" SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:25 pm
15th March 2012
Hillsborough: Thatcher was told drunk fans caused disaster, leaked papers say
By Jon Manel
BBC Radio 4
Mrs Thatcher was told drunk fans caused Hillsborough, documents say.
" Former PM Margaret Thatcher was told a senior Merseyside police officer blamed "drunken Liverpool fans" for causing the Hillsborough disaster, confidential government papers have revealed. "
The BBC has seen leaked documents about Britain's worst sports tragedy.
Ninety-six football fans died after a crush on overcrowded terraces at an FA Cup Semi Final in April 1989.
The official inquiry said the disaster was caused by the failure in crowd control by South Yorkshire Police.
Letters to and from 10 Downing Street and cabinet minutes that show what Mrs, now Lady, Thatcher was discussing and being told behind the scenes have been made public for the first time by BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
For years, the families of those who died have been calling for the release of secret government and police papers relating to the disaster.
The government has agreed that this will happen.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel, set up in 2009, is reviewing hundreds of documents but they are not expected to be made available to the families of those who died or to the wider public until later this year.
It is thought there will be thousands of pages to sift through.
The most controversial issue in the papers that the BBC has seen relates to what Mrs Thatcher was being told about the views of some senior members of the Merseyside Police Force.
'Deeply ashamed'
They are contained in a letter sent to the prime minister from a member of her policy unit in Downing Street. Four days after the disaster, the adviser attended a long planned meeting with the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, the late Sir Kenneth Oxford, and some of his senior colleagues.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Today's revelations do not constitute a 'smoking gun' but do add to public knowledge about the political reaction to these terrible events”
Martin Rosenbaum
BBC Freedom of Information expert
Martin on the Hillsborough papers
It is important to bear in mind that this was written just days after the Hillsborough disaster and the views of the chief constable and those of his senior officers may well have changed over the subsequent weeks.
According to the letter, the Merseyside chief constable said: "A key factor in causing the disaster was the fact that large numbers of Liverpool fans had turned up without tickets.
"This was getting lost sight of in attempts to blame the police, the football authorities, etc."
The prime minister was informed that a senior member of the Merseyside Police directly blamed supporters: "One officer, born and bred in Liverpool, said that he was deeply ashamed to say that it was drunken Liverpool fans who had caused this disaster, just as they had caused the deaths at Heysel."
This officer is not named.
Hundreds were injured and 39 supporters died when rioting Liverpool fans charged Juventus fans before the 1985 European Cup Final at the Heysel stadium on 29 May 1985.
Margaret Aspinall, whose teenage son James died in the Hillsborough disaster, described the comments made by the unnamed senior officer as "appalling" and "offensive".
"We knew things were going on behind closed doors, we've always known that. It doesn't surprise me in a sense... but I'm surprised by the content," the chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group said of the briefings.
More of the views of the chief constable are also referred to in the files: "He deplored the press's morbid concentration on pictures of bodies. He was also uneasy about the way in which Anfield was being turned into a shrine."
'Truth must come out'
There is nothing in the documents the BBC has seen about any briefings from South Yorkshire Police. It is possible more will become known about that when many other confidential papers are officially released in a few months time.
The government has promised to release files relating to Margaret Thatcher and Hillsborough
Instead, we have learnt about the controversial views of some of Liverpool's own senior police officers and how, just days after the disaster, they were being passed on directly to 10 Downing Street and to Mrs Thatcher.
A spokesman for the panel said it could not comment on leaked documents.
Andy Burnham, Labour MP for Leigh, Greater Manchester, who has campaigned for the Hillsborough families, said: "The truth must be told and the people of Liverpool must have an apology for one of the biggest injustices of the 20th Century."
Other Downing Street papers seen by the BBC provide an insight into what the prime minister was saying and discussing with her cabinet colleagues in the days after Hillsborough.
The main issue of discussion contained in these documents was the effect the disaster was going to have on controversial legislation aimed at controlling the behaviour of football fans.
