Earlier this week, Chelsea F.C. faced Liverpool in an epic match. Walking around Kensington that day, it was a sea of blue jerseys supporting Chelsea. Around game time, the pubs became a mad house; there were even "bobbies" on hand to control the crowds. We joined in the action at Prince of Teck on Earls Court. Watching the game among the people of the area we live was an incredible experience; it was yet another example of just how much of a cultural component football has here.
The day after the game (which Chelsea won in dramatic fashion!), I picked up a Times to read about the reactions. While there were certainly plenty of articles celebrating Chelsea's victory, I was intrigued by one that talked about a past tragedy at Anfield, Liverpool's stadium on that day in 1989.
Twenty years ago (on April 15), 96 Liverpool fans were crushed when the stadium's superintendent ordered workers to open certain gates in an effort to relieve congestion. Fans were outraged at the deaths of these people because they felt that they were not fully addressed by the government. The large decline in manufacturing that occurred throughout England beginning in 1981 also certainly added to the fans' tensions as Liverpool is a major industrial city.
This tragedy eventually became to be known as the Hillsborough Disaster. When Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State of Culture, Media, and Sport stood to address the crowds at the Hillsborough remembrance this week, he did so among cries of "justice" and "truth" from angry fans.
The entire remembrance ceremony that took place to honor the fallen fans was truly remarkable; not only did 30,000 fans fill Anfield stadium at the exact minute those fans lost their lives, but the entire city of Liverpool joined in the ceremony. In the city, the tunnels and transportation closed and people left their homes and businesses to pour into the streets. There they linked arms, bowed their heads, and joined in a two minute commemorative silence. The only sound that could be heard in the entire city was that of the city's two cathedrals ringing bells.
The image of this greatly struck me. The football culture here permeates everything; fans' dedication to their teams is not confined to the walls of the stadium, it spills out into the streets and homes of every family in the team's city.
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6100611.ece, http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.46
Can you maybe talk about what else was going on in 1989 and why it's so remarkable that this is something that is remembered and commemorated?
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