My Footballing Moments of 2012 - Part 2

Final part of my footballing moments for 2012 begins with my favourite moment.

It's hard to believe it took 23 years for it to happen but finally the REAL truth about what happened on that sunny day of the 15th of April 1989. When 95(almost 4 years later Tony Bland fight for life sadly ended and became the 96th) football supporters of my own club never came home from a football match in Sheffield. The subsequent blame apportioned to the fans by a local MP, South Yorkshire Police and the media ran with it. To this day the story than ran in a paper than shall remain nameless has been boycotted on Merseyside.


1,346 days since the disaster, the Hillsborough Independent Panel's work was published to the world. It was vindication for what the families and survivors had been saying for 23 years and a lift off many of their shoulders. A victory and an inspiration to all parents but also for the survivors who were there that day.

The biggest cover up in British legal history was unfurled before the world's eyes, the "self-pity" city they were called by outsiders. To me Scousers should be an inspiration to many people and showed the fortitude to battle for what was right. Liverpool and its people(including Evertonians who have stood shoulder to shoulder with Liverpool FC throughout these long years) should never be tarred with that moniker ever again. It is a city like most in the North of England but just has that something special. Never more so over these 23 years.


What was more poignant was the first home game at Anfield was non-other against our old foes Manchester United. Been at Anfield that day was the most emotional I have experienced as a Liverpool supporter as for all our triumphs as for what happened on the 12th September was the greatest moment in this history of our great club. The subsequent quashing of the original accidental deaths verdict by the coroner in 1989 at the High Court was the clincher.

The families await the new inquests, hopefully for the likes of Anne Williams, the mother of 15 year old Kevin who died. It cannot come soon enough, the woman is a hero and like all the families deserve their justice for their loved ones.

My next favourite moment of the year also relates to the Hillsborough disaster. A touching moment in the game at Goodison Park between Everton and Newcastle. The song chosen by Everton ended up been the Christmas Number 1 in the UK by the Justice Collective raised money for the families cause. But the below video will live long in the memory from that game and shows despite the rivalry those Blues are deep down salt of the earth.

In terms of on the pitch there has been a lot of highs and lows in 2012. Change of manager, inconsistency et al....Bellamy's performance against Manchester City enabled the Reds to progress to Wembley, Suarez's second hat-trick at Carrow Road are just a couple that missed out. Below are my footballing moments(in not any given order) on the pitch for Liverpool in 2012:

Gerrard scores the first hat-trick in a Derby since Rush scored 4 at Goodison over 20 years ago. In the process ruining David Moyes's tenth anniversary as Everton manager.

Obviously beating Everton is sweet, the Gerrard hat-trick was immense having been there at Anfield that night. But going into the semi-final at Wembley in April with Liverpool struggling in the League. Everton went in as favourites and despite taking the lead up popped Suarez and then the much maligned Andy Carroll to send a glancing header to send Liverpool into the final.

First trophy in six years, the drought ended in a dramatic League Cup final against Championship outfit Cardiff. As then manager and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish completed the full set of domestic honours as a manager, as the Redmen captured the cup on penalties. Charlie Adam's miss will be remembered for obvious reasons because it was such a shit penalty(although Neymar would later in the year put that to shame with his miss).

The man is a genius, Luis Suarez. His first hat-trick at Carrow Road will live long in the memory especially the goal from the halfway line almost. To hit the ball on the run like that and get it over the keeper from that distance takes a lot skill.

Finally, the man again. This goal summed up what a special player Luis Suarez really is. An unbelievable pass to pick him by Jose Enrique against Newcastle earlier this season (2012/13 season) was the stuff of sheer brilliance. To take the ball coming from that distance on his chest despite the attention of Fabrizio Collocini  and to then deftly take it passed Tim Krul with one touch was just unreal. Relive it again.

My hopes for 2013 is progression and more consistency for the Redmen.