jaymo132
New Member
http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/calling_city_supporters_at_hillsborough_in_1987_828567/index.shtml
Anybody old enough reply to this ?....
Anybody old enough reply to this ?....
1987 Quarter final v Sheff Wed (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jaymo132
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torchomatic
Well-Known Member
Ah, so sad isn't it? I was there in 87 twice for the quarter and the semi but wasn't injured or anything. Didn't feel in danger really as that's how it was back then with the fences and such.
thaiskyblue
New Member
watched the game sat on top of the burger stall at the back of the leppings lane end it was rammed that day.
WiganSkyBlue
Member
I was there in the Leppings Lane end. I am not aware of any problems that happened at the time. It seemed well marshalled and I don't recall having any concerns about safety issues at any time. The omly complaint was the confiscation of our ale 
when our little mini bus was stopped by the police on the M1 just outside Sheffield
when our little mini bus was stopped by the police on the M1 just outside Sheffield
ohitsaidwalker king power
Well-Known Member
I was 20.. went with my late father to both games at Hillsboro.
We weren't injured but on more than one occasion at the QF I do recall talking to Dad about the crowd density, particularly at the back of the Leppings stand before the game..a couple of times we were just 'carried' on a crowd surge feet lifted, we were out of control, quite unsettling- in fact for the SF v Leeds I recall how we explicitly discussed how we were pleased to have been given the opposite end of the ground albeit we sat along the side... I can't claim any injury and so wont respond. Its all so long ago.. Shamefully in subsequent years I have thought on more than one occasion - "there but for the grace of god..."
My heart goes out to all the family's, friends of the '89 disaster- an avoidable tragedy as evidence now proves.
We weren't injured but on more than one occasion at the QF I do recall talking to Dad about the crowd density, particularly at the back of the Leppings stand before the game..a couple of times we were just 'carried' on a crowd surge feet lifted, we were out of control, quite unsettling- in fact for the SF v Leeds I recall how we explicitly discussed how we were pleased to have been given the opposite end of the ground albeit we sat along the side... I can't claim any injury and so wont respond. Its all so long ago.. Shamefully in subsequent years I have thought on more than one occasion - "there but for the grace of god..."
My heart goes out to all the family's, friends of the '89 disaster- an avoidable tragedy as evidence now proves.
Danceswithhorses
Well-Known Member
Watched the QF from the leppings lane end (LLE)
Hardly any gradient in LLE whilst standing, so despite being on tiptoes, could not see the near end at all.
Just about caught sight of Cyril racing away up the pitch to score at the other end.
Hardly any gradient in LLE whilst standing, so despite being on tiptoes, could not see the near end at all.
Just about caught sight of Cyril racing away up the pitch to score at the other end.
Was at the first game we played there in the top division and to be honest it was so steep it was scary. The record books tell me it was October 1967. And there were 33,000 there.
Looking up from the terracing to the roof above was a bit surreal. So steep and high. & you got the usual surges in the crowd during the game.
And we lost 0-4.
Looking up from the terracing to the roof above was a bit surreal. So steep and high. & you got the usual surges in the crowd during the game.
And we lost 0-4.
NortonSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
I had forgotten that game but was there too as a seven year old with my dad, Wednesday played in the blue version of the Arsenal kit and the kop did not have a roof and Ritchie, Quinn, Megson, Springett and Wittam for the stars for Sheff Wed.
skybluesam66
Well-Known Member
i seem to remember more crushing in round 4 at old trafford - where they bundled us into the central enclosures until they were at virtually double capacity before opening the side ones
was a little busy at the QF but not as bad as round 4
i feel sorry for all those at hillsborough, but remember liverpool fans at highfield road for the arsenal SF and also heysel, and despite the verdict, they have to take some responsibility
was a little busy at the QF but not as bad as round 4
i feel sorry for all those at hillsborough, but remember liverpool fans at highfield road for the arsenal SF and also heysel, and despite the verdict, they have to take some responsibility
I recall It as extremely unpleasant /Uncomfortable ..We took an Old sage From the Gosford Park hotel with us ,around 78 ,Arthur a bookie,We had to get him out of there .
We were around half way up the terrace left of goal toward the Corner,Loved the game ,Hated the experience.
We were around half way up the terrace left of goal toward the Corner,Loved the game ,Hated the experience.
Samo
Well-Known Member
I was there but ended up leaving and listening on the radio in the car as we could not get any further than the tunnel leading to the terrace and saw a guy being taken away who had apparently been crushed. Vastly oversold and bloody dangerous. Wrote to the Police about it after '89 and got a very short thank you letter!
bringbackrattles
Well-Known Member
I remember it really well as me and my mate got nicked inside for being drunk and disorderly.we had gone with the coach from the Wyken Pippin and had been drinking for hours,so when we got in we were loud and excited.They locked us up for the whole match with a lot of City fans who had also being nicked.So never got on the terraces but heard it was a bit crazy.
