As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
augie wrote:
On a serious note I too remember the events of that day and it truly was a tragedy It really is an absolute disgrace that the events that day does not get the same level of recognition or coverage that the Hillsborough tragedy gets.
I dont think its a disgrace.
I just reckon that Bradford is remembered with a little more class and dignity is all. And not constantly forced upon us by Liverpool fan groups and media.
I posted recentley about this topic. I dont agree with forcing paying supporters to pay their respects to these victims of tragedies before a game. IMO if you want to pay your respects, go to your place of worship and say a prayer. Have a quiet moment of reflection somewhere private. Visit the memorials. (Like I have done in the past). Dont have this false, forced public outpouring just for the cameras.
MK Gould wrote:Very good point about Bradford (and lets not forget that two Lincoln City fans were among the victims that day). I made a special point of visiting the memorial (in the city centre) when we played up there last year.
But some people use it as a stick to beat Hillsborough with and I think that's wrong... 96 innocent fellow football fans died that day after all. It could easily have happened to us...
I'd prefer to think we should be commemorating both tragic events, rather than for people to use it as justification for slagging Liverpool and not continuing to remember Hillsborough...
Very well said.
And this is the third time I have made this point on here but anyone else who was in away end at White Hart Lane, squashed into the cages, for the League Cup semi final in 1987 will know a Hillsborough type event almost did happen to us.
clockender1 wrote:That is such a dreadful list - father and sons together, married couples, and the Fletcher family - three generations lost together.
This sums it up for me. Reading through those names. Dads and sons. Grandads and grandkids. Families. Just horrific. I remember seeing that footage of the poor guy on fire. Jesus what a terrible tragedy it was.
As was Hillsborough. I have nothing but sympathy for those that died that day too and their families. Let's not forget the ones that died were the ones that (mostly) turned up on time, with tickets, and were crushed by the surge from behind them.
It's the way the Mousers don't acknowledge their role in the tragedy and all but ignore the fact they murdered 39 Italians that sticks in my craw. It's always some one else's fault with them. The "Justice for the 96" scarves and banners... Whilst I agree there should be justice for the dead and their families, and any culpable police and authorities should be punished, I would add should justice not also be punishing their fellow fans that arrived late pissed up and without tickets and rushed the turnstiles and that still do that same shit even today?
It was just as well that Bradford wasnt caged in as Hillsborough was, there would have been deaths well into the hundreds if not thousands.
The chances of wooden stands going up like that are much less now smoking isnt allowed, and I HOPE that litter clearance under the stand is improved, though a flare would cause rather a nasty mess .
Am I alone in actually enjoying the wooden stands, I used to love the combined noise of stamping feet in unison, just dosnt work on concrete
The Ibrox disaster was pretty gruesome as well, remember the warped railings on those stairs all too well
augie wrote:
On a serious note I too remember the events of that day and it truly was a tragedy It really is an absolute disgrace that the events that day does not get the same level of recognition or coverage that the Hillsborough tragedy gets.
I dont think its a disgrace.
I just reckon that Bradford is remembered with a little more class and dignity is all. And not constantly forced upon us by Liverpool fan groups and media.
I posted recentley about this topic. I dont agree with forcing paying supporters to pay their respects to these victims of tragedies before a game. IMO if you want to pay your respects, go to your place of worship and say a prayer. Have a quiet moment of reflection somewhere private. Visit the memorials. (Like I have done in the past). Dont have this false, forced public outpouring just for the cameras.
I think that's it in a nutshell,all football fans are forced to remember Hillsborough,and I remember an FA Cup final an few years back were Liverpool FC had a minutes silence for a boy stabbed to death in the city,its all me me me with Liverpool,while Bradford have shown class and mourned it out of the spot light,maybe this is why the Mickeys get the Victim and Pity City tag,Dont get me wrong, 96 innocent people dying at a game is tragic but what pisses me off about Hillsborough is the fact the police get the sole blame,no-one ever says about the fans who stormed the gates at kick-off without tickets,that seems to be forgotten about because of the touchy subject it is.
LaughingGooner wrote:30th anniversary of Heysel next year.
Will be interesting how this is remembered in this country.
Particularly in one city...
