Hillsborough: Twenty Year Remembrance

oojason · Oct 31, 2003

"The funny thing about justice.

Imagine the uproar,
And the weight of the law,
If 96 coppers,
Lay dead on the floor.

The law could not stand this,
This terrible day,
The people who caused it,
Would be locked safe away.

The blame would be total,
And the sentence so raw,
The guilty would feel the,
Long arm of the law.

The papers would say things,
Bout’ those brave lads in blue,
How did ‘they’ cause this?
I haven’t a clue.

They were 96 heroes,
And shouldn’t have died,
At least with our Justice,
We’ll avenge their sweet lives.

Justice is needed,
And justice is right,
And justice is the reason,
We won’t give up the fight.

We lost our brothers,
Our Sisters and Dad’s
And our Mother’s and Uncles,
And Friends that we had.

Yet as strange as it seems,
For that terrible day,
The justice we seeked,
Just eroded away.

We never saw Justice,
Like those brave boys in blue,
To me it seems wrong,
Does it to you?

By Mike Nicholson

--------------------------------------

Rest in Peace.

I can’t rest Mum,
I’m so tired,
I need to rest in peace,

But I am restless here in heaven,
Because of those inept police,

They caused the worst disaster,
Then lied through their hind teeth,
Make them pay for what they did Mum,
We all require Justice.

Gate C was made for exits,
Not letting thousands in,
Pens three and four were crowded,
Yet they kept letting more and more in.

Oh why didn’t they direct them Mummy,
To the empty pens around,
As I felt my last breath going,
The screams were the only sound.

They made us pay too much Mum,
To watch that football game,
We paid the highest price Mum,
Yet nobody is to blame.

Keep fighting on for justice,
Keep telling the whole truth,
Don’t let that scum rag beat us,
We don’t deserve the pain they caused.

I can’t rest Mum,
I’m so tired,
I need to rest in peace,

By Mike Nicholson.

------------------------------

Why did you do it?

Why did you do it,
Why did you lie?
You started a story,
That still will not die.

You opened the gate,
The one marked with C,
It’s purpose for exit,
Not thousand’s entry.

Had you directed us safely,
With your duty of care,
96 would still live on,
Replace pain - despair.

Why did you do it,
When the ref came to hear,
Why say we broke in,
Was it because of your fear?

Did you think that your job,
Was in jeopardy,
When you knew we we’re dying,
You stood lying evilly.

You couldn’t be guilty,
You’re South Yorkshire Police,
Did you think we’re just Scousers,
Getting under your feet?

We were helping our family,
We were helping our mates,
While you stood up there lying,’
Bout us breaking down gates.

What the sun wrote was evil,
But they got most from you,
You have sullied the name,
Of the great Liverpool.

Judgement day’s coming,
It’s not in your head,
For waiting in heaven,
Are 96’ Reds,

They all want to ask you,
They all want to know,
How did you live on,
With all that you know.

You should have been sentenced,
For April 15th,
And forever we will fight,
For our right – our justice!

By Mike Nicholson.

--------------------------------------

Wishing for their old Mum.

Why didn’t they help us,
Despite all our cries,
It was obvious to all,
We can’t breathe ere’
We’re dyin’

Some right at the front,
Who escaped through the gate,
Were forced right back in,
To meet with their fate.

They were crushed close together,
In the warmth of the sun,
With their eyes turned to heaven,
Wishing for their old Mum.

Saying bye bye sweet Anfield,
King Kenny and Rush,
Adios Peter Beardsley,
You gave us so much.

With a song in their soul,
And a bird on their chest,
96 bodies were laid down to rest.

But who was to blame,
On that warm sunny day,
Please tell me now,
The sights won’t go away.

Why did they fail to,
Deliver the care,
And why did they lie to,
All that was there.

We didn’t cause Hillsborough,
As well they all knew,
But they covered their arses,
As Coppers will do.

They said we were rowdy,
And broke in through that gate,
When HE gave the order,
To open it late.

So why is he out there,
Playing golf with his mates,
When 96 reds,
Were consigned to their fate

When you close up your eyes,
At the end of the day,
Say a few words, yes that’s it,
We’ll pray.

