http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26685698

Every match in the top five leagues in England will kick off seven minutes late on 11-14 April to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Fixtures include the FA Cup semi-final on 12 April between Wigan and Arsenal, which will start at 17:07 BST.

Hull face Sheffield United at 16:07 BST the next day in the second semi-final.

The plan applies to all Premier League, Football League and Conference games, the Football Association said.

There will also be a minute's silence before all matches on those dates, held six minutes after the originally scheduled kick-off time.

Fitting tribute or a step too far?

Sick to my back teeth about Hillsborough.  Lets have remembrance days for Heysel, Burndean, Ibrox, Valley Parade and all the others to commemorate those poor people that died.

Is that why there were randomly 7 minutes of injury time after our game at Anfield last season when we were holding onto a win?

It's a much safer idea than forcing silences which is just asking for trouble.

It's a much safer idea than forcing silences which is just asking for trouble.

There's still going to be a minute's silence as well.

And here I thought they were actually using common sense.

 

I see now, actually missed the sentence mentioning it. I seem to recall we've been not so great at the hillsborough minute silences.

Edited March 24, 201411 yr by Stim

And here I thought they were actually using common sense.

 

I see now, actually missed the sentence mentioning it. I seem to recall we've been not so great at the hillsborough minute silences.

Agreed we haven't and I honestly don't see the upcoming one being any different.  Keep ramming things down peoples throats they eventually gag.

And here I thought they were actually using common sense.

 

I see now, actually missed the sentence mentioning it. I seem to recall we've been not so great at the hillsborough minute silences.

 

You know why? Because younger football fans who were either too young or weren't even born at the time of Hillsborough don't relate to it in any way and yet are asked to remember the occasion every year on a day out when they just want to enjoy themselves. 

 

Minutes applause at football, in my opinion, is much better than a minutes silence because you avoid any "controversy" if the silence isn't honoured. 

 

I said it in another thread though, my personal feeling on it all is that after all this time it's lost on me why all teams are asked to mark the anniversary of Hillsborough. My opinion is that it should only be Liverpool who do anything. 

Where will all this stop? Is there ever a time to move on?

I'll use the six minutes to also remember the Bradford victims, they seem to have been forgotten as usual, that disaster sticks in my mind, it was a much more visual and instant disaster. Those poor people, I cannot imagine what they went through.

I really don't want to sound awful but I don't see how this commemorates the victims. Can't they just stick to the minutes silence?

I really do agree that you have to move on eventually, its awful to say but life does go on.

I don't remember a minute's silence up and down the country for the Munich anniversary this year. I don't suppose there'll be anything similar for Heysel either.

 

The whole tributes thing is getting a bit out of hand now. What's going to happen next year? Will every single match throughout the season be kicking off seven minutes late?

Edited March 24, 201411 yr by Englishman

Sick to my back teeth about Hillsborough. Lets have remembrance days for Heysel, Burndean, Ibrox, Valley Parade and all the others to commemorate those poor people that died.

Spot on.

Let the club mark it themselves like Rangers ect do.

Why everyone else has to be brought into it I'll never know.

At least the delayed kick off gives people time to turn up late, pissed.

The two FA cup semi's will have 96 empty seats as well in honour of the dead. An empty gesture in every sense of the word. I said in another thread that my personal feeling is that the grieving families loss has been hijacked, and that this should be a purely Liverpool thing.

 

The pictures of those dead and dying fans were graphic and haunting, and what happened that day was a terrible tragedy, and an outrageous liberty, that summed up the way all match going fans were treated by the authorities, just ask Spurs fans who nearly suffered the same fate at that ground earlier.

 

But I sincerely hope that this 25th Anniversary will put an end to all the mawkish and (in some cases) insincere, professional grieving. And that with the exception of the families who were personally affected by Hillsborough, the rest of Football can move on.

Edited March 24, 201411 yr by SHELLY

I've already posted elsewhere on this subject but have another question: What must the families and friends of those who died at the Bradford Disaster - the 25th anniversary of that was in 2010 - think of this. I can't recall clubs being asked to mark that with delayed kick-offs and/or a minute's silence. Correct if I'm wrong.

