That was the darkest moment in English football. It was an unforgettable moment for countless Liverpool fans. The impact of everything that happened that day continued to this day, and even in the future. The once powerful Liverpool team declined from then on. It wandered on the edge of pain and confusion, unable to find its way home for a long time …
Because of that incident, all the stadiums in the United Kingdom changed the standing seats to seated seats, removed the fences to prevent football hooligans from causing trouble, and improved the security measures in all aspects of the stadium. When the fans sat on plastic seats and watched the game in the refurbished stands of the stadium, they knew in their hearts that it was in exchange for the 96 lives.
The clock stopped at 3: 05 p.m. on April 15, 1989, the time when the Hillsborough tragedy occurred.
"… There were more and more people pouring in from the gate passage … We saw the Liverpool fans in the stands next door continue to squeeze, but there were still people coming up. I … Next to me was their stands. A child was squeezed against the net in front of me. He asked me for help … But I … But I was scared silly. I've never seen such a tragic scene … "Michael's voice began to tremble." I didn't know how to help him. His face was squeezed red, and blood was seeping out of his nose … "
Michael could not go on. He put his head in his hands and leaned on the table. His heavy breathing echoed in the empty bar.
After a long time, Michael's voice sounded again. "I've never been so close to death. Countless people fell in front of me. They wailed, cried, and moaned … I just stood there stupidly. The boy who asked me for help lay at my feet. He didn't cry or make a fuss … Later I found out that the child was only ten years old. He came to watch the game with his neighbor … "
"This incident suddenly made me realize how stupid the life I'd lived for the past ten years was. John and I thought that we were living a good life. We thought that getting injured and bleeding was our reward. When we fought, we shouted, 'It's either you die or I die' … But when death really appeared in front of us, everyone was dumbfounded. We were so scared that we were trembling all over. Later, when we helped each other out, I saw a man my age being grabbed and dragged back by two policemen. He struggled desperately and shouted, 'Let me go, my two daughters are inside! I'm not a football hooligan! 'At that moment, I felt ashamed of what I had done. Tony, do you know what caused all of that? "
Twain replied in an inquiring tone, "Too many people?"
"No, it was us. It was us that caused that tragedy. "Michael said, poking his chest. "We never verbally admit that we were 'football hooligans', but we knew we were. At that time, any team would have a fan club like us. The media called us' football hooligans', and others called us' football hooligans'. At that time, almost all stadiums installed eight-foot high barbed wire fences to prevent people like us from rushing into the stadium to cause trouble … If there were no fences at Hillsborough, the fans could have easily escaped onto the stadium. Even though it would have interrupted the game, what was a game compared to the lives of 96? In fact, there were fans who tried to climb over the fence to escape, but they were thought by the nervous police to be football hooligans and were chased back into the crowded stands! "
"After that game, John, Bill, and I quit the club. Mark Hodge tried his best to dissuade me, but I made up my mind. Hodge thinks we've betrayed them and they're done with us. But I don't care. Hodge thinks we are cowards. Only people like him can be considered warriors. They are the most passionate and loyal fans of the team. That is what he thinks. I just wanted to leave the life where I didn't know when I would be beaten to death … Then I got married, and then a year later I had Gavin. Every home game day, I would go to the City Stadium to watch the game, and when I was free, I would come here to drink and chat. I really liked this kind of life. "
"Then why not continue?" Twain advised.
"Because this kind of life is already far away from me. I love football. I love it very much. But what did my love of football bring me in the end? I've lost my favorite son! "Michael gripped the glass so hard that the friction between his palm and the glass made a squeaking sound. "Fiona has always disliked me going to the stadium to watch the game, and she strongly opposed me bringing Gavin … But I was stubborn and even quarreled with her over it. Tony … I love football and support football, but it caused me to lose my only child. If I continue to be stubborn, I will lose my wife and my family … "
Twain looked at the heartbroken man. He had no reason to persuade him to return to the stadium stands.
The founder of Liverpool's dynasty and the club's most successful manager in history, Bill Shankly, once said:
"Someone told me that football is a matter of life and death. To be honest, I deeply regret it. What I want to say is … football is more important than life and death. "
But now, could he still say "football is more important than life and death?" After the Hillsborough tragedy, the Liverpool people doubted Shankly's famous words and football philosophy. Now, Twain was thinking about the same question.
Michael stood up and said to Twain, "So I'm sorry, Tony … I can't go to your game anymore. Now you don't have to worry that I'll beat you up if you can't play in the Premier League. Goodbye, I have to go. Good luck, Tony. "
Twain did not ask him to stay. Watching Michael disappear at the entrance of the bar, he muttered, "I'll worry that you'll beat me up? What a joke. You can't beat me at all, Michael … But I really hope you can beat me up once. I promise I won't fight back … "
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