Liverpool kit launch sparks anger among Hillsborough familie

[storrmin571]

Liverpool kit launch sparks anger among Hillsborough families
By Ben Smith
BBC Sport The launch of the new Liverpool home kit has prompted an angry response from a number of the families of those killed in the Hillsborough disaster.

The club's home shirt for the 2012-13 season, designed by American company Warrior, was revealed on Friday.

Fans have welcomed the design, but the decision not to consult some families over the decision to move the symbol honouring the dead, has angered many.

Liverpool's current and future badge

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC) said the actions were "insensitive".

The new shirt sees the club's logo, which featured an image of the Shankly Gates, replaced by the original Liver Bird crest that became synonymous with Liverpool's success in the 1970s and 80s. As a result the two Justice flames honouring the Hillsborough campaign have been moved to the back of the shirt.

The decision to move the flames is not the source of frustration but the decision to only consult one Hillsborough group has sparked anger.

Liverpool did take time to meet with the seven members of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) committee but other groups were not consulted.

The HFSG was the first group formed after the disaster in May 1989 and provides support for many of the bereaved families. The HJC also acts for a number of the families but its priority is to fight for the truth behind the events that took place at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989

A HJC statement read: "We have noted that the Hillsborough flames and '96' will now appear on the back of the shirt 'after consultation with family members'.

"We can confirm that no bereaved families of the HJC were contacted or consulted. The first we were aware of this was via the minutes of the Supporters' Committee March meeting. Once again LFC has chosen to ignore the HJC and their families.

The back of Liverpool's new shirt

"The continued refusal of the club to acknowledge the HJC is insensitive, divisive and deplorable - 96 is more than a number. LFC would do well to remember that."

Liverpool moved swiftly to defend their part in the process and claimed they had made every effort to deal with the issue as sensitively as possible.

A spokesman said: "The club consulted with the HFSG committee and shared a number of alternative designs which were considered.

"The committee selected a design, which includes the number 96 to recognise those who lost their lives. Nobody has more respect for the 96 and their families than this football club."

Who are Warrior?
•In America, Warrior makes equipment and clothing in ice hockey and lacrosse.
•In 2004 the company was bought by New Balance, which retained the founder, Dave Morrow, as president and chief executive officer.
•Morrow, a lacrosse player, founded Warrior in his Princeton dormitory where he developed the first titanium stick, which the university used en route to their National Championship that year.
•Warrior was taken from Morrow's High School American football team in his home town of Michigan, the Brother Rice Warriors.

Margaret Aspinall, chair of HFSG, lost her son James, 18 at the disaster. She said: "It is difficult for everyone to be consulted all the time. I know there are a number of the bereaved families in the HJC and I can understand what they are saying."

Andy Heaton, editor of Liverpool fanzine The Anfield Wrap , added: "Is it really that hard to consult all of the families, not some?"

The row threatens to taint the launch of the kit, which represents the start of the biggest deal of its kind in English football history.

The £25m-a-year contract with Boston-based Warrior Sports more than doubles the Anfield club's previous agreement with adidas.

Warrior is a brand better known in the lacrosse world.

According to PR Marketing, a German market research company, Liverpool are the fourth-biggest replica kit seller in football, behind Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona. About 900,000 shirts are sold annually.

[HashKads]

Just read this on BBC. They moan about anything It's still on the kit FFS. ``

[storrmin571]

Does it matter where the tribute is? Not really just another chance to whinge.

[frankbutcher]

PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS.

[SteveO 35]

There could be some interesting responses to this thread

Firstly, I have nothing but absolute sympathy for the families involved and every time I have been to Anfield I have paid my respects to the memorial at the ground and will always sit in silence and think back to that fateful day in '89 whenever I'm asked to observe a minute's silence. I was 17 when it happened and went to watch the Gooners at Highbury that day with some mates and my Dad was elsewhere in the ground. Whatever anyone says about the causes of the disaster, innocent people lost their kids and partners that day. I'm just thankful that I've never been caught up in anything like it.

However, that football club and the rest of English football has bent over backwards to be respectful to those families. The badge already remembers the 96 (I would like to think Arsenal would be that consultative if heaven forbid we ever faced similar circumstances), certain families were consulted, the FA make sure that Liverpool don't play on the anniversary date etc.

The families should not feel any anger to that club and the way they have remembered those that died that day.

[armchair]

There could be some interesting responses to this thread

Firstly, I have nothing but absolute sympathy for the families involved and every time I have been to Anfield I have paid my respects to the memorial at the ground and will always sit in silence and think back to that fateful day in '89 whenever I'm asked to observe a minute's silence. I was 17 when it happened and went to watch the Gooners at Highbury that day with some mates and my Dad was elsewhere in the ground. Whatever anyone says about the causes of the disaster, innocent people lost their kids and partners that day. I'm just thankful that I've never been caught up in anything like it.

However, that football club and the rest of English football has bent over backwards to be respectful to those families. The badge already remembers the 96 (I would like to think Arsenal would be that consultative if heaven forbid we ever faced similar circumstances), certain families were consulted, the FA make sure that Liverpool don't play on the anniversary date etc.

The families should not feel any anger to that club and the way they have remembered those that died that day.

Did you make up that word steve? Well done!
EDIT:- WOW! It is a real word. well done again.

[Dan_85]

Anyone else think this is actually a pretty nice looking kit? Different from the norm like. Would love to see Arsenal do something a bit simpler & retro like this, bring the old badge back. Unlikely of course whilst we're saddled with our current marketing department, Nike & millions of sheep who'll buy white away kits.

[the moog]

just fucking tired of it all

[LDB]

On a seperate note, the scousers are getting 25m a year from their kit suppliers. We are getting 8m.

[Perryashburtongroves]

Yeah, this shit on the anniversary of the Bradford Fire. If it was the other way round...

[tel]

FFS. 27 years ago today 56 people died in the fire at Valley Parade. No jumping up and down from their fans just a quiet dignity that vile club and it's fans know fuck all about. Nobody should go to a match and not come back but the constant bleating from their fans leaves a nasty taste. Bradford fans have class, R.I.P the 56.

[Barriecuda]

Beautiful new kit. I had very low expectations of Warrior, expecting some North Americanized, over-saturated nonsense, but they have made an outstanding kit. Elegant and classy, without any excessive design implements. Nike could do well to take a lesson.

Very surprised!

[jamjc64]

Compo.............

[terry henry]

Aside from scum and Manc scum fans, I think Liverpool fans are turning into my most hated. In fairness to the Manc scum its not like you hear them banging on about Munich every 5 minutes.

[aw]

Anything to take their minds off the fact that Kenny has failed and they are mid-table.