Ian Rush among those from Liverpool and Juventus at ceremony
New Anfield Road monument replaces original plaque
Liverpool have unveiled a new memorial on the 41st anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy to the 39 fans who died.
Representatives from Juventus, Liverpool’s opponents in the 1985 European Cup final, attended the unveiling ceremony at Anfield on Friday along with the Liverpool ambassador Ian Rush and the chief executive, Billy Hogan. Entitled Forever Bound, the memorial is in a more prominent location behind the Anfield Road Stand and replaces the original plaque on the wall of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, which was felt to be inadequate.
The sculpture features a Juventus scarf and a Liverpool scarf entwined in bronze, a dedication to the date and location of the tragedy and the names of the 39 supporters who died at Heysel – 32 from Italy, four from Belgium, two from France and one from Northern Ireland.
The idea for the two scarves, symbolising solidarity between the two clubs and a bond formed by grief, came from photographs of the aftermath of the disaster that showed fan memorabilia strewn across the Heysel terraces. Italian marble was used for the memorial, which was proposed last year by the Liverpool supporters’ board and the supporters’ union Spirit of Shankly.
Rush, who played in the 1985 European Cup final and later joined Juventus, said: “Today is a deeply moving moment. It’s hard to believe over 40 years have passed since Heysel but the memory of that day never fades. This new memorial means a great deal to all of us. The thought and respect that has gone into Forever Bound is something I’m incredibly proud of and I hope it brings comfort to those still affected by this tragedy.”
Hogan was part of a Liverpool delegation that attended the unveiling of Juventus’s new memorial to the victims of Heysel in Turin last year. Liverpool’s chief executive said of Forever Bound: “This memorial is a symbol of shared remembrance, of unity and the bond formed between Liverpool and Juventus. We stand together in solidarity and memory of the 39 supporters who tragically lost their lives at Heysel. This is a moment for all of us to pause and reflect and to commit once again to ensuring that their memory lives on.”
