17 February, 2011

I'm no Liverpool fan, but I have no fear of acknowledging a Great man:

Follow hoogenband0110 on Twitter
Tragedy: Heysel, 1985 European Cup Final
I am no Liverpool fan, but I felt for three time European Cup winner:  Kenny Dalglish, who witnessed two terrible tragedies as Liverpool Football Club manager. The first was at Heysel in Brussels at the 1985 European Cup Final. Liverpool were playing Juventus and 39 Italian fans were killed when a wall collapsed after they were charged at by Liverpool "fans."  British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher immediately banned all English clubs from playing in European competition as a result of the tragedy. Only five years later were English clubs re-admitted into European competition. Kenny Dalglish was no longer involved with Liverpool at that stage, meaning that tonight's UEFA Europa League clash with Sporting Prague in Prague, will be "King Kenny's" first match in Europe since the tragic night in Heysel 26 years ago. I am well aware that Heysel was an event which deeply affected Kenny.
Kenny Dalglish in his Liverpool playing hey day
He will face up to his darkest memories when he leads Liverpool out in European competition against Sparta Prague more than a quarter of a century after that fateful night in the Heysel Stadium.
"I have another opportunity now, but there are a lot of people who never get second chances," said Dalglish, recalling the tragedy that cost 39 lives during the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus and the impact it had on both himself and the game.
Dalglish viewing another tragedy that deeply affected him: Hillsborough'89
"Heysel was a terrible tragedy. For many people to lose their lives at a football game was appalling and it was right that somebody was punished."
This Europa Cup tie against Sparta in Prague will be his first engagement in Europe since Heysel and it is more than appropriate that Dalglish should choose some of the youngest on Liverpool's books to make the journey with him.
Teenage sensation Raheem Sterling, Conor Coady, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson are the brightest stars of the Kirkby academy. New beginnings indeed for "King Kenny."
Follow hoogenband0110 on Twitter

No comments:

Post a Comment