The Football Spectators' Bill was already going through Parliament. The government was determined to continue with it, in order to introduce a national membership scheme for the sport. This would have brought in what were dubbed as identity cards for football fans.
According to the conclusions of the first cabinet meeting to take place after the disaster, Mrs Thatcher told her ministers that the situation on crowd safety and hooliganism at football matches "cried out for action".
The government wanted the legislation to be passed in time for the following year's World Cup finals in Italy - to reduce the prospect of crowd trouble. The meeting also discussed using it to bring in any interim recommendations from the Hillsborough Inquiry.
'Gravest matter'
In another meeting with senior cabinet colleagues which took place on the same day, the prime minister said: "To abstain from taking action… would be the gravest possible matter, now that the need for this action had been so conclusively demonstrated."
Bereaved families have been calling for the release of secret government and police papers about the disaster
Five days later, Home Secretary Douglas Hurd met the man conducting the official inquiry into Hillsborough, Lord Justice Taylor.
A letter written by a civil servant at the Home Office says Mr Hurd told the judge about the government's proposed new timetable to get the football spectators' legislation passed by Parliament.
He then asked Lord Justice Taylor what he would say if the government went ahead with this and then asked "…whether he was really quite sure that it was out of the question to form and express a view on the subject of membership cards in the three and a half months… between the start of the inquiry… and the end of August?"
According to the letter, Lord Justice Taylor told him that "this was possible, but he was not confident that it could be achieved".
He said his priority was establishing the facts of what had happened at Hillsborough and could not promise to come up with any recommendations on membership cards in time to fit in with the government's political schedule.
The prime minister was told what had happened in a briefing note from her principal private secretary, who informed her: "Lord Justice Taylor was distinctly unhelpful."
In the end, the government did press ahead with its plans and the law was passed. However, the following year, in his report, Lord Justice Taylor said he had "grave doubts" about the feasibility of football membership cards and "serious misgivings" about the scheme's likely impact on safety. As a result of his concerns, the government dropped the scheme and it was never implemented.
Hillsborough: Thatcher was told drunk fans caused disaster, leaked papers say
By Jon Manel
BBC Radio 4
Mrs Thatcher was told drunk fans caused Hillsborough, documents say.
" Former PM Margaret Thatcher was told a senior Merseyside police officer blamed "drunken Liverpool fans" for causing the Hillsborough disaster, confidential government papers have revealed. "
The BBC has seen leaked documents about Britain's worst sports tragedy.
Ninety-six football fans died after a crush on overcrowded terraces at an FA Cup Semi Final in April 1989.
The official inquiry said the disaster was caused by the failure in crowd control by South Yorkshire Police.
Letters to and from 10 Downing Street and cabinet minutes that show what Mrs, now Lady, Thatcher was discussing and being told behind the scenes have been made public for the first time by BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
For years, the families of those who died have been calling for the release of secret government and police papers relating to the disaster.
The government has agreed that this will happen.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel, set up in 2009, is reviewing hundreds of documents but they are not expected to be made available to the families of those who died or to the wider public until later this year.
It is thought there will be thousands of pages to sift through.
The most controversial issue in the papers that the BBC has seen relates to what Mrs Thatcher was being told about the views of some senior members of the Merseyside Police Force.
'Deeply ashamed'
They are contained in a letter sent to the prime minister from a member of her policy unit in Downing Street. Four days after the disaster, the adviser attended a long planned meeting with the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, the late Sir Kenneth Oxford, and some of his senior colleagues.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Today's revelations do not constitute a 'smoking gun' but do add to public knowledge about the political reaction to these terrible events”
Martin Rosenbaum
BBC Freedom of Information expert
Martin on the Hillsborough papers
It is important to bear in mind that this was written just days after the Hillsborough disaster and the views of the chief constable and those of his senior officers may well have changed over the subsequent weeks.
According to the letter, the Merseyside chief constable said: "A key factor in causing the disaster was the fact that large numbers of Liverpool fans had turned up without tickets.
"This was getting lost sight of in attempts to blame the police, the football authorities, etc."
