Hillsborough: A survivor's story

Apr 15 2008 By Damian Kavanagh, Liverpool supporter

I AGREED with Bill Shankly's quote about the greatest day of the English season being FA Cup Semi-Final day. At 20 years of age I went to my second consecutive Semi-Final at Hillsborough. Same ground, same opponents and we were to wear red again. I took my lucky scarf. No need for superstition though; it was gonna be the same outcome as last season... a win and the Reds to Wembley again!

Nottingham Forest had a good side but we were better - better than anybody - and after a stuttering season we were right on Arsenal's case for the League title which had looked lost on New Year's Day and now we were just one step from the FA Cup Final again. The double-double should have been done the previous season. We'd left it late this season but we could just do the impossible this time and make up for it.

It looked like Everton would get past a decent Norwich side too in the other Semi so there was the prospect of another Scouse Final on the horizon. I actually hoped Norwich would win though coz the stress of derby day is bad enough without the added prize of the FA Cup and the massive bragging rights that would go with creating a bit of football history. The stick the losers would get would be unmerciful. Ian Rush's equaliser and beating Everton in the 1986 Final goes down as my favourite ever moment and day as a Liverpudlian but I remember the dread of losing while we were a goal down; worse than terrible!

Injuries had cleared up, our form was boss and looked to have come just in time. We again looked like the team that had entertained and wiped the floor with everybody the previous season. My Kop season ticket qualified me for a Leppings Lane terrace ticket; that suited me fine. I liked standing on the Kop and being part of the singing and quickness that had gone on to make us world famous. If I'd had the chance to buy a seat I'd have swerved it and not just because it would have cost a few more quid.

I'm so proud of our city; for all the unjustified stick the media has given us over the years our team has risen above it and achieved true greatness. There are many people in far-off places around the world who know the name of Liverpool because of our team. Despite not yet regaining our previous standards we are still this country's most successful club - both domestically and in Europe.

I got up smart and went with Bailey who had been my bezzie since school to meet two more of my mates, Jamie, who I knew from work, and his bezzie, Scott. Jamie was happy driving so no need for Barnes' or Happy Al's coaches with all their restrictions of pickup points and times etc. We could go at our leisure, stop off when we liked, go for a bevvy and get dropped off at the door back home. Bailey had temporarily stopped going the match after getting himself a bird but I'd got a voucher from somebody who never went to the aways and he was made up at me getting him a ticket. Despite the nerves of the big day we were confident.