Hillsborough Survivors remember - Liverpool fans 30 years after the disaster in Sheffield

On April 15th 1989, thousands of fans entered the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield to watch the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. It was to become one of the most tragic days in football history: 96 people died and 766 were injured. A documentary by Ole Zeisler lets survivors have their say and tells the story of this catastrophe through their eyes.

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[aliverbirduponmychest]

As a survivor of pen 3 on 15th April 1989 and an eye witness who gave statements and evidence to the police, I witnessed the very darkest, depraved, ruthless, self serving depths the human soul can sink to and the personification of evil in the human race. But also in one lady everything that is beautiful about the human race and one ladies soul. Once the match commander made the statement that "drunken, violent, ticketless Liverpool fans smashed down gate C to gain entrance and as a consequence caused the deaths of 96 fellow Liverpool fans", once he made that statement to Grahan Kelly of the English FA, the big lie and the biggest conspiracy to pervert the course of justice was born. Unwittingly in making that statement the match commander ensured the families of the victims and the thousands of survivors would continue to be traumatised over and over again for decades to come! I could write books on the effects and consequences of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe, sustained mental health issues but I will leave that to your own imagination because I want to highlight an angel. Upon leaving the Leppings Lane terrace and out onto the road behind in a desperate, shocked and angry state in complete confusion a lady approached my cousin and I asking if we are ok? Do you have family at home who are worried about you? We replied "yes ofcourse we do, they will be out if their minds with worry". Remember this was before the age of mobile phones, this lady who lived literally next door to the stadium invited us into her home to use her telephone and have a hot sweet drink for the shock. We followed her down her path, down the side of her house emerging into the back garden literally full to bursting point with Liverpool fans drinking tea and coffee, her house was also full all waiting to use the phone to call home. That lady was the very personification of everything beautiful in the human soul and the human race, a lady forever in my prayers!

I just want to say thank you to all the people who replied to my comment in a positive fashion, it warms my heart when reading your replies and feeling the love. The negative comments show that even after the attempted establishment cover up, the lies and smear campaign has been exposed and proven wrong by the independent report and through the courts, even Prime ministers and the Home Secretary cleared us the survivors and Liverpool fans in general of any blame while putting the spotlight where it belonged on the police, there are still people who believe the lies! Truth and transparency in response to times of great tragedy like Hillsborough is how we grow and improve as a society and as human beings. That is how we make it safer for future generations to attend football matches! The fact those lies where allowed to be pushed for so long are the reason UEFA quickly tried to blame the fans for causing such chaos at the Paris Champions League Final and the reason football's governing bodies continue to treat fans with such contempt! I will finish by thanking such positive souls once again as you lifted my mood at a time when I really needed it, god bless you all ❤

[thescottishcrusader]

My uncle was there (on the Forest side). He used to go to games when he could and he should've gone to a brilliant match. After the incident, he never went to a match ever again. Rip those who died.

[willowen]

Rest In Peace Tizzer. Loved ya like a brother, I think about you every day and that day in the park 😂. Can’t wait to see you again. Kevin Tyrrell 1973-1989

[jfalan]

The only time I ever saw my Da cry was after Hillsborough. We’re Irish and my Da is a lifelong Chelsea fan, but as a working class, lover of football he related so much to those fans. So heartbreaking and awful.

[annakaraski]

I'm an American and a English Premiere League fan. Arsenal fan. Sending all my love and healing to the survivors and families of those lost. Not only are the deaths heartbreaking but the way the event was handled by the police was horrific and the fact that everyone had to wait 25 years for any kind of justice is heartbreaking. And as for the Sun well it's a rag that isn't even fit to be toliet paper. I wish each and every survivor and the victims families peace and healing. I know grief never goes away you just sort of learn to live with it. Rest In Peace to the 96.

[loulou]

You can still see how traumatised these poor men are. 😢

[JackPickle]

I remember our coach leaving from the Rocket Pub. It was a lovely day and me and my mates were overjoyed at going to our first real away day. I’d been goodison and anfield south, but this was different, a proper away day!

Was I lucky? Our coach left early and any of the roadworks and accident on the motorway were missed / handled. I remember being in pen 3, it was about 2pm. I’m quite a quiet person, but put me on the spion kop and I’d be vocal singing. Pen 3 is where I wanted to be. But then a lad I was at the match with from school (we were all 15) said - why don’t we go up there, it’s a better view and it’s a semi final. Up there meaning the elevated standing section above the corner flag. So we did.

What I observed - at 2pm, pens 3&4 were about 70% full. They had these peculiar vertical barriers with about a yard or so gap at top. Why? Why pen people in I thought? The immediate outer pens were about 50% full and the other outer pens - hardly anyone. The game started and the usual adrenaline flowed like any footie fan feels at a game. Then fans started to climb over the barriers. Initially we thought fans being disruptive, but when we looked and we had front row seats to the horror that was about to unfold, something far more sinister was happening. I saw panic, I saw carnage, I saw people pass away.

Back then we didn’t have mobiles, so we queued for a phone once out of the ground. I rang my mum and she rang all my mates families to say we were safe. I remember me mum and grandad picking me up, they took me to the local pub. The landlord knew I was under age, knew where I’d been, but served a whisky. I was in shock I sat there in silence with my mum and granddad. the images ingrained and have been since that day.

