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In May 1997 there was a benefit concert at Anfield – the Hillsborough Justice Concert.
The concert took place on Saturday 10th May 1997 and was broadcast on TV seven days later.

I don’t know where I was or what I was doing back then, but I don’t remember seeing or hearing anything about it. Oh hold on I’ve just remembered. I think I was out of the country at that time. Google and YouTube has enabled me to discover everything about this day.

The concert was to raise funds for the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
Everyone involved with the concert gave their time for free. The organisers, the artists, everybody. All profits went to the HFSG. Some time later there was a CD released and again, all profits went to the charity.

It is thanks to YouTube user raining69 that there are video clips of the TV broadcast. I’ve created a playlist of all the videos I’ve found:

If you don’t have time to watch the whole thing – links and a summary of each video:

This wasn’t on the accompanying CD. The clip begins with John Barnes talking, then Steven McManaman then to the band performing. After that there’s a few words from the band Space.
A forgotten band from the ’90’s. Smaller were from Liverpool, but they jumped on that Oasis-soundalike bandwagon at the time. In fact Noel Gallagher played guitar on their 2nd single. Another Oasis connection with the band’s lead singer: Peter “Digsy” Deary. He was immortalised on the Definitely Maybe album with the track Digsy’s Dinner. The clip starts with Frank Skinner talking then Barnsey and McManaman as above (They must have broadcast Smaller first then Stereophonics, but I’m going with the running order)
Clip begins with title card and a voice over telling the viewers about the Hillsborough campaign. Then to the band performing. A break and Dodgy talking about the event, then it switches to Nicky Wire from the Manics. Then back to the band playing and finally Frank Skinner again.
Starts with the band talking, title card and commercial break. Back from commercial, band walking on stage. Cut to Trevor Hicks (HFSG chairman) talking and then band playing.
Trevor Hicks and Nicky Wire as above. Then the band performing.
John Peel introduces the band on stage then it cuts to him talking about the event and why they are there. Then to Paul Heaton interview and then band performing.
John Peel introduces Trevor Hicks on to the stage, he gives a speech thanking everybody. The London Community Gospel Choir sing You’ll Never Walk Alone and they are joined on stage by all the performers who join in.

– I found a blog entry in which the blogger reminises about the day:

“…The silence at Rock the Kop, the Hillsborough Justice Concert, in 1997 was also very touching, but singing You’ll Never Walk Alone was something special. I cried as I sang with the crowd, and the person next to me handed me the corner of her Liverpool scarf. We held that scarf high and sung as loud as we could. The concert was good (it still makes me smile thinking of when Space were on stage. The weather had been on and off raining all afternoon, and the sky overcast. As they got to the chorus of Dark Clouds – ‘Dark clouds drift away to reveal the sunshine’ – the clouds parted and the sun shone. The crowd roared and applauded!), but YNWA is what made the concert.

Justice for the 96. You’ll never walk alone.”

As mentioned above there was an accompanying CD released:

(This playlist will be here for a very limited time)

Scans:

You can still find the CD via Discogs or a search on ebay. Thing is though that sales of these CDs don’t go go the Hillsborough Justice campaign. So if you purchase a copy or you’ve downloaded something here – go to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign site and make a donation.

If you would like to make a donation please send cheques/postal orders payable to: Hillsborough Justice Campaign
PO Box 1089, 178 Walton Breck Road, Anfield, Liverpool, L4 0RG
Tel or Fax us on : (0151) 260-5262

Contributions and donations to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign can now be made by Credit or Debit card through Paypal. When making a payment through PayPal please use the following Email Address: justice_4_96@yahoo.co.uk Which is directly linked to our bank account.

 
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