Hillsborough 15th April 1989 Where were you ?

On the 15th April 1989 I was at Villa Park watching City narrowly lose an F.A. Cup Semi-Final, little did we know what was going on at Hillsborough. I remember being devasted at City losing, but when the news came through from Sheffield, everything paled into insignificence. To this day however, I'm convinced that had City won that day, the final that year would never have been played. In my opinion the final only went ahead because it was to be played between Liverpool and Everton.
The reason for this post is, as you must all be aware, due to the hidden papers relating to that tragic day being released today. Regardless of who was to blame, whether it was the Police, Liverpool fans, or a combination of the two, it was one of the most terrible tradgedies in modern history.

 

You haven't managed to take in the facts yet have you ? Liverpool fans were not to blame read the report or hundreds of websites reporting on the report

 

I too was at Villa Park that day.

The journey home was one of the most harrowing of my life.

All we talked about was what happened at Hillsborough.

It seems from what I have read that the fans were blameless,
and the police must take full responsibility for this tragedy.

A sad sad day for all football.

 

I can vividly remember where I was, and it wasn't at Villa Park. I was only 12 and my mum had just had an extension built and I was helping out by painting the new windows in the new bedroom whilst listening to the events on the radio. Cried my eyes out then, it just sounded like the worst thing ever and 23 years on it's still one of the worst human tragedies of my lifetime. At least the releasing of the files today will hopefully give the friends and families of the lost one at least a tiny smidgen of closure and right some of the wrongs that have been documented up until now.

And to this day I have still yet to see Pat Nevin's goal against us in the other semi, and I agree that the final may not have been played had it not been an all Merseyside affair.

My heart soncerely goes out to everyone who lost somebody that day, I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like.

 

Yes, from what I've read, it was the police handling of the situation and the poor response of the emergency services in reacting to the tragedy that resulted in the needless deaths of all those fans. All I hope for is that one day in the future the relatives of those who lost their lives that dreadful day can get some form of 'closure' of their loss.

 

I was playing golf with my dad and trying to avoid hearing the score at Villa Park to watch it on MOTD that evening (bit like the old Likely Lads episode).

I watched the programme and of course it was all about Hillsborough as you can imagine and the only mention of our semi was right at the end where it was ..............and by the way in the other game Everton beat Norwich 1-0 good night.

It was a horrible experience because to share a semi final programme was a TV highlight in those days and I remember feeling kind of numb with everything. An absolute tragedy for football and one that left a shadow over spectator sport for decades.

 

Calm down, calm down, I've read it now

 

Let us hope that after 23 years the families of the 96 finally get the justice they deserve

 

Bloody hell Warky, we're agreeing with something again

 

Well we've had no football to bitch about lately have we!

 

although cameron and miliband have apologised, does that not mean certain people in the police / other organisations facing criminal charges?

some of the info being released is as probably expected, but still pretty shocking (eg police reports being ammended)

all of us have been to football matches on terraces i would suspect. the thought of being crushed to death is horrendous to say the least. i hope this report offers some sort of closure to the families.

 

I'm sorry but I just hate the use of this American term "Closure"!

I remember reading the disgusting reporting (or mis-reporting) of the tragedy by the Sun and I vowed never to read that F***ing rag again. It was the most disgusting piece of writing I have ever read and for that reason I hope that Kelvin McKenzie rots in hell!

The then Chief constable of South Yorks Police should be hauled up for manslaughter charges and also the Police commander who was in charge of policing that day! That is the way that Justice will be seen to be done. Endless platitudes from publicity seeking politicians will not be nearly enough to placate the poor families. I really hope that something positive comes out of this but alas I fear yet another whitewash!

 

yep, agreed with some of the police facing charges for sure. they were the ****wits who opened the exit gate.

 

Horrible event, far too young to remember it but it's legacy lives on. When a documentary or a news story like today runs I feel claustraphobic just thinking about it. It's pretty much the worst nightmare of what can happen at the football.

The nasty stuff is going to stick forever, sun headlines and police cover-ups will always be unforgiven in the background, but I hope the familys of those that died can find peace in the resulting inquests and Liverpool can finally grieve properly because the hurt that was caused that day hasn't been allowed to grieve properly because of all this. It's not right and it's not healthy.

 

so after all this time its finaly been blamed on every body except the huge amount of Liverpool fans who arrived late for the kick-off after drinking heavily in Sheffield all day ? Has every body forgotten Heisel ? Same team, same fans involved again and same events, fans arriving late to the ground and massive serges into turn-stiles ?
Sorry if this offends any one as its not meant as a dig in any way, it was a terrible tragedy and loss of life which wasn't supposed to ever happen again......but it did ?
I think it was a catologue of events and mistakes made by lots of people, police, stewards etc, but i don't think the Liverpool fans were completely blameless, but this only my opinion based on events at the time and yes i was at Villa park that day too and remember all the accounts of the eye witnesses and tv footage.

 

Come on Chippy, we're all welcome to an opinion but there's a time and a place.

 

Like i said just my opinion, never meant as to dissrospect any of the innocents of that day, but as for a time and a place? this is a football forum and this is the day ?

 

My opinion is that your comment is badly timed and totally unnecessary.

 

Chippy, I have to agree 100% with PC on this!

This is the day that has shown beyond any doubt where the blame lies, and the Prime Minister has made an unequivocal apology!

Let's not let petty silliness spoil the day, it's already sad enough!

 

Don't agree with chippy either. The policy in those days was about crowd control, not safety.
It's been an emotional day for a lot of people even not associated with the tradgedy like us

Knicked this link from qpr, not the easiest read but well worth it (even for the mirror )
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/hillsborough-documents-released-brian-reade-1318730