1989 Hillsborough Disaster Charity Record

I received a text from Mike, who is away at college, asking if I knew about the Liverpool 96. I had some idea but not enough. Now the news was breaking that the truth the British police and other public agencies covered up and misrepresented how 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed to death due to overcrowding at Hillsborough...

In April 15 1989 Liverpool was playing Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, Sheffield, England. Shortly after kick-off, an influx of Liverpool supporters caused a barrier to break resulting in a massive crush of people. 96 supporters would die from the resulting crush, only 14 were admitted to the hospital. At the time of the incident the blame was placed on the unruly fans. The Taylor report from 1990 concluded the main reason for the disaster was the failure of police control...

2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel reported that 41 of the 96 might have been saved, due to failures by emergency services and public bodies which contributed to the death toll

In May 1989, a charity version of "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey", written by Gerry Marsden, was released in aid of those affected by the Hillsborough disaster. the song was recorded by Liverpool artists The Christians, Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers) and Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman (SAW). The single held the #1 spot in the UK for 3 weeks.

I searched ebay to find a copy, which I was lucky enough to do. The 45rpm record arrived today. Although this has nothing to do with American based soccer, I wanted to share this amazing piece of soccer history...

The reverse side features the song "Abide with Me" - Terence Duffy on organ, Philip Duffy, master of music. Sung by the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir.  Liverpool and Everton football teams and representatives were in the congregation..April 16, 1989 Sunday evening mass at Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral...

2012.12.17 A new charity single was released to assist the Hillsborough families' fight for justice. Participating in the recording sessions of the song "He Ain't heavy He's My Brother" were Kenny Daglish, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, Glenn Tilbrook, Holly Johnson John Bishop, Alan Hasen, Robbie Williams, Beverly Knight, Mel C, Paloma Faith, Rebecca Ferguson, Peter Hooton, John Power, Dave McCabe, Robbie Williams, Eliza Doolittle, Ren Harvieu, Jon McClure, Shane MacGowan...

Daglish hoped the single would provide tremendous reassurance to the families, if the public got behind the single...the families have suffered enough...

Originally posted 2012.10.22, updated 2013.01.13