I was reading Tony Barrett’s blog earlier and he had linked to this moving You Tube video.

It’s from 1989, days after Hillsborough, and features AC Milan fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone. (more…)

I read an article earlier today on the Liverpool Echo’s website, “Outrage as ex-Sun boss denies lies“, and found it quite frankly unbelievable. Former editor of The S*n and - in the eyes of most Liverpool fans at least - the lowest low life currently free to walk the streets, Kelvin McKenzie, has tried to claim that his lies weren’t lies. According to the person who upset so many decent people over what he said about those who suffered at Hillsborough, “They were great stories that later turned out to be untrue”.

I found it hard to find the right words to use to describe how I felt. Most of the ones I came up with were just four letters long. And although words like “vile” and “scum” were in the mix, they weren’t the ones I had in mind. I found another blog entry put it across quite well, very well in fact. Dave Usher of The Liverpool Way wrote: “Even a four year old is aware of the difference between the truth and a lie” as he goes on to describe his views on McKenzie - see “Kelvin McKenzie - Lowest of the Low”

The original article appeared in the Press Gazette, which is the trade mag for journalists. The author, Rob McGibbon, used to work for McKenzie and has the full interview on his website (see “Press Conference With…“). McGibbon asks his former boss: “Do you have any sense of shame about untrue stories generally? Is there anything you feel bad about?” Predictably, the answer is: “No. Nothing. What am I supposed to feel ashamed about?”

What are you supposed to feel ashamed about? Where do we start? Try these words you allowed on your front page back in 1989. Words you’ve never been held to account over, all in pretty big letters underneath that once-familiar block capped S*n headline lettering, screaming “THE TRUTH”. Words that were totally untrue, words that you’ve never apologised for. Words read by people who had been injured alongside those whose lives ended in such a horrible way. These words:

“Some fans picked pockets of victims
Some fans urinated on the brave cops
Some fans beat up PC giving kiss of life.”

Ashamed? That’s not even close.

He’s not ashamed, but he’s well aware that he did wrong. He claims he got away with his damaging bullshit for years because he knew he was working for the one man who would allow it - Rupert Murdoch. He says: “Only Rupert would have kept me on, you know. I would have been slung out years earlier by anybody else. People talk about the excesses of the ’80s and ’90s and, sure, you couldn’t do that kind of stuff now. I actually think the sale would be damaged. These are different times, more media-savvy times, with a greater ability for people to say: ‘I’ll buy something else.’”

Well thanks for those words McKenzie. “Buy something else” needs to perhaps become our new phrase as we try to ensure that The S*n boycott goes on.

Buy something else, listen to something else - stay clear of The S*n, stay clear of McKenzie. And try to point this out to anyone you know, relative or colleague, who’s not from Liverpool or not a Red. You see The S*n and McKenzie have no remorse and will tell similar lies again given the chance; and your relative or colleague could be the next one made a victim of the vile attitude of these scum.

Buy Something Else - boycott McKenzie and The S*n

It would be wrong to write anything today without referring to what today is. It’s the 17th anniversary of the worst day in Liverpool’s history. The day that brought an end to the lives of ninety-six Reds. The day that changed the lives of an uncountable number of people rated to or aquainted with those ninety six. The disaster is something that resulted in us getting all-seater stadia. The disaster is something that still makes me cry, even if I do try to hide it. So many aspects of that time, that month and the month after stick in my mind. Standing on the Kop for a minute’s silence for the first home game after Hillsborough. Minute’s silences were rare then. Visiting Anfield when the pitch was filling with flowers and other tributes. The eerieness of a ground normally buzzing being filled with sounds hard to describe. Feeling empty after seeing us win the FA Cup, yet still disappointed at not winning the league. So much has been said about the disaster, but not the one thing that most Liverpool supporters want to hear. A simple word from those responsible: “Sorry.” From those that lied: “Sorry”. From those that could have arranged the ticket allocations better: “Sorry.” For the sake of those that lost loved ones, and those that lost their own lives, please, say “Sorry.” Anfield Road - In memory of 96 Liverpool supporters.

Rest in Peace.