How simple gesture of Hillsborough solidarity says so much
Apr 18 2009 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
As usual there was plenty of red visible on the terraces, particularly just to the left of the Gwladys Street goal where Liverpool supporters had traditionally congregated.
Before the game kicked off, a group of Liverpool supporters paraded a banner around the perimeter of the pitch. The banner carried a simple message: “LFC fans thank EFC fans”.
While in the away end another flag was unfurled which read: “The Kop Thanks You All We Never Walked Alone.”
The applause which greeted these heartfelt gestures underlined the feelings of solidarity which everyone on Merseyside felt in the aftermath of Hillsborough.
This was a tragedy for Liverpool as a city, not just Liverpool the football club, and the outpouring of emotion from all of its citizens no matter what team they supported reflected this.
On Tuesday afternoon, David Moyes followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Harvey by crossing Stanley Park to pay his respects to those who perished in the death trap that was the Leppings Lane terrace.
The Everton manager was rightly applauded as he took his seat on the Kop and the handshake of thanks he received from opposite number Rafa Benitez was clearly heartfelt and genuine.
Over at Goodison, the Everton flag was flown at half mast while the club also commemorated Hillsborough on its own website and by taking out a full page tribute to the 96 victims in the Echo.
Such official gestures were totally in keeping with the way Everton Football Club conducted itself 20 years ago and the homemade blue and white Justice For The 96 banner which a group of Evertonians displayed at Villa Park last Sunday was equally apt.
This weekend of all weekends, it is appropriate that Everton find themselves in another FA Cup semi-final, representing Merseyside’s hopes of having one of our teams grace a Wembley final.
In fact, it is difficult to think of anything more fitting.
Itandje just a disgrace
CHARLES Itandje is a poor goalkeeper who before this week was destined to be remembered in these parts solely for his comical FA Cup displays against Barnsley and Havant & Waterlooville.
That was before he decided that a memorial service to commemorate the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters was a fitting setting to act the goat.
The anger which has already come Itandje’s way following his outrageous behaviour is totally justified and will only subside once he has left the club.
The terms of Itandje’s contract may prevent him from being sacked but if he has any remaining decency about him he should sit down with his agent and come up with a way of walking if he cannot be pushed.
As a football club, Liverpool’s dignity over Hillsborough has always shone like a beacon and its commendable conduct should not be allowed to be besmirched by a player who has never looked good enough to represent it on the pitch and who has now shown himself incapable of representing it off it.
