@West Yorks Owl and it also highlights another lie. Once the campaign to absolve the scousers of all blame got going, one of the first lies told was that you didn't have a safety certificate. It is a lie still being told today.The club did have a safety certificate but because the turnstyles could not count the numbers who had entered into specific parts of the Leppings Lane end, the number allowed had been reduced but the club had not updated the certificate, as this would make the document invalid you could argue technically the club didn't have one.
These 2 links show the info of reduced numbers and also a certificate was issued in 1988, which could contradicte each other
Hillsborough inquest told Sheffield Wednesday breached safety rules
Club admits safety certificate was not valid and risked potential criminal liability in years before 1989 disaster in which 96 diedwww.theguardian.com
Hillsborough stadium passed safety inspection 11 months prior to disaster
Last inspection of the stadium before the disaster was on May 19, 1988www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
Overcrowding during Sheffield Wednesday-Newcastle FA Cup tie
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dennishasdoneit
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Cheers for posting the two articles.my mistake...a certificate was issued,but as you say technically invalid as the turnstiles merely counted entry not which area of the ground fans went in,thereby compromising safety....The club did have a safety certificate but because the turnstyles could not count the numbers who had entered into specific parts of the Leppings Lane end, the number allowed had been reduced but the club had not updated the certificate, as this would make the document invalid you could argue technically the club didn't have one.
These 2 links show the info of reduced numbers and also a certificate was issued in 1988, which could contradicte each other
Hillsborough inquest told Sheffield Wednesday breached safety rules
Club admits safety certificate was not valid and risked potential criminal liability in years before 1989 disaster in which 96 died
Hillsborough stadium passed safety inspection 11 months prior to disaster
Last inspection of the stadium before the disaster was on May 19, 1988
Thanks for clarification.
My point still stands 're 1981 semi final.The you tube vids on this are quite scary.
I'm still confused by the existence of a Safety Certificate for a ground which wasn't safe...
I,'ll leave it there.
West Yorks Owl
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As I've always said, unfortunately football grounds in the 80's were death traps, the incident in 1981 has been well documented, I personally believe this could have happened anywhere but for us it was our ground, there was (allegedly) plenty of grounds who had no certificate in 1989.
I went to Ipswich on the first game of the season in 90-91 and it was pay on the gate, they massively under estimated the amount of away fans who would turn up. fans flocked to the pens behind the goal and it filled up people started to panic and the police on the day panicked and shut the gate at the front of the pen.
This made Wednesday fans scale the fences to get out, finally the police realised it wasn't hooligan related and opened the gates allowing fans to move to a seated area in another stand. This was just over 12 months after Hillsborough.
As you say most if not all grounds were death traps. The Kippax had steps going straight down and it started very high up ! It may have been because of the Ibrox disaster but at some stage they changed the lay out to incorporate a middle section, it was still very dangerous and we were very lucky nothing bad happened.
dennishasdoneit
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You are of course correct 're 80s grounds. I can remember scary crushes at Filbert street, on the way out off the terrace,but down a tunnel with stairs...I stupidly put my hand on the banister and nearly got my arm ripped out it's socket after a massive surge from behind.
The Baseball ground terrace at Derby county ,behind the goal we were packed in like sardines, late 80s or early 90s,it was a struggle to breathe,similar to old Trafford 1990 big crush on terrace as City headed for the only exist after the game.
I also often think back to our own Fa cup run season 1987/88 ,we lost to Liverpool at Maine rd in the quarter finals..if we had won we,d have been at your place for the semis ,playing,iirc Forest..I imagine I would have been in the LL standing terrace..
West Yorks Owl
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With David Duckenfield only being put in charge 3 months before the 89 semi, there were calls to let the bigger northern team (Liverpool) have the kop rather than the Leppings Lane end but this was dismissed, although in 88 with the previous Chief Superintendant (Brian Mole) in charge Liverpool still didn't get the kop, nor Leeds United in 87 semi, so you may have been right.
dennishasdoneit
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Surely the safety certificate is the Lie?
I'm sorry you've lost me.
dennishasdoneit
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I can't help you with that...
Maybe the 50 Newcastle fans who complained to Sheff wed of dangerous over crowding once again in the leppings lane end can assit ?
BrianW
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I often think it's a miracle, or the grace of God, or luck, that prevented many disasters back in the day. I'm not sure Maine Road was exactly safe when there was a big crowd. There were always crushes getting out of the Kippax at such times, and all it would have taken to cause deaths would be for a few people to fall and be trampled. If you remember the 'tide' as people moved out, there is no power on earth that could have held it back.
Maine Road was by no means the worst ground. In fact, most were like museums from the 1930s, and we just accepted them without a thought. I doubt 'safety' was often found on the agenda of any club Board.
Maine Road was by no means the worst ground. In fact, most were like museums from the 1930s, and we just accepted them without a thought. I doubt 'safety' was often found on the agenda of any club Board.