It was April 9, 1988, and John Aldridge had just scored what would prove to be Liverpool’s winning goal in the FA Cup Semi-Final against Nottingham Forest.

At the age of 13, it was also my first FA Cup Semi-Final, and I remember a voice in front of me, in some dismay, noting that ‘someone could get killed in this pig-pen’.

Aldridge would again score against Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup Semi-Final in 1989, this time at Old Trafford. However, by this time, 96 people had lost their lives in that very ‘pen’ at Hillsborough.

I have often thought about the man in front of me at the 1988 Semi-Final, wondered what became of him, whether he returned to Sheffield in 1989, whether he recalled his haunting premonition of 12 months previous.

I did not return to Hillsborough in 1989, as I was on holiday. Even so, I remain haunted by the death of 96 fellow football fans, agitated to this day that as an innocent and naive 15 year old, my first concern was actually as to when the FA Cup Semi-Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest would recommence.

We simply were not aware of what was happening, until we got to a television and watched aghast at this tragedy unfolding.

As I have grown up, the only moment in my life to which I can equate it, is watching the television in O’Neills in Liverpool, as news came through of 9/11. On both occasions, I remember observing in a state of suspended disbelief.

For many of us, the passion with which we follow our teams – in any sport – is the catalyst for our moods and our cherished memories. Whilst writing necessitates an objective, less biased and often critical viewpoint, I confess to being no different.

Whilst thoughts of Istanbul, and a worn out DVD, will always be testament to a never to be forgotten night, reflections will often lead me to Sheffield and a day which can NOT be forgotten.

It is not my place to argue the rights and wrongs of that day; that would test my objectivity beyond its capability. However, countless reports, campaigns and investigations have quite clearly indicated that the Police and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are those with culpability for the events of the Hillsborough Disaster. Yet, nobody has ever been held accountable and that is what rankles some 22 years on.

Having lived in 4 of the UK’s major cities, including Liverpool, I feel eminently qualified to describe what is a unique community within the Merseyside city. I can only describe it as major city meeting village, and I mean that in the nicest sense.

Liverpool is a major city with a population of close to half a million, yet people know each other almost unfailingly. As an example, I am a born and bred ‘Brummy’, but believe me when I say that there are at least a million people in Birmingham that I do not know.

In Liverpool, the community is so close that people genuinely know each other throughout the city. If you ask someone in Toxteth if they know big Mick in Old Swan, do not be surprised if the answer is yes. It is simply the way of the city, and something I have grown to love over the many years that I have spent here.

It is something that characterised the city in its recovery from Hillsborough, as a community came together to help those most in need. This community has for 22 years continued its fight for justice, for those 96 who perished on April 15, 1989.

Whilst so many on Merseyside campaign for Justice for the 96, there is a subtle difference between allocating blame and apportioning accountability for why 96 Liverpool fans never returned from Sheffield on that day.

Simply, until someone is held accountable, the quest for vindication will continue in the hope that some day, the families will be able to move forward with their lives.

This is not to say that if a conclusion is ever drawn, those who lost their lives will be forgotten, but at least there will be closure of type.

Many have asked me in recent years why people just don’t let it go, why do they continue to fight, why don’t they just get on with their lives. I always put the question back to them, and it always comes back to the special community that I have described:-

• How would you feel if your family or community stood wrongly accused of playing a major part in the death of 96 friends?
• How would you feel if every major report had vindicated you, yet nobody had ever made any kind of admission or apology for the loss of 96 of your community?
• How would you feel if a national newspaper had printed vitriolic and vile untruths about your community but never been prepared to retract them or apologise in public?
• How would you actually feel simply if you had lost 96 of your community?

It is amazing, in those instances, how often people are moved to at least consider a different point of view, even if not fully being comfortable with it.

Liverpool supporters were not angels that day, in fact I am yet to meet a set of football fans that are. However, for nigh on 22 years they have stood, accused in certain quarters of the vilest of behaviour on a day when 96 of their fellow supporters lost their lives. This is why nobody will rest until justice is seen to be done.

This is why the time has come for:-

• The Police to admit that they got it atrociously wrong and were out of their depth
• Sheffield Wednesday Football Club to admit that the stewarding, staffing and security arrangements were nothing short of woeful
• The Football Association to admit that there was absolutely no justification for allocating the larger Kop end to Nottingham Forest, whilst the best supported team in the country were at Leppings Lane
• A certain national newspaper to say ‘We Lied and we are scum’

Until this happens, the people of Liverpool and Liverpool Football Club will continue this ongoing fight for justice. This is not something that will simply go away. If it takes into the 22nd Century, there will be grand-children and descendants who will never cease to clear the names of the club, the community and those who died.

When I hear the famous anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” my mind will often wonder back to Istanbul in 2005. However, my mind will also ask how many of the 96 would have been there if not for Hillsborough. Essentially, through the most wonderful moments that this wonderful game and club have provided, there is always reminiscence of awful tragedy.

This is something with which we shall always live, and whilst I pray for eventual closure for the families involved, it will never be forgotten.

Neither those who died, nor their families will ever walk alone but they deserve the poignancy and respect that every anniversary offers them, and they deserve the truth. They deserve an admission, they deserve accountability.

Rohan Kallicharan

I am the editor of hetoreahamstring.co.uk and also have a personal site at rohankallicharan.co.uk. I am passionate about all sports and would probably pay over the odds from a tout to watch the world tiddlywinks final. I was fortunate to grow up inside the dressing room of the legendary West Indian cricket team of the 1970/80s - this has, I hope, given me a real insight into sport as a whole and the mindset of successful sportsmen. I played cricket and rugby at representative level as a youth, and also have a UK College Bowl winning medal in American Football! My real passions are West Indian cricket and Liverpool Football Club but I will write about much more! I hope you enjoy the site.

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