The two FA cup semi's will have 96 empty seats as well in honour of the dead. An empty gesture in every sense of the word. I said in another thread that my personal feeling is that the grieving families loss has been hijacked, and that this should be a purely Liverpool thing.

 

The pictures of those dead and dying fans were graphic and haunting, and what happened that day was a terrible tragedy, and an outrageous liberty, that summed up the way all match going fans were treated by the authorities, just ask Spurs fans who nearly suffered the same fate at that ground earlier.

 

But I sincerely hope that this 25th Anniversary will put an end to all the mawkish and (in some cases) insincere, professional grieving. And that with the exception of the families who were personally affected by Hillsborough, the rest of Football can move walk on.

Edited March 24, 201411 yr by coco

I wonder whether the great club that is Liverpool FC will finally splurge on some real black armbands, instead of borrowing the roll of duct tape from the bus driver's repair kit.

I've already posted elsewhere on this subject but have another question: What must the families and friends of those who died at the Bradford Disaster - the 25th anniversary of that was in 2010 - think of this. I can't recall clubs being asked to mark that with delayed kick-offs and/or a minute's silence. Correct if I'm wrong.

Yeah but that's Bradford mate, we're talking about the greatest team in the world, Liverpool football club, how many European cups have Bradford won la?

Dey do doh love a good mourning don't dey doh.

 

Merseyside mourns dead chicken.

The constant fawning by the football authorities and the media has long since worn thin. I have every sympathy for the innocents who lost their lives, and of course their families but you know what ? I would have far more respect for them if they mourned in private,  instead of this enforced grief fest which they seem determined to wallow in and inflict upon almost every level of the game on a regular basis.

 

Do they even understand the meaning of the words dignity and humility ?

The constant fawning by the football authorities and the media has long since worn thin. I have every sympathy for the innocents who lost their lives, and of course their families but you know what ? I would have far more respect for them if they mourned in private,  instead of this enforced grief fest which they seem determined to wallow in and inflict upon almost every level of the game on a regular basis.

 

Do they even understand the meaning of the words dignity and humility ?

The only words they understand are me, me, me.

The Uk media are gearing themselves up for a major scouse w**kfest, and quite honestly it's sickening. 

The two FA cup semi's will have 96 empty seats as well in honour of the dead. An empty gesture in every sense of the word. I said in another thread that my personal feeling is that the grieving families loss has been hijacked, and that this should be a purely Liverpool thing.

The pictures of those dead and dying fans were graphic and haunting, and what happened that day was a terrible tragedy, and an outrageous liberty, that summed up the way all match going fans were treated by the authorities, just ask Spurs fans who nearly suffered the same fate at that ground earlier.

But I sincerely hope that this 25th Anniversary will put an end to all the mawkish and (in some cases) insincere, professional grieving. And that with the exception of the families who were personally affected by Hillsborough, the rest of Football can move on.

I agree, it was an awful event and it saddens me to think what those poor souls (and their families) went through, but like most people here have said, it just feels forced now and hangs a black cloud over what is meant to be a fun day out.

The 96 empty seats thing is ridiculous if I'm honest. I mean no disrespect in saying this, but if it was a Chelsea match and I missed out on going even though there were 96 empty seats with no backsides on them, I would feel a bit annoyed about that. Surely, you'd want as many supporters at an event as possible?

Even Liverpool themselves as a club have toned down the Hillsborough references on their kits! Their insignia no longer has the gate with the Never walk alone text or the two torches. Those are now on the back of the shirt instead. There comes a time to put it to bed, respect it and move on. That's what I would want if I was one of the family members.

Maybe have a one minutes silence at Anfield for big anniversaries such as the 25th, as it is a big one, but not each year. It becomes a bit much otherwise.

Again, I reiterate that this post was written with the utmost respect to the tragedy.

Edited March 25, 201411 yr by theblueone

There'll probably be a one minute silence at games in late August to honour the dead of the First World War. A minute to honour millions of deaths and a seven minute delay to...well, you get my meaning.

Edited March 25, 201411 yr by Spudulike