The prime minister was informed that a senior member of the Merseyside Police directly blamed supporters: "One officer, born and bred in Liverpool, said that he was deeply ashamed to say that it was drunken Liverpool fans who had caused this disaster, just as they had caused the deaths at Heysel."
This officer is not named.
Hundreds were injured and 39 supporters died when rioting Liverpool fans charged Juventus fans before the 1985 European Cup Final at the Heysel stadium on 29 May 1985.
Margaret Aspinall, whose teenage son James died in the Hillsborough disaster, described the comments made by the unnamed senior officer as "appalling" and "offensive".
"We knew things were going on behind closed doors, we've always known that. It doesn't surprise me in a sense... but I'm surprised by the content," the chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group said of the briefings.
More of the views of the chief constable are also referred to in the files: "He deplored the press's morbid concentration on pictures of bodies. He was also uneasy about the way in which Anfield was being turned into a shrine."
'Truth must come out'
There is nothing in the documents the BBC has seen about any briefings from South Yorkshire Police. It is possible more will become known about that when many other confidential papers are officially released in a few months time.
The government has promised to release files relating to Margaret Thatcher and Hillsborough
Instead, we have learnt about the controversial views of some of Liverpool's own senior police officers and how, just days after the disaster, they were being passed on directly to 10 Downing Street and to Mrs Thatcher.
A spokesman for the panel said it could not comment on leaked documents.
Andy Burnham, Labour MP for Leigh, Greater Manchester, who has campaigned for the Hillsborough families, said: "The truth must be told and the people of Liverpool must have an apology for one of the biggest injustices of the 20th Century."
Other Downing Street papers seen by the BBC provide an insight into what the prime minister was saying and discussing with her cabinet colleagues in the days after Hillsborough.
The main issue of discussion contained in these documents was the effect the disaster was going to have on controversial legislation aimed at controlling the behaviour of football fans.
The Football Spectators' Bill was already going through Parliament. The government was determined to continue with it, in order to introduce a national membership scheme for the sport. This would have brought in what were dubbed as identity cards for football fans.
According to the conclusions of the first cabinet meeting to take place after the disaster, Mrs Thatcher told her ministers that the situation on crowd safety and hooliganism at football matches "cried out for action".
The government wanted the legislation to be passed in time for the following year's World Cup finals in Italy - to reduce the prospect of crowd trouble. The meeting also discussed using it to bring in any interim recommendations from the Hillsborough Inquiry.
'Gravest matter'
In another meeting with senior cabinet colleagues which took place on the same day, the prime minister said: "To abstain from taking action… would be the gravest possible matter, now that the need for this action had been so conclusively demonstrated."
Bereaved families have been calling for the release of secret government and police papers about the disaster
Five days later, Home Secretary Douglas Hurd met the man conducting the official inquiry into Hillsborough, Lord Justice Taylor.
A letter written by a civil servant at the Home Office says Mr Hurd told the judge about the government's proposed new timetable to get the football spectators' legislation passed by Parliament.
He then asked Lord Justice Taylor what he would say if the government went ahead with this and then asked "…whether he was really quite sure that it was out of the question to form and express a view on the subject of membership cards in the three and a half months… between the start of the inquiry… and the end of August?"
According to the letter, Lord Justice Taylor told him that "this was possible, but he was not confident that it could be achieved".
He said his priority was establishing the facts of what had happened at Hillsborough and could not promise to come up with any recommendations on membership cards in time to fit in with the government's political schedule.
The prime minister was told what had happened in a briefing note from her principal private secretary, who informed her: "Lord Justice Taylor was distinctly unhelpful."
In the end, the government did press ahead with its plans and the law was passed. However, the following year, in his report, Lord Justice Taylor said he had "grave doubts" about the feasibility of football membership cards and "serious misgivings" about the scheme's likely impact on safety. As a result of his concerns, the government dropped the scheme and it was never implemented.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:47 pm
Very interesting Annis. For me Hillsborough was a perfect storm of inadequate policing coupled with drunken fans desperate to see a game. I really dont think one is more to blame than the other. We know that the police made the catastrophic decision to open the gates which led to thousands of fans cramming into a stand where there was no escape yet at the same time, having witnessed the behavior of Liverpool fans firsthand, it is quite conceivable that they were drunk, and in large numbers, and their behavior made the police panic. Whatever happened Liverpool fans are not entirely blameless as some like to think.The police more than contributed to this catastrophe with their poor decision making but so did the fans.
