Twenty four years ago ninety six football fans went to watch their team, Liverpool, play against Nottingham Forest in the semi-final of England’s FA Cup tournament.
What followed has gone down in history as the worst football stadium disaster in British sporting history. For many years the fans themselves were blamed although it’s now widely accepted that stadium mismanagement and poor decision making from the emergency services were the chief problems. The families and associates of those killed and injured on the day continue to campaign for justice and for the names of those fans to be cleared from all wrongdoing.
Since the early 1960’s ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has been sung at Liverpool FC matches and the words are emblazoned across the club crest and above the Shankley Gate at their home ground. It’s one of the most covered songs in history although Liverpool mainly associates it with Gerry and the Pacemakers 1963 recording.
There have been many rousing renditions of the song originally penned for the Rogers and Hammerstein musical ‘Carousel’ by the likes of Nina Simone, Elvis Presley and one of my personal favourites by Mahalia Jackson. However, in solidarity with the 96, even as a supporter of an arch-rival club I’m playing this emotional, haunting Johnny Cash version from the 2003 ‘Unearthed’ sessions.