Source: SKY_Sports
Carragher relives Hillsborough
Jamie Carragher has spoken about the moment he realised the full extent of the Hillsborough tragedy.
As a Merseyside native, the Liverpool defender will be at the forefront of Wednesday's memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster.
The 31-year-old grew up as an Everton supporter and was actually watching his beloved Toffees in action on 15th April, 1989.
He was at the other FA Cup semi-final being played that day, between Everton and Norwich at Villa Park, and admits he was initially unaware that 96 Liverpool supporters had lost their lives at the corresponding contest.
Carragher told liverpoolfc.tv: "I was just 11, quite young but old enough to understand what was happening.
"In those days the semi-finals were played on the same day and at the same time, me being an Everton fan I was at Villa Park watching Everton play Norwich.
"I just remember an announcement at half-time that the Liverpool game had been abandoned. It was before mobile phones so no-one really understood what was going on. But obviously we knew there was a problem.
Special
"It wasn't until we heard on the radio in the car on the way back to Liverpool what had really happened. It's amazing how it's 20 years ago and that it took people so long to find out. It just goes to show the difference between today and then."
He added: "Our family were all Everton fans but we knew of one relative who went to the Liverpool game, so it was on the way home when we were trying to find out if everything was okay, and then we found out he didn't have a ticket in the Leppings Lane end.
"He was in the stand so we knew everything was okay in that respect, but you always know someone who knows someone who was affected.
"I just remember being at school, and being in assemblies singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone', which was usually hard for Evertonians on other occasions.
"But I remember the first Liverpool game afterwards, I think it was Celtic, but their first real competitive game was against Everton and I was in the Gwladys Street end.
"I remember having a strange feeling for that game. Normally you are desperate to win but it was a strange type of game, which I think finished 0-0. The result didn't matter.
"It was just special that the first game was between those two sides after the event and both teams went on to the FA Cup final that season."
Essential
Carragher is now determined to ensure that the memory of the 96 who died that day is never forgotten.
"It is essential that we don't forget, it is something that we have all got behind over the years.
"It changed the face of football with the type of stadiums we have and the way people watch football now is probably down to the tragedy, which is a sad thing but hopefully it will never happen again because of those reasons.
"It is something we will never forget, we will hold the memorial at Anfield every season, and rightly so. We should never forget and we realise what it means to the club."
This year the families of the 96 who died have received the freedom of the city, and Carragher said: "They have conducted themselves superbly.
"You always put yourself in their shoes, having children of my own. I don't know if I could have behaved as well as them, I know that your kids are your life.
"For people to send family and friends away to a game and for them to not return is a terrible thought. It terrifies you just thinking about it, so what those people have gone through is unbelievable and the way they have behaved is impeccable. And they are still fighting for things in the
right way."