This was a tragedy where many innocent people, who only wanted to see a football match died, but everyone needs to hold their hands up so that history will never be repeated. As some have already said, there were liverpool fans trying to jump the gates at Wembley recently and a few years ago i was at the charity shield in Cardiff and a bunch of Liverpool fans had stormed in and tried to sit two to a seat. When they were told they had to move they started kicking off, even to the extent that they attacked some of their own fans who told them off. The fans can't keep blaming everyone else and then continue to act like this!
This was a tragedy where many innocent people, who only wanted to see a football match died, but everyone needs to hold their hands up so that history will never be repeated. As some have already said, there were liverpool fans trying to jump the gates at Wembley recently and a few years ago i was at the charity shield in Cardiff and a bunch of Liverpool fans had stormed in and tried to sit two to a seat. When they were told they had to move they started kicking off, even to the extent that they attacked some of their own fans who told them off. The fans can't keep blaming everyone else and then continue to act like this!
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:01 pm
Jimbo27 wrote:Very interesting Annis. For me Hillsborough was a perfect storm of inadequate policing coupled with drunken fans desperate to see a game. I really dont think one is more to blame than the other. We know that the police made the catastrophic decision to open the gates which led to thousands of fans cramming into a stand where there was no escape yet at the same time, having witnessed the behavior of Liverpool fans firsthand, it is quite conceivable that they were drunk, and in large numbers, and their behavior made the police panic. Whatever happened Liverpool fans are not entirely blameless as some like to think.The police more than contributed to this catastrophe with their poor decision making but so did the fans.
This was a tragedy where many innocent people, who only wanted to see a football match died, but everyone needs to hold their hands up so that history will never be repeated. As some have already said, there were liverpool fans trying to jump the gates at Wembley recently and a few years ago i was at the charity shield in Cardiff and a bunch of Liverpool fans had stormed in and tried to sit two to a seat. When they were told they had to move they started kicking off, even to the extent that they attacked some of their own fans who told them off. The fans can't keep blaming everyone else and then continue to act like this!
Jimbo, I have to agree with you, both parties are to blame,no one intended their to be tragedy, but being idiots/drunk etc was a major problem that day, followed by panicking police, who lost control of the situation.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:49 pm
Forever Blue wrote:Jimbo27 wrote:Very interesting Annis. For me Hillsborough was a perfect storm of inadequate policing coupled with drunken fans desperate to see a game. I really dont think one is more to blame than the other. We know that the police made the catastrophic decision to open the gates which led to thousands of fans cramming into a stand where there was no escape yet at the same time, having witnessed the behavior of Liverpool fans firsthand, it is quite conceivable that they were drunk, and in large numbers, and their behavior made the police panic. Whatever happened Liverpool fans are not entirely blameless as some like to think.The police more than contributed to this catastrophe with their poor decision making but so did the fans.
This was a tragedy where many innocent people, who only wanted to see a football match died, but everyone needs to hold their hands up so that history will never be repeated. As some have already said, there were liverpool fans trying to jump the gates at Wembley recently and a few years ago i was at the charity shield in Cardiff and a bunch of Liverpool fans had stormed in and tried to sit two to a seat. When they were told they had to move they started kicking off, even to the extent that they attacked some of their own fans who told them off. The fans can't keep blaming everyone else and then continue to act like this!
Spot on! There are certain Liverpool fans today who know that they entered that game without a valid ticket. But as it is now taboo to even suggest that, they will be forever conspicuous by their silence. Probably many hundreds of them. Yes the police made mistakes which are now well documented but Liverpool fans played their part.