For although it seems crazy,
And beggars belief,
The law in this country,
Won’t give us justice.

By Mike Nicholson

--------------------------------------

Let me tell you a story,
Full of terror and fear,
One of heartache and sadness,
It always brings me to tears.

It started so brightly,
On a warm sunny day,
Laughing and joking,
With mates on the way.

We were going off to Sheffield,
Full of hope and our songs,
But on the 15th of April,
The tune was different and wrong.

The sun then was shining,
And the atmosphere good,
We were betting that Jockey,
Would be playing, he’s good.

As we queued up we noticed,
There were loads still outside,
The police looked quite nervous,
They couldn’t decide.

Should they put back the kick off,
Or just force us all in,
Should they bowl on regardless?
Or would we all make a din.

Let me open the gate,
The officer cried,
There’s too many out here,
Too many outside.

OK, came the order,
Open the gates,
Letting thousands of Scousers,
All in with their mates.

But there was the fault,
In this fatal police plan,
There was just no direction,
Not even a man.

Not one copper standing,
Directing us safe,
Away from pens 3 and 4,
Where the just weren’t no space.

So onwards the crowd moved,
Down the tunnel of death,
And 96 Angels can tell you the rest.

A mistake made so tragic,
Despite a duty of care,
Duckenfield’s a novice,
But what did he care?

He would not take the rap,
For this fatal mistake,
Cos’ in his little world,
We broke down the gate.

Yes that’s right, it’s them,
Who should shoulder the blame,
To think it was me,
Is just crazy – insane.

They all turned up late,
With no tickets and pissed,
And forced themselves in,
So no game would they miss.

I did what I could,
But their weight was immense,
In fact sir you know what,
They climbed over that fence.

They’re are all thieving Scousers,
Who robbed from the dead,
Who pissed on brave coppers,
Yes, over their heads!

Now hang on there David,
Just what are you saying,
Your lies are in print now,
While their families are praying.

While they’re lighting a candle,
And saying a prayer,
The S*n’s printing that crap,
But what do you care?

You shifted the blame,
You saved your own arse,
And cos’ you’re a copper,
The trials were a farce.

You think that you’re safe now,
Wherever you are,
But you’re never save Duckers’
Not even safe now.

Co’s you must have underestimated,
The pain that you caused,
And 96 best friends,
Is too many to lose.

96 sons, and daughters, and mates,
No one to meet at the old school gates,
Nobody to love and to wish all the best,
No one to say I love yer’
You’re the best.

So think on now Duckers,
When your warm in your bed,
And may 96 Redmen,
Come into your head,

And their souls are not resting,
How can they can’t rest in peace,
For while your lying there comfy,
We’re still seeking our justice.

By Mike Nicholson."

Cheers Mike

From a thread from the redandwhitekop.net/forum:-

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=17780

For more info on the truth:-

www.contrast.org/hillsborough

Grinners89 · Jan 24, 2009

Following on from recent events on this Liverpool forum, to do with a certain newspaper and a certain post that related to the Hillsborough disaster, I urge every Liverpool supporter and any other's who come to this thread to download the LFC.tv Hillsborough Documentary from the following link if you havent seen it.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XUSNZ7S1

For anyone who is a new Liverpool supporter or who either hasnt heard what happened or is unsure as to what happened, this documentary will inform you of as much of what happened as possible.

Survivors, parents and family members, as well as other people who were at the ground on 15 April 1989 all give a true account of what happened and how they saw it unfold.

Kevin Williams, who died at Hillsborough, was just 15 years old and the last part of the documentary focuses a fair bit on his story and his mother's quest for justice for her son, for the other 95 that died, the more than 400 that were officially injured and for the tens-of-thousands that were affected.

Hillsborough 96...20th Anniversary...80 days.

YNWA

usscouse · Jan 24, 2009

Re: Hillsborough Documentary

I shouldn't have read that....! Gulp.

