O/T Anne. ITV

Wizaard said:
My Dad was at Burnden in 1946 to see Matthews play. They lifted the crushed bodies from the terraces (30+ iirc), laid them on the cinder track, marked another touchline a yard in and restarted play.

Different times.

I’m astonished that I’d never heard about this disaster until glasshalffull mentioned it. I’ve just read up on it and the changes that were implemented because of it. It must have been traumatic for your father to witness something so upsetting and completely unexpected, although I’m sure he will have played it down because that’s what that generation tend/tended to do.
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Amazingly he didn't know what had happened in detail until he got home to find my Grandma at her wits end, having been listening to the radio, and not knowing whether Dad was involved. He was 16 at the time.

I'll ask him on Sunday when I go over to see him.

I don't know if it's a factor, but the country was only a year on from the end of WW2, in which many in the crowd would have been close up to death. Maybe that made them more resilient to it?
 
Wizaard said:
Amazingly he didn't know what had happened in detail until he got home to find my Grandma at her wits end, having been listening to the radio, and not knowing whether Dad was involved. He was 16 at the time.

I'll ask him on Sunday when I go over to see him.

I don't know if it's a factor, but the country was only a year on from the end of WW2, in which many in the crowd would have been close up to death. Maybe that made them more resilient to it?
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Oh God, I bet she was frantic! Yes please do ask him.

Just quickly calculated that your dad must be 91 now.. is he in good health relatively? Does he live at home or in a nursing home? My dad is 97 and starting to deteriorate sadly.. although he still lives alone at home with a lot of support from me.

I’m sure the war would have inured most people to a lot of things. The British are a stoic nation as well.
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
I'm not criticising or blaming Stevie Nicol for a second but he shouted at his own supporters to get off the pitch.
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2020,

sadly during those times, fans on the pitch usually meant disorder of some sort. Everyone was used to it. It's also why people were penned in like caged animals. Doesn't excuse anyone of blame, but it provides some context I think. I mentioned on the Horden Colliery thread last week, how weird it is to think that widescale violence and going to a game expecting to have to defend yourself/wanting to attack other supporters was considered 'normal'.
 
TotallyTangerine said:
Oh God, I bet she was frantic! Yes please do ask him.

Just quickly calculated that your dad must be 91 now.. is he in good health relatively? Does he live at home or in a nursing home? My dad is 97 and starting to deteriorate sadly.. although he still lives alone at home with a lot of support from me.

I’m sure the war would have inured most people to a lot of things. The British are a stoic nation as well.
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Yes, 91. Lockdown hasn't been good for his mental health with the lack of face to face interaction. He's recently gone from hospital after a fall (at my front door) into a home for an assessment of his capability. Now been there a few weeks because there as an outbreak of covid amongst the staff, which meant the assessment hadn't yet taken place due to staff shortages.
 
straightatthewall said:
2020,

sadly during those times, fans on the pitch usually meant disorder of some sort. Everyone was used to it. It's also why people were penned in like caged animals. Doesn't excuse anyone of blame, but it provides some context I think. I mentioned on the Horden Colliery thread last week, how weird it is to think that widescale violence and going to a game expecting to have to defend yourself/wanting to attack other supporters was considered 'normal'.
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Absolutely Straighters.

I was just pointing out that even at Hillsborough they played on despite fatalities.

I appreciate that nobody knew of any fatalities at the time and was not blaming Stevie Nicol or anybody else.

Nobody would have died if the supporters hadn't been penned in but they were penned in for a reason as you mentioned.

All so tragic, I could forgive those in charge for any honest mistakes made, no matter the consequences but the subsequent cover up by the authorities was absolutely disgraceful.
 
Wizaard said:
Yes, 91. Lockdown hasn't been good for his mental health with the lack of face to face interaction. He's recently gone from hospital after a fall (at my front door) into a home for an assessment of his capability. Now been there a few weeks because there as an outbreak of covid amongst the staff, which meant the assessment hadn't yet taken place due to staff shortages.
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Oh dear, that’s a real bugger. I hope they’re able to carry out the assessment soon and that he’s recovering, a fall can really shake someone’s confidence. I guess he might be enjoying the company in the nursing home though.

My dad fell too before Christmas and fractured his hip socket and wrist. Back at home now being looked after by… me! He’s hoping to go to the pub tomorrow night with his friends.. he’s a determined bugger!
 
TotallyTangerine said:
Oh dear, that’s a real bugger. I hope they’re able to carry out the assessment soon and that he’s recovering, a fall can really shake someone’s confidence. I guess he might be enjoying the company in the nursing home though.

My dad fell too before Christmas and fractured his hip socket and wrist. Back at home now being looked after by… me! He’s hoping to go to the pub tomorrow night with his friends.. he’s a determined bugger!
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Good luck with that. He landed on his knee which came up like a balloon but fortunately nothing was seriously damaged. After the fall on Sunday, it was Wednesday morning before the ambulance turned up, as we were told at his age, we couldn't take him into the Vic ourselves. Goes to show the pressure the Vic is under.
 
Wizaard said:
Good luck with that. He landed on his knee which came up like a balloon but fortunately nothing was seriously damaged. After the fall on Sunday, it was Wednesday morning before the ambulance turned up, as we were told at his age, we couldn't take him into the Vic ourselves. Goes to show the pressure the Vic is under.
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Wizaard said:
Good luck with that. He landed on his knee which came up like a balloon but fortunately nothing was seriously damaged. After the fall on Sunday, it was Wednesday morning before the ambulance turned up, as we were told at his age, we couldn't take him into the Vic ourselves. Goes to show the pressure the Vic is under.
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Bloody hell that was a long wait… Glad there wasn’t anything that would cause long term problems..
Yes most hospitals in the region are under enormous pressure at the moment. Dad had to wait for an hour and half lying on the pavement before an ambulance came (in Lancaster.) Fortunately two passing nurses came to his aid, covered him with coats and stayed with him the whole time. Wish I knew who they were so I could thank them ..
Anyway I wish your dad well… 😬
 
I found this one of the hardest things to watch. I was one of the many who walked away around 15.45 from Hillsborough that day to meet my future wife in the adjoining park, where she was walking our dog. My fellow Seaside supporting mate and I volunteered as first aiders to assist but felt so helpless. Seeing this reminded me that for some they could never walk away as I did. I just got on with my life.
 
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