The Hillsborough Disaster - You’ll Never Walk Alone
Today in 1989 in Sheffield England 96 Liverpool FC fans died in a human stampede during the FA cup semi-final between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC. Looking into it it appears that quite a few crushes have happened over the last while. Most notably is the Khodynka Tragedy in which 1,389 people died and another 1,300 were injured in a human stampede. Wow.
Taken from comonreds.blogspot.com:
The Hillsborough disaster occurred on April 15, 1989, at Hillsborough, a football stadium in Sheffield, England, resulting in the loss of 96 lives.
Liverpool F.C. were involved in their 17th FA Cup Semi-Final, to be played against Nottingham Forest F.C. at Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C..Football had been plagued by hooliganism for years in many countries but particularly in the United Kingdom. Football hooliganism in the UK often involves pitch invasions and the throwing of a variety of missiles - in response most stadiums placed high chainlink fences between the seats and terraces and the pitch (terraces were cheaper standing areas without seats). However, it was not hooliganism that day, but the fear of it, that led to the death of ninety-six people.
The stadium was divided into two parts in order to keep the opposing fans apart: the Liverpool supporters being assigned to the Leppings Lane End. Kick off was scheduled for 3.00pm and many of the Liverpool supporters were late arriving. By 2.45pm there was a considerable buildup of fans outside the turnstiles at the Leppings Lane End, all eager to enter the stadium before the match started. With a crowd of 5000 fans (est) trying to get through the turnstiles the police decided to open a second set of gates which did not have turnstiles. The resulting inpouring of hundreds (possibly thousands) of fans at the rear of the terraces caused a crush at the front where people were pressed against the fencing. For some time the problem was not noticed and it was not until 3:06pm that the referee stopped the game. By this time a small door in the fencing had been opened and by this route many escaped the crush - others climbed over the fencing.
The pitch quickly started to fill with people sweating and gasping for breath and with the bodies of the dead. The police and ambulance services were overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and fans helped as best they could, many attempting CPR and some tearing down advertising hoardings to act as makeshift stretchers. The crush ultimately took the lives of 96 people.
Graphic footage of the disaster was available because the match was being broadcast and this along with the number of fatalities made an extreme impact on the general population.
A permanent tribute to those who lost their lives can be found alongside the Shankly Gates at Anfield. A further tribute was set up in 1999 at Hillsborough.
Interestingly a few days after the tragedy during a match between AC Milan and Real Madrid the match was stopped 6 minutes into the first half for a moment of silence.
The Hillsborough disaster did not only touch clubs in England but the disaster was known worldwide and touched clubs around the world.
On 19 April 1989 (the following Wednesday of the disaster), a European Cup semi final between AC Milan and Real Madrid was played. The referee blew his whistle 6 minutes into the game to stop play and hold a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives tragically at Hillsborough. About 20 seconds into the silence the Milan fans on the Curva Sud began to sing Liverpool’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as a tribute to those who died.
April 15th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Then Gerrard showed up…and power kicked through the mob killing 89 of the 96 who died.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
You’ll never be trampled alone! (thanks Tara)