On Saturday 15 April, 1989, thousands of Liverpool football club fans made their way to Sheffield on what was hoped to be a joyous trip to Hillsborough Stadium. The occasion was Liverpool's 17th FA Cup semi-final. The opposition on the day was Nottingham Forest.

As kick off time approached there were still hordes of fans milling around outside the Leppings Lane end; somehow a gate was opened and the fans all rushed in. At six minutes past three fans had started to climb over the security fencing, as the stands became more crowded. They looked about for someone to do something. Play carried on for a few minutes. BBC TV went live to the scene and initial reports suggested acts of hooliganism¹; it soon became clear, however, that the stand was packed solid. There was no way through the fencing and fans were being crushed. Some fans started to make stretchers from the advertising hoardings, as more and more fans were pulled from the Leeping Lane stand.

96 people lost their lives that day, and the Shankly Gates at Anfield² became a shrine within hours. Flowers and scarves were left at the Kop³ and in the goal mouth. Over the next few weeks every funeral was attended by some of the players and the manager Kenny Dalglish personally went to a large number.

This tragedy led to a major review of football ground safety. Changes included doing away with security fencing in Britain and the introduction of the all seated stadium. Hopefully such a tragedy will never happen again.

This page is dedicated to the 96 who lost their lives that afternoon. May you Never Walk Alone⁴ .

• John Alfred Anderson (62)
• Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)
• James Gary Aspinall (18)
• Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)
• Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)
• Simon Bell (17)
• Barry Sidney Bennett (26)
• David John Benson (22)
• David William Birtle (22)
• Tony Bland (22)
• Paul David Brady (21)
• Andrew Mark Brookes (26)
• Carl Brown (18)
• David Steven Brown (25)
• Henry Thomas Burke (47)
• Peter Andrew Burkett (24)
• Paul William Carlile (19)
• Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)
• Gary Christopher Church (19)
• Joseph Clark (29)
• Paul Clark (18)
• Gary Collins (22)
• Stephen Paul Copoc (20)
• Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)
• James Philip Delaney (19)
• Christopher Barry Devonside (18)
• Christopher Edwards (29)
• Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)
• Thomas Steven Fox (21)
• Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)
• Barry Glover (27)
• Ian Thomas Glover (20)
• Derrick George Godwin (24)
• Roy Harry Hamilton (34)
• Philip Hammond (14)
• Eric Hankin (33)
• Gary Harrison (27)
• Stephen Francis Harrison (31)
• Peter Andrew Harrison (15)
• David Hawley (39)
• James Robert Hennessy (29)
• Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)
• Carl Darren Hewitt (17)
• Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)
• Sarah Louise Hicks (19)
• Victoria Jane Hicks (15)
• Gordon Rodney Horn (20)
• Arthur Horrocks (41)
• Thomas Howard (39)
• Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
• Eric George Hughes (42)
• Alan Johnston (29)
• Christine Anne Jones (27)
• Gary Philip Jones (18)
• Richard Jones (25)
• Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
• Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
• Michael David Kelly (38)
• Carl David Lewis (18)
• David William Mather (19)
• Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
• Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
• John McBrien (18)
• Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
• Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
• Peter McDonnell (21)
• Alan McGlone (28)
• Keith McGrath (17)
• Paul Brian Murray (14)
• Lee Nicol (14)
• Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
• Jonathon Owens (18)
• William Roy Pemberton (23)
• Carl William Rimmer (21)
• David George Rimmer (38)
• Graham John Roberts (24)
• Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
• Henry Charles Rogers (17)
• Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
• Inger Shah (38)
• Paula Ann Smith (26)
• Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
• Philip John Steele (15)
• David Leonard Thomas (23)
• Patrik John Thompson (35)
• Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
• Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
• Peter Francis Tootle (21)
• Christopher James Traynor (26)
• Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
• Kevin Tyrrell (15)
• Colin Wafer (19)
• Ian David Whelan (19)
• Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
• Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
• Graham John Wright (17)

Tributes to all can be found on the Liverpool Memorial page.