The following poem was written by Brian Nash for the WNWA walk from Hillsborough to Anfield. The group consisted of supporters, survivors and family members and was organised by Steve Kelly and Cherie Brewster.

 

Why do I cry?

Nobody I knew died.

My old man was there

Some good friends were there

But they came home alive.

My Dad had almost given up

Couldn’t get near the gate

But a crush and then a sway and

“Ee are, get in here mate”

Did that random act of kindness decide his fate?

 

I was in London sat on a bar stool

Saturday ritual playing snooker and pool

With beer and the final scores.

For people of my age this was our “JFK”

We will always remember where we were that day

Our eyes and ears tuned to events miles away

 

Two days later I drove back home

Walking around Anfield carrying my own.

She was 4 months old

Blissfully unaware,

Of the tears, distress and the reason the flowers lay there.

Row upon row, scarves red and blue.

Joined in grief, rivalries set aside.

Supporting each other through this worst of times.

Is this unity and strength the reason I cry?

 

In the years that followed we have all felt the pain.

We all heard people telling their version of events.

Like they knew more, like they knew the score.

Disrespecting our friends, our family, the people of our city.

“Typical Scousers, always the victims, wallowing in self-pity”.

You’ll Never Walk Alone? No, we never walk alone.

It is how we are, it is who we are.

A solidarity that will never waver.

It’s not the shirt we wear

We’re not just red and blue.

Our city has no colour when we stand together.

Under siege but unrelenting in our search for the truth.

Never forgetting our lost and our loss.

 

Years rolled by and the fight carried on.

We’ll never be silenced until justice is done.

Football grounds at home and abroad sang our song.

“Justice for the 96” they sang. They knew we’d been wronged.

 

Memorial services come and go.

Tributes are given, stories are told

Of 96 fans who will never grow old.

 

Could I have carried the fight for that long?

25 years of people telling you you’re wrong.

My heart bursts with pride for the families of the lost.

They never gave in, would never say die.

Anne Williams punching the sky.

Is admiration the reason I cry?

 

Obstacles, hurdles, nobody cares.

McKenzie was right and the truth hurts.

“You got to let it go mate, it’s time to move on,

You can’t bring them back, just accept that they’re gone”.

But we all knew better and would not let it lie.

Are anger and bitterness the reason I cry?

 

Remembering that September day, sat in my car.

Prime Minister speaking, re-opening the scar.

The deception uncovered, voices finally heard,

A nation now hanging on every word.

Some feeling shame for the lies they’d shared.

Stinging eyes, wet face, oblivious to passers by.

Is vindication the reason I cry?

 

I‘m left wondering if that’s the reason I’m here.

Will walking alongside my sisters and brothers get me anywhere near

Helping me find my own resolution?

I don’t think I will ever stop crying.

It’s how I’ll remember these people who I never met,

Never stood alongside,

Never sang with,

Never celebrated with,

Never shared that euphoria that following your football club can bring.

I never met them but I know who they are.

They’re me. They’re you.

They’re all of us.

They’re Liverpool.

Where do the 96 now reside?

Beside the hope in our hearts and in every stride of this journey.

Eventually the truth will out, justice will be done.

But they will always be remembered regardless of outcome.

We’ll walk through the storm, with our heads held high.

And at the end of that storm, there will be a golden sky.

Maybe then I’ll discover the real reason why

I cry.

For the 96.

 

Brian Nash 2014