Throwback Thursday... The Hillsborough Tragedy.

Throwback Thursday...

Unreliably Dark Tales from a below average Tabloid Photographer 1989...

Tottenham’s Gary Mabutt clears from defence as Everton’s Tony Cottee challenges.

I hated the fencing/cages around football grounds in the 70s-80s. Fans were treated like animals, unfortunately because some behaved like them ( which of course is unfair to animals ) But most decent football fans detested them, and had to suffer the humiliation of watching their beloved game through iron bars.

The tragedy of Hillsbourgh change all that of course. It was supposed to be another FA Cup Semi Final to be enjoyed, but on this occasion. 96 fans didn't come home.

Thursday 15th April is the 32nd anniversary of that day.

I wasn't photographing footy that Saturday in 1989, I was in the darkroom catching up on some Black and White printing, but I do vividly remember switching on the radio and hearing radio 2's football commentator Peter Jones's voice turn darker and darker as events unfolded that afternoon. Watching football in the 80s could be a pretty dark experience. Myself and my brother would sit on the settee (sofas weren't invented yet) waving our England flags or wearing our favourite football kits, excitedly waiting for the England game of European cup final to start, then only to be confronted by rampaging hooligans and sometimes death (Heysel etc). It wasn't all bad, Bristol City won the Famous Freight Rover Trophy in 1986 which is a day to be cherished and remember by all !

But Hillsborough was a turning point. The fences came down, and for once, albeit for a limited time only, football stood together.

I was involved press wise in a distant way. I photographed the fences coming down at Spurs at their first home game after Hillsborough against Liverpool's neighbours Everton. The players stood and bowed their heads in support of the 96, a selection of Tottenham fans walked the length of the pitch to present Everton fans with a large wreath. It was a muted game in which Spurs one 2-1, without much cheering of fanfare. I managed to get a fairly decent shoot of Gary Mabbutt heading a ball from defence which I remember being rather pleased about.

One minutes silence.

I did cover one of the Hillsborough victims Funerals for the Ealing Gazette. Never a comfortable thing to photograph, I found a spot from an upstairs window in a derelict house opposite the church (let in by the builders) and I managed to cover the funeral without disturbing the family and mourners. This did get me banned from working for the Ealing Gazette though as unbeknown to me the Journalists and snappers were on strike that day and were I presume boycotting the days news, while I was there snapping it ! I was a freelancing and of course the editor who gave me the work didn't inform me of the strike. I did wonder why the newsroom was so quiet, but I was a little green and got on with my job. The NUJ rep rang me the next day to ask me what the hell I was doing. Of, I said sorry and that I was unaware of the strike. He didn't believe me.

I've attached a few pics, most have been lost in the non existent National news Archive and the programme pic is not mine, but shows Liverpool flags etc on the White Hart Lane Gates. RIP the 96, never forgotten... and football is still the best game in the World.