'We must never forget a disaster which should never have happened'
Apr 15 2009 by Adam Jupp, The Journal
Former Newcastle United manager Kenny Dalglish has broken his silence on the Hillsborough disaster, as the football world marks its 20th anniversary. Adam Jupp speaks to him.
TWO decades have passed since 96 fans were crushed to death at the Sheffield stadium as Liverpool took on Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.
Dalglish, who was Liverpool manager at the time, says police and officials should have delayed the kick-off, which could have prevented the tragedy. He was joined by Magpies legend Peter Beardsley in remembering the disaster, as tributes were paid to those who perished.
Dalglish, who managed Newcastle between 1997-98, said: “It’s something that everybody wished had never happened but I think it’s also something that nobody should forget.”
The 58-year-old Scot reportedly attended as many as four funerals a day after the disaster and the impact of the events of the day are said to be the reason he walked out on the club 21 months later.
He said: “We made sure somebody with Liverpool connections was at every funeral and I think the families really respected that. The boys weren’t obtrusive in any way, they sat back and let the families get on with the grieving but they were there, their presence was there.” Daughter Kelly, now a TV pundit, recalls the impact it had on her father at the time and how it led to him resigning from the Anfield hotseat. She said: “He only told my mum the night before, he just couldn’t go on doing the job.
“All the emotion and stress of Hillsborough, all the weight of responsibility he felt, had taken its toll. Hillsborough was devastating for dad.”
