A day for reflection

For the last twenty years the 15th April has always been a day of mixed emotions. It's Mrs Smith's birthday. And it's also the anniversary of the disaster in which so many Liverpool fans lost their lives. Today is especially poignant as it's the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.

So, a day of different parts. Baking chocolate brownies with the kids this morning and looking forward to going to see Waiting for Godot tonight with Mrs Smith (starring Gandalf and Captain Jean Luc Picard) at the Kings Theatre.

But this afternoon I had a walk along the riverside and thought of the families today who will be going through such anguish thinking back to the events of 15th April 1989.

Liverpool's captain that day was Alan Hansen

"I have heard people say that they should now 'let it go' and 'get on with their lives', a view that stems partly from the massive changes that have taken place in English football as a result of Hillsborough. But for the tragedy, and the Taylor Report in January 1990, which enforced the transformation of British football grounds into all-seat stadiums, it is possible that the long history of stadium neglect, and spectators treated as turnstile fodder, would have continued. The new-style British club stadiums, which are among the most impressive in the world for safety standards and facilities, have made it easier for clubs to be better run, and therefore improve the quality of their football. However, though a great deal of water has passed under the bridge since Hillsborough, my attitude to those who feel that the HFSG should now forget its grievances is, 'It's easy for you to talk - you didn't lose anyone.'

Had I lost someone, I would never have let it go."

You'll Never Walk Alone.