Another memory that sticks with is post Hillsborough. I’ve lived away from Liverpool since my uni days. Chatting to people about it, I’ve had a few times - yeah, but the fans played a part didn’t they? Thanks to the coercion of truth by press and government back then, fans have been tarnished. Fans going to a football match shouldn’t die. Fans going to a football match should not feel victimised for being part of a traumatic event when there only involvement in events was being there to support their team.

The 1981 semi final had reports of crushing. Why wasn’t this acted upon?

Stick me in a crowded area now, chances are I’ll leave. City centre train stations on a commute all crowding to go through the barriers - my mind replays that day. God knows how I’d be coping if I’d stayed in pen 3! Thanks to a 15 year old mate who had the maturity to say - let’s go up there im probably alive today.

I have nothing but admiration for the families and everyone involved who have continually fought to get justice and clear our names even when people at the highest levels have told them to leave it. I’ve never really spoken about that day, and I am grateful you have been the voice for everyone who was involved that tragic day. #JFT97

[janinebutcher]

This was also the first time I saw my dad cry... and cry he did... a Sheffield Wednesday fan who grew up on Willis road Hillsborough.. just a stone throw from his beloved Wednesday stadium... and the realisation that young boys and girls, middle age men...
96 lives lost.. completely broke him..

[all-england-r-we]

To all those who are not Liverpool fans slagging em This has nothing to do with football.... This is innocent people dying Dad's.. Daughters... Mothers... Sons... Sisters.... Brothers... Friends, Its a disgrace them in charge could lie for so long and get away with it, When often people get locked up for Halifax Town supporter 🔵⚪🔵⚪🔵

[gwyneth]

One of the most heinous, vile parts of this was that parents were not even allowed to touch their dead sons or daughters - they were told they were 'the property of the coroner'. I cannot start to comprehend the cold blooded inhumanity of that.

[maggieskilbred]

coming here after the tragedy at Astrofest, I can't imagine how traumatizing this must be

[ouralan]

I stopped going to football games in the early eighties before Hillsborough, I used to go to Liverpool games and was crushed badly in the Kop during one game, I jumped out onto the side of the pitch and a copper hit me in the face with his stick and told me to get back in, I then dodged around him and jumped into the paddock .
I decided then as a young man this was no way to treat fans
I never went a game again
Hillsborough was a disaster waiting to happen.

[brianlion]

Hillsborough ruined my life, never the same after that horrible day. Only time I’ll get peace from it will be when I’m gone. RIP THE 96

[stu]

I’m a ManUtd supporter who attended United games in the 80’s. I feel for all you Liverpool supporters who witnessed this harrowing event unfold.. Love to all who died and their family’s, you will never be forgotten… I am so sorry it makes you cry every time you see the footage of what happened that day. God bless you all ❤️❤️

[teddygyatso]

this video was so beautifully and professionally shot and recorded. the stories of the survivors hit a sensitive place in my heart. i don't understand how this only has 100 likes, but here's an extra one.

[OliveJuice]

So devastating. :( I have been in a crush before and let me tell you I can’t imagine a worst way to go. It literally the most horrific thing I have ever experienced. It’s horrible because you are being crushed against another human and there’s literally nothing either one of you can do. You’re both panicking and fight or flight kicks in. You both start struggling harder against the push to get free which only makes it worse. But your brain doesn’t know that. All your body knows is, I can’t breathe! I can’t move! And yet you’re still moving forward somehow. I started hitting and pushing the guy in front of me as hard as I could to try to get away. Then he turned his head and looked me in the eyes and I saw how panicked he was too and that he couldn’t do anything about it anymore than I could. That was the scariest moment, realizing how out of control we all were. But it also allowed me to reset and stop struggling so hard against everyone and I able to get free of the push by wiggling to side to get out.

Luckily, in my situation no one was hurt. There was enough room for people to spread out to the sides once it got really bad. But like I said in the moment it happens it is just panic and you can’t breathe and it’s just the most instinctual fear that I have to ever experienced.

[lildramatic]

i got pushed against a barrier & got light headed at a concert in 2011 and security got me out/safely to another vantage point. it was scary enough that i hate crowds and something like this... it’s so scary and unnecessary People should never be treated like animals. animals shouldn’t be treated like that.

[OkieTeacher]

The police incompetence and lack of compassion and sympathy for the victims and survivors is absolutely astounding. Wow.
So, so glad that the Sun was boycotted and the TRUTH of the coverup was brought to light.

[ozzy]

1981 there was a crush at Hillsborough in a FA cup semi final between Wolves and Spurs. It was just a matter of time before something would happen. Not only at Hillsborough but all grounds with fenced in terraces

[delby]

I'm a huge Liverpool fan along with my son. We live in Canada and this tragic day will live on with me forever. I'm 66 now and I've followed this great club since I was a wee lad of 6 and although it was from afar, through clippings from the ECHO sent to my family from an aunt who lived in Liverpool, LFC is in my heart. Listening to the men who survived this awful day has brought back the day I watched this match on the telly. I was devastated to see all those people crushed and hardly anyone helping them. I can't imagine what you men, what all of you went through in person. Horrific is the word that I would use. Your stories have brought back my tears. My family would like to send our heartfelt sympathy to all of you who lost loved ones on this tragic day. MAY ALL OF THEM REST IN YNWA.