Jimbo, I have to agree with you, both parties are to blame,no one intended their to be tragedy, but being idiots/drunk etc was a major problem that day, followed by panicking police, who lost control of the situation.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:54 pm
Forever Blue wrote:Jimbo27 wrote:Very interesting Annis. For me Hillsborough was a perfect storm of inadequate policing coupled with drunken fans desperate to see a game. I really dont think one is more to blame than the other. We know that the police made the catastrophic decision to open the gates which led to thousands of fans cramming into a stand where there was no escape yet at the same time, having witnessed the behavior of Liverpool fans firsthand, it is quite conceivable that they were drunk, and in large numbers, and their behavior made the police panic. Whatever happened Liverpool fans are not entirely blameless as some like to think.The police more than contributed to this catastrophe with their poor decision making but so did the fans.
This was a tragedy where many innocent people, who only wanted to see a football match died, but everyone needs to hold their hands up so that history will never be repeated. As some have already said, there were liverpool fans trying to jump the gates at Wembley recently and a few years ago i was at the charity shield in Cardiff and a bunch of Liverpool fans had stormed in and tried to sit two to a seat. When they were told they had to move they started kicking off, even to the extent that they attacked some of their own fans who told them off. The fans can't keep blaming everyone else and then continue to act like this!
Jimbo, I have to agree with you, both parties are to blame,no one intended their to be tragedy, but being idiots/drunk etc was a major problem that day, followed by panicking police, who lost control of the situation.
this x a million.whilst the police didn,t handle it well the liverpool fans have to put their hands up for their part.there are bound to be people who crowded the gate that game and were part of the reason the dibble opened the gates who lost loved ones.i think a lot of people would have more respect for liverpool fans if they admitted their wrong in the tragady.also when we look at this in todays light it wouldn,t happen today as the old bill would wait a day to get everyone in safe.it can only be viewed with 1980,s eyes and the police had no experience of dealing with anything like this in this country.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:53 am
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:08 am
Rather than blame the Police or the fans I'll blame the fencing for it , where fans were caged in like animals and couldn't escape.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:59 am
smilebit wrote:Rather than blame the Police or the fans I'll blame the fencing for it , where fans were caged in like animals and couldn't escape.
Yes there were plenty of factors like the Pool fans have to take some resposabity. And the Police lost control of the situation and made gross errors then they then blamed the fans for those errors and then as smilebit said the fences were the biggest factor and basically if they wasn't there this tragedy would not of happened.
But thanks to all the above we have got all seated stadia so thanks for that ....NOT!!
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:01 pm
smilebit wrote:Rather than blame the Police or the fans I'll blame the fencing for it , where fans were caged in like animals and couldn't escape.
True up to a point. Police put both sets of fans in the wrong ends. Football fans were/are treated like scum. Who hasnt drunk alcohol before a big match? The taylor report states that SY police tried to cover up by blaming fans. Women and children were amongst the 96 who lost their lives. Tragic.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:01 pm
smilebit wrote:Rather than blame the Police or the fans I'll blame the fencing for it , where fans were caged in like animals and couldn't escape.
True up to a point. Police put both sets of fans in the wrong ends. Football fans were/are treated like scum. Who hasnt drunk alcohol before a big match? The taylor report states that SY police tried to cover up by blaming fans. Women and children were amongst the 96 who lost their lives. Tragic.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:00 pm
jama wrote:smilebit wrote:Rather than blame the Police or the fans I'll blame the fencing for it , where fans were caged in like animals and couldn't escape.
True up to a point. Police put both sets of fans in the wrong ends. Football fans were/are treated like scum. Who hasnt drunk alcohol before a big match? The taylor report states that SY police tried to cover up by blaming fans. Women and children were amongst the 96 who lost their lives. Tragic.
We can blame the drink and the Police (and the Police were shocking) but at the end of the day if the fences weren't there , then this really would have happened or at the very least we be looking at a handful of deaths . To me that's the only good thing that came out of that horrible day and was a end to Fencing around the pitch
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:10 pm
smilebit wrote:jama wrote:smilebit wrote:Rather than blame the Police or the fans I'll blame the fencing for it , where fans were caged in like animals and couldn't escape.
