25 years ago today, 96 football fans who went to watch their beloved team didn't come home. I do not care who you are, who you support or where your loyalties lie - please just take a moment to reflect on that tragic fact. Thousands of us do things every day that we enjoy. All these people were doing was something they loved and they never saw another sunrise. It hits home particularly to me because my dad and I did that exact same thing that day, we went to watch our beloved team play. We came home, 96 didn't.
It is a shocking and stark reminder that life is unpredictable and oh so fleeting. None of us know what is in store tomorrow and it should never be taken for granted. If you love someone, tell them. You never know when the opportunity to tell them is gone forever, for it can be taken at a moment's notice.
There is an old saying "there is plenty of time to rest when you are dead". I don't mean this in a morbid, depressing way but more to try and inspire people to grasp life and make of it everything you can, while you can. If you want to do something, find a way to do it.
Even worse, if that is possible, than seeing their loved ones perish watching a simple game of football is the heartache and torture the countless thousands of family and friends have had to endure. For a quarter of a century they have been denied the truth and the closure that should be the right of all human beings. They have been told that their loved ones died as the result of an unavoidable accident (amongst other worse accusations) whilst all they wanted to hear was the truth and for someone to say "I am sorry".
The fact of the matter is that no-one meant for those people to die that fateful day in Sheffield. But when truth is denied and hidden for so long from those who have a right to know, that is the greatest of betrayals. The tragedy brought out some of the worst character traits of humans, as well as some of the best. The heartfelt and genuine outpouring of grief and shock which reverberated around the country was often outweighed by more devious and despicable behaviours.
Misinformation, blatant lies and cover-ups have created what we see today - the still ongoing fight for justice, for the truth. It could all have been so different had responsibility been taken by those who were obliged to take it. Mistakes were made, that is forgiveable. But only if those mistakes are acknowledged and we are able to take them and learn from them.
The disgusting fact is that 25 years later those families and friends are still looking for justice and for closure, and it has been denied them because other people sought to save their skin and apportion blame instead of taking responsibility. We claim to be a civilised society, but we cannot possibly be so whilst this type of thing is going on. Betrayal, lies and broken trust - these must all stop if we are to progress and grow.
So regardless of the colour and strength of our loyalties, today we must remember those who died needlessly and we should support their loved ones campaign for the peace and closure they deserve.
Justice for the 96.
Thank you.
Tom
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