Nottingham Forest and Liverpool and the forgotten victims of Hillsborough

Pete Hillier is looking forward to Sunday’s match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool but he is wary. The 58-year-old is conscious that this is the first FA Cup tie between the two clubs since the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Like many who attended the game in Sheffield 33 years ago, he still feels the aftereffects of that dreadful day that resulted in the death of 97 people. The headteacher has put a lot of effort into dispelling the lingering falsehood that the disaster was caused by Liverpool supporters.

Members of the NFFC Supporters’ Trust share their support at the Hillsborough memorial

But Hillier is an unusual voice in the battle for justice. He is a Forest fan. The author of the Zigger Zagger blog is worried that the match at the City Ground will be marred by objectionable chants about Hillsborough.

“I am concerned about Sunday,” he says. “There’s a minority of supporters who cling to the lies and they will be offensive. It’s so inappropriate coming from supporters of our club.”

A curious form of Hillsborough denial exists among a section of Forest supporters, maintained by some of those present 33 years ago and passed on from generation to generation. It was summed up by an exchange between David Watts, a fan, and a barrister during evidence at the 2014 inquests.

“I believe that the cause of this tragedy was due to drunken Liverpool supporters forcing their way in,” Watts told the inquest.

“You agreed with me a little earlier that you were never anywhere outside the Liverpool end of the stadium,” countered Pete Weatherby QC, who represented 22 bereaved families. The barrister then asked Watts how he formed his opinion.

“Well, I suppose it was what I’d heard in the press and on TV," Watts said.

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