Moff
Well-Known Member
I was up above in the stand, as I was with my dad and he didn't want to do the terracing. I have to say the middle two pens looked overcrowded from up above. Sadly little did we know what was to come there in the future. Man Utd was bad in the fourth round as skybluesam66 pointed out, especially in the middle pens.
In repesct of the game, probably one of the best performances I ever saw.
In repesct of the game, probably one of the best performances I ever saw.
henry the wasp
Well-Known Member
The man utd game wasn't too bad I thought. The worst for me was the stoke game. My feet didn't touch the floor all game and I was jammed up against a barrier.
The quarter final was an odd one. I thought the police were massively heavy handed outside the ground. I think tracker bars (cereal grain chocolate bar) had not long come out. We were down the front and these girls were walking pitchside throwing them over the fences for us. Anyway, some bright spark lobbed one back over at a copper. The copper turned round and spat through the fence at our support. Que a massive volley of spit on and in the direction of the policeman. We got pushed about outside aswell and my mate got pinned against the wall by a police horse. Moodiest old bill I had come across up to that point.
When we played leeds I looked at that end and said someone was going to die in there. Now they did look like they were in trouble.
The quarter final was an odd one. I thought the police were massively heavy handed outside the ground. I think tracker bars (cereal grain chocolate bar) had not long come out. We were down the front and these girls were walking pitchside throwing them over the fences for us. Anyway, some bright spark lobbed one back over at a copper. The copper turned round and spat through the fence at our support. Que a massive volley of spit on and in the direction of the policeman. We got pushed about outside aswell and my mate got pinned against the wall by a police horse. Moodiest old bill I had come across up to that point.
When we played leeds I looked at that end and said someone was going to die in there. Now they did look like they were in trouble.
Johhny Blue
Well-Known Member
I would like to hear from anyone that has experienced overcrowding at Sixfields?
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The FA had stopped using Hillsborough as a semi-final venue in 1981 after a serious crush during a match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but reinstated it in 1987. Despite a series of modifications to the ground and to the terracing at the Leppings Lane end, no new safety certificates were issued.
Astute
Well-Known Member
We got beer took off us when joining the M6 outside Coventry. They threatened to arrest our driver. But we had lots more beer inside our makeshift seats in our van
The crush started whilst outside the ground. I picked my feet up and got carried to the turnstiles. I am not small either. One of the lads dropped his ticket and struggled to get to it. It got even worse inside. Each time we went forward the crowd seemed to go forward. And each time we scored it went mental. You ended up nowhere near where you started and did your best to stay on your feet. I think I tripped over someone a couple of times.
IIRC I got a few bruises but no real injuries. You quickly learned to keep away from barriers. There was a few times that I struggled to breathe properly including outside the ground. But I was 19 at the time and didn't consider it to be dangerous. It was just part of the experience.
The crush started whilst outside the ground. I picked my feet up and got carried to the turnstiles. I am not small either. One of the lads dropped his ticket and struggled to get to it. It got even worse inside. Each time we went forward the crowd seemed to go forward. And each time we scored it went mental. You ended up nowhere near where you started and did your best to stay on your feet. I think I tripped over someone a couple of times.
IIRC I got a few bruises but no real injuries. You quickly learned to keep away from barriers. There was a few times that I struggled to breathe properly including outside the ground. But I was 19 at the time and didn't consider it to be dangerous. It was just part of the experience.
skybluesam66
Well-Known Member
and they are spending as much on the investigation as it would have cost to build a new ground!!
Johnnythespider
Well-Known Member
I was there with 3 mates, we tried to get in at the back of the terrace but bailed out going through the entrance under the upper tier. It was so densely packed that people were beginning to panic around us, one bloke was beggining to thrash around as more fans came in behind us and tried to push the crowd forward onto the already rammed terrace, this was when we decided to fight our way back out and we went round to the left hand side and climbed a flight of concrete steps to the top corner of the stand. Didn't see anyone injured until the old bill dragged a city fan up the terrace backwards and accidentally let him fall backwards down the steps we had climbed up, but I don't suppose that's what they want, I let them know what I thought and got chucked out just before half time. Still remember it as a great day though, but not surprised by what occurred n2 years later.
skybluefred
New Member
You best talk to RFC.
skybluenormski
Member
I was there too, (I'm 70 now ) and although I was not injured I always felt that there were too many people (15k) crammed into the area. It was scary. Behind the goal was shallow steps so I was glad to push towards the back of the steeper corner terrace. Semi-Final was better , still crushed , but after being marshaled into the other end 100 mins before the start, put up with the delayed kick-off, the traumatic game and the extra time I was sure glad to get out. The ride home was unforgettable though. Still got the video.
