Sunday, April 12, 2009

Minute's Silence Marks Hillsborough Anniversary

Commemorations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium tragedy began Saturday with a minute's silence before Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Blackburn.

Before the kickoff at Anfield, Blackburn's former Liverpool player, Stephen Warnock, carried a wreath on to the pitch and laid it in front of the Kop.

The number 96 featured in red on the white floral tribute, marking the number of Liverpool fans who lost their lives after a crush in a fenced-in standing area of the Sheffield stadium. Liverpool was playing Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinals on April 15, 1989.

Current Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard lost his 10-year-old cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley at Hillsborough.

"The memory of Hillsborough is very central and very important to this club and the 96 will never be forgotten, as well as the people that got hurt," Gerrard said. "It is important these people get remembered individually and not just as a number of 96. This club has fought for justice ever since and will continue to do so."

Relatives of the victims and fans' groups have argued that police caused the disaster by herding spectators who arrived late for the match into overcrowded pens in a fenced-off area behind one of the goals. Most victims were crushed to death.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday's anniversary inside Anfield. At 3:06 p.m., the time the game was abandoned, there will be a two-minute silence across Liverpool.

"We have stuck together since that day like we always do at this club and that shows what kind of football club we are, sticking by each other when times are tough," said Gerrard, who was nine at the time of the disaster. "Time has gone by, but the scars will never ever be healed and the fans will never ever forget."

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the response of Saturday's crowd to the commemoration had helped his side once the match was underway. Striker Fernando Torres scored twice to put the Reds 2-0 ahead inside 33 minutes.

"We've got our memorial on Wednesday and obviously it is the 20 year anniversary," Carragher said. "Whenever it is around that time we play at home.

"The crowd is probably a little bit more up for it and it certainly helps us. That's why we came together before the game. I'm sure it gave the crowd a lift and we got an early goal."

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