Liverpool-born Town boss Paul Jewell says he was left feeling “empty” as he watched the Hillsborough disaster unfold. Yesterday, saw the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report into the May 1989 disaster in which 96 supporters died.

The Blues manager had been at a previous semi-final at the same venue: “I’d been to Hillsborough back in 1980 as a fan to watch Liverpool play Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final.

“I was about 14 or 15 at the time and that came back to me when the scenes came through from Hillsborough in 1989."

Jewell subsequently progressed through the ranks as a Liverpool youth and reserves player before moving on to Bradford and coincidentally was in action in a 2-2 draw against Town at Valley Parade on the day of the disaster.

He said: “I watched the scenes from the players’ lounge and it was surreal what was going on at a football match. They were devastating scenes and it just left you feeling empty.

“I was there with my wife Ann-Marie. She’s from Liverpool as well and was pregnant at the time. We just sat there in silence watching what was going on.

“It was very raw to the people of Bradford as well because only a few years earlier they had the tragedy of the fire at the stadium. It brought back some devastating memories for people at the club.

“I later found out that one of the lads I grew up with in Liverpool died at Hillsborough. It was a tragic, horrible, horrible day.”

On the 20th anniversary of the tragedy ex-Town boss and skipper Jim Magilton, then a young player with Liverpool and present at the game, recalled his memories of that day.

Photo: Action Images

gypo added 08:43 - Sep 13 Justice at last for the 96 R.I.P. LET'S SEE IF SOME ON HERE CAN NOT MAKE NEGATIVE COMMENTS WITH THIS POST !!!
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raycrawfordswig added 09:02 - Sep 13 Have we signed nyone yet?
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Stato added 09:04 - Sep 13 I remember watching it on tv and not realising that people were dying at a football match. good that The Truth is finally out there.
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algarvefan added 09:07 - Sep 13 gypo I'm with you on this one, the enquiry seems to have (for once) been open fair and all about establishing the truth. I hope the families of the 96 can now seek closure or justice for the loss of their loved ones. A tragic day in football history.
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Plums added 09:08 - Sep 13 I was at Valley Parade that day, the full extent of what had happened only became apparent as people switched on their car radios on the way home. It was a very quiet trip back. At last the truth is becoming known. Now justice should follow.
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StuartBrett8 added 09:19 - Sep 13 I think The Sun should just pack up, the grotty paper turned the whole country against Liverpool as a club and a city. Finally the truth is out, and it was much worse than expected.
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Marcus added 09:25 - Sep 13 It's not as if anyone reads the Sun and believes anything written. I have more faith with the National Enquirer (who at least don't pretend to be telling the truth). It's time to close that rag and make its owner accountable.
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irishtim added 09:28 - Sep 13 R.I.P to all who died. At last there families have the truth. Maybe now they can move on with their lives.
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MattinLondon added 09:46 - Sep 13 I really hope that the victims families can move on from this but I very much doubt if they some will be able to. Some high ranking police officers, who were on duty then are still high ranking police officers now. And I think one has been knighted. And as for the then editor of The Sun (McKenzie?) he still pops up on Question Time regularly. RIP The 96
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s6blue added 10:16 - Sep 13 raycrawfordswig -- i really dont think it s an appropriate article to post a comment swiping the clubs transfer involvements...have some respect man
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bluey123 added 10:46 - Sep 13 RIP the 96 and I hope that there families can gain some comfort from outcome but I do believe someone should accept the blame and face do justice,
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Grimsbyblue added 11:46 - Sep 13 Sooo pleased for the familys that at last they have got to the bottom of this. No faith either that the senior police responsible for forcing the cover up at the time will be held accountable or that the Sun will actually come clean and say sorry.
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flyingdutchman added 15:46 - Sep 13 yeah your football brain is empty u tw@
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Talbs77 added 22:26 - Sep 14 The saddest and most shameful day in english football history. I remember not long after that, Ipswich played Leeds and there was a panic in the crowd which thank god came to nothing but I'll never forget it as I was really young at the time, (well 12 years old) and remember being swept off my feet when standing in the North, it was exciting when you were a kid but none of us thought somthing like that day would happen. The people of liverpool have shown that if you stick together and never giving up anything is acheivable. They are a credit to themselves and the victims.

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