It just shows you how terrible things are at the moment when we are reminiscing over events 40 years ago when people had their heads cracked open by fans throwing bricks.

Great days though!

What happened at Hillsborough in 1989 could very easily have happened at Elland road that night or at Wembley in '85 which was also absolutely rammed behind the sticks that afternoon. HSE would have a heart attack if that was ever to be repeated today.

The old Craven Park was dangerous as well. We were packed in like sardines on a small crumbling terrace behind the sticks.

pretty much the same at any large football stadium at the time. I remember standing on the big open terrace at st james park a few times as a teenager and it was mental when they scored

Could you imagine what they'd think of a big pile of concrete and brick left unattended in a stadium stand?
Got away lightly with that with only a £1000 fine because in all seriousness, if you witnessed it, you know somebody could have easily died.
The 50 grand fine for pulling the goalposts down at the McAlpine was a bit harsh though.

Yes, agree.

What eventually unfolded at Hillsborough in April '89 had been around twenty years in the making. Virtually every time a ground (Football or Rugby) was close to capacity the possibility was there for a catastrophe to occur, which in the end it did. Every Hull derby day 1979-85 could very easily have ended in a similar outcome, we just never looked at it that way at the time.

Obviously everything is a lot clearer with the benefit of hindsight, but looking back there was a number of warning signs throughout the 70s and 80s as to what potentially could happen if everything went wrong all at the same time (the perfect storm). That is what happened in April '89, but there are occasions when it could have been our disaster to live with and not LFC.

I do wonder if there would have been the same level of outrage if 97 people had died at a RL game instead of a high profile football semi-final? There, but for the grace of god, go we, thankfully.

As I've alluded too before it suddenly got rammed in that Leeds kop end well after kick-off because a train special or two were late getting into Leeds from Hull. A big influx of Hull fans trying to get in and most had enjoyed a sherbet or two on the journey.

As I've alluded too before it suddenly got rammed in that Leeds kop end well after kick-off because a train special or two were late getting into Leeds from Hull. A big influence of Hull fans trying to get in and most had

And on the coach going home as well. I remember having a massive hangover and had to miss school next day.

For me, Wembley 1985 was even worse. Our end, behind the tunnel end posts, was packed beyond capacity. I could barely move an inch, and I was a skinny lad back then! When I look back to that afternoon I shudder how Hillsborough could have happened to us then.

A couple of years later it emerged that a group of Wembley turnstile operators had been running a scam by admitting excess fans in for cash in hand in sold-out ticket games when capacity in the standing areas could be stretched. Not sure if that was the case when we played Wigan but there was definitely more people in my section than I think there legitimately should have been. It was heaving, to put it mildly!

I was on cans of Norseman lager for the journey.
Weak as p!ss but 16, enjoying myself, thinking I was big-time.

Yep. Me mam wasn't pleased when I got home. I was grounded for a week