REMEMBER THE 96-APRIL 15th, 1989-2009

[Greenman]

Whether you support Liverpool or are a supporter of another club or whether you are a fan in general you cannot afford to not remember the 96 ordinary members of the public including children that were killed tragically in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 1989. The subsequent outcome of that was that terracing was removed and all-seater stadia was introduced so next time you sit in your clubs' stadium on nice seats with no bars or fencing remember it was this terrible tragedy that made it possible-out of dreadful straits came new hope.

I quote broadcaster and writer Rogan Taylor who said "Football died on April 15th 1989 and a new creature was born"- in essence the violence and shame of fans in the past was put into context and never again would we see scenes such as Hillsborough and Heysel(1985)

A two minute's silence is planned at 3.06pm today-I shall observe it being both a Liverpool fan and a fan of all football in general. Please leave your comments(stupid or irrelevant ones will be removed) and thoughts on here.
Thank you
Greenman
Remember the 96.

[moreteavicar]

Well said Greenman. I am not a Liverpool fan but I am a fan of football.

It is a pity that a disaster like that had to happen before such changes were brought about. On that day it happened to be Liverpool fans that paid such a terrible price but it could have been any fans and that is what really brings home the enormity of it all.

I too will be observing the silence to remember the fans who died on that awful day.

[Estreeter]

Whether you support Liverpool or are a supporter of another club or whether you are a fan in general you cannot afford to not remember the 96 ordinary members of the public including children that were killed tragically in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 1989. The subsequent outcome of that was that terracing was removed and all-seater stadia was introduced so next time you sit in your clubs' stadium on nice seats with no bars or fencing remember it was this terrible tragedy that made it possible-out of dreadful straits came new hope.

I quote broadcaster and writer Rogan Taylor who said "Football died on April 15th 1989 and a new creature was born"- in essence the violence and shame of fans in the past was put into context and never again would we see scenes such as Hillsborough and Heysel(1985)

A two minute's silence is planned at 3.06pm today-I shall observe it being both a Liverpool fan and a fan of all football in general. Please leave your comments(stupid or irrelevant ones will be removed) and thoughts on here.
Thank you
Greenman
Remember the 96.

Football (Soccer) fans here in Australia felt the pain and will remember

[Silver Rocket]

R.I.P.

[kippax]

not a liverpool fan mcfc myself but still remember that day as it was yesterday
god bless their families rip the 96 ..... now win the premiership for them

[Greenman]

I must just stress one thing, this is not about tribal chanting by a few idiots that think it clever to mock disasters like the Munich Air Strike(Man Utd) or even Heysel(again Liverpool involved) this is about a general memorial to innocent fans including the shocking statistic of 6 girls who died, killed by a love of the game they loved and a football team they supported. ALL fans of all clubs should be thankful that out of this tragedy, new stadia grew up and made it safer for their kids and families.

I would also like to completely dissassociate myself from the small-minded yobs of Liverpool who chant/sing unnecessary lyrics about clubs like Man Utd-it is one thing to not like a club but a different matter when the word HATE is used and that to me is ludicrous-its a sport for heavens sake and those who do that should be banned for life-they're not true supporters or fans, just mindless and clueless.

This thread will be deleted tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your comments. GM
NEVER FORGET the 96!

[scoundrel]

I am startled to realise that 20 years have passed since then: the memory is very vivid and shocking. Football is a sport which inspires a variety of emotional and intellectual responses in the same heart and mind and all at the same time. Some behaviour is plainly uncivilised and disgusting: the Munich Airport song is intolerable, as the vast majority of fans everywhere in Britain would be quick to agree. Ditto the racist chanting and noises, which I personally last heard from coverage of an England game in Slovakia, where some of the home fans are unworthy to watch football.

The humour of the terraces always has a sharp edge. Those who chant that they ''hate'' Manchester United aren't necessarily celebrating the Munich disaster or actually wishing some fresh disaster (dear God forbid) on the present fans and players. If that edge were pasteurised out of live football I would feel yet another castration of our culture and society. Political correctness wins again.

I once stood with Southend United fans at Roots Hall (as a neutral) and watched their game against Cambridge in 1991. As Cambridge warmed up the home fans chanted such witty banter as:

You're so shit its unbelievble...

Five minutes into the first half, Cambridge sliced Southend's defence wide open and nonchalently scored. In the sepulcheral silence which ensued I could just barely hear, from the far side of the ground, strains of:

You're not singing, you're not singing, you're not singing any more...

This is how to shut up gobby opposition support. It's the warp and weft of live football.

Trouble is that judgement and common sense is needed to know when to turn it off before really serious offence is given and really nasty consequences are triggered.

[Greenman]

I think he meant that the old style of football and spectating had died, no violence on the terraces that used to blight British football-remember for some reason Millwall supporters used to wear masks and hospital greens-why I don't know but its that sort of mindlessness that finally died out as well as the racist chants and all out hate.
Yes we 'hate' clubs, I agree it is part of the football tradition but HATE is an emotive word and can have two different meanings-hate as in a light hearted, I hate cheese type of way or the real mindless hate, tattooing it on your knuckles and going to a football match specifically for a fight-thank god those days are gone.

[boabf]

glasgow celtic,justice for the 96!!

[danniw]

newcastle utd fan who cares wat team we love and support think about the 96 who died RIP X

[Ragged]

Hopefully we can get some accountability today. JFT96.

[fleetwood77]

glasgow celtic,justice for the 96!!


Glasgow Rangers! No Surrender!!

[Ragged]

Really mixed reaction to the past few days. Made up that the families of the victims have been vindicated by the suppressed information but in shock at the nature and volume of what was withheld. Emotionally exhausted is how I'd describe myself right now.