An Arsenal perspective on Hillsborough « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. 800,000 visits last month

By Mike Collins

Sitting in my house in Nova Scotia I have been consumed reading about the results of the enquiry into Hillsborough and the Liverpool FC tragedy.

The reason I remember it so well is that I was standing on the old north bank with my son as some very confused news started to come through on that day. Eventually we were all huddled around supporters who had radios to hear the news even though the enormity still did not hit home.

What sticks out for me is that the much maligned Arsenal board very much did the correct thing and came up trumps.

First was the decision at Highbury to never erect the prison type fences that were a major reason for the Sheffield death toll. Events are now slipping into the past file in my mind but am I correct in thinking that an FA cup semi-final was routed away from Arsenal because they did not have fences to keep the unwashed mob in check?

The Football Association did little to look at the reasons for hooligan behaviour and address the serious problem with antiquated stadiums.

It was the Taylor Report that was instrumental in forcing football into the modern age and indirectly responsible for the Emirates Stadium as seating cut down the capacity of Highbury so much. I was almost crushed to death at a Derby County cup replay and cannot imagine the horror of those caught in Sheffield. Quite frankly safety has to be paid for (much as I dislike high ticket prices as much as the next person).

If my memory still hold out (and I welcome help in this direction) I believe Liverpool’s next home league game was against Arsenal and the FA actually ordered it should be played. I also believe that not only did Arsenal refuse but said they would take any penalties and the FA backed down in the face of so much condemnation.

This fixture was then played later in the year with a very interesting result.  Arsenal again did the right thing, by running onto the pitch with bouquets of flowers to place around the ground.

It is not fashionable today to think of Arsenal doing the right thing – and of course Arsenal’s actions at that time are as nothing compared to consideration of the tragedy itself.  But memories remain, especially on a day like today when finally the truth is heard.