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 8, 2009

The Hillsborough Disasters

Hillsborough Disaster

April 15, 1989

Dedicated To Those Who Lost Their Lives At The FA Cup Semi-Final

On April 15 1989 over 25,000 Liverpool fans travelled to Hillsborough to support their team in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. Ninety six of them never returned. Nineteen years later friends and family of those who lost their lives were joined by thousands of fans at Anfield to pay tribute to 96 Liverpool supporters who will never be forgotten.

Some newspapers also detailed the same allegations on the same day, which apparently originated from a source within South Yorkshire Police attempting to divert blame, but The Sun attracted particular opprobrium for its use of the huge "THE TRUTH" headline and its subsequent refusal to issue an apology, something the other newspapers were quick to do.

On 6 January 2007, during their team's FA Cup defeat to Arsenal at Anfield, Liverpool fans in The Kop held up coloured cards spelling out "The Truth" and chanted "Justice for the 96" for six minutes at the start of the game. The protest was directed at Kelvin MacKenzie and the The Sun, and at the BBC for employing MacKenzie as a presenter.

To this day, many people in the Liverpool area refuse to buy The Sun as a matter of principle, and the paper's sales figures within Merseyside have been very poor since the day the original story was printed. As of 2004, the average circulation in Liverpool was still just 12,000 copies a day, 200,000 fewer than before the controversial article was published.

The following link is a must reads in concerns to the Hillsborough Disaster

Hillsborough Justice Campaign - The Story Of The Hillsborough Disaster

Victims Of Hillsborough Disaster

John Alfred Anderson (62)-----Thomas Howard (39)
Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)-------Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
James Gary Aspinall (18)------Eric George Hughes (42)
Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)--Alan Johnston (29)
Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)--Christine Anne Jones (27)
Simon Bell (17)----------------Gary Philip Jones (18)
Barry Sidney Bennett (26)-----Richard Jones (25)
David John Benson (22) --------Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
David William Birtle (22)-------Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
Tony Bland (22)-----------------Michael David Kelly (38)
Paul David Brady (21)----------Carl David Lewis (18)
Andrew Mark Brookes (26)-----David William Mather (19)
Carl Brown (18)-----------------Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
David Steven Brown (25)-------Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
Henry Thomas Burke (47)------John McBrien (18)
Peter Andrew Burkett (24)-----Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
Paul William Carlile (19)-------Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)-Peter McDonnell (21)
Gary Christopher Church (19) -Alan McGlone (28)
Joseph Clark (29)--------------Keith McGrath (17)
Paul Clark (18)-----------------Paul Brian Murray (14)
Gary Collins (22)---------------Lee Nicol (14)
Stephen Paul Copoc (20)-------Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)------Jonathon Owens (18)
James Philip Delaney (19)-----William Roy Pemberton (23)
Christopher Barry Devonside (18)---Carl William Rimmer (21)
Christopher Edwards (29)------David George Rimmer (38)
Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)---Graham John Roberts (24)
Thomas Steven Fox (21)-------Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)--------Henry Charles Rogers (17)
Barry Glover (27) --------------Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
Ian Thomas Glover (20)--------Inger Shah (38)
Derrick George Godwin (24)---Paula Ann Smith (26)
Roy Harry Hamilton (34)-------Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
Philip Hammond (14)-----------Philip John Steele (15)
Eric Hankin (33)----------------David Leonard Thomas (23)
Gary Harrison (27)-------------Patrik John Thompson (35)
Stephen Francis Harrison (31)-Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
Peter Andrew Harrison (15)----Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
David Hawley (39)--------------Peter Francis Tootle (21)
James Robert Hennessy (29)---Christopher James Traynor (26)
Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)----Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
Carl Darren Hewitt (17) --------Kevin Tyrrell (15)
Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)--Colin Wafer (19)
Sarah Louise Hicks (19)--------Ian David Whelan (19)
Victoria Jane Hicks (15)--------Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
Gordon Rodney Horn (20)------Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
Arthur Horrocks (41)-----------Graham John Wright (17)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q47bOtV3-Y"]In Memory Of The Hillsborough Disaster[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-axG8vGcBVk"]The Hillsborough Memorial Service[/ame]

liverbird · Feb 18, 2009

Twenty Year Remembrance

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/...objectid=22954890&siteid=50061-name_page.html

LIVERPOOL will come to a standstill to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster as bells peal 96 times across the city.

