Tributes At Anfield

Hey folks, please forgive this off topic post but today (April 15th) is a very significant day. If you listen to the podcast or read this blog, then chances are you’ll have heard me mention my love for Liverpool FC. One of the local football teams, that’s soccer to some of you. I try to keep this blog on the topic of FLOSS and technology, occasionally music and politics creep in, but every so often I stray in order to mention something outside of that field. This is one such occasion.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. On the 15th of April 1989 ninety six Liverpool fans, men, women and children, were crushed to death and many more injured at an FA Cup semi-final game. They’d just gone to watch a routine game, leaving their homes in the morning as they would on any other match day. They never came home. I was 8 years old at the time and didn’t fully understand what was going on. It was a terrible tragedy that shook the whole football world and Merseyside particularly hard. What’s more, the failures of the local police and their part in contributing to the deaths has long been covered up. This lead to the creation of the Justice For The 96 campaign, which is run by families of the dead and it’s still going strong.

I don’t think there’s any need to go on about it more. I just wanted to post this information as my very small tribute to all those who died, and those who have had to suffer the pain of living on.  There will be a memorial service at Anfield today in a couple of hours. If you want to read more I’ve included some links below:

• Contrast.org/hillsborough
• Wikipedia Article

Thanks for indulging me, normal service will be resumed shortly but today, is a day to remember…

Dan