Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish fought back tears as he broke his 20-year silence over Hillsborough.
Speaking for the first time about Britain’s worst-ever sporting disaster he recalled his horror as he helplessly witnessed the death toll unfolded.
Dalglish was in charge of the Reds for the FA Cup semi against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground on April 15, 1989, when 96 fans died.
He refused to talk about it until taking part in a telly documentary marking the 20th anniversary.
He said: “The easiest thing to do was to have put the kick-off back a bit. That’s not a problem for anybody.
'If the police are talking to the FA and the FA had made that call, there wouldn't have been any resentment or disagreement with the people in the dressing room, neither Brian Clough (the Forest manager at the time) or ourselves certainly.
In his book, Dalglish added: 'It will always anger me that they didn't wait for the fans. There were all these people arriving late, desperate to get inside Hillsborough so as not to miss any of the game.
'Having so many hundreds of people rushing into the ground caused the terrifying crush which squeezed the life out of 96 poor Liverpool supporters.'
Kenny also praised fans.
He said: “The punters were superb.
“They helped the police as much as anything else. They’re supporters. It was their football club that was in trouble.”
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, 51, told the programme: “Nobody has ever held up their hands and said: ‘Sorry, I was to blame.’ ”
An inquest returned accidental death verdicts.
Hillsborough Remembered is on The History Channel, Sky Digital 529 at 8pm, April 15.
Fears grow for missing Liverpool teen
(Thu 09/02)
Liverpool youth charged over bomb scare
(Tue 07/02)
Post a comment