It didn't happen..product of the media's witch hunt against LFC..or as my plastic Victim supporting neighbour puts it, "the trouble was caused by cockneys, probably a few Gooners among them, National Front lead the assault "
LaughingGooner wrote:30th anniversary of Heysel next year.
Will be interesting how this is remembered in this country.
Particularly in one city...
It didn't happen..product of the media's witch hunt against LFC..or as my plastic Victim supporting neighbour puts it, "the trouble was caused by cockneys, probably a few Gooners among them, National Front lead the assault "
Sorry BWK,we must have been typing the same thing at the same time!
MK Gould wrote:Very good point about Bradford (and lets not forget that two Lincoln City fans were among the victims that day). I made a special point of visiting the memorial (in the city centre) when we played up there last year.
But some people use it as a stick to beat Hillsborough with and I think that's wrong... 96 innocent fellow football fans died that day after all. It could easily have happened to us...
I'd prefer to think we should be commemorating both tragic events, rather than for people to use it as justification for slagging Liverpool and not continuing to remember Hillsborough...
Very well said.
And this is the third time I have made this point on here but anyone else who was in away end at White Hart Lane, squashed into the cages, for the League Cup semi final in 1987 will know a Hillsborough type event almost did happen to us.
You're right. I was in the park Lane that night and it was as packed, if not more, than the Leppings Lane seemed to be. If you remember there was also only 1 way out of each section - through a small gate at the top of the terrace.
LaughingGooner wrote:30th anniversary of Heysel next year.
Will be interesting how this is remembered in this country.
Particularly in one city...
I'm sure I once read/heard that they blamed NF Chelsea fans for Heysel though? Never ever would it be the Victims surely?
Never the scousers. I mean they never used turn up at games without a ticket or climb up the outside of Wembley to get in for free, just like all those outside Hillsborough all had tickets and never tried to force there way in.
They need to look at themselves as well as the police to find the reasons why those people were killed.
As for Heysel, yes they did blame Chelsea.
Why do they not push for a public inquiry into that i wonder???
LaughingGooner wrote:30th anniversary of Heysel next year.
Will be interesting how this is remembered in this country.
Particularly in one city...
I'm sure I once read/heard that they blamed NF Chelsea fans for Heysel though? Never ever would it be the Victims surely?
Never the scousers. I mean they never used turn up at games without a ticket or climb up the outside of Wembley to get in for free, just like all those outside Hillsborough all had tickets and never tried to force there way in.
They need to look at themselves as well as the police to find the reasons why those people were killed.
As for Heysel, yes they did blame Chelsea.
Why do they not push for a public inquiry into that i wonder???
I think the verdict would make interesting reading... "The Italian fans were murdered by a bunch of Scouse cúnts."
I think the main reason Hillsborough gets more of a public airing is because of the 25 years of controversy and arguments about who or what was actually responsible for the deaths and the handling of the aftermath. That and Liverpool being a much bigger club than Bradford and hence having much more media exposure.
I hope that now that the families and Liverpool seem to be getting the inquiry verdict they wanted the first time around that we can stop having to discuss/"remember" it every 5 minutes.
I was at Heysel for the Cup Winners Cup final that we lost on penalties in 1980... I have vivid memories of Arsenal fans ripping up bits of terracing to use as weapons and of the fence being ripped down to try to get to the (few!) Valencia fans that were there! The ground - even then - was a disgrace, and a disaster waiting to happen! All I'm saying is that people in glass houses and all that...
I can absolutely understand why, and am full of admiration for, the parents/relatives of those killed at Hillsborough have continued their fight for justice. What I'd agree though is that the fight isn't in itself justification for the media frenzy whenever the anniversary comes around. And yes, it will be interesting to see what happens when we have the 30th anniversary of Heysel...
And does anyone remember the crush getting out of Hereford after we drew their one year in the FA Cup? You had to exit via the turnstiles rather than a gate as I recall... And the pen that they used to hold you in at Stamford Bridge. More and more people arriving and so slow to get in. I can remember having my arms pinned and feeling terrified...but probably never really guessing how close to danger it was...
Last point...I'm kind of presuming that there won't be another minutes silence tomorrow night? It's just that it is being held on the actual anniversary of Hillsborough...and West Ham didn't play last weekend...
It really is an absolute disgrace that the events that day does not get the same level of recognition or coverage that the Hillsborough tragedy gets.
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