True up to a point. Police put both sets of fans in the wrong ends. Football fans were/are treated like scum. Who hasnt drunk alcohol before a big match? The taylor report states that SY police tried to cover up by blaming fans. Women and children were amongst the 96 who lost their lives. Tragic.
We can blame the drink and the Police (and the Police were shocking) but at the end of the day if the fences weren't there , then this really would have happened or at the very least we be looking at a handful of deaths . To me that's the only good thing that came out of that horrible day and was a end to Fencing around the pitch
Totally agree. Football fans in that era were caged in and treated like animals
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:28 pm
It was because of football hooliganism that the polizei opted for fencing to control the fans in the grounds. It was the easy option and saved them some work.
The result of that was Hillsborough in 1989, a tragedy that could've happened to many different clubs, including ours.
In my opinion, South Yorkshire Police and certain Liverpool fans were equally culpable for the tragedy and will have to live with that for the rest of their lives. I'm just saddened that nobody has ever been prosecuted for what they did (or failed to do) that terrible day.
It really hurt me, what happened that day and still does. I know it could've just as easily been me suffering that fate and I also know that the actions of myself and other football fans contributed to the fences being there in the first place.
It was a sad day for football and for this country and we haven't learned from it. I know that some Liverpool fans got in without paying when we were at Wembley last month, but it's highly unlikely they'll ever admit that - "Always the victim, it's never your fault."
The polizei as a whole - and not just the dreadful South Yorkshire Jackboots - need to look at themselves and their attitude towards football fans. Yes, the behaviour of some is appalling, but don't tar all of us with the same brush. I've been staggered by the treatment I've received at some away games over the years (and don't get me started on our stewards at home games) and it's obvious that some bullies in uniform instigate the trouble out of boredom or whatever.
Do I have a solution? No, sorry, I'm stumped.
The result of that was Hillsborough in 1989, a tragedy that could've happened to many different clubs, including ours.
In my opinion, South Yorkshire Police and certain Liverpool fans were equally culpable for the tragedy and will have to live with that for the rest of their lives. I'm just saddened that nobody has ever been prosecuted for what they did (or failed to do) that terrible day.
It really hurt me, what happened that day and still does. I know it could've just as easily been me suffering that fate and I also know that the actions of myself and other football fans contributed to the fences being there in the first place.
It was a sad day for football and for this country and we haven't learned from it. I know that some Liverpool fans got in without paying when we were at Wembley last month, but it's highly unlikely they'll ever admit that - "Always the victim, it's never your fault."
The polizei as a whole - and not just the dreadful South Yorkshire Jackboots - need to look at themselves and their attitude towards football fans. Yes, the behaviour of some is appalling, but don't tar all of us with the same brush. I've been staggered by the treatment I've received at some away games over the years (and don't get me started on our stewards at home games) and it's obvious that some bullies in uniform instigate the trouble out of boredom or whatever.
Do I have a solution? No, sorry, I'm stumped.
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:35 pm
Read Paul Scraton's book "Hillesborough: The Truth"
If you do you wont blame the fans it was the fault of the police and lack of H&S policy and planning at the ground.
I dont think they were any more or less problematic or boysterious than we are at City
If you do you wont blame the fans it was the fault of the police and lack of H&S policy and planning at the ground.
I dont think they were any more or less problematic or boysterious than we are at City
Re: " SENIOR MERSEYSIDE POLICE BLAMED DRUNKEN LIVERPOOL FANS "
Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:54 pm
DannyboyBluebirds wrote:Read Paul Scraton's book "Hillesborough: The Truth"
If you do you wont blame the fans it was the fault of the police and lack of H&S policy and planning at the ground.
I dont think they were any more or less problematic or boysterious than we are at City
The fans wernt just boistrous all they were interested in was getting in for free .
ive seen footage of that day and the liverpool fans played a big big part in that tradegy and should admit it..
That said i feel the same would have happened if other clubs fans were there under the same curcumstances
