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Truth and Justice

I am not from the city of Liverpool, I do not have any family there, but Liverpool has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Being a Liverpool fan somehow feels more than just supporting a football club. After the inquest verdicts were announced Tuesday morning, Jeremy Vine played You’ll Never Walk Alone on his BBC Radio 2 lunch time programme and I sang along in my kitchen with tears rolling down my cheeks.

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As a young Liverpool fan in the 80’s, it was a glorious time. Winning trophies was almost taken for granted and watching the team of the late 80’s was joyous. Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Ian Rush, John Aldridge, Steve McMahon, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Steve Nicol, Ray Houghton and Bruce Grobbelaar were my heroes, regularly destroying opposition teams. At such a tender age, I could only see greatness, glory and happiness; in my naivety, I never thought it would end. I couldn’t believe my luck that the first team I happened to watch and fell so hopelessly in love with were a seemingly indestructible force.

I was just 13 when Hillsborough happened, I was watching Grandstand, expecting constant updates on another FA Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest, but instead seeing tragic events unfold on TV. It was clear something had gone badly wrong, but the magnitude was yet to sink in. Being so young and living abroad, the enormity of the families and survivors torment hadn’t registered with me. I hadn’t really had to deal with loss at that time, I wasn’t emotionally mature enough at that point to even try and comprehend what the victims’ families and friends, the survivors and the people of Liverpool were going through.

Except they didn’t just have to deal with the pain of loss, they had to suffer slanderous lies plastered all over the Sun newspaper; the names of the dead and survivors dragged through the mud in a malicious campaign instigated by South Yorkshire Police to shift the blame and besmirch those who should only have been receiving compassion and support.

Not until I was in my 20’s did I learn more about Hillsborough and the more I read, the more I was horrified. I would urge anyone has not yet read it, to read Hillsborough: The Truth by Professor Phil Scraton. I urge you also to listen to the educational and very moving two part podcast on Anfield Index, where Harinder Singh, is joined by Adrian Tempany, Jim Sharman and Professor Phil Scraton.

Incredibly, for 27 years, the Hillsborough families and other campaigners never gave up the fight for truth and justice. To have the stomach for such a long and emotional battle takes unimaginable strength, determination and courage. I can’t pretend to understand what the families have gone through and as a Father of two, it’s something I don’t want to contemplate and I’m not sure how or even if I could cope with losing any of my children like families of the 96 have, let alone the circumstances and aftermath.

But the dignity shown by the families throughout this battle is beyond words. Ask a boxer about the physical endurance required to fight for 12 rounds. Now try to comprehend having to fight the establishment, a seemingly indestructible force, for 27 years. Twenty seven years. It is impossible to translate my admiration and respect for the families of the 96 into mere words.

As a Liverpool fan, I can honestly say that You’ll Never Walk Alone is more than just a song we sing and I feel immensely proud that we’ve always supported the Justice For The 96 campaign. The FA Cup tie against Arsenal in January 2007 with The Truth mural on the Kop particularly stands out. However, Hillsborough transcends Liverpool, it has to because it could’ve been any other club’s fans that day and in 1981 it was nearly Tottenham. Rather than a disaster that causes division because of idiotic tribalism, it should be something that unites football fans through commonality.

Hillsborough was more than a Liverpool tragedy, it was more than a football tragedy; it was a human tragedy. Following the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and conclusion of the inquest, the truth is indisputable; now for justice.

Andy Wales
Andy Wales
Football writer and podcaster. Family man and Liverpool fan.
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1 COMMENT

  1. I am not a native of Liverpool, however, I was a Stoke City Fan and worked for them for several years. As a football supporter and a compassionate human being I feel that what has happened is more than an injustice, there is not a word to describe the suffering these families have been unnecessarily put through. Someone (s) has to be accountable, sooner than later and as I write my comments, I am still emotional and angry for all the families and wish them all the best and lets hope justice prevails and this dreadful, unlawful matter comes to an end and the families will get some peace at the end. No-one can replace their loved ones but at the end of this fight, they will have their day, I am sure. God Bless You All

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