Chimes from both cathedrals and the city’s civic buildings could sound together for the first time since the end of World War II.

Liverpool cathedral’s Great George and the others sounding in unison will be heard for miles around.

At 3.06pm on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15 people will be asked to observe a two-minute silence.
Click to expand...

Eternal Rest Grant unto Them and Justice as Well

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 18, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

Ynwa.

liverbird · Feb 18, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

You'll Never Walk Alone
John Alfred Anderson (62) Thomas Howard (39)
Colin Mark Ashcroft (19) Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
James Gary Aspinall (18) Eric George Hughes (42)
Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16) Alan Johnston (29)
Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67) Christine Anne Jones (27)
Simon Bell (17) Gary Philip Jones (18)
Barry Sidney Bennett (26) Richard Jones (25)
David John Benson (22) Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
David William Birtle (22) Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
Tony Bland (22) Michael David Kelly (38)
Paul David Brady (21) Carl David Lewis (18)
Andrew Mark Brookes (26) David William Mather (19)
Carl Brown (18) Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
David Steven Brown (25) Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
Henry Thomas Burke (47) John McBrien (18)
Peter Andrew Burkett (24) Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
Paul William Carlile (19) Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
Raymond Thomas Chapman (50) Peter McDonnell (21)
Gary Christopher Church (19) Alan McGlone (28)
Joseph Clark (29) Keith McGrath (17)
Paul Clark (18) Paul Brian Murray (14)
Gary Collins (22) Lee Nicol (14)
Stephen Paul Copoc (20) Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23) Jonathon Owens (18)
James Philip Delaney (19) William Roy Pemberton (23)
Christopher Barry Devonside (18) Carl William Rimmer (21)
Christopher Edwards (29) David George Rimmer (38)
Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34) Graham John Roberts (24)
Thomas Steven Fox (21) Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10) Henry Charles Rogers (17)
Barry Glover (27) Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
Ian Thomas Glover (20) Inger Shah (38)
Derrick George Godwin (24) Paula Ann Smith (26)
Roy Harry Hamilton (34) Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
Philip Hammond (14) Philip John Steele (15)
Eric Hankin (33) David Leonard Thomas (23)
Gary Harrison (27) Patrik John Thompson (35)
Stephen Francis Harrison (31) Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
Peter Andrew Harrison (15) Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
David Hawley (39) Peter Francis Tootle (21)
James Robert Hennessy (29) Christopher James Traynor (26)
Paul Anthony Hewitson (26) Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
Carl Darren Hewitt (17) Kevin Tyrrell (15)
Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16) Colin Wafer (19)
Sarah Louise Hicks (19) Ian David Whelan (19)
Victoria Jane Hicks (15) Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
Gordon Rodney Horn (20) Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
Arthur Horrocks (41) Graham John Wright (17)

Kawklee · Feb 18, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

dear god I saw some of the ages and started to tear up

ynwa

liverbird · Feb 18, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

Kawklee said: ↑

dear god I saw some of the ages and started to tear up

ynwa
Click to expand...

The teens get me every time but the ten year old lad kills me.

The Justice Bell
by Dave Kirby

A schoolboy holds a leather ball
in a photograph on a bedroom wall
the bed is made, the curtains drawn
as silence greets the break of dawn.

The dusk gives way to morning light
revealing shades of red and white
which hang from posters locked in time
of the Liverpool team of 89.

Upon a pale white quilted sheet
a football kit is folded neat
with a yellow scarf, trimmed with red
and some football boots beside the bed.

In hope, the room awakes each day
to see the boy who used to play
but once again it wakes alone
for this young boy's not coming home.

Outside, the springtime fills the air
the smell of life is everywhere
viola's bloom and tulips grow
while daffodils dance heel to toe.

These should have been such special times
for a boy who'd now be in his prime
but spring forever turned to grey
in theYorkshire sun, one April day.

The clock was locked on 3.06
as sun shone down upon the pitch
lighting up faces etched in pain
as death descended on Leppings Lane.

Between the bars an arm is raised
amidst a human tidal wave
a young hand yearning to be saved
grows weak inside this deathly cage.

A boy not barely in his teens
is lost amongst the dying screams
a body too frail to fight for breath
is drowned below a sea of death

His outstretched arm then disappears
to signal twenty years of tears
as 96 souls of those who fell
await the toll of the justice bell.

Ever since that disastrous day
a vision often comes my way
I reach and grab his outstretched arm
then pull him up away from harm.

We both embrace with tear-filled eyes
I then awake to realise
its the same old dream I have each week
as I quietly cry myself to sleep.

On April the 15th every year
when all is calm and skies are clear
beneath a glowing Yorkshire moon
a lone scots piper plays a tune.

The tune rings out the justice cause
then blows due west across the moors
it passes by the eternal flame
then engulfs a young boys picture frame.

His room is as it was that day
for twenty years its stayed that way
untouched and frozen forever in time
since that tragic day in 89.

And as it plays its haunting sound
tears are heard from miles around
they're tears from families of those who fell
awaiting the toll of the justice bell.

el-capitano · Feb 18, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

el-capitano · Feb 19, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

What we'll do is allow everyone to post their thoughts in this thread, then we'll close the thread and move it into our History forum.

Justice for the 96

YNWA!

el-capitano · Feb 19, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

Some more reading for those who want to learn more about the tragedy.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=217050

and a personal story- its a long one, but well worth the read.......

Hillsborough: A survivor's story
Damian Kavanagh - Leppings Lane Pen 4 Survivor

AussieLFCfan · Feb 19, 2009

ynwa

liverbird · Feb 19, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

el-capitano said: ↑

What we'll do is allow everyone to post their thoughts in this thread, then we'll close the thread and move it into our History forum.

Justice for the 96

YNWA!
Click to expand...

Look I am all for fastidious management of the board but until April 15 this is not history but a current topic.

Grinners89 · Feb 19, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

liverbird said: ↑

Look I am all for fastidious management of the board but until April 15 this is not history but a current topic.
Click to expand...

Frustratingly, until those bastards extend the "cut-off" time from 3:15pm to 4pm, this will always be a current topic.

Lets hope that young lad Kevin Williams has some luck and his mother gets what she and everyone else need.

el-capitano · Feb 19, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

liverbird said: ↑

Look I am all for fastidious management of the board but until April 15 this is not history but a current topic.
Click to expand...

Being the 20th year since that fateful day, I was wanting this to be a special thread, which we could keep as a snapshot of our thoughts today.

There has been a Hillsborough thread every year, but I don't want this one to get lost in amongst the 1000's of threads in this board.

By putting it in the history thread, we can easily point out to those who want to learn more or know more about this day- is that not something worthwhile?

Grinners89 · Feb 19, 2009

Re: Twenty Year Remembrance

el-capitano said: ↑

Being the 20th year since that fateful day, I was wanting this to be a special thread, which we could keep as a snapshot of our thoughts today.

There has been a Hillsborough thread every year, but I don't want this one to get lost in amongst the 1000's of threads in this board.

By putting it in the history thread, we can easily point out to those who want to learn more or know more about this day- is that not something worthwhile?
Click to expand...

Good idea.

Samarkand · Feb 19, 2009

If you've got about 9 minutes.......

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 20, 2009

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu36Ymdu56M"]Justice For The 96[/ame]

el-capitano · Feb 20, 2009

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 20, 2009

One reason why I have always had a place in my soccer heart for Celtic...

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 20, 2009

DON'T BUY THE S**!

DON'T READ THE S**!

DON'T QUOTE THE S**!

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 20, 2009

newterp · Feb 20, 2009

I'm kind of stunned as I learn more and more about this tragedy that there was so much "reluctance" on the part of the Sun to retract the story in addition to all the other BS they reported.

CCSC_STRIKER20 · Feb 20, 2009

newterp said: ↑

I'm kind of stunned as I learn more and more about this tragedy that there was so much "reluctance" on the part of the Sun to retract the story in addition to all the other BS they reported.
Click to expand...

That's just part of the tragic part of the Hillsborough story.

It's extremely sad to lose the lives of 96 people in any circumstance, but in an arena of entertainment, it's even worse.

The stadium design and the police control were other sad things that created this tragedy.