Hillsborough remembered

This year’s anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster will be very different, but no less significant as we remember the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives on 15 April 1989.

Here at the Museum of Liverpool, our collections tell the stories and experiences of local people. Hillsborough has long been a focus of our collecting; responding to the tragedy as it unfolded in 1989 and how it continues to affect our communities today. 

We are sharing the stories behind a small number of those items below to remember and reflect on the disaster. 

 

A proud LFC fan emblazoned this coat during the tenure of legendary manager Bob Paisley. 'Paisley's Red Army', 'Kings of Europe' and ‘Anfield Aces’, along with embroidered signatures and hand-drawn trophies cover every surface. We initially didn't know who made it or left it at Anfield after the Hillsborough disaster. But after our appeal to find out who this  amazing LFC coat originally belonged to we managed to locate the proud owner John Collins, originally from Norris Green, now St Helens.

John, now 62, acquired the coat in 1981 when he worked at Jacobs Biscuits, Long Lane, aged 23. His mate, Kenny, who was a charge hand at the factory got the supervisor’s coat for him to decorate and wear at the upcoming European Cup final against Real Madrid, 27 May, in Paris. John decorated the coat, starting with the Liver Bird on the back. He then asked his friend from school days, Robbie Savage (who was on Liverpool’s books at the time) to take it in to Melwood, LFC’s training ground to get the players to sign it. His mum, sister and then-wife pitched in to help embroider it. Read the full story here. 

This is one of many hundreds of treasured items left as tributes on the pitch at Anfield. This coat, along with scarves, hats and pennants were kindly donated to the Museum by the Liverpool Football Supporters Club to help commemorate the tragedy. You can see the coat on display in our Wondrous Place Gallery. 

 

Many people across the world showed their support and solidarity by purchasing this charity single, ‘Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey’. Featuring Liverpool artists, The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney and Gerry Marsden it was released in May 1989 to raise money for the Hillsborough disaster fund. It stayed at number one for three weeks. Abide with Me by Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir featured on the B side.
 

 

The Kop, filled with thousands of Liverpool fans is captured in this painting by life-long Liverpool Football Club fan, Adrian Henri.

Poet and artist Henri painted a series of paintings, ‘The last day of the Kop’, marking the change from standing to all-seater stadium in 1994. This change was implemented following an inquiry into the Hillsborough Stadium Disaster which recommended that all grounds in the First and Second Divisions of the Football League be all-seated. 

Immediately after the Hillsborough disaster Henri also composed a poem and painting mourning the death of the 97 Liverpool fans.

 

 

This poignant match ticket for the semi-final, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium, Saturday 15th April 1989 belonged to Andrew Sefton. 

Andrew, who was 23 and had recently become engaged, drove to Sheffield that day with four of his friends. He went into pen three - one of the fenced standing enclosures at the Leppings Lane end. Very sadly he lost his life.

Andrew’s mother, Therese became secretary of Hillsborough Family Support Group. 

We are very grateful to Andrew’s family for donating his ticket to the Museum of Liverpool. You can see Andrew's ticket on display in the History Detectives gallery. 

 

 

On 15 April, 2013 the city marked the Anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster with a number of commemorative events. The Museum of Liverpool displayed artworks dedicated to the memory of the 97 including this mosaic artwork, ‘United in Justice’. Made by local artist Alan Wynne and donated to the Museum by the Hillsborough Family Support Group, it was displayed in the Wondrous Place gallery as a thank you to the people of Liverpool for their help and support during the campaign for justice. 

The mosaic features an iconic image which was taken during Everton Football Club’s tribute to the 97 at their home game against Newcastle on Monday 17 September 2012, following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report findings. The artwork depicts eight-year-old Liverpool fan Michael Clarke holding the hand of 11-year-old Evertonian Beth Garner-Watt on the pitch at Goodison. 

 

Linda Whitfield from Ellesmere Port made this patchwork quilt from donated Liverpool Football Club shirts. It took her four months to create. The quilt includes 97 Liver Birds, to represent each of the lives lost, with the children poignantly remembered by a smaller Liver Bird from a child's shirt. The quilt also includes each of the victims’ names, with those who went to the match together kept close together on the quilt. Linda presented the quilt as a gift to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who kindly donated it to the Museum in 2016. Ahead of the reopening of the gallery, Wondrous Place, in November 2021, Linda came to the Museum to add Andrew’s name to the quilt herself.

 

 

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign shop has been an essential source of advice, comfort and support for many people over the years. 

The shop (at its second location) 178 Walton Breck Road, Anfield was demolished in January this year along with other shops in the block. Just before demolition the committee got in touch to ask if the Museum of Liverpool could take any of the shop’s fixtures and fittings. We were privileged to save these key items for the city and to tell the story of the resilience and determination of the campaigners. You can see the shop sign on display in our Wondrous Place gallery.

 

 

This remarkable portrait of actress Sue Johnston, by Sky Arts Portrait of the Year Christian Hook, is entitled 'You’ll Never Walk Alone'. It was inspired by her campaigning work with the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

Christian painted Sue at first as a conventional black and white portrait, before ‘deconstructing’ the image using his feet, while listening to the Liverpool FC anthem. This short video reveals how Christian created the image. You can see the portrait on display in our Wondrous Place gallery. 

It was kindly donated to the collections of the Museum of Liverpool in 2016 by the artist.

 

Here at the Museum of Liverpool, we continually add new material to represent issues and events affecting people in the city today. Hillsborough has been a focus of our collecting; responding to the tragedy as it unfolded in 1989, and also how it continues to affect our communities. The high-profile campaign against The Sun newspaper, which disgracefully lied about Liverpool fans that day, represents the ongoing repercussions and search for justice.

In memory of the 97

• John Alfred Anderson (62)
• Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)
• James Gary Aspinall (18)
• Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)
• Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)
• Simon Bell (17)
• Barry Sidney Bennett (26)
• David John Benson (22)
• David William Birtle (22)
• Tony Bland (22)
• Paul David Brady (21)
• Andrew Mark Brookes (26)
• Carl Brown (18)
• David Steven Brown (25)
• Henry Thomas Burke (47)
• Peter Andrew Burkett (24)
• Paul William Carlile (19)
• Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)
• Gary Christopher Church (19)
• Joseph Clark (29)
• Paul Clark (18)
• Gary Collins (22)
• Stephen Paul Copoc (20)
• Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)
• James Philip Delaney (19)
• Andrew Devine (55)
• Christopher Barry Devonside (18)
• Christopher Edwards (29)
• Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)
• Thomas Steven Fox (21)
• Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)
• Barry Glover (27)
• Ian Thomas Glover (20)
• Derrick George Godwin (24)
• Roy Harry Hamilton (34)
• Philip Hammond (14)
• Eric Hankin (33)
• Gary Harrison (27)
• Stephen Francis Harrison (31)
• Peter Andrew Harrison (15)
• David Hawley (39)
• James Robert Hennessy (29)
• Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)
• Carl Darren Hewitt (17)
• Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)
• Sarah Louise Hicks (19)
• Victoria Jane Hicks (15)
• Gordon Rodney Horn (20)
• Arthur Horrocks (41)
• Thomas Howard (39)
• Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
• Eric George Hughes (42)
• Alan Johnston (29)
• Christine Anne Jones (27)
• Gary Philip Jones (18)
• Richard Jones (25)
• Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
• Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
• Michael David Kelly (38)
• Carl David Lewis (18)
• David William Mather (19)
• Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
• Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
• John McBrien (18)
• Marian Hazel McCabe (21)
• Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
• Peter McDonnell (21)
• Alan McGlone (28)
• Keith McGrath (17)
• Paul Brian Murray (14)
• Lee Nicol (14)
• Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
• Jonathon Owens (18)
• William Roy Pemberton (23)
• Carl William Rimmer (21)
• David George Rimmer (38)
• Graham John Roberts (24)
• Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
• Henry Charles Rogers (17)
• Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
• Inger Shah (38)
• Paula Ann Smith (26)
• Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
• Philip John Steele (15)
• David Leonard Thomas (23)
• Patrick John Thompson (35)
• Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
• Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
• Peter Francis Tootle (21)
• Christopher James Traynor (26)
• Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
• Kevin Tyrrell (15)
• Colin Wafer (19)
• Ian David Whelan (19)
• Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
• Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
• Graham John Wright (17)