The Kop

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The following article was written by Jim Abraham

Hillsborough Memorial Service 15th April 2007, Spioenkop Battlefield, KZN, South Africa.

I’ve heard I said many times by writers that they find it hard to start their “grand opus”, even when they know the subject matter and how the story goes. I don’t claim to be any kind of writer but have an understanding of what they feel seeing as I have been sat in front of my PC screen looking at a blank page for some hours now.

Being fortunate enough to have made the trip to Spioenkop on 15th April 2007 I remember the day very well, the events, who attended and how I felt. Yet somehow it is very difficult to do justice to all that happened on that very special and memorable day.

I guess all I can really do is give my own personal account of why I was there and hope that is enough for people to understand why the journey was such an honour to take, whether you came from 11,000 kilometers or from just up the road.

The day itself was perfect weather wise and those who met up at the Spioenkop Lodge to remember the 96 fellow reds who were so tragically taken 18 years previously are all members of the South African Liverpool FC Supporters Club, Gauteng Branch.

We started with a tour round the Battlefield itself and listened with interest how Battlefield expert Raymond Heron described the fateful events of 24th January 1900 and how hundreds of soldiers from the Lancashire Regiment were killed on the top of Spioenkop, which as a result gave it’s name to the famous Kop stand at Anfield, and therefore served as the most appropriate setting for our service.

The service itself was delivered with great passion and dignity by Dave Walters and Dean Davis who in turn gave us the reasons why we were remembering the day and how it affected them. Dave related the chronological events which led to the tragedy at Hillsborough and the aftermath and Dean told of how, as he watched the pictures transmitted from England, he felt drawn to the club he has passionately followed ever since.

We sang the “Fields of Anfield Road” and then stood in silence for the 6 minutes of actual playing time of the semi final while we all brought back to the surface our own personal feelings of that day, where we were, what we were doing when for every Liverpool fan the world stood still. Everyone who attended then took turns to read the names of our fallen friends and concluded with a rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

Flowers, shirts and scarves were left to mark the service as well as the promise to return the following year.

I couldn’t help but think during both the Battlefield Tour and Memorial Service how both tragedies could have been avoided if only communication had been better. During the battle, orders were mixed up, misinterpreted and ignored just as they were at Hillsborough when gates were opened to send more fans into already crammed pens. So much could have been different if only communication was clearer and responsibility taken.

Speaking personally I was so very honoured to have been there especially in the company of the proudest and most passionate people I have ever met, they are truly worthy of that title. I will always hold the day near to my heart and felt more a Liverpool fan than I have before, even when stood on the Kop.

Dean and Dave, as I have said before, you can be very proud.

The attendees:

Dean Davis
Dave Walters
Elli Lechtman
Melinda Green
Daniel Lechtman
Stuart Shackleton
Minnel Govindasamy
Sue Gijzen
Kevin Wilkinson
Cheryl Wilkinson
Stephen Green
Jim Abraham

YNWA

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The following article was written by Dave Walters

While 4500 people were filing onto The Kop for the annual Hillsborough memorial service, several Liverpool fans in South Africa were gathering to pay their respects at the site that gave it's name to that most famous of terraces.

Members of the South African supporters club (and two Reds who flew out from the UK especially for the event), gathered at the top of SpionKop in remembrance and to reiterate the call of 'Justice for the 96!'.
The event started with a brief battlefield tour to get an idea of why this particular battle lent it's name to so many stands in the UK. During the ceremony it was pointed out that even the 'other' end of Hillsborough was known as The Kop.
This battlefield tour brought the futility of war, and especially of this particular battle, into sharp focus and being told of the carnage that took place on that hill, lent an intense emotional aspect to the afternoon's procedings.
So much so that both speakers had difficulty in maintaining their composure.

It was decided not to hold the memorial service at any of the monuments on the battlefield but to rather find a private nook among some rocks where the wreaths were layed and several shirts, scarves and flags were draped.

The memorial started with Dave Walters welcoming all present and issuing a few words of thanks before giving a brief rundown of the events of the 15th of April 1989. While this was common knowledge to most people present, it was felt that part of this memorial's function is to serve as an ongoing education to younger and newer supporters and it was decided to include this information.
While the 'press-controversy' is also an important part of the Hillsborough legacy, it was decided not to defile the event with a mention of that publication. That part of the education will be done in the pub.

This was followed by Dean Davis discussing the impact of Hillsborough on the Liverpool Experience and how it was his experience of this disaster that led him to become a passionate reds supporter. His comment that he believed it was a visit by the 96 to the Istanbul changeroom at half-time that lead to that incredible come-back will stay with the writer for a very, very long time.
I couldn't help but think that those 3 goals were scored within 6 minutes.

The group then sang The Fields of Anfield Road before observing 6 minutes of silence to commemorate the actual amount of playing time.
A referee's whistle marked the end of the 6 minutes and the assembly then read the names and ages of the 96 in turn. The lady who read the name of Jon-Paul Gilhooley was visibly shocked to read that he was only 10. The memorial was brought to a close by the singing of YNWA.

Plans for next year, the 15th will be on a Tuesday, includes a full 4-hour tour of the battlefield on the Monday and the Memorial on the Tuesday. Invitations will also be extended to international reds and LFC staff-members to join us in this unique memorial.

JUSTICE FOR THE 96!