Duckenfield

I think I merged too many thoughts and got myself mixed up in my last comment. I was responding to donga's point about crowds being seen as the enemy and enlarging on that to include all crowds not just football fans.

You're right about planned events not always going as expected but contingencies should always be in place for any public event, so barring acts of God or fires breaking out for example, there should always be sufficient organisational control to ensure public safety. I also hear what you're saying about safe standing and like you I don't think it will ever feature at Anfield.

 

Out of interest did anyone go to Blackpool away when they were in the Premier League ?

 

I was in Blackpool the week after if that helps

 

I went we played them.I was thinking about it in the context of Hillsborough and how we were funneled down an alleyway by police horses to the away end turnstiles.I know we only had 2,000 tickets but there only about 3 turnstiles.

 

TBH, I was wondering how your comment related to this thread. Obviously I was taking the piss with my comment but I do know how tight their stadium is. Doesn't help that an entire side (one of the longer sides too) is closed off due to it being on a main road.

 

Everton supporters complained(rightly so)about the same thing at the Anfield derby a couple of seasons back, you'd have thought that Merseyside police would never make such a mistake considering the incident happened close to the Hillsborough memorial on Anfield Road.

 

There were only 7 turnstiles at Hillsborough for 24,000+ Liverpool fans!

 

I did say that I knew there were only 2,000 of us.I was referring more to the funneling of us down a narrow alleyway.

 

As an away fan I've never encountered any problems at Anfield

 

I wasn't being funny with you just empathising really, sorry if it came across otherwise. Things sound in a different tone in your head to what they look like written down. As often said, fans were [and still are maybe?] treated like animals, the use of terms like 'pens' and 'herding fans' says it all.

 

Sorry to be picky, and I may be wrong, but wasn't it 7 turnstiles for the 10k at the Leppings Lane End? Still dangerously insufficient though.

 

I thought it was 7 for the entire Liverpool fans as they all had to go through Leppings Lane turnstiles [usually 12 but 5 weren't operating that day] wherever in the ground their tickets were for. Watch that cctv video I posted, 18 minutes but very informative.

http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk/repository/media/VID0002.html

Edit: just viewed it again, right at the beginning about 1.00 it says about the turnstiles!

 

The Leppings Lane stand only held around 14,500 - 10k standing and the remainder seated in the upper tier

 

No problem matey

 

Breaking News

The Hillsborough police match commander, Duckenfield, has agreed that his failure to close a tunnel "was the direct cause of the deaths of 96 people".

 

Disgraceful some of the stuff coming out, hope finally the families get some justice, been way too long. Also watched that video and it's shocking/quite upsetting just how no-one knows what's about to happen...

 

The jury is told David Duckenfield was interviewed under criminal caution by the new Operation Resolve criminal investigation into Hillsborough last March.
He says he didn't feel that was the right time to make his admissions and apologies while under criminal caution.
When he was interviewed last year, he was told he is under investigation for serious criminal offences.

David Duckenfield tells the jury he "felt destroyed" before giving evidence to the 1989 Taylor Public Inquiry.
His lawyer John Beggs QC asks: "Has it been easy to admit your professional failings led to the deaths of 96 innocent men, women and children?"
Mr Duckenfield says the last few days at the inquests "have been the most difficult period of my life".

 

Another nail.........................................

 

It is truly shocking and upsetting. I think it also shows the lack of fans 'marauding' - which is the word always used - there's high spirits, singing and an almost orderly entry into the ground once the gate is opened. That it unfolded as it did was beyond sadness and why the lies put out are all the more despicable.

 

I am a Hull City fan and have been watching this closely, I can remember watching the horror unfold on TV on that sad day, I would have been 14. (You had just beat us 3-2 at our place in the 5th round that season too).
Many years later Hull City fans had a nasty experience at Hillsborough, as we began our rise through the leagues in 2004 we took over 7000 to Hillsborough for a midweek league game. Cash turnstiles, no advance tickets.
A combination of bad traffic and piss poor organisation by Sheff Weds and South Yorks police meant we were all shepherded to Leppings lane end with just 3 turnstiles open.
I was furious and terrified at the same time, the design and funnelling at that ground remains dangerous IMO.
Link below shows states
The club have not yet put in an official complaint to Sheffield Wednesday about access to Hillsborough on the night. The kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes because of traffic problems. But some fans still did not get into the ground until 8.30pm because there were not enough turnstiles open. Wednesday had expected 4000 Tigers fans but it was estimated that 7000 turned-up.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2004/12/09/hull_city_allsopp_feature.shtml
Anyway, I just wanted to say, before my ramble, that other clubs fans are still as keen as you are to see Justice for the 96 and I hope some of this weeks revelations might let the families have a little bit of closure, a little bit of piece of mind, the whole football family are still thinking of you and those sadly no longer with us. Take care.