he said firmly
"They didn't come home because of the South Yorkshire Police force"
and he was right.
Most people outside Liverpool just don't realise that nobody has
been made accountable or brought to justice for the death of 96
innocent football fans. The two Hillsborough documentaries, one
broadcast by the BBC and one by ITV Granada over the past two
nights were only shown in the Northwest and Yorkshire; whilst
Londoners were subjected to a rerun of Michael McIntyre. This only
highlights the lack of understanding outside these regions.
I remember us all on an away day outside a pub in London conversing
with Chelsea fans about our respective seasons and one of the
Chelsea fans asked "Why can't people just move on over
Hillsborough?" When he went inside someone sadly exclaimed "He just
doesn't get it."
It is a credit to Liverpudlians that they have continued to
campaign and make noise; in doing so they haven't let their own
people down. I can only hope that the full release of the documents
gives the families the whole truth and the answers they have been
waiting so long to receive.
Hillsborough - Just a story I wanted to share
I agree there was mistakes but to not move on..?
I was in London at the time watching the game live. My flatmates had tried to get tickets and were not able to. We had gone to the pub and had a few, went home to watch it on TV. The flatties were dressed up in their Liverpool gear. We just sat there crying.
I remember thinking that 96 People were killed because of the crowd pushing behind them, those Liverpool supporters were killed by there own supporters.
I stopped going to the well supported teams and started watching Wimbledon or Leyton Orient. I couldn't handle the crowds, didnt like to be pushed, hated the horses and just didn't want the hassles. This was after the previous season following Pompey to every home and away game.
Dino, go and look at the information released today and you'll have your answer as to why people haven't just "moved on".
This is an issue for all football fans. At the most basic level historic institutional corruption means that football fans are automatically assumed to be, and are treated, liked criminals which is an issue for fans of almost any team. Even today football is the only professional sport in England where you can't watch the game and have a drink. This is all a legacy of a view of football and football fans formed years ago which has been hard to shift because of this type of misinformation peddled by police, government and media.
You could even say that it contributes to how police and media in NZ and Australia, miles away from this, treat football fans and report on issues relating to crowd trouble etc.
This is and will continue to be a massive story. It is a litany of corruption and cover ups at the highest level.
Hillsborough was total injustice......massive corruption and cover up at the highest level...well put Dino and JD
Got me thinking about the 1985 Bradford City Fire
Just watched it again on youtube....The clip shows the beginning of a small fire and in the 10 min the whole stand is ablaze.
Absolutely scary !!
(Sorry irrelevant)
Thanks for this post.
Many memories for me today.
The report -
Hillsborough Report
FWIW: I was at the ground for a Sheff Wed/Everton
cup tie in 1988. Ground was only two thirds of capacity and we got
in a crush on the Leppings Lane end. I still have the memory of a
young guy getting in a row with the senior police officer policing
the end. He wanted the copper to do something and what did the
copper do but threaten to arrest him....
Thank's very much for your thoughts Dino, they have not been able
to move on because they were vilified by the press and then the
police who orchestrated a cover up to shift the blame on to
the fans, they have not had up until now the whole truth or an
apology from the government . You were obviously
deeply affected as well, some of the people here I know
couldn't go to the football for years afterwards and still don't
because of Hillsborough.
As an aside, I just wanted to write personally about the people who I met not a technical report of the tragedy you can already read many of those online.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-hillsborough--our-shame-8142283.html
"The Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people died, is an issue of class: of how people with power treat those without a voice when they are able to get away with it."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/manchester-united-fans-guilty-of-any-liverpool-1326067
One clearly audible chant was "Always the victims, never your fault".
In this of all weeks...stay classy United.
and the reply from MUST (Manchester United Supporters Trust) seems a bit disingenuous to me. Hardly helpful.