Hillsborough plaque to be unveiled at Goodison

, 6 February, 16comments  |  Jump to most recent

The 96 who died at Hillsborough are to have a plaque unveiled in their memory at Goodison Park ahead of Saturday's 224th Merseyside derby game between Everton and Liverpool.

Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright and Margaret Aspinall, Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, will carry out the unveiling along with other Support Group family members. The unveiling will be held at the Park End Stand and the memorial will serve as a permanent tribute to the 96 who died and their families who have suffered the pain of the loss of their loved ones ever since.

The Everton Chairman paid his own tribute in front of the Kop in 2013 and when manager Roberto Martinez spoke emotionally on the 25th anniversary last year at Anfield he emphasised how “Everton remembers - we always will”. Everton captain Phil Jagielka echoed those sentiments at Goodison Park, pledging Everton's support “for as long as it's needed”.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's ceremony, Margaret Aspinall said: “This is a really lovely gesture from Everton, paying tribute to the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough. I would like to thank Bill and everyone involved, not least the Everton fans who have provided great support to the families over the years.”

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The permanent tribute had been suggested to the Club by supporters and Everton fan Stephen Kelly, whose brother Michael died on the fateful day in April 1989. He said: “As an Evertonian who lost my brother at Hillsborough, I have always been grateful of the support from the blue side of the city. I hope that when Evertonians look at this they will feel proud of the way we've supported our neighbours.”

 

Reader Comments (16)

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Karl Jones
2 Posted 06/02/2015 at 20:50:43
Can you imagine what will happen to this plaque should we get beaten tomorrow (or future derbies)? At the very least it will be divisive to our supporters. Should never have been sanctioned.
Brent Stephens
3 Posted 06/02/2015 at 20:56:15
Nothing wrong with this at all. What happens on the pitch (all the rivalry etc) and what happened at Hillsborough are separate things. As the piece, says, this touches Everton through one of our fans losing his brother. Unveil the plaque in unity, then get on with the game in fierce competition.
Colin Glassar
4 Posted 06/02/2015 at 21:02:05
Agree with Brent 100%. The plaque, in memory of 96 football fans who died watching a football match, should be respected come what may.

Football rivalry is one thing but blind hatred of members of our own community is another thing all together. Unveil the thing and then get on with the game and win it.

Nick Armitage
5 Posted 06/02/2015 at 21:43:29
It's the usual class that sets us apart from other clubs. Had a different ball been pulled from a bag that would have been us. Our friends and family were there, we must never forget that.

JFT96. COYB.

Danny James
6 Posted 06/02/2015 at 21:52:36
Its a really good thing. Such is our community that when 96 Liverpool fans die many Evertonians felt a direct loss. ~Its not just a football tragedy for us
Nick Entwistle
7 Posted 06/02/2015 at 22:08:14
I don't know if there is one in the city itself, but wouldn't a new plaque be better served within the city as it was a tragedy for the city of Liverpool, not Liverpool FC.

This to me presents Hillsborough as having been divided across footballing lines and as we know this is not true.

And in what sense is this necessary? I'm no fan of symbolism, can't abide it in all honesty, and this comes over as an act of ever diminishing returns.

Brian Williams
8 Posted 07/02/2015 at 10:09:31
I'd have preferred it to be unveiled at lunchtime, not immediately before the game.

Actually I feel it should have been unveiled a long time ago, once it had been sanctioned.

Nicky Styles
9 Posted 07/02/2015 at 15:21:01
Anyone complaining about this plaque should be ashamed of themselves. It’s a terrific gesture from our club.
Paul Johnson
10 Posted 07/02/2015 at 15:54:27
Karl @ 2 why would this be divisive. The vast majority of Evertonians will either be related or know someone who tragically died at Hillsboro. After that surely any good human being should have compassion. If not then the sort of moron I think you are referring too is not part of my gang.
Lenny Kingman
11 Posted 07/02/2015 at 19:41:19
A pathetic appeasement to outside political pressure.
Lenny Kingman
12 Posted 07/02/2015 at 19:46:23
A pathetic appeasement to outside political pressure.
Dennis Stevens
13 Posted 07/02/2015 at 19:56:28
I find it a tad incongruous. Everton FC weren't directly involved in the incident, the tragedy didn't occur at Goodison Park. It's not Everton's, it's Liverpool FC's & The City of Liverpool's. Obviously, that's not to say that Everton FC & Evertonians were or are untouched by the tragedy, or the ensuing scandal. Everton FC & Evertonians have been & still are incredibly supportive of both Liverpool FC & Liverpool supporters with regard to this matter & I wouldn't expect that to change. However, this move doesn't sit quite right with me. But there's worse, I suppose.
Ian Burns
14 Posted 07/02/2015 at 21:58:20
We are one community divided by two football teams. The tragedy was a community tragedy and I for one applaud anything which shows as a community we care even if on the football pitch we as partisan as they come.
Paul Hewitt
15 Posted 08/02/2015 at 22:44:16
Wonder if the RS will do a Heysel plaque?
Colin Glassar
16 Posted 08/02/2015 at 23:14:24
Agree with Ian, this event had an impact on the city as a whole.
Lee Gray
17 Posted 11/02/2015 at 22:46:02
Why...WTF has this to do with us bullshit apart we hate them they hate us..
Let's have one for Juve and Man Utd.

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