32 years ago today, congestion at Hillsborough Stadium resulted in the illegal death of 96 football fans who had traveled to watch the FA Cup semi-final.
Liverpool and Nottingham Forest faced off in the last four of England’s oldest competition and thousands of fans traveled to Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium for the event. What should have been a brilliant day for many turned into Britain’s biggest sporting disaster and one of football’s darkest hours, with over 700 injured and 96 fans not returning home.
On April 15, 1989, 96 supporters went to a football match and did not return home.
Today – and always – we remember them and think of their families, their friends and all those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy 32 years ago today.
You never go alone. pic.twitter.com/oR6VCmnS8B
– FA (@FA) April 15, 2021
Since that day, Liverpool fans and residents have faced decades of abuse, slander and false evidence against them in a smear campaign to shift the blame to the victims of the tragedy.
Supporters, friends and family members of the 96 have fought tirelessly for justice after the disaster, reversed court decisions and held those who were truly accountable accountable. In April 2016, a jury ruled that all 96 victims were killed illegally and fans had no role to play in causing the disaster.
Today, Liverpool and a number of other clubs have praised their tributes by honoring those who got lost on the day.
It is equally important to remember that obtaining full justice for the events of the day of the Hillsborough disaster remains an active case and to take precautions to avoid jeopardizing any legal proceedings.
As a reminder, please refrain from commenting that could harm legal proceedings in connection with the Hillsborough disaster. pic.twitter.com/W5R2Hhq7a6
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) 14 April 2021
Neighboring Everton continue to stand by Liverpool in tribute to those who lost their lives.
32 years ago, 96 Liverpool supporters went to watch their team and never came home.
Then. Today. Always. We stand together in our city and remember them. pic.twitter.com/nj8gBdjo2e
– Everton (@Everton) April 15, 2021
Manchester United paid tribute, as did other Premier League sides.
To remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster, 32 years since the tragic events of that fateful day.
We stand with you, @LFC.
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 15, 2021
Manchester City remembers the 96 football fans who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough.
Are we sending our sympathy to the football family @LFC? https://t.co/9mVCFfenHj
– Manchester City (@ManCity) April 15, 2021
Our thoughts today are with @LFC and those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster on April 15, 1989.
– Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 15, 2021
Nottingham Forest also paid tribute to those who lost their lives and everything that has been affected by the disaster, with their fans present for the fixture of the day.
Today, on the 32nd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, we remember the 96 people who went to a football match and never returned home.
Always in our thoughts ❤️ #NFFC pic.twitter.com/KaE3MPfaAq
– Nottingham Forest FC? (@NFFC) April 15, 2021
The Liverpool Mayor of the Liverpool City Region shared a video of himself etching the individual names of the 96 victims in Parliament almost a decade ago, making sure they remembered properly and emphasized the message that these people will never be forgotten.
32 years ago 96 innocent men, women and children went to watch a football match and never returned. A long struggle for justice followed.
Almost a decade ago, I made sure that 96 would be anchored forever in Hansard.
They will never be forgotten. # JFT96 #YNWA pic.twitter.com/S4Q0b8tpZS
– Steve Rotheram (@MetroMayorSteve) April 15, 2021
Labor MP for Liverpool West Derby Ian Bryne also commented and sent his thoughts to 96 and those affected by the tragedy.
32 years ago and not a day goes by without a thought back to Hillsborough.
Send love to 96, families and survivors that we will never forget today and every day.
Always in our mind❤️ # JFT96 pic.twitter.com/1YGevvLbj3
– Lan Byrne MP (@IanByrneMP) April 15, 2021
Other politicians also expressed their condolences. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described it as “a day to remember them all” and sent his love and strength to families affected by the disaster.
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome also paid tribute.
That day 32 years ago, 96 people went to Hillsborough and never came home.
Today we remember them, their families, their friends, their survivors and their long struggle for truth and justice. # JFT96
– Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) April 15, 2021
Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expressed his condolences to all affected.
Remember everyone who was affected by Hillsborough on the anniversary # JFT96 #Hillsborough #YNWA
– Rafa Benitez Web (@rafabenitezweb) April 15, 2021
Liverpool fans ‘podcast The Anfield Wrap shared a touching and relevant video of each of the 96 victims’ individual stories.
“They are not just 96 people. They are not just the 96. They are friends, fathers and boys, couples, parents, sons and daughters.”
They are not just 96 people. They are not just the 96. They are friends, fathers and boys, couples, parents, sons and daughters.
They are human, loved and cherished. Each of the 96 people who died in Hillsborough has a history. Never forgotten. Pic.twitter.com/A7UKfl9Ut6
– The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) April 14, 2021
Ex-players and clubs outside England also commented and praised.
Thinking of all the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy 32 years ago today. # YNWA https://t.co/c4sxp3riyR
– michael owen (@themichaelowen) April 15, 2021
Today, #RangersFC remembers the 96 @ LFC supporters who lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragedy 32 years ago.
❤️ #AbsentFriends https://t.co/8FqtjRO6xv pic.twitter.com/baigUxXwpK
– Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) April 15, 2021
? # JFT96 – @LFC.
You never go alone. ??
– Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 15, 2021
Tributes were also paid to Stephen Whittle. Whittle sold a ticket to a friend for the semifinals and did not end up, but tragically took his own life 22 years after the disaster. He is unofficially recognized as the 97th victim of the tragedy.
The 97th Hillsborough victim, Stephen Whittle, sold his ticket to the match to a friend who later died in the disaster. Stephen then committed suicide by jumping in front of a train 22 years later, just before doing so he left £ 61,000 with the Hillsborough Memorial Trust. pic.twitter.com/ePakxXFC27
– CornishKopite96〓〓? ? ♂️ (@ShaneMeneer) April 14, 2021
FootballJOE shared a video they filmed with journalist Tony Evans, which gave a touching account of the events of the day and the subsequent smear campaign against the victims that followed.
“I went to a policeman and said, ‘How many? “He just looked at me, didn’t say a word and sobbed.”
If you want to understand what Hillsborough means to the people of Liverpool and why they are boycotting certain publications, look at this account by Tony Evanspic.twitter.com/NVbK3RLitL
– FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 15, 2021
Tributes at the Hillsborough Memorial tonight. Tomorrow is the 32nd anniversary of the disaster. YNWA 96. pic.twitter.com/Ywxfsmabc1
– This is Anfield (@thisisanfield) April 14, 2021
32 years ago we went to a phase semifinal on a sunny day and full of hope, 96 men, women and children did not come home, many more lives changed forever. Thinking of the families of 96, other survivors and those who are no longer with us. RIP to 96YNWA pic.twitter.com/8Eys0ybT87
– Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance (@ HillsboroughSu1) April 14, 2021
We will never forget the 96 victims who never returned home, or those who were affected by the tragedy. You never go alone.