I remember that day really well but for very different reasons. As we lived in Sheff we went with some Wednesday friends and sat in their end. My Dad told us, whatever we do don't cheer if we score. Well, Cyrille (I think) scored not long into the game and up jumped my Dad. What happened after nearly put me off football for life as the bloke in front threatened my Dad and said he would follow us home and stab us in our beds. As an 11 year old I was terrified and refused to go to the semi final against Leeds even though we could get tickets.
That was just an awful game for me personally.
That was just an awful game for me personally.
play_in_skyblue_stripes
Well-Known Member
Yes I can still picture the "scrum" outside Leppins lane. Very relieved to finally get into ground. We made a deliberate choice to walk to the left and away from the middle tunnel area for safety concerns.
In other end for semi final and Leppins lane where Leeds fans were looked incredibly packed. After our great victory, the week after all my friends discussed it and said it was a scary situation at that ground.
All of this is true.
The two big 87 games were a big warning that was not heeded by the authorities. It was a very different era to today. I'm afraid many people lost their lives and their families suffered to bring about change.
My heart will always be with those who suffered. I was very happy to see justice finnally won, sorry it's too late for so many.
WestEndAgro
Well-Known Member
I went to every game in the cup run, Stoke was by far the worst in terms of crushing, I recall having the breath squeezed out of me, for virtualy the entire game, barely saw the ball all game either.
when Gynny scored it was absolute pandemonium, looking back it was scary.
I also recall not being able to move my arms from my side at any point of the game due to the crush.
The quarter final was extremely busy, I was in the middle behind the goal, but at no point was it as bad as Stoke, I actually managed to see some of the game.
I agree with the comments about outside though, and the police and the mounted police were extremely heavy handed.
when Gynny scored it was absolute pandemonium, looking back it was scary.
I also recall not being able to move my arms from my side at any point of the game due to the crush.
The quarter final was extremely busy, I was in the middle behind the goal, but at no point was it as bad as Stoke, I actually managed to see some of the game.
I agree with the comments about outside though, and the police and the mounted police were extremely heavy handed.
Harry Krishner
Well-Known Member
I always found the police at Hillsborough to be the most friendly and helpful.
I was quite pissed at the quarter and very pissed at the semi, so only have partial recollection. We headed left after the turnstiles and ended up quite high up on the left near the Wednesday supporters. No probs at all, it was quite comfortable though I do remember this big City fan having a piss on the terraces just behind me and wee cascading down the steps. Also remember how chuffed the Blades fans were in the pubs afterwards.
It was utterly brilliant to be part of such a huge following and winning. I will never forget it.
Agree that Stoke and Man U were worse for crowding. Had to share one seat with a mate at Stoke, and got pelted with coins by Man U at Old Trafford, although the away followings were smaller (5500 and 8000?).
Fuck me what happy times.
I was quite pissed at the quarter and very pissed at the semi, so only have partial recollection. We headed left after the turnstiles and ended up quite high up on the left near the Wednesday supporters. No probs at all, it was quite comfortable though I do remember this big City fan having a piss on the terraces just behind me and wee cascading down the steps. Also remember how chuffed the Blades fans were in the pubs afterwards.
It was utterly brilliant to be part of such a huge following and winning. I will never forget it.
Agree that Stoke and Man U were worse for crowding. Had to share one seat with a mate at Stoke, and got pelted with coins by Man U at Old Trafford, although the away followings were smaller (5500 and 8000?).
Fuck me what happy times.
DazzleTommyDazzle
Well-Known Member
Exactly the same experience that I had.
skyblue.boycie
New Member
Thankfully wasn't injured but scariest moment ever at a match. I was 19 at the time & we must have been one of the last coaches to arrive. From memory I think there were about 150 fans outside the turnstiles on the right hand side of Leppings Lane, the police were reversing their horses into us trying to get us inside the ground but it turns out the turnstiles were closed as I guess the terrace they served were full. When the police finally realised we were told to go round to the gates on the left side of Leppings Lane. Managed to get in but had to stand on tip toe at the top of the steps which lead up to the terrace & got there just as the 1st goal went in. Couldn't see the penalty area in front of the Leppings Lane end due to the amount of bodies in front of me so had to wait for match of the day to see the goals at that end. Was a great day out though.
davebow87
New Member
I went there for the league game where oggy scored and thought to myself that I wouldn't fancy standing on leppings lane if it was packed. Made a point of getting a stand ticket for the quarter final. Saw fans being crushed below as I stood at front of the stand and felt relieved to be where I was. The 4th round at man utd was also scary. The central sections were actually locked and fans couldn't even get to the toilet. I asked one copper about this. He looked at me and said " have a piss there mate" unbelievable! And then they had the nerve to try to blame supporters for the disaster at hills borough. It